World religions in Belgium

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of contents

 

 


Judaism Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Sikhism

 

A global view on religions


The most updated statistics show an humanity becoming ever more religious. The number of adherents to great religions rises faster than the world population, whereas the increase of non-religious people and atheists stagnates. The yearly growth of non-religious people (0,8%) and atheists (0,2%) is far below the increase of the world's population (1,2%). Amongst the great religions, Islam is the fastest growing one (2,1%). The growth of Christianity (1,3%) nearly equals the growth of the world's population. The number of adherents to Buddhism increases with 1% on a yearly basis.

Religions in the world
Source: David B. Barret & Tod M. Johnson


The diagram above shows how 33 % of the 6,28 billion world population professes itself as Christian. That is about one third, equalling 2,1 billion of people. One fifth or 21 % of the global population regards itself als being Muslim. This is about 1,3 billion people. 849 million Hindus were counted, measuring up to 14% of the world's population. 371 billion people follow the teachings of the Buddha (5 % of the global population). An estimated number of 939 billion people call themselves non-religious or atheist. They represent 15%. The remaining share (12%) is part of a minor religion or of a religious movement. Amongst these one can find Judaism, Sikkhism and Jainism.

 

Western & Eastern traditions


Traditionally, he different world religions are seperated in Western and Eastern traditions. The Western religions are dominantly monotheïstic. The belief in one God is grounded in the calling of Abraham. Based on this personal and unique relation to God, Judaism emerged. About two thousend years ago a number of jewish groups believed that a certain Jesus of Nazareth was the expected redeemer, the Christ. Out of this idea, Christianity emerged. More than six hundred years later a prophet stood up called Muhammed, giving an own reading of the message received from God. This was the start of Islam. These three religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are known as the 'religions of the book', since they base their faith on a writing (the Torah, the Bible and the Quran) that within the tradition is considered to be a God inspired sediment of Gods revelation.
In the Eastern traditions, a spiritual view on reality is primary, featuring the belief in several Gods. Hinduism is the collective term indicating several traditions dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. During the sevent century C.E., Buddhism emerged; a tradition showing a path to deal with suffering in the world.
A common characteristic of religions is that they are constantly in flux. Adherents evolve and try to give a contemporary understanding of the relationship towards their God(s) by relating to new ideas. The result being that each of these five religions has a complex history, characterised by evolution, separation and diverse groups. Sikhihsm and Jainism emerged from Hinduism, but went their own ways.

Judaism Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Sikhism

Background Information


>BARETT, D.B. & JOHNSON, T.M., World Christian Encyclopedia. A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, 2 dln., Oxford, 20012.
An encylcopedia not to be missed with a lot of statistical information on religions in the world.

ELIADE, M. (ed.), The Encyclopaedia of Religion (16 dln.), Londen - New York, 1987.
This encyclopedia on the phenomenon of religion remains unchallenged.

OXTOBY, W.G., World Religions. Western Traditions, Oxford, 20022.
------------, World Religions. Eastern Traditions, Oxford, 20022.
An excellent guide containing a short but commented and very decent international bibliography for each tradition.

SMART, N. (ed.), Wereldatlas van religies, Keulen, 2000.
Very good atlas with numerous insightful maps.

Links

National

International

  • Links to Multifaith and Religion Sites
    numerous links to religions and religious movements from over the world. Pages composed by Rowan Fairgrove, minister in Interfaith/Multifaith groups in San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Church and Ecumenical Organizations
    Comprehensive list with links (both churches and non-christian religions), composed by the World Council of Churches.
  • Multifaithnet
    Splendid and very useful webpage containing information and weblinks on different world religions and interreligious dialogue, put together by the University of Derby (UK).
  • religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/
    Information on more than 100 different religions and religious movements, put together by the University of Virginia
  • www.bbc.co.uk/religion and news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/wtwtgod/default.stm
    All sorts of news on religious matters with numerous links to different religions, composed by the BBC
  • Sociosite
    Splendid collection of links on religion (but also on very different subjects) composed by the department of sociology of the University of Amsterdam.
  • Vada
    Portal site to the multicultural world: 59.000 links to religion, native and other peoples, human rights, migrants etc. The VADA foundation (For Allochtonous People, By Allochtonous People) aims at integrating migrants in the Dutch society. (in Dutch)
  • www.cesnur.org/
    Website of CESNUR, the independent centre on new religious movements