This article will give you a brief overview about the major religions of the world and how they are distributed around the globe. It covers their Origins, Characteristics, Influence, and Distribution. It also addresses the main conflicts and beliefs that influenced their growth. You can find a lot of information about the world's religions.
Origin
The origin of the world's religions is complex. There are many theories. Many theories claim that religions evolved from cults. Other theories believe that religions developed through the use myths. Animism and Fetishism were some of the earliest theories. Some believe religions also arose out of hedonism.
Characteristics
While there are many similarities in the world's religions there are also important differences. One example is that the early Christians were much more prosocial than their pagan counterparts. This reflected the importance of the golden rule in early Christianity, and has served to distinguish it from paganism.
Influence
Religion is a key indicator of identity and has the potential for influence on many environmentally-relevant behaviors. It is important to understand this influence in order to tackle transnational environmental problems. 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. Next is Islam, representing nearly one-fifth world population, followed by Hinduism. The rest of the religious groups are less well-known and more widely distributed. These include traditional African faiths as well as Native American and Australian aboriginal religions. There are also many smaller, unorganized faiths such as Sikhism and Jainism. Rest of the world's population, which is estimated to be 1.2 billion, is nonreligious.
Moral outlook
In determining religious practices in a society, a society's moral outlook is important. Different cultures have their own moral beliefs and outlooks. The modern West and modern Asia have different moral outlooks. We can all share our personal preferences and justify them on the basis of neutral criteria. However, one moral outlook cannot be considered superior to the other. Some people believe certain moralities suit certain communities or societies better than others.
Engagement with environmental issues
Religious beliefs have had a number of influences on how people approach environmental issues. They bring a wealth knowledge, long-lasting social networks, and extensive experience to the discussion.