Polytheism is the term used to describe a religion whose followers believe in more than one deity. Based on what we currently understand about early societies every single religion was polytheistic before the arrival of Judaism in the near east of Asia and Zoroastrianism in the middle east of Asia. An example of a modern day religion that is polytheistic is Hinduism.

The three major branches of Christianity are Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. For the first almost one thousand years of the Christian faith Roman Catholicism was the major branch adhered to by almost all followers of Christianity. In the eleventh century (1054 to be specific) the Great Schism occurred. This fractured Christianity between a western church, Roman Catholicism, centered in Rome, and an eastern church, Eastern Orthodoxy, centered first in Constantinople and later in Moscow. In the sixteenth century (1517 to be specific) the Protestant Reformation began in Europe and soon Western Europe was further divided into Protestantism and Catholicism. As European colonial power extended around the world the various invading nations took their particular branch of Christianity with them, thus entrenching Catholicism in South America and Protestantism in North America (to provide just two examples).

Atheism, or the belief in no deity and no religious observance, is most commonly followed in Europe. In some European countries more than half of all people report having no religious beliefs whatsoever. This is slightly less common in Asia where regional differences are extreme (it is worth noting that there are some very atheistic countries in Asia, usually countries that have undergone a period of Communism). It is much less common in North America where religious devotion is more commonplace than in Europe. It is extremely uncommon in Africa and South America where Christianity and Islam, as well as local religions, hold places of great importance in the lives of most communities and individuals.

Confucianism is sometimes described as a philosophy and sometimes as a religion, but it is probably most correct to say it has elements of both. It emerged from the teachings of the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius about five hundred years before the birth of Christ. Confucianism differs from most other major religions in that it focuses primarily on the earthly realm, rather than the spiritual, and preaches loyalty and obedience to the family and to the state.

Christianity’s global reach is immense with a combined membership of slightly over two billion people. It is the only coordinating major religion of South America and dominant in Eastern Europe. It is not the majority region of East Asia or Oceania, but its membership in these regions still falls in the tens to hundreds of millions (China alone has over fifty million Christians). Out of these options only North Africa has a tiny proportion of Christians versus the total number of religious people. In Islamic parts of the world (and to a lesser degree Hindu and Buddhist) Christianity is observed in very small numbers.

Universalizing religions, as opposed to local religions, are religions that are primarily defined by the attempt to unite all people in the world under the banner of one religious belief. They can also be defined simply by the belief that all people should be united under the banner of one religious belief. Local religions are usually followed by people in a very small geographic range.

Many of the early European settlers in North America were religious dissidents, fleeing persecution in Europe. They were, almost exclusively, Protestants (although of different denominations). When the United States was formed and the American frontier began to spread ever westward the advancing settlers carried their notions of religious freedom with them and Protestantism exploded in America in an unprecedented fashion. Although it is true that Catholicism and Islam have their adherents in America, they are in the minority, and besides the popularity of Catholicism in Europe and South America, and Islam in North Africa and the Middle East, should tell you that the spread of these religions in America could not be considered “unprecedented.”

Of these answer choices only baptism is not one of the five pillars of Islam. Baptism is an important sacrament in Catholicism and many Protestant denominations of Christianity. The five pillars of Islam provide guidance to Muslims on how to live their daily lives. They consist of prayer, pilgrimage, charity, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and testimony of faith.

Buddhism has its origins in Northern India, but is not the dominant religion of India (that title falls to Hinduism). Buddhism is, however, dominant in Southeast Asia, in countries like Thailand.

Shamanism is a term used by cultural geographers to refer to a specific form of local religion that exists in many different parts of the world and has been a part of human society for countless thousands of years. In religious that fit under the umbrella of Shamanism a member of a local community, or sometimes all members of that community, can actively convene with the spiritual world; can ask the spirits for guidance or assistance or approval. Often rituals in Shamanism take the form of the inhalation or ingestion of hallucinogenic drugs that are assumed to be a conduit to the Gods by the community.