Major Branches of Islam and Buddhism
Danyel Jackson
Major Branches of Islam and Buddhism
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/islamic-sects-schools-branches-movements/
Identify the major branches of Islam and Buddhism. (Explain each in great detail)
Islam:
The 2 major branches of Islamic religion is Sunni and Shiite. Sunni means “Following the people of Muhammad.” 83% of muslims are Sunnis and are the biggest branch in most muslim countries; Southwest Asia and North Africa. The Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the Muslim ummah (community) before his death, and after an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique, Muhammad's close friend and a father-in-law, as the first caliph of Islam.
Shiite, in arabic, means sectarian. They are sometimes called Shias. They made up around 16%. 30% of all shiites live in Iran, 15% reside in Pakistan, and 10% are in Iraq. Shiites are more populous in Iran but less in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman and Bahrain. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the first of these Imams and was the rightful successor to Muhammad, and thus reject the legitimacy of the first three Rashidun caliphs.
Buddhism:
Buddhism is a religion coupled into East Asia and Southeast Asia. Buddhism is split into branches.
Mahayana’- mahayanists make up 56% of buddhists mostly in China, Korea, and Japan.Mahayana Buddhists, on the other hand, hope to become not arhats but boddhisatvas, saints who have become enlightened but who unselfishly delay nirvana to help others attain it as well, as the Buddha did. Mahayana Buddhists further teach that enlightenment can be attained in a single lifetime, and this can be accomplished even by a layperson.
Theravada- They make up 38% of Buddhists mostly in Cambofia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.Theravada Buddhists strive to become arhats, or perfected saints who have attained enlightenment and nirvana. This is considered to only be possible for monks and nuns, who devote their entire lives to the task. The best outcome the laity can hope for is to be reborn in the monastic life.
Vajrayana- Vajrayanists(lamaists) and Tanytayanists, sum up about 6% and are found primarily in Tibet and Mongolia.The Mahayana concept of of bodhisattvas. That is, one's personal goal is not to achieve Nirvana. It is to almost achieve enlightenment, but to make the decision to return to the world in their next reincarnation in order to help others reach enlightenment.
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Islam:
The 2 major branches of Islamic religion is Sunni and Shiite. Sunni means “Following the people of Muhammad.” 83% of muslims are Sunnis and are the biggest branch in most muslim countries; Southwest Asia and North Africa. The Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the Muslim ummah (community) before his death, and after an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique, Muhammad's close friend and a father-in-law, as the first caliph of Islam.
Shiite, in arabic, means sectarian. They are sometimes called Shias. They made up around 16%. 30% of all shiites live in Iran, 15% reside in Pakistan, and 10% are in Iraq. Shiites are more populous in Iran but less in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman and Bahrain. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the first of these Imams and was the rightful successor to Muhammad, and thus reject the legitimacy of the first three Rashidun caliphs.
Buddhism:
Buddhism is a religion coupled into East Asia and Southeast Asia. Buddhism is split into branches.
Mahayana’- mahayanists make up 56% of buddhists mostly in China, Korea, and Japan.Mahayana Buddhists, on the other hand, hope to become not arhats but boddhisatvas, saints who have become enlightened but who unselfishly delay nirvana to help others attain it as well, as the Buddha did. Mahayana Buddhists further teach that enlightenment can be attained in a single lifetime, and this can be accomplished even by a layperson.
Theravada- They make up 38% of Buddhists mostly in Cambofia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.Theravada Buddhists strive to become arhats, or perfected saints who have attained enlightenment and nirvana. This is considered to only be possible for monks and nuns, who devote their entire lives to the task. The best outcome the laity can hope for is to be reborn in the monastic life.
Vajrayana- Vajrayanists(lamaists) and Tanytayanists, sum up about 6% and are found primarily in Tibet and Mongolia.The Mahayana concept of of bodhisattvas. That is, one's personal goal is not to achieve Nirvana. It is to almost achieve enlightenment, but to make the decision to return to the world in their next reincarnation in order to help others reach enlightenment.
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