This article gives a brief overview of the major religions in the world and their distribution around the globe. This article covers their Origins. Characteristics. Influence. Distribution. It also addresses the major conflicts and beliefs that have shaped their development. A wealth of information is available on world religions.
Origin
The origin of world religions is a complex issue. There are many theories. Many theories claim that religions evolved from cults. Other theories believe that religions developed through the use myths. One of the earliest theories was about fetishism and animism. Others claim that religions originated from hedonism.
Characteristics
There are many similarities among the religions of the world, but there are also key differences. For example, the early Christians differed greatly from their pagan counterparts in their emphasis on prosociality. This was a reflection of the centrality of the golden rule in early Christianity and serves to differentiate it from pagan paganism.
Influence
Religion is a key marker for identity. It can influence many environmentally-relevant behavior. Understanding this influence is essential to solve transnational environmental challenges. Many aspects of human life are affected by religions, such as how people see climatic changes and how they use resources.
Distribution
Geographically, the majority of world religions are spread out. The most widespread is Christianity. This is followed closely by Islam, where nearly half of the world's people are Muslims, and Hinduism. The remaining religious groups, which are more scattered, include folk religions like traditional African faiths or Native American or Australian aboriginal religions. Many other smaller faiths, such as Jainism or Sikhism, are not organized. With an estimated 1.2 million non-religious people, the rest of the world is not religious.
Moral outlook
Moral outlook is an important factor in determining the religious practices of a society. Different cultures have different moral beliefs. This means that the outlooks of individuals can be very different. Modern Asia and the West have very different moral perspectives. We all have our own preferences, and we can justify them with neutral criteria. But we cannot declare that one moral outlook superior to another. Some people believe that certain moralities are more suited to certain societies and communities than others.
Engagement with environmental problems
Religious leaders have played many roles in shaping attitudes and actions towards environmental issues. They can bring their experience, wisdom, and long-lasting social networks to the conversation.