#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions

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Hinduism

Islam

Judaism

1000 BCE

Judaism

Moses

1500 BCE

Abraham

2000 BCE

Buddhism

Guatama
Buddha
563-483 BCE

Taoism

Lao-Tzu

Confucianism

Kung
(Confucius)
551-479 BCE

500 BCE

Christianity

Jesus Christ
c. 4 BCE
c. 30 CE

Time Line

Islamic
community

Muhammad
570-632 CE

500 CE

Introduction
1000 CE

Sikhism

Guru Nanak
1469-1539 CE

1500 CE

2000 CE

Introduction
Name _______________________________________________

Reading a Time Line

If you have ever read about something that happened long ago, then you are probably familiar with the
abbreviations BC or BCE and AD or CE. Look at the time line on the previous page. Notice that
Buddha was born in 563 BCE. Muhammad died in 632 CE. Both BC and BCE represent the years
before the birth of Jesus. CE and AD mean the years after the birth of Jesus. The abbreviations stand
for the following:
BC = Before Christ
AD = Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)
BCE = Before the Common Era
CE = Common Era
In this book, only BCE and CE will be used. This is because BC and AD relate all dates to the birth of
Jesus. Referring to Jesus as Christ or using dates that are based on the birth of Jesus are part of the
Christian religion, while this book focuses on many different religions and belief systems.
You have probably also read of events happening, for example, in the 5th century or even in the 5th
century BCE. A century is 100 years. If people lived in the 1st century, they lived in the first 100
years CE, or in the first 100 years after the birth of Jesus. So, if we say something happened in the
19th century, we mean it happened during the years 1801-1900 CE. The same rule applies to the
centuries BCE, only we count backwards from the birth of Jesus. For example, Buddha was born in
563 BCE, which would mean he was born in the 6th century BCE.
Here are some practice questions. You will need to refer to the timeline and use your math skills.
Answer:
1. Who is older, someone born in 1760 BCE or someone born in 1450 BCE?
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. In what century was Guru Nanak born?
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. How many years difference is there between 250 CE and 250 BCE?
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. How many years difference is there between 1524 CE and 1436 BCE?
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. You visit a cemetery. One of the tombstones reads: Born in the 15th century, died in the 16th.
Make up possible dates that this person may have been born and died.
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. What century are you living in now?
_______________________________________________________________________________
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#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions

Introduction

Distribution of World Religions

Greenland

North America

South America

Christianity

Judaism

Islam

Sikhism

Buddhism

Taoism

Hinduism

#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions

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Introduction

Distribution of World Religions

(cont.)

Asia

Europe

Africa

Australia

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#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions

Introduction
Name _______________________________________________

World Distribution and Size of

Major World Religions
Using the diagram below and the map on pages 8 and 9, answer the questions below. You might need
an atlas to help you.
It is important to remember that this map shows only where each religion is most popular. You can
find followers of almost every religion in different parts of the world. For example, more Jews live in
the United States than in Israel, but they represent the majority in Israel while Christians represent the
majority in the United States.

Answer:
1. Name one country where Hinduism is popular. _________________________________________
2. In which countries would you be most likely to meet a Muslim? ___________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. List the continents where Christianity is widespread._____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. In what area of the world is Judaism predominantly found? _______________________________
5. If you wanted to visit a Buddhist country, where might you go? ____________________________
6. Name one country dominant with Taoists. _____________________________________________
7. Which major religion is most widespread throughout the world? ___________________________
8. Which major religion has the most followers? Which major religions have the fewest followers?
_______________________________________________________________________________

Relative Sizes of the Major World Religions

Sikhism
15 million

Buddhism
330 million

Judaism
13 million
Christianity
1,000 million

Hinduism
500 million
Taoism
15 million
Islam
800 million

#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions

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Introduction

Belief, Fact, and Opinion

When learning about any subject, especially history or religion, it is important to know the difference
between a fact, a belief, and an opinion.
A fact can be proved true. For example, it is a fact that Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. A fact
can be proved either by actually observing something or by consulting a reliable source such as an
encyclopedia.
An opinion is a statement or idea that tells how a person feels about something. If your friend says,
Pizza is the best food in the world, he or she is stating an opinion. However, opinions supported by
facts are more convincing. If your friend took a survey and discovered that more people ate pizza than
any other food, he would have some support for his opinion.
A belief is an idea or conviction that someone accepts as true or real. Some people, for example,
believe that walking under a ladder is bad luck. Can this be proven? Probably not. But the person
may still believe it true. Another person may believe in certain gods, while others do not. For them,
these beliefs are like facts.
A belief system is a collection of ideas or teachings which influence a persons understanding of life.
It usually gives instructions on how to live. As you will see, religions are a blend of both facts and
belief systems. It can be proven that at least some of the religious leaders actually existed. The ideas
they taught and some of the things they did, however, cannot be proven.

Recognizing Beliefs, Facts, and Opinions

Read each sentence and decide whether it is a belief, a fact, or an opinion. Write B for belief, F for
fact, or O for opinion before each sentence.
_____________ 1. Finding a penny means good luck.
_____________ 2. The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
_____________ 3. There are seven continents on Earth.
_____________ 4. The mountains are more beautiful than the desert.
_____________ 5. If you are born in April, you will become rich.
_____________ 6. Seals are the cutest animals.
_____________ 7. Oranges have lots of vitamin C.
_____________ 8. The rain forests in Brazil are being destroyed.
_____________ 9. Rabbits make great pets.
_____________10. You should stay home on Friday the 13th.

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#624 Interdisciplinary UnitWorld Religions