Celebrating World Religion Day and Understanding the World’s Main Religions
January 15 is World Religion Day, established in 1950 to encourage interfaith understanding. To help promote your understanding, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities developed this infographic of the world’s main religions. Rooted in the Gospel, we serve with reverence, justice and compassion.
Two Religious Belief Systems in the World
I believe there are really only 2 religions – 2 religious belief systems – in the world. In the first religious belief system, we can use the illustration of a ladder extending from earth to Heaven. In this illustration, most of humanity attempts to “climb the ladder” to Heaven by right beliefs, good intentions, obedience to all kinds of rules, and the faithful practice of all kinds of rituals.
The adherents of this religious belief system believe if they can just do enough, they can tip the divine scales and God will let them into a place of bliss, perfection, and rewards. This religious system is called “good works.”
Those who depend upon good works might call themselves:
- “Buddhists” (using the 8-fold path of enlightenment)
- “Hindus” (reincarnation – coming back over and over again in some new form)
- “Muslims” (practicing the 5 pillars, attendance at the mosque, memorizing the Qur’an, following the Sunnah, etc.)
- “Christians” (going faithfully to “church,” practicing the “Golden Rule,” singing in the choir, reading the Bible, etc.)
In the second religious belief system, we can also use the illustration of a ladder between earth and Heaven. But in this faith system, God in Heaven looks down upon humanity and lovingly sees that people simply cannot “climb the ladder” and get to Him. This religious belief system is called “grace.”
Grace is simply receiving (accepting) by faith a gift that cannot be earned. So God sends His mercy and compassion down the ladder through His prophets. He does this especially and uniquely through Jesus – Isa Al Masih. The prophet Isa – spotless and sinless – takes upon himself the sins and shame of the whole world through the voluntary sacrifice of his life.
Overview of World Religions Study
The following table provides an introduction to the study of various world religions and their categorized presence in global discourse:
| Religion Type | Study Focus |
|---|---|
| Islam | The Quran and Christianity |
| Hinduism | World Religions |
| Buddhism | World Religions |
| Shintoism | World Religions |
| Confucianism | World Religions |
| Judaism | World Religions |
| Taoism | World Religions |
| Jainism | World Religions |
| Sikhism | World Religions |
| Animism | World Religions |
| Zoroastrianism | World Religions |
Seeking Truth and Understanding
Whether exploring the 8-fold path or the 5 pillars, the legitimate question for all of these people is, “What – or who – are they counting on to gain Paradise when they die?” Essentially, if they are trying to “climb the ladder” to Paradise by their good deeds, they are counting upon themselves. They are counting on their own performance, their own hard work, and their own spiritual achievements – in essence, their own goodness. In contrast, the gift of forgiveness of sins and righteousness (right standing) before God is provided as a gift of eternal life in Paradise through grace.