Faith: The facts

For Christians, it's the holiest weekend of the year. But what are the traditions and beliefs of the world's other great religions? Oliver Duff and Louise Jack get to grips with the fundamentals

CHRISTIANITY

Age: 2,000 years old

Based: Americas, Europe, Russia, Africa and Asia

SUPREME BEING

One single eternal, omniscient, omnipotent being who exists as three "persons" (the Holy Trinity): the Father, the Son (Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, who died on the cross to save mankind) and the Holy Spirit.

CREATION STORY

God created the universe from nothing in six days and six nights, according to the Book of Genesis. This is why the seventh day, Sunday, became the Sabbath, or day of rest.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Worship involves praising God through hymns, readings, sermons and prayers. Prayer means surrendering to God's will, recognising his good work and the need for his forgiveness. Catholics also petition certain saints or the Blessed Virgin Mary for intercession. Christians can worship in groups in churches or on their own anywhere.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Lent, a time for fasting and reflection on the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Easter rejoices over the disciples' discovery that Jesus had been resurrected.

MEANING OF LIFE

To live by Jesus' teachings and life, loving God and one's neighbour, in order to reach heaven, a place of peace with no sickness or death.

THE AFTERLIFE

The day of judgement at the end of time will see all people rise from the dead in the general resurrection. Souls will be cast into the eternal realms of either heaven or hell. Catholics may spend time in purgatory first for purification. Christians will undergo bodily resurrection and enter God's kingdom. Everyone else will go to hell.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

There are 2.16 billion Christians worldwide - with the fastest growth in Asia - and some 41 million in the UK. They include: Pope Benedict XVI, George Bush, Cliff Richard, Mel Gibson, Evander Holyfield and Tom Hanks.

ISLAM

Age: 1,400 years old (revealed to Mohamed, the last of the prophets, in AD610)

Based: Middle East, Asia and Africa

SUPREME BEING

There is only one God, Allah, and he only is worthy of worship. He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and pictures or statues of Allah are prohibited, since he is wholly spirit and has no form or sex. He rewards and punishes fairly but is merciful.

CREATION STORY

Allah created the universe and its natural order with a single word - "Be!". The Koran says that creation is ongoing.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Ritual prayer and recitation of the Koran, five times a day, to communicate with Allah. Often takes place in a mosque. Inside Muslims remove their shoes, wash and sit together on the floor - equal in status - facing Mecca.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Ramadan, a month of fasting when adult Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex between dawn and dusk. The Haj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, expected to be made at least once in a lifetime. Eid al-Adha marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca and Eid al-Fitr breaks the fast at the end of Ramadan.

MEANING OF LIFE

To submit (Islam means "submission") to the will of Allah in order to reach paradise.

THE AFTERLIFE

Al-akhirah, life after death, is fundamental to Islamic belief. If Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Faith they will enter Janat - heaven. Suicide bombers will not go to Janat, but Jihadis will be fast-tracked in. Non-believers go to hell.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

1.34 billion worldwide, 1.6 million in the UK. They include: Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani (the most senior Shia cleric in Iraq), Muhammad Ali, Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam), Mike Tyson, Richard Thompson, Shaquille O'Neal.

JUDAISM

Age: 3,500 years old

Based: Israel, United States and, less so, Europe

SUPREME BEING

There is only one God and he is omniscient, omnipotent, transcendent, benevolent, accessible and fair. He struck a covenant with the Jewish people, choosing to reveal his laws and commandments to them in the form of the Torah, and to set an example of virtuous behaviour on Earth.

CREATION STORY

Judaism and Christianity share the Old Testament story of creation: God created the earth and universe in six days and nights. The Shabbat (Sabbath) is from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday: with no working; just time for worship and family.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Jews are supposed to pray three times a day to build their faith and relationship with God. There are prayers of thanksgiving and praise, and prayers requesting things. Emphasis on the community means prayers use "we" and "our" rather than "I" and "mine". Study and public prayer take place in a synagogue.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most sombre day in the calendar, when the fates of all Jews are sealed for the coming year; Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year; Chanukah (the Festival of Lights in December); and Pesach (Passover in March/April, commemorating Moses freeing the Israelites).

MEANING OF LIFE

Material pleasures are pleasant and a gift from God but they do not compare to the task of living the Jewish faith, showing mankind a holy existence which adds meaning to life.

THE AFTERLIFE

Judaism is less prescriptive on the afterlife than other faiths, but the soul is eternal so physical death is not the end of human existence. Those who have followed the teachings of the Torah and led a good life go to heaven - less an afterlife and more a "life after life".

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

There are 14 million worldwide, 300,000 in the UK - the vast majority in Israel or the US. They include: Woody Allen, Stephen Spielberg, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Maureen Lipman and Henry Kissinger.

HINDUISM

Age: 3,000 years old

Based: India and Nepal

SUPREME BEING

Many think that Hindus worship numerous gods but, on the contrary, Hindus believe that the universal soul, Brahman, is present in all things. They recognise other gods, such as Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva, as different manifestations of Brahman.

CREATION STORY

The Hindu creator god Brahma is the Divine Ground of all being, the foundation and cause of all existence. He is no longer worshipped, one reason being that his work as creator is complete.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Hindu worship is an individual act and involves offerings to the deities. People's homes often have shrines where families worship images. In Hindu temples, the central shrine represents the heart of the worshipper and the tower is the journey to heaven.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Hindu festivals are often linked with solar and lunar cycles. The more significant ones are: Diwali, the festival of light that celebrates New Year between late October and early November and Navaratri (nine nights), which symbolises the triumph of good over evil.

MEANING OF LIFE

Hindus believe that a natural social hierarchy exists and call this the caste system. Over many centuries, a complex system of castes has developed in India. These are exclusive social groups defined by birth, marriage and occupation.

THE AFTERLIFE

Karma is one of the central Hindu beliefs. Hindus believe the soul has successive lives and the next incarnation is dependent on how the previous life was lived. Therefore, if you behave badly in one life, the next life is likely to be more unpleasant .

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

Hinduism is the third most popular religion in the world with 877,126,000 followers. It is based in India where about 80 percent of the population are Hindus. In the 2001 census, 558,342 people identified themselves as Hindu in England and Wales. One of the most noted Hindus was Mahatma Gandhi.

BUDDHISM

Age: 2,500 years old

Based: South Asia

SUPREME BEING

Buddhism is different from many other faiths, in that it is not centred on a relationship between humanity and a god or gods. Instead it focuses on spiritual growth.

CREATION STORY

Buddhism does not have a creation story similar to other religions. Instead, the world is timeless, undergoing constant change. The mind and the five senses create the world for each human being.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

There are many different customs in different parts of the world but there are two that are common to all. First is mediation. This is intended to promote wisdom and compassion. Second is the exchange of gifts known as Theravada, a tradition of giving to one another and to good causes.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Wesak is the most significant festival and is celebrated on the full moon in May. Parinirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist festival that marks the death of the Buddha.Losar, celebrates the Tibetan New Year.

MEANING OF LIFE

Buddhism does not demand faith or belief but instead says that people should test its teachings against their experience. This path to enlightenment is sought through mediation and the development of wisdom. It teaches that all life is connected and so compassion and tolerance are important.

THE AFTERLIFE

Buddhists believe that consciousness continues after death and finds expression in a future life. Like other Eastern religions, the nature of this future life is governed by the actions of past lives. This is known as karma.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

There are 382,155,000 Buddhists worldwide. In the 2001 census, 149,157 people classified themselves as Buddhist in England and Wales. There are many celebrities who identify themselves as Buddhists including Richard Gere, Jackie Chan, Goldie Hawn, Keanu Reeves and Philip Glass.

SIKHISM

Age: 500 years old

Based: India

SUPREME BEING

Sikhism is a monotheistic, which states there is only one god, who is the same for all religions. They say that everyone has the same direct access to god and therefore, all are equal.

CREATION STORY

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak. His message, "Ek Ong Kar", is that we are all one, created by the one creator of all creation.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Sikh men are easily identified by their beards and turbans, which are an outward sign of their religious identity. The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Vaisakhi is the Sikh New Year festival and also commemorates 1699, the year Sikhism was born. It usually falls on April 13 or 14. Gurpurbs are festivals that are associated with the lives of the Gurus. Divali, the Festival of Light, comes at the end of October or early November. It's a festival that Sikhs and Hindus both celebrate.

MEANING OF LIFE

Sikhs believe that the most important thing is the internal spiritual condition of an individual. They do not think that religion should be practised by withdrawing from the world in monastic orders. Instead they think that religion should be practised in everyday living and to deal with ordinary problems.

THE AFTERLIFE

In common with other Eastern religions, Sikhs believe in a cycle of life, birth and rebirth. This painful cycle can only be ended when total knowledge and union with god is achieved.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

There are 25,731,000 worldwide. In England and Wales 336,179 people were classed as Sikh in the 2001 census. Some well-known Sikhs: Gurinder Chadha (director of Bend it Like Beckham), the actress Parminda Nagra, golfer Vijay Singh and Meera Syal.

ZOROASTRIANISM

Age: 3,500 years old

Based: India (where they are known as Parsis) and Iran (it was founded in Persia)

SUPREME BEING

There is only one God (Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions). He is called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), and, through the prophet, Zoroaster, he invited all humans to choose between Good and Evil.

CREATION STORY

Ahura Mazda created the world, while his adversary, Angra Mainyu, created evil, sickness and sin.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

The presence of a sacred fire of Ever-Burning Flame is critical, as a symbol of purity. Prayer happens several times a day, but the ethic of "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" is more important. Early Zoroastrians prayed using fire; the building now used for communal worship is known as a Fire Temple or Agiary.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

The Zoroastrian calendar is packed with obligatory feasts, holy days and festivals. Among them are the six Gahanbars (feasts marking the changing seasons), Noruz (marking the Zoroastrian New Year) and Zoroaster's Birthday.

MEANING OF LIFE

Life is a cosmic struggle, choices of whether to follow Good over Evil; thoughts, words and deeds in life affect the soul's eternal destiny. When man chooses Good, Evil will be defeated. All creation will be purified and become a paradise.

THE AFTERLIFE

After a traditional "sky burial", in which the body is devoured by vultures, the soul enters heaven or hell depending on the balance of choices made in life.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

2.6 million worldwide, 90,000 in the UK - the majority in India, Iran and Pakistan, with some in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. One of the most prominent Zoroastrians is Dr Farhang Mehr, emeritus professor of International Relations at Boston University. Freddie Mercury was Zoroastrian, through his parents who were Parsis.

RASTAFARIANISM

Age: 75 years old

Based: Mainly in Jamaica and the Caribbean

SUPREME BEING

Rastafari is a young, Africa-centred religion that developed in Jamaica following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia in 1930. He is accepted as Jah (the Rastafari name for God incarnate). It became internationally visible when reggae music took off in the 1960s. The faith can now be found all around the world.

CREATION STORY

Rastafari is an afrocentric religion whose main theology centres on Haile Selassie being accepted as God and does not have a specific concept related to creation. They do, however, follow a number of old Testament Laws.

CUSTOMS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Rastafarians follow strict dietary laws, avoiding meat (especially pork) and abstaining from alcohol. They do not cut their hair (or anything on the body) and twist it into the distinctive dreadlocks. Rastafari religious practice includes the ritual inhalation of marijuana to increase spiritual awareness, it is seen as having religious significance.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

There are various days celebrating Haile Selassie and Ethiopia. For example; Selassie's birthday on 23 July, his coronation on 2 November.

MEANING OF LIFE

Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return to Africa those living in exile as the result of colonisation and the slave trade. This theology developed from a prophecy allegedly made by Marcus Garvey, a political activist, who wanted to improve the status of black people.

THE AFTERLIFE

Rastafarians believe reincarnation follows death and that life is eternal.

FAMOUS FOLLOWERS

There are roughly 1 million people who identify themselves as Rastafari but this is often in a social sense rather than a religious one. In the 2001 census 5,000 people classed themselves as Rastafari in England and Wales. The most famous Rastafarian was the singer Bob Marley.