World Religions
Population data, growth trends, evidence assessment, philosophical arguments, and the Golden Rule across 12 major traditions.
Global Population (millions)
Annual Growth Rate (%)
Evidence Assessment
Estimated probability that each religion's core truth claims are correct, based on historical, philosophical, scientific, experiential, and prophetic evidence. These are rough Bayesian estimates — adjust the sliders to reflect your own priors.
Adjust Your Priors
Move the sliders to reflect your own credences about each religion's truth claims. The chart updates in real-time with normalized probabilities.
Evidence Breakdown by Category
How each religion scores across five evidence categories. Toggle religions to compare.
Academic disclaimer: These scores represent rough scholarly estimates and are inherently subjective. Religious truth claims involve dimensions (personal transformation, meaning, community) that resist quantification. Use these as starting points for reflection, not definitive assessments.
Detailed Profiles
Islam
Founded: 610 CE | Founder: Prophet Muhammad
Middle East, North Africa, South/Southeast Asia
Core Teachings
- •There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger (Shahada)
- •Five Pillars: faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage
- •Surrender to the will of God
- •Justice, compassion, and community
- •Accountability on the Day of Judgment
The Golden Rule
"None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." — Hadith 13, Al-Nawawi
Baha'i Faith
Founded: 1844 CE | Founder: Baha'u'llah
Global (Iran origin, now worldwide)
Core Teachings
- •Oneness of God: one divine source
- •Oneness of religion: all faiths are progressive revelations
- •Oneness of humanity: elimination of all prejudice
- •Independent investigation of truth
- •Harmony of science and religion
The Golden Rule
"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." — Tablets of Baha'u'llah
Sikhism
Founded: 1469 CE | Founder: Guru Nanak
Punjab (India), diaspora worldwide
Core Teachings
- •One God (Ik Onkar) — formless and omnipresent
- •Equality of all humanity
- •Honest living and selfless service (Seva)
- •Remember God through meditation (Naam Japna)
- •Share with others (Vand Chakko)
The Golden Rule
"As you see yourself, see others as well; only then will you become a partner in heaven." — Guru Granth Sahib
Hinduism
Founded: ~1500 BCE (no single origin)
South Asia (India, Nepal)
Core Teachings
- •Brahman: ultimate reality pervading all existence
- •Atman: the eternal soul within each being
- •Dharma: righteous duty and cosmic order
- •Karma: actions have consequences across lifetimes
- •Moksha: liberation from the cycle of rebirth
The Golden Rule
"One should never do to another that which one regards as injurious to oneself." — Mahabharata 13.114.8
Christianity
Founded: ~30 CE | Founder: Jesus of Nazareth
Global (strongest in Americas, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Core Teachings
- •God is triune: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
- •Salvation through grace and faith in Jesus Christ
- •Love God and love your neighbor as yourself
- •Resurrection and eternal life
- •The Kingdom of God is within and among us
The Golden Rule
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Matthew 7:12
Judaism
Founded: ~2000 BCE | Founder: Abraham (traditional)
Israel, United States, diaspora
Core Teachings
- •Monotheism: one God (YHWH) who created the universe
- •Covenant between God and the Jewish people
- •Torah as divine revelation and guide for living
- •Tikkun Olam: repairing the world through justice
- •Ethical monotheism: God demands moral behavior
The Golden Rule
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary." — Hillel, Talmud Shabbat 31a
Taoism
Founded: ~4th century BCE | Founder: Laozi (traditional)
China, East Asia
Core Teachings
- •The Tao (Way) is the fundamental, nameless source of all
- •Wu Wei: effortless action in harmony with nature
- •Yin and Yang: complementary dualities in balance
- •Simplicity, spontaneity, and naturalness
- •The Three Treasures: compassion, frugality, humility
The Golden Rule
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." — T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien
Jainism
Founded: ~600 BCE | Founder: Mahavira (24th Tirthankara)
India
Core Teachings
- •Ahimsa: non-violence to all living beings
- •Anekantavada: many-sidedness of truth
- •Aparigraha: non-possessiveness
- •Karma as physical particles attached to the soul
- •Self-discipline and asceticism for liberation
The Golden Rule
"One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated." — Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Confucianism
Founded: ~500 BCE | Founder: Confucius (Kong Qiu)
China, East Asia
Core Teachings
- •Ren: benevolence and humaneness
- •Li: ritual propriety and social harmony
- •Filial piety: respect for parents and ancestors
- •Junzi: the exemplary person of virtue
- •Rectification of names: integrity between word and deed
The Golden Rule
"Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." — Analects 15:23
Buddhism
Founded: ~500 BCE | Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)
East/Southeast Asia
Core Teachings
- •Four Noble Truths: suffering, its cause, its end, the path
- •Eightfold Path to end suffering
- •Impermanence of all things (Anicca)
- •Non-self (Anatta) — no permanent soul
- •Compassion and mindfulness as keys to awakening
The Golden Rule
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." — Udanavarga 5:18
Shinto
Founded: Prehistoric (formalized ~700 CE)
Japan
Core Teachings
- •Kami: spirits/gods inhabiting nature and ancestors
- •Purity and cleansing rituals
- •Harmony with nature and the seasons
- •Gratitude and reverence for all things
- •Community and tradition
The Golden Rule
"Be charitable to all beings; love is the representative of God." — Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga
Zoroastrianism
Founded: ~1500 BCE | Founder: Zoroaster (Zarathustra)
Iran, India (Parsis)
Core Teachings
- •Ahura Mazda: one supreme, wise creator God
- •Cosmic struggle between good (Asha) and evil (Druj)
- •Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
- •Free will: humans choose between good and evil
- •Final renovation: good ultimately triumphs over evil
The Golden Rule
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others." — Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29