Some religions have harmonized with local cultures and can be seen as a cultural background rather than a formal religion. Additionally, the practice of officially associating a family or household with a religious institute while not formally practicing the affiliated religion is common in many countries.
As of 2010, Christianity was by far the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third (31%) of all 6.9 billion people on Earth. Islam was second, with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23% of the global population.
Although it is the third largest religion in the world, Hinduism exists primarily in India and Nepal. The main texts of Hinduism are the Vedas (considered most important), Upanishadas, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
In doing so they have retained, to an unusually high degree, their distinctive cultural and religious identity. Sikhs are not ubiquitous worldwide in the way that adherents of larger world religions are, and they remain primarily an ethnic religion.
Who are Sikhs? What is Sikhism? ... and necessarily so, as it defines God as gender neutral, perhaps one of the few major world religions to do so.
Different religions can be found all around the world, though the world's largest religions generally fall in one of two major subgroups. These are Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha'i, etc.) and Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, etc.).
The Bahá'í Faith is a medium-sized religion and was listed in The Britannica Book of the Year (1992–present) as the second most widespread of the world's independent religions in terms of the number of countries represented.
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. This complex system of thought includes moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought. It has had a considerable influence on the culture and history of East Asia.
Jainism (/ ˈ dʒ eɪ n ɪ z əm /), traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion. Followers of Jainism are called "Jains", a word derived from the Sanskrit word jina (victor) and connoting the path of victory in crossing over life's stream of rebirths through an ethical and spiritual life.
Shinto has no known founder or single sacred scripture. Shinto is wholly devoted to life in this world and emphasises man's essential goodness.