General Knowledge about Religions of World Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism.
1. Buddhism
Founder- Gautam Siddhartha Buddha (563-483 BC) born in Nepal (Lumbini)
Founded -in 525 BC
Sacred Text-The Tripitaka (Collection of Buddha?s teaching) also called Sutras
Sacred Places- Lumbini (Nepal) where he received enlightenment and Kusinagar (UP) where he
attained ?Nirvana?.
Place of Worship -Vihar (temple) and Monastery (where monks reside)
Sects -Mahayana and Hinayana
Important Abbreviation MCQS Notes
2. Confucianism
Founder- King Fu Tsu, Better known as Confucius (551-479 BC) born in the state of LU in
china.
Founded- in 500 BC
Sacred Text -The Analects
Sacred Places- church or temple
3. Christianity
Founder Jesus- Christ (5 BC to AD 30) born in Judea, also called Jesus of Nazareth
Founded in -2000 years ago
Sacred Text- Holy Bible consisting of Old Testament (before Christ) and the New Testament (during
and after Christ)
Sacred Places- Jerusalem where Christ lived and preached
Place of Worship Church
Important Sects -Catholics and Protestants
4. Hinduism
Founder -Ancient Sages
Founded in -Around 1500 BC
Sacred Text- The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the epics of the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana
Place of Worship -Temple
5. Islam
Founder- Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) (AD 570-632) born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia)
Founded- in AD 622
Sacred Text -Quran (words of God), Hadis (Collection of Prophet?s saying).
Sacred Places- Makkah/ Madina in Saudi Arabia
Place of Worship- Masjid (mosque)
Sects -Sunnis and Shias
6. Judaism (Religion of the Hebrews)
Founder -Moses, born in Egypt
Founded in -1300 BC
Sacred Text -Talmads, found particularly in the five books of the Bible; commentary on Torah
known as Talmud and Midrash
Sacred Places- Jerusalem
Place of Worship- Synagogue
7. Shintoism
Founder -Began with Japanese culture and developed out of tradition and ancestor worship
Sacred Text -No specific text
Sacred Places -Central Shrine of Ise (central Japan) and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo
8. Sikhism
Founder- Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Founded -in AD 1500
Sacred Text -Shri Guru Granth Sahib
Sacred Places -The Golden Temple of Amritsar
Place of Worship -Gurudwara
9. Taoism
Founder -Lao-tse, a Chinese Philosopher
Founded- in 6th century BC
Sacred Text -Tao-te-Ching
10. Zoroastrianism (Parsi Religion)
Founder -Zoroaster, born in Medea (modern Iran) in about 660 BC
Founded in -Around 500 BC
Sacred Text- Zend Avasta
Place of Worship -Fire temple