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Religions of the World

1. Buddhism
Founder Gautam Siddhartha Buddha (563-483 BC) born in Nepal (Lumbini)
Founded in 525 BC
Followed in India, China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Japan, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Bhutan and Vietnam
Sacred Text The Tripitaka (Collection of Buddha?s teaching) also called Sutras
Sacred Places Lumbini (Nepal) where he received enlightenment and Kusinagar (UP) where he attained ?Nirvana?.
Place of Worship Vihar (temple) and Monastery (where monks reside)
Sects Mahayana and Hinayana
2. Confucianism
Founder King Fu Tsu, Better known as Confucius (551-479 BC) born in the state of LU in china.
Founded in 500 BC
Followed in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Nauru and Vietnam
Sacred Text The Analects
Sacred Places No church or temple
3. Christianity
Founder Jesus Christ (5 BC to AD 30) born in Judea, also called Jesus of Nazareth
Founded in 2000 years ago
Followed in Spread all over the world
Sacred Text Holy Bible consisting of Old Testament (before Christ) and the New Testament (during and after Christ)
Sacred Places Jerusalem where Christ lived and preached
Place of Worship Church
Important Sects Catholics and Protestants
4. Hinduism
Founder Ancient Sages
Founded in Around 1500 BC
Followed in Concentrated in India and Nepal and also found in Bhutan, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago
Sacred Text The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the epics of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana
Place of Worship Temple
5. Islam
Founder Prophet Mohammed (AD 570-632) born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia)
Founded in AD 622
Followed in From west coast of Africa to the Philippines which includes Tanzania, Southern part of Russia and China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia. Also parts of North Africa.
Sacred Text Quran (words of God), Hadis (Collection of Prophet?s saying).
Sacred Places Makkah (mecca) in Saudi Arabia
Place of Worship Masjid (mosque)
Sects Sunnis and Shias
6. Judaism (Religion of the Hebrews)
Founder Moses, born in Egypt
Founded in 1300 BC
Followed in Worldwide with concentration in Israel  and United States
Sacred Text Talmads, found particularly in the five books of the Bible; commentary on Torah known as Talmud and Midrash
Sacred Places Jerusalem
Place of Worship Synagogue
7. Shintoism
Founder Began with Japanese culture and developed out of tradition and ancestor worship
Followed in Japan
Sacred Text No specific text
Sacred Places Central Shrine of Ise (central Japan) and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo
8. Sikhism
Founder Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Founded in AD 1500
Followed in India
Sacred Text Shri Guru Granth Sahib
Sacred Places The Golden Temple of Amritsar
Place of Worship Gurudwara
9. Taoism
Founder Lao-tse, a Chinese Philosopher
Founded in 6th century BC
Followed in China, Taiwan, Nauru, Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam
Sacred Text Tao-te-Ching
10. Zoroastrianism (Parsi Religion)
Founder Zoroaster, born in Medea (modern Iran) in about 660 BC
Founded in Around 500 BC
Followed in Iran and north-west India. The Zoroastrians who fled to India during the eighth century are the ancestors of the present Parsi Community in India
Sacred Text Zend Avasta
Place of Worship Fire temple
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