How many religions are there in the world right now?

Question

I'm not sure exactly how specific an answer I can get. I mean, I would consider Mormons a separate religion from most Protestant religions, but I would probably put, say, Lutherans and Methodists in the same category. I would assume most religions have numerous denominations, as well.

I'm not trying to start a big religious debate, I'd just like an estimate, preferably with a website for reference.

Answer 1

A comparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200," there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many smaller ones. 34,000 separate Christian groups have been identified in the world. "Over half of them are independent churches that are not interested in linking with the big denominations." 13 Most people in the world follow one of the religions listed in the table below. Included is the name of the religion, the approximate date of its origin, its main sacred or ethical texts (if any) and its estimated numerical strength (both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the world's population.)
Hope that helps! :-)

Answer 2

I have just so much time to spend on this earth, and I'm not
gonna worry about how many Religions, there are on earth,
because, I wanna use my ''time'', to be who and what the
Lord, wants me to be, and I wanna do ''what he wants me
to do'', and Wherever He Leads...I wanna be there....
and hopefully, touch those Pearly Gates, and have the
Privilege of Entering that doorway. for a Life of Eternity.
No matter how many religions there are, or what color our
skin is, or at what age we die...the Lord is there, if we
choose, to have Him there.
Each State has a Conference Headquarters. Check it
Out, and form your own opinion.
Where is your head?
No Religion, No Congregtion, is Separate from Any Other,
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL, BENEATH THE HEAVENS
WHICH THE CREATOR, PUT INTO PLACE, AS A COVER-
ING, OVER ALL HE HAD CREATED, and Everything
He hath Made, is beneath, THAT UMBRELLA OF HEAVEN,
The Lord can be with anyone, in any Religion, in any church
building, or on the Mountain, and along the Highways of
Life.
I've often thought about building a Small Church, Big enough
for perhaps 2 or 3 people, BECAUSE WHERE THERE
ARE 2 OR MORE, GATHERED TOGETHER, IN MY NAME
I AM THERE ALSO.
Wouldn't that be a Neat Church.....A Pastor, An Elder and
a ''one person'' congregation?
The Utilities would sure not be very expensive.

Answer 3

There's at least 12 major religions, and most of them can have 2-6 denominations. There are also cults not associated with any religion and small indigenous religions. All in all, I would say there are at least 50 religions in the world. Perhaps more.

Answer 4

22 major religions. They are, by # of adherents:

1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.3 billion
3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism: 900 million
5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
6. Buddhism: 376 million
7. primal-indigenous: 300 million
8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
9. Sikhism: 23 million
10. Juche: 19 million
11. Spiritism: 15 million
12. Judaism: 14 million
13. Baha'i: 7 million
14. Jainism: 4.2 million
15. Shinto: 4 million
16. Cao Dai: 4 million
17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
18. Tenrikyo: 2 million
19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
22. Scientology: 500 thousand

Answer 5

A ton of them:
Catholic
Lutheran
Methodist
Protestant
Agnostic
Atheist - if you count that
Buddhism
Hinduism
Shinto
Mormon
Islam
Muslim
Many Native Americans (this is true in Central America as well as the US) practice a mixture of Catholicism and their own traditional religions.
I'm probably missing a lot, this is just what I can think of off the top of my head.

Answer 6

There is no way to tell, if for no other reason than that there is no consistent way to count them. Is Lutheran, Missouri Synod, to be counted as the same or different from any other flavor of Lutheran? If you count all the variations, there surely are thousands.

Answer 7

i would say hundreds or even thousands. The Five Major Religions of the world are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism.

Answer 8

With all of their sects, religions now total over 1500 different ones.

Answer 9

Two: IMPure Religion and Pure Religion

Answer 10

There's numerous religions (maybe thousands).