World Religions Essay.

The eight major world religions/philosophies are more different than similar. Examples of this can be found through comparing and contrasting Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. There are several differences in these religions, such as; how the religion is today, their views of the afterlife, the important writings, the foundation and/or history, and their G/god(s).

Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all major religions/philosophies. However, there is a greater amount of followers in certain groups than others. Christianity has about two billion followers and is practiced all around the world; mostly in the United States, parts of Canada, Mexico, almost all of Europe, southern Africa, the east coast of Australia, New Zealand, and several nations in South America. Confucianism only has about six million followers. It is mostly practiced in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. There are about seven hundred and sixty-two million Hindus in the world. Hinduism is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. There is also followers in North America, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, East Africa, South Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. The number of Buddhists is uncertain, however estimates show that there is somewhere between one hundred and fifty to three hundred million followers. This religion started in India, but then spread to China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. It is also practiced in some western countries.

It seems as though every religion has a different view on the afterlife. Confucianism is not considered a religion, but rather a philosophy and it does not have any ideas or meanings of the afterlife. Buddhists and Hindus have somewhat similar beliefs on the afterlife. Both religions believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that after death, one is reborn into another living being. However,