Leader Resource 2: Chart of Religions
Data is from a now-defunct website (adherents.com) compiled and managed by Preston Hunter; updated 2007.
|
Faith Tradition |
Adherents Worldwide |
Date of Origin |
|---|---|---|
|
Atheism and Agnosticism |
1.1B |
unknown |
|
Indigenous religions worldwide |
300M |
unknown |
|
Hinduism, indigenous to India |
900M |
unknown |
|
Shintoism, indigenous to Japan |
4M |
unknown |
|
Judaism |
14M |
1300 BCE |
|
Jainism |
4.2M |
1300 BCE or older |
|
Zoroastrianism |
2.6M |
1000 BCE |
|
Taoism |
20M (conservative estimate) |
550 BCE |
|
Buddhism |
376M |
520 BCE |
|
Confucianism |
6M (conservative estimate) |
500 BCE |
|
Christianity (all) |
2.1B |
30 CE |
|
Roman Catholicism |
1B (also included in "Christianity" above) |
30 CE; emerged from the religion spread by apostles of Jesus |
|
Islam |
1.5B (940 Sunni) |
622 CE |
|
Eastern Orthodox Christianity |
350M |
schism with Church of Rome, 1054 CE; emerged earlier in local areas to the east of Europe |
|
Sikhism |
23M |
1500 CE |
|
Protestantism (the Reformation) |
NA |
1517 CE |
|
Quakers |
300K |
1650 CE |
|
Unitarianism |
NA |
emerged out of Anglican and Protestant religions in18th century; theology is much older |
|
Universalism |
NA |
emerged out of Protestantism in 18th century; theology is much older |
|
Mormonism |
13M |
1830 CE |
|
Baha'i |
7M |
1863 CE |
|
Seventh Day Adventists |
10M |
1863 CE |
|
Christian Science |
150-400K |
1879 CE |
|
Jehovah's Witnesses |
6.5M |
1879 CE |
|
Humanism |
unknown |
Ancient roots: organizations in 20th century |
|
Unitarian Universalism |
800K |
UUA organized in 1961 CE |
|
Wicca |
1-3M |
1900 CE |