ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a background acquaintance with at least some of the religions of the world. By providing a description of some of the various religions of the world, it presents a common background for the discussion of the problems and issues addressed by philosophy of religion. Hinduism is the main religion of the Indian subcontinent, although many today who can properly be classed as Hindu would not use either Hinduism or Hindu to label themselves. Buddhism has taken many forms over the centuries, interacting with various cultures as it spread from India over Southeast Asia to China and Japan. Judaism is one of the three Abrahamic religions whose heritages traditionally reach back to Abraham. Islam is the youngest of the world religions, having been founded in the seventh century of the Common Era. It is also the youngest of the three Abrahamic religions, the other two being Judaism and Christianity.
