Other Religions: Comparing Faith in the World

The word "faith" can have several meanings, but in a religious context, it generally means a strong belief in a system of religious doctrine, often based on spiritual apprehension rather than empirical proof.

Today, nearly 75% of the world’s population adheres to one of the five largest religions: Christianity (2.4 billion), Islam (1.9 billion), Hinduism (1.2 billion), Buddhism (500 million), and Judaism (14 million).

Here is a brief look at the core beliefs of the major world religions:

ISLAM

Islam is the world’s second-largest faith, and its adherents are called Muslims.

• God: Monotheistic belief in Allah as the one true God.

• Worship/Law: Adherents are required to live in obedience to Allah's will.

• Prophet: Muhammad is believed to be Allah's final messenger.

• Pillars: Includes praying five times a day, fasting during Ramadan, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

• Holy Text: The Quran.

HINDUISM

Originating in India, Hinduism is the world's third-largest faith and is divided into many sects.

• God: God (Brahman) is universally acknowledged as the supreme deity, but is known by a variety of names (like Vishnu and Shiva) and expresses himself in endless forms.

• Concept: God is present in all life; each person is filled with a divine essence (atman).

• Destiny: Belief in the cycle of birth, life, and death (reincarnation), which is determined by one's karma (the net of good and evil deeds).

• Holy Texts: Includes the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita.

BUDDHISM

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), this faith is concentrated in Eastern and Southeastern Asia.

• Focus: Predominantly concerned with achieving enlightenment.

• The Buddha: Not viewed as a god, but as a man who attained enlightenment by renouncing wealth and luxury.

• Practice: Adherents pursue a spiritual life based on the Three Universal Principles and Four Noble Principles. They must adhere to five precepts (e.g., no lying, no cheating, no murder).

• Destiny: Adheres to doctrines of reincarnation and rebirth, emphasizing individual responsibility for one's actions (karma).

JUDAISM

The oldest monotheistic faith, Judaism centers on the worship and obedience of the one true God.

• Core: The Ten Commandments and God's revealed law are central to their teachings.

• Morality: Morality and justice are fundamental to the faith.

• Promised Land: Israel holds a special, historical, and biblical designation as the promised land.

• Holy Texts: The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), especially the first five books (Torah), and the Talmud (a comprehensive list of Jewish laws and teachings).

What Makes Christianity Different? (Grace vs. Works)

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with over 2.4 billion followers, and it stands out among all other faiths for one central reason:

• Other Religions: They place the entire burden of salvation or enlightenment on man. To enter heaven, or achieve oneness with the divine, the individual must perform righteous acts, follow a path (like the eightfold road), or do enough good deeds to balance their bad deeds. (Man Seeking God)

• Christianity: It places the entire burden of redemption and reconciliation on God.

Christianity is unique because it’s not about us seeking God, but about God seeking us!

God knew that our sin creates a permanent barrier between us and His perfection—a barrier we could never cleanse ourselves of, no matter how hard we tried.

Jesus Christ is the heart of Christianity because He descended from Heaven to do what we could never do for ourselves: reconcile us to God through His death and resurrection.

This is the promise of grace: Rather than earning God’s favor, we receive it as a free gift.

“Yet to those who received him, to those who trusted in his name, he gave the privilege to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

By faith, you can welcome Jesus Christ into your life today and receive this gift of forgiveness and adoption into God's family.