The Religion Atlas

Jainism , traditionally known as  Jain Dharma , is one of the world's oldest independent Indian religions. It prescribes a path of extreme self-discipline, spiritual purity, and enlightenment through absolute nonviolence toward all living creatures. Rather than worshipping a creator god, Jains venerate liberated souls known as  Tirthankaras  (spiritual teachers) who have conquered the cycle of...

Sikhism  is the  world's fifth-largest organized religion , founded in the late 15th century CE by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It is a distinct, independent monotheistic faith with a global following of approximately  26 to 30 million people , known as Sikhs. The word "Sikh" translates from Punjabi to mean "disciple" or "learner."

Judaism  is the  world's oldest Abrahamic, monotheistic religion , encompassing the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jewish people. Originating in the Middle East nearly 4,000 years ago, Judaism functions not just as a faith, but as an  ethno-religion —a complete identity woven from ancestry, nationhood, law, and culture. Globally, the Jewish population stands at roughly...

Islam  is the  world's second-largest and fastest-growing religion , centered on the absolute oneness of God (Allah) and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Globally, it has over 1.9 billion followers, known as Muslims, who make up roughly 25% of the global population. The word "Islam" stems from the Arabic root meaning "submission" or "surrender" to the will o...

Christianity  is the  world's largest religion , centered on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of  Jesus of Nazareth  in the first century CE. Its global following encompasses roughly 2.4 billion adherents—approximately one-third of the human population—who believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of God foretold in the Hebrew scriptures.

Hinduism , historically referred to as  Sanātana Dharma  (the eternal order), is the  world's oldest living major religion , with roots stretching back over 4,000 years. Rather than a single organized system with a definitive founder or central creed, it functions as an intricate family of diverse Indian traditions, spiritual philosophies, and cultural practices. Globally, it stands as the thi...

Buddhism  is a major world religion and philosophy founded in ancient India over 2,500 years ago by  Siddhartha Gautama , who became known as the Buddha ("The Awakened One"). Focused on personal spiritual development and the attainment of deep insight into the true nature of reality, Buddhism is fundamentally nontheistic. Rather than worshiping a creator God, its estimated 500 million followers cu...