#separator:tab
#html:false
#tags column:4
Religion	A system of beliefs and practices about the sacred, often shared by a community		world-religions-basics
Monotheism	Belief in one God		world-religions-basics
Polytheism	Belief in many gods		world-religions-basics
Faith	Trust or belief in a religion's teachings		world-religions-basics
Judaism	One of the oldest monotheistic religions, began in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago		world-religions-basics
Torah	The first five books of the Hebrew Bible; central text of Judaism		world-religions-basics
Synagogue	Jewish house of worship and community		world-religions-basics
Rabbi	Jewish teacher and leader		world-religions-basics
Sabbath (Shabbat)	Jewish weekly day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening		world-religions-basics
Passover	Jewish spring festival remembering the Israelites' freedom from slavery in Egypt		world-religions-basics
Hanukkah	Jewish festival of lights in winter		world-religions-basics
Yom Kippur	Jewish Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and prayer		world-religions-basics
Rosh Hashanah	Jewish New Year		world-religions-basics
Bar and bat mitzvah	Ceremonies marking a Jewish young person's religious responsibility		world-religions-basics
Christianity	Religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth; the largest religion in the world		world-religions-basics
Bible	Holy book of Christianity, with the Old and New Testaments		world-religions-basics
Church	Christian house of worship		world-religions-basics
Christmas	Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, on December 25 in most churches		world-religions-basics
Easter	Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus		world-religions-basics
Trinity	Christian teaching of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit		world-religions-basics
Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant	The three main branches of Christianity		world-religions-basics
Islam	Religion founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad; followers are called Muslims		world-religions-basics
Quran	Holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be God's word		world-religions-basics
Mosque	Muslim house of worship		world-religions-basics
Five Pillars of Islam	Faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage		world-religions-basics
Ramadan	Islamic month of fasting from dawn to sunset		world-religions-basics
Eid al-Fitr	Festival marking the end of Ramadan		world-religions-basics
Eid al-Adha	Festival of sacrifice at the time of the Hajj		world-religions-basics
Hajj	Pilgrimage to Mecca		world-religions-basics
Mecca	Holy city in Saudi Arabia that Muslims face when praying		world-religions-basics
Imam	Leader of prayer in a mosque		world-religions-basics
Hinduism	Ancient religion of India with many gods and traditions		world-religions-basics
Vedas	Oldest sacred texts of Hinduism		world-religions-basics
Bhagavad Gita	Hindu scripture about duty and devotion		world-religions-basics
Temple (mandir)	Hindu house of worship		world-religions-basics
Brahman	The supreme reality in Hindu thought		world-religions-basics
Karma	The idea that actions have consequences, in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain thought		world-religions-basics
Reincarnation	Belief that the soul is reborn after death		world-religions-basics
Diwali	Hindu festival of lights, also observed by Sikhs and Jains		world-religions-basics
Holi	Hindu spring festival of colors		world-religions-basics
Ganges River	River considered sacred by Hindus		world-religions-basics
Buddhism	Religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha		world-religions-basics
Buddha	Means 'awakened one'		world-religions-basics
Four Noble Truths	Buddhist teachings about suffering and how to end it		world-religions-basics
Eightfold Path	Buddhist guide to ethical living and meditation		world-religions-basics
Nirvana	Buddhist goal of freedom from suffering		world-religions-basics
Meditation	A practice of focused attention and calm		world-religions-basics
Monk	A man who lives a religious life in a monastery		world-religions-basics
Wesak (Vesak)	Festival marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death		world-religions-basics
Sikhism	Monotheistic religion founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak in the 1400s		world-religions-basics
Guru Granth Sahib	Sikh holy scripture		world-religions-basics
Gurdwara	Sikh house of worship		world-religions-basics
Five Ks	Articles of faith worn by initiated Sikhs		world-religions-basics
Jainism	Indian religion stressing nonviolence toward all living things		world-religions-basics
Confucianism	Chinese philosophy based on Confucius that stresses respect, learning and family		world-religions-basics
Daoism	Chinese tradition of living in harmony with the Dao, or Way		world-religions-basics
Shinto	Japan's native tradition honoring kami, or spirits		world-religions-basics
Bahá'í Faith	Religion founded in the 1800s that teaches the unity of humanity		world-religions-basics
Indigenous religions	Traditions of native peoples, often tied to land and ancestors		world-religions-basics
Animism	Belief that natural things have spirits		world-religions-basics
Zoroastrianism	Ancient Persian religion with the prophet Zoroaster		world-religions-basics
Humanism	A non-religious outlook focused on human values and reason		world-religions-basics
Atheism	Lack of belief in a god or gods		world-religions-basics
Agnosticism	The view that the existence of God cannot be known		world-religions-basics
Secular	Not connected to religion		world-religions-basics
Interfaith	Involving people of different religions		world-religions-basics
Religious freedom	The right to follow your own beliefs		world-religions-basics
Scripture	Sacred writings		world-religions-basics
Pilgrimage	Journey to a holy place		world-religions-basics
Prayer	Communication with the divine		world-religions-basics
Ritual	A set of actions performed for a religious purpose		world-religions-basics
Clergy	Religious leaders		world-religions-basics
Place of worship	Church, synagogue, mosque, temple, gurdwara or shrine		world-religions-basics
Golden Rule	Many traditions teach to treat others as you want to be treated		world-religions-basics
Number of followers (approx.)	Christianity and Islam are the two largest; Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism follow in various order		world-religions-basics
Respect	Learning about faiths helps people understand and respect each other		world-religions-basics