Joanne O’Brien has worked for more than twenty years as a writer, researcher, and commentator on religious issues. She also heads the CIRCA RELIGION Photo Library. Martin Palmer heads the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture (ICOREC) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC). He is also a broadcaster for the BBC. Their other books include Religions of the World and Festivals of the World.
In the same series:
“Unique and uniquely beautiful. . . . A single map here tells us more about the world today than a dozen abstracts or scholarly tomes.” — Los Angeles Times “A striking new approach to cartography. . . . No one wishing to keep a grip on the reality of the world should be without these books.” — International Herald Tribune
the Atlas of Religion
Joanne O’Brien and Martin Palmer Consultant Editor David B Barrett
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Oakland, California Text copyright © Joanne O’Brien and Martin Palmer 2007 Maps, graphics and original concept copyright © Myriad Editions Limited 2007 All rights reserved The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Cataloging-in-publication data for this title is on file with the Library of Congress. ISBN-13: 978-0-520-24917-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN (ebk): 978-0-520-96679-6 Produced for the University of California Press by Myriad Editions Limited Brighton, UK www.myriadeditions.com Directed by Candida Lacey Edited by Jannet King and Candida Lacey with Sadie Mayne Maps created by Isabelle Lewis Design and graphics by Isabelle Lewis and Corinne Pearlman Proofread by Elizabeth Wyse This ebook edition has been created using CircularFLO from Circular Software This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 9 Part One BEGINNINGS 12 Popular Religions 14 Allegiance to a single religion is professed by at least two-thirds of the population in more than 80% of the world’s states. Arrivals 16 The rise of the missionary religions and seaborne trade has greatly influenced the religious map of the world. Roots and Branches 18 Yesterday’s revolution can be today’s orthodoxy. Some new movements have grown to become the most popular religion in a state. Part Two BELIEFS 20 Christianity 22 Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with more than 2.1 billion adherents worldwide, and more than 33,000 denominations. Islam 24 There are 1.34 billion Muslims worldwide, 20% of the world’s population. Islam is the state religion of 25 countries. Hinduism 26 Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, with over 950 million Hindus worldwide. Almost all live in South Asia, with the majority in India, where over 80% of people are Hindu. Buddhism 28 More than half the world’s population live in countries where Buddhism is now, or has been, dominant. During the 20th century, Buddhism was subject to greater suppression than at any time in its history. Judaism 30 There are over 13 million Jews worldwide, more than 5 million of whom live in Israel. Sikhism 32 There are 24 million Sikhs worldwide. Over 90% live in India, mainly in the Punjab. Traditional Beliefs 34 There are more than 250 million adherents of traditional beliefs worldwide. There are also many who belong to a major world religion while continuing to hold traditional local beliefs. Catholicism 36 There are more than 1 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. 200,000 schools, serving more than 52 million students, operate under Catholic Church auspices.
Contents
New Religious Movements 38 The migration of people and ideas fosters new religious movements. Most, but not all, have their origin in a major world religion. Many are very localized, while a few are now international. New Departures 40 As indigenous religions have spread, they have blended with traditions encountered en route or at their destination. The