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| | |- | | |- |
| | |'''Religion''' | | |'''Religion''' |
| − | |'''Number of Followers''' | + | |'''Followers''' |
| | |'''Comment''' | | |'''Comment''' |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Christianity | | |Christianity |
| | |2.1 billion | | |2.1 billion |
| − | |growing fastest today in less developed areas; losing followers in Europe | + | |growing fastest in African, Asia; losing in Europe |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Islam | | |Islam |
| | |1.5 billion | | |1.5 billion |
| − | |once it gains control of a country, it often restricts or prohibits conversion to other religions | + | |threat of death if conversion to another religion |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Anti-religious | | |Anti-religious |
| | |1.1 billion | | |1.1 billion |
| − | |adherents censor school prayer and promote evolution; biggest following is among liberals in the U.S. and Europe | + | |followers censor school prayer and promote evolution |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Hinduism | | |Hinduism |
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| | |Jainism | | |Jainism |
| | |4.2 million | | |4.2 million |
| − | |originated in India, advocates non-violence towards all life | + | |originated in India, non-violence towards all life |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Shinto | | |Shinto |
| | |4 million | | |4 million |
| − | |the official religion of Japan and a key part of World War II | + | |the official religion of Japan, key in World War II |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |Zoroastrianism | | |Zoroastrianism |
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| | |Scientology | | |Scientology |
| | |500,000 | | |500,000 |
| − | |prominent members in Hollywood and the media, including Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Greta Van Susteren | + | |members include Tom Cruise and John Travolta |
| | |} | | |} |
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| | Christianity was taken by the early Christians as far and wide as possible. The religious celebrations consisted of a communal meal, called "communion" today but given the Greek name for "love feat" then: "agape". This reenacted the Last Supper of Christ as described in the Gospels. The concept of Christian love had a profound effect on the world and forever changed it for the better. | | Christianity was taken by the early Christians as far and wide as possible. The religious celebrations consisted of a communal meal, called "communion" today but given the Greek name for "love feat" then: "agape". This reenacted the Last Supper of Christ as described in the Gospels. The concept of Christian love had a profound effect on the world and forever changed it for the better. |
| | | | |
| − | Mark founded a church in Egypt under the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, first converting Alexandrian Jews such as Theophilus and also converting many native Egyptians who were neither Greek nor Jewish. It was for Theophilus and the Egyptian community that Luke wrote his Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, addressing Theophilus in the beginning of each.<ref>See Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1.</ref> The local language in Egypt was Coptic, and translations of the Gospels into that language have been discovered which date from the first half of the second century. Coptic Christianity remains in Egypt to this day, although Islam has become the most popular religion there. Some cite the acceptance of Arabic as a liturgical language by the Pope of Alexandria as aiding the rise to dominance of Islam there. Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas each year on January 7th, which is a national holiday in Egypt. | + | Mark founded a church in Egypt under the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, first converting Alexandrian Jews such as Theophilus and also converting many native Egyptians who were neither Greek nor Jewish. It was for Theophilus and the Egyptian community that Luke wrote his Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, addressing Theophilus in the beginning of each.<ref>''See'' Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1.</ref> The local language in Egypt was Coptic, and translations of the Gospels into that language have been discovered which date from the first half of the second century. Coptic Christianity remains in Egypt to this day, although Islam has become the most popular religion there. Some cite the acceptance of Arabic as a liturgical language by the Pope of Alexandria as aiding the rise to dominance of Islam there. Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas each year on January 7th, which is a national holiday in Egypt. |
| | | | |
| | The Apostle Thomas, known as the "Doubting Thomas" traveled as far as India and established a Christian community that remains there to this day, although the country is still majority Hindu. | | The Apostle Thomas, known as the "Doubting Thomas" traveled as far as India and established a Christian community that remains there to this day, although the country is still majority Hindu. |