Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam in the United States (National Institute)

Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam Compared
Buddhism and Hinduism began in about the same region. Hinduism originated in India so long ago that most historians do not attempt to date it. Buddhism began about 2,500 years ago and spread throughout Asia. Most religious historians view Islam as having been founded in 622 CE [Common Era], originating in Mecca.

The followers of these religions in America have some shared concerns. With exposure to persons of the same religion but from different regions, they discover different forms of cultural expression. They are challenged with the transfer of their native heritage to their offspring who know nothing first-hand of their family’s place of origin and the associated culture and traditions. And in America, they differ both racially and religiously from the majority population of the United States.

World Religions: General Overview Websites
Religious Tolerance - Non-Christian Faith Groups

Religious Tolerance - World Religion

Membership Statistics
The 2001 edition of David Barrett’s World Christian Encyclopedia shows the largest non-Christian organized religious groups in the United States are:

The Religious Tolerance website of lists these among the religious faith groups in the United States, noting that estimates vary greatly:

The same web site provides statistics from a poll in which poll subjects were asked what religion they considered themselves to be, rather than what religion they were actually affiliated with. This poll was conducted during 2001 by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS).

Additional Information About These Religions
For additional information, including finding records, see:


 * Buddhism in the United States (National Institute)
 * Hinduism in the United States (National Institute)
 * Islam in the United States (National Institute)

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