Persuasive Essay On World Religion

Religion has and always will be a controversial topic across the world. There are approximately 4,200 practicing religions in the world today. Religion typically is passed down from generation to generation in different societies. For example, here in Mississippi, we are in the region commonly known as the “Bible Belt.” There is a church found almost everywhere in the area, and the dominant religion is Christianity. However, if you were to go to Salt Lake City, Utah, the majority of people there would be Mormon. What I was interested in seeing is what some of the major religions were and what those particular faiths believe, so I have done research on Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Since religion is so complex in depth of information, I have simply narrowed down my discussion to their history and general beliefs.

There are approximately 360 million Buddhists worldwide, and over one million American Buddhists currently. Buddhism is based mostly on the teachings of an Indian prince named Siddharta Gautama who lived around 500 BCE (Before Common Era). According to Buddhist tradition, the sheltered young prince was shocked by the suffering he saw outside the palace walls, so he left his luxurious life to seek answers. He eventually did succeed and became known as Buddha, or “Enlightened One.” Buddhists believe in gods, ancestors, and the afterlife, but their most important belief is based on suffering and how to escape and end it. One general doctrine agreed upon by Buddhists is the following: “We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.” However, disbelief in a creator God does not mean that Buddhism is atheistic. They do not consider themselves atheistic. (“Buddhism – ReligionFacts,”