Of the world’s 8 major religions (Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism), all but Buddhism recognize the existence of God. Buddhism does not forbid a belief in God. Buddhists are free to believe what they want about God and worship where they want – even in faith-based houses of worship. Buddhism, however, does not have belief in God as a central tenet of the religion. Buddhists are free to supplement the virtues of Buddhism with a belief in, and even worship of, God.

    The other seven of the world’s eight major religions all believe in God (although Jainism belief about God is so vastly different from that of the other religions).  A comparison of each of the religion’s belief’s about God, the extent to which various religions have similar beliefs about God, and whether such similarity, if any, means they are recognizing the same God will soon be addressed in our Tough Topics section on this website. 

     All of the world’s eight major religions originated in the eastern and middle eastern part of the world. However, there were also ancient religions in the western world, for example those of native Americans at the time of European exploration. Similarly, what is now Mexico, central America and South America, also practiced religions (for example the Aztec and Mayan religions).  All of these held beliefs about God or gods.  Furthermore, the same is true of ancient Africa. Before the introduction of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, forms of polytheism (the belief in many gods) was common.

     In fact, religion and beliefs in and about God go far back into ancient human history.  Although these beliefs vary over time and culture and the way they are practiced, it seems that something deep in human consciousness knows, and has always known, of the existence of a supreme, transcendent and eternal being – by whatever name he was referred to and in whatever form he was believed to exist in.

      Of  course, that almost all of the major religions have as it core tenets a belief in God, is not to say that all religions are the same.  It is to say, that somehow across the centuries and civilizations and cultures, a belief in God is wonderfully pervasive.  Since that is the case, perhaps there is something about human constitution – the way we were made – that innately knows of God’s reality.