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Four major world religions ([[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]]) were founded in the Indian subcontinent. in addition, [[Islam]] has been an important force on the subcontinent since the seventh century.

Four major world '''religions''' – ([[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]]) – were founded in the '''Indian''' subcontinent. In addition, [[Islam]] has been an important force on the subcontinent since the seventh century.

==Judiasm in India==

==Judaism in India==

The Bnei Menashe of northeastern India claim descent from the lost tribe of [[Manasseh]], but the accuracy of this claim is debated.  

The Bnei Menashe of northeastern India claim descent from the lost tribe of [[Manasseh]], but the accuracy of this claim is debated.  

The Cochin Jews (or Malabar Jews) claim to have occupied India since the time of [[Solomon]], but historical evidence can place them in India only in about 700 B.C.<ref>Koder S. "History of the Jews of Kerala". ''The St.Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India''. Edited by. G. Menachery. 1973</ref>  

The Cochin [[Jew]]s (or Malabar Jews) claim to have occupied India since the time of [[Solomon]], but historical evidence can place them in India only from about 700 B.C.<ref>Koder S. "History of the Jews of Kerala". ''The St.Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India''. Edited by. G. Menachery. 1973</ref>  

Bene Israel group claim to have arrived in India between about A.D. 100 and A.D. 300, and can be traced by other evidence to as early as about A.D. 1000<ref>http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=710&letter=B</ref>  

The Bene Israel group claim to have arrived in India between about A.D. 100 and A.D. 300, and can be traced by other evidence to as early as about A.D. 1000.<ref>http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=710&letter=B</ref>  

==Christianity==

==Christianity==

==Islam==

==Islam==

[[Islam]] arrived partly through the implementation of holy war or "[[Jihad]]" by Arab militants led by [[Muhammad bin-Qasim]] in the latter half of the 8th century A.D., and partly through the efforts of Arab traders in South India.  It continued to spread with invasions, wars and forced conversions by Afghans and Turkic Mongols. Eventually, peace settled and they slowly integrated into the society and formed India's Islamic tradition. The [[Taj Mahal]], India's national monument, was built by a Muslim emperor named Shah Jahan.

[[Islam]] arrived partly through the implementation of holy war or ''[[jihad]]'' by Arab militants led by [[Muhammad bin-Qasim]] in the latter half of the 8th century A.D., and partly through the efforts of Arab traders in South India.  It continued to spread with invasions, wars and forced conversions by Afghans and Turkic Mongols. Eventually, peace settled and they slowly integrated into the society and formed India's Islamic tradition. The [[Taj Mahal]], India's national monument, was built by a Muslim emperor named Shah Jahan.

==Conflicts and violence==

==Conflicts and violence==

Hindu nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism are prevalent in India since independence. In the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, more than 4,000 Sikhs were killed by Hindu mobsters. From December 1992 to January 1993, 900 people died in the riots between Hindus and Muslims in Mumbai (then Bombay). The 2002 Gujarat violence killed 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus.  

Hindu nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism have been prevalent in India since independence. In the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, more than 4,000 Sikhs were killed by Hindu mobsters. From December 1992 to January 1993, 900 people died in riots between Hindus and Muslims in Mumbai (then Bombay). The 2002 Gujarat violence killed 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus.  

==Violence towards Christians==

==Violence towards Christians==

{{main|Violence towards Christians in India}}

{{main|Violence towards Christians in India}}

Hindu nationalist groups like '''Bajrang Dal''', '''Vishva Hindu Parishad''' ('''VHP''') have anti-Christian sentiment. VHP has engaged in several programs to convert Christians to Hinduism. In a well-publicised case, Bajrang Dal member Dara Singh and 12 others killed Graham Staines, a Christian missionary and his two sons Philip and Timothy (aged 10 and 8 respectively). Graham Staines was working with leprosy sufferers for 34 years. '''Shiv Sena''', a political party in India, remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations and members of Shiv Sena carried out violent attacks on shops and restaurants organising Valentine's Day.

Hindu nationalist groups like Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have anti-Christian sentiment. VHP has engaged in several programs to convert Christians to Hinduism. In a well-publicised case, Bajrang Dal member Dara Singh and 12 others killed Graham Staines, a Christian missionary and his two sons Philip and Timothy (aged 10 and 8 respectively). Graham Staines had been working with leprosy sufferers for 34 years. Shiv Sena, a political party in India, remain opposed to Valentine's Day celebrations, and members of Shiv Sena have carried out violent attacks on shops and restaurants organising Valentine's Day.

==Demographics==

==Demographics==

*'''Hinduism''' is India's largest religion; 80.4% of the population are Hindu.  

*Hinduism is India's largest religion; 80.4% of the population are Hindu.  

*'''Islam''' is the largest minority religion in India; 13.4% of the population are Muslim.

*Islam is the largest minority religion in India; 13.4% of the population are Muslim.

*'''Christianity''' is the third largest religion of India; 2.3% of the population are Christians.

*Christianity is the third largest religion of India; 2.3% of the population are Christians.

*India is home to 12 million '''Buddhists'''; 0.773% of the population are Buddhists. 4.2 million  

*India is home to 12 million Buddhists; 0.773% of the population are Buddhists.

*'''Jains''' live in India; 0.4% of the population are Jains.  

*4.2 million Jains live in India; 0.4% of the population are Jains.  

*According to census of 2001, there are 19.2 million '''Sikhs''' in India.  

*According to census of 2001, there are 19.2 million Sikhs in India.  

*0.006% of the population are '''Parsis''' ('''Zoroastrians''').  

*0.006% of the population are [[Parsi]]s ([[Zoroastrian]]s).  

*2.2 million people in India follow the '''Bahá'í Faith''', which is the largest national contingent of Bahá'ís in the world. *'''Jews''' are a religious minority of India, and are concentrated in the states of Kerala and Maharashtra.  

*2.2 million people in India follow the [[Bahá'í]] faith, which is the largest national contingent of Bahá'ís in the world.

*2% of the population are '''atheists'''.

*Jews are a religious minority of India, and are concentrated in the states of Kerala and Maharashtra.  

*2% of the population are [[atheist]]s.

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:India]]

[[Category:India]]