The Five World Religions

Graphic of five major religions overlayed on map of Earth.What are the major religions in the world today? There are five, and you have certainly heard of all of them, but because of where you live, and current events, you are probably more familiar with some than others. You are going to learn more information about all five—Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism— including their similarities and differences, how they were started, and where most of their followers lived in the past and live now.

The word “doctrine” refers to the key beliefs of a particular group. Sometimes, the word doctrine refers to the beliefs of a religious group, as in this topic. Doctrine can also refer to legal traditions or form the basis of government policies. An example is the Truman Doctrine, which proposed that the United States should support any people resisting communism after WWII.

In order to make it easier to remember the primary characteristics of each religion, this topic uses mnemonic devices. Simply put, these are words where each letter stands for a concept.

  • Judaism – T-O-R-A-H
  • Christianity – J-E-S-U-S
  • Islam – I-S-L-A-M-I-C
  • Hinduism – K-A-R-M-A
  • Buddhism – B-U-D-D-H-A

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

In the interactivity below, take a closer look at the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which are all rooted in a common belief of Abraham as an early prophet. Atlhough they each have different beliefs, customs and houses of worship, they all share a common source: Judaism. Using the arrows in the upper right corner of the interactivity, "flip" through the pages to explore Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Click the player to begin.

Download a printable version of the interactivity.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Both of the other world religions started in India. While they have some similar beliefs, Hinduism and Buddhism have some major differences. Also, Hinduism has remained primarily in India, while Buddhism has spread across East and Southeast Asia. In the interactivity, use the arrows in the upper right corner to view the informaton about Hinduism and Buddhism. Click the player to begin.

Download a printable version of the interactivity.

World Religions Review

Now that you have explored all five world religions, practice what you have learned in this non-graded activity. Read each question and select the most appropriate answer or answers. Then, click Submit. Click the player to get started.