Five Religions of Modern Society

Human Development is often referred to as evolution or adaptation and religion often plays a major role in that. Religion is not a requirement of existence on Earth for humans and the US Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all of its citizens. This includes the freedom to not have any religion, which is known as atheism; the freedom to switch religions, if accepted, because the association has to be mutually consensual; and the freedom to study religious materials, and ask questions, if a venue is available.

Many religious freedoms go beyond the government not making laws respecting an establishment of religion, and that has various terms such as:

  1. regarding a religious institution, as in about a specific religious organization
  2. Prioritizing religious rules, edicts, tenets, behavioral or membership requirements above government legislation and laws.

This allows the United States a great deal of autonomy, with governance as it only has to focus on establishing laws that represent behavioral norms for different groups; for example as a majority most people don’t steal, assault, harass, or belittle others regardless of religious teachings that encourage the same behaviors or require those behaviors as a condition of membership. Because this is a majority behavior and social norm, things like assault, stealing, and harassing carry government penalties.

Overall, there are 5 Religions that make up the majority of the worlds religions.

  • Christianity, including Catholicism and Judaism
  • Islam, both Sunni and Shiite
  • Buddhism, focused on meditation
  • Hinduism, mostly Brahma, Vishnu, and Ganesh plus Yoga
  • Mindfulness, Spirituality, New Age and Atheism

One of the 5 religions used to be Judaism, which is now included in Christianity as they have the same origins. Also, Judaism only comprises 1% or less of religious affiliations so it wouldn’t make it to top 5 if it weren’t included with Christianity.

The statistical breakdown of these religions is as follows:

  • Christianity – 20% or 33%
  • Islam – 33% or 20%
  • Buddhism – 10% to 12%
  • Hinduism – 12% to 15%
  • Atheism – unkown, likely estimated 10% or more

Religious affiliation has the following data parameters:

Christianity is in decline globally, most notably based on the following events

  • Blog Network Topics – how to tell parents not celebrating Christmas or New Years this year
  • Blog Network Topics – do we owe money for being raised in or near a church
  • Blog Network Topics – discarding religious bondage without resorting to criminal behaviors
  • Blog Network Topics – mental illness in religious teachings and enabling criminal behaviors
  • Blog Network Topics – keeping non criminal behaviors without forced participation in religion
  • Blog Network Topics – departing with Christendom without ending up in jail, broke, penniless, or friendless
  • Christian Affiliation has declined from 90% in 1972 to around 60% in 2022 within the USA – pew research
  • Atheism Affiliations may be has high as 40% to 60% in University environments – independent research
  • Atheism Affiliations may be higher than 90% in many professional environments – independent research

With Islam, the following parameters are worth noting

  • Islam, though primarily to be a Middle Eastern or Arabic religion is popular in Africa and India.
  • Many Indian Islamists have converted from Hinduism and it is likely the most popular religion in India.
    • This is followed Brahma, Vishnu, and Ganesh.
    • And then by Christianity which may have lower membership than other traditional Hindu dialects.

With data collection, the rise of Atheism in the western hemisphere and the increase in Islamic membership in India, there is a debate about the actual numbers with regards to membership, rather than family affiliation or desired religious status. Either way, both religions comprise around 50% of the Earth’s human population; although some feel that number might be more appropriate to be lowered to 40% with the recent rise in Atheism.

Collectively, both religions fall under Abrahamic religions, and there is often a strict requirement for membership even if some church’s have a moderate to lenient standard for guests and visitors. This often falls under misrepresentation, cultural theft, defamation or discrimination and inclusiveness from a governance point of view. Overall, a case can not be deemed discrimination as long as the terms of membership are the same for everyone who wishes to join.

Buddhism has some data parameters to be aware of as well:

  • Mostly focused on meditation and mindfulness.
    • However, Buddhism is not mindfulness as that is its own religion.
  • Atheists and Agnostics can both participate in Buddhism.
    • It does not require acknowledgement of a spiritual entity or being to participate.
  • Many Buddhists do believe in a spirit world and it would be hard to advance in Buddhism without this acknowledgement.
  • Tai Chi and other Martial Arts are popular with Buddhists, this does not require fighting or sparring. Often it is mostly stretching and meditating.
  • There is a merging of Christianity and Buddhism in some parts of the world, mostly focused on meditation and studying, plus moderate exercise and eating healthy.
  • Traditionally, Buddhism with thought to be slightly racist and open only to Asians.
  • Buddhism is now more inclusive but it is popular with many quiet and reserved people even if some people are very loud and a little extroverted compared to the rest of the group.
  • It is currently open to visitors and guests asking about the religions at their temples or participating in learning by purchasing a book on Buddhism.

Hinduism and its data parameters:

  • Most Hindus have gone on to being Indian Muslims.
  • Hinduism has one of the largest vegetarian populations.
  • Yoga is one of the religions from India that is very popular among Atheists for stretching, exercising, warmups, and cool downs.
    • It is popular with very many people, and the stretches have been decoupled from some of the other aspects of the religion.
  • Many religions from India are not too welcoming, as they are complicated, and there are language barriers, plus difficult to learn.
  • Brahma, Vishnu, and Ganesh and seen to have many similarities with Abrahamic religions, the origins of creation, and the trinity or triune g-d.
  • The story of Siddhartha is very similar to the story of Buddha and is a popular Hindu teaching.

Atheism

  • Atheism is often described as the absence of the belief in G-d.
  • Currently the USA has approximately 95 million to 115 million Atheists and that population is thought to be growing and estimated to be a continuing trend.
  • Many Atheists are law abiding, educated, and well mannered. They most often don’t engage in self harm or adverse behaviors.
  • Atheists tend to be moderate to high income earners because financial injury is a form of self harm and often education and good manners lead to better income, nicer living conditions, and more amenities near home, work and the easement along the way which is referred to as a commute by most people.
  • Atheists rarely engage in individual charity or philanthropy as that can turn into a full time job on its own; if services for those below a certain income are available, there are specific organizations that keep track of needs and requirements in an area and report on their performance, results, and outcomes to the rest of the areas inhabitants.
  • Human Rights are often important to atheists as that falls under being law abiding, studious, and educated. Human Rights are things like Civil Rights, The Bill of Rights, UDHR, Safe Harbor, Ex Post Facto, and other rights such as financial, medical, transportation, movement, socialization, and human interaction.
  • Humanitarian Assistance is also important and falls under the law of nations meaning that assistance should not be detrimental to the nation providing aid or assistance.
  • Atheism is growing in Europe and most of the Western Hemisphere and has seen interest in traditionally strict religious regions such as Saudi Arabia, Vatican City, and the Middle East.
  • Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and Temples often seek out atheists when their populations are veering away from religious teaching but their behaviors are not bordering on harassment of others or criminal conduct. Often, there can also be a desire to keep their religious teachings amongst priests, elders, and archives and have a more lenient attendance requirement for guests or visitors.
  • Traditionally religious venues often have an increase in atheist thoughts and attend their religious places of worship mostly for socialization, destressing, and to find safe places outside of work or home to establish friendships and find those with similar interests.

 

Overall, these 5 religions make up 75% to 90% of the Human Earth Population.