![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_651d561199a8a.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b7a4cc1.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7bf849dd.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7bb62c0a.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7ca171d4.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c62e7dd.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c6eb2a9.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7be756db.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7bc86c2e.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c0ad01f.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7bf5da09.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c188c56.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7cb9af3c.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c7d9f29.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c59a0e8.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b0db9bb.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c34dccd.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c44822d.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b5ac758.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b6797ff.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7ba7de39.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7cd033bc.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b0dc3bb.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7ca14776.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b92578c.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7c97ab3e.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b692fac.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7af3956f.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b046700.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b0b3665.jpg)
![Common misconceptions about different world religions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_63c6c7b1225a3.jpg)
See Also
See Again
Common misconceptions about different world religions
- Indeed, practically every religion has developed misconceptions over time. These misconceptions are often based on faulty or mistaken beliefs, or they're simply the failure to understand these religions properly. Not only are these myths off base, they've also created conflicts and prejudice against believers. From the Abrahamic religions to Hinduism and Buddhism, let's debunk their biggest misconceptions. Click on for more.
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
All Christians believe in the same thing
- From Catholics to Protestants and Orthodox Christians, indeed Christians are divided into hundreds of denominations, thousands of churches, and endless communities. Therefore, apart from the belief that Jesus is divine, conformity and uniformity are uncommon.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Jesus was born on December 25
- Although most Christians celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus, the actual date isn't stated in the gospels or in any other historical sources.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Christianity is anti-science
- Christianity is often stereotyped as being anti-science, but in reality many Christians embrace science and its discoveries. In fact, some Christians even accept certain scientific beliefs on top of their faith, like environmentalism and evolution.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
The Bible was written by Jesus
- The Bible is actually a collection of many books that were written by multiple, mostly unknown authors.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Christians aren't allowed to have fun
- A common misconception is that Christians aren't allowed to have fun. Sure, they might have to stay away from sinful things, but fun and sin are not always synonymous.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Christians go to church only on Sundays
- While the majority of Christian denominations hold church services on Sundays, a number of traditions have mid-week Wednesday evening services as well.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery if they have a tattoo
- While there is a phrase in Leviticus (19:28) that opposes tattoos, not everyone adheres to every practice, and many Jews do have body art.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Jews believe in heaven and hell
- Jews don't believe in hell. Instead, some believe in Gehinnom, where the soul is cleansed for up to 12 months prior to being accepted into heaven. However, it's not a place for punishment. Heaven is also very different, as there's no structural concept like in other faiths.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't work on the Sabbath
- Shabbat falls between sundown on Friday and an hour after sundown on Saturday. During this time, a Jew is not supposed to do any kind of work. However, this practice isn't observed by everyone, especially secular Jews.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't eat pork
- Eating pork is only prohibited for Jews who keep kosher, which is a choice that not all Jews make. For example, in Israel only approximately 36% of secular Jews keep kosher.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Jews don't believe in a Messiah
- Contrary to Christians, Jews don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Instead, they believe that Messiah will come from the Davidic line, the familial line of King David, and rule over the Jewish people.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
The Old Testament is the Jewish Bible
- In truth, Jews follow the teachings of the Talmud and Tanakh, which are made up of the Torah, Nevi’im, and K’tuvim. The Old Testament is only made up of parts of these books.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Muslim women have no rights
- Many countries across the world, including Islamic countries, have patriarchal cultures, which are often socially constructed. Islam as a religion, on the other hand, actually preaches equality of the sexes.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Muslims worship a different God
- Many people believe that Allah is a specific Islamic deity, but in reality it just means God in Arabic. Christian Arabs even use the word Allah when referring or praying to God. And since Islam is an Abrahamic religion, Muslims therefore believe in the same God as Christians and Jews.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
All Muslims are Arabs
- Far from the truth. Out of the 1.6 billion Muslims living worldwide, over 60% of them are from South and Southeast Asia. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country. Also, not all Arabs are Muslims either.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Muslim men are encouraged to practice polygamy
- While many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities, the practice is actually rare and often looked down upon. Many Muslims even consider it an outdated tradition.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Muslims starve for an entire month every year
- Ramadan is a month in which Muslims partake in various charitable and religious activities, the most prominent of which is fasting from sunrise to sunset. But that doesn't mean they don't eat or drink during the whole month. Abstaining from food and drink only takes place during daylight hours, which usually ends with a big feast at sunset.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
All Muslims are the same
- Like in most religions, there are many sects of Islam. The two major branches are Sunni and Shi'a, but there are also thousands of subgroups with different doctrines.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Hindus worship cows
- Hindus don't pray to cows, but they do regard all creation and all life as sacred. Cows are especially sacred, as they're seen as gentle, maternal figures who provide milk. That’s why Hindus refrain from eating beef.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Hindu women wearing red dots on their foreheads are married
- That red dot is actually a bindi, and indeed it was once a symbol of marriage for Hindu women. But today it is largely decorative.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
There are 330 million Hindu gods
- In Hinduism, there is only one supreme God that can't be fully known or understood. However, Hindus are encouraged to relate to God in the way that suits them best. For example, like worshiping many deities who are believed to be manifestations of God.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
All Hindus are vegetarians
- In reality, a majority of Hindus do eat meat. But about 30% don't. This stems from a fundamental belief in ahimsa, the principle of non-violence.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
The Bhagavad Gita is like the Bible
- Though Hinduism is rich in scripture with a vast collection of ancient religious writings, it doesn't have a central, authoritative book.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Hinduism supports a discriminatory caste system
- Caste discrimination is rooted not in religion, but in culture. A social hierarchy passed down through families, many modern Hindus have argued that caste-based discrimination isn't intrinsic to Hinduism. Therefore, it shouldn't be thought of as religiously sanctioned.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Reincarnation is the Buddhist version of the afterlife
- Reincarnation means being reborn into the material, mortal world. This constant cycle of unsatisfactory striving and life and death is called samsara. The escape from this is nirvana. And Buddhists don’t know what happens after consciousness "escapes."
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Buddha was a human being, not a god, and the religion he founded has no place for the worship of gods
- Actually, Buddhism has many celestial beings, devas, and advanced spiritual beings, bodhisattvas, who respond to the prayers of the devout.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists are pacifists
- Many believe that war has never been fought in the name of Buddhism. However, there have been many battles between Buddhists, and even against non-Buddhists. For example, Tibetan Buddhists fought bravely against British forces that invaded Tibet in 1904.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Buddhism is a philosophy and not a religion
- The majority of Buddhist practices over history have been focused on a good rebirth in the next lifetime, for all beings in the universe. While Buddhism has many philosophical schools, it's still a religion.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists meditate
- Meditation is often identified as the central practice of Buddhism. However, the majority of Buddhists throughout history have not meditated. Traditionally considered a monastic practice, it was only in the 20th century that mediation spread to laypeople.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists are vegetarians
- Originally, Buddhist monks and nuns begged for their daily meal, and therefore were supposed to eat whatever was offered to them, including meat. While vegetarianism has been promoted by some Buddhist texts, not all are vegetarian. Sources: (CNN) (HuffPost) (Teen Vogue) (UCLA) See also: Discover Satan's equivalents in religions around the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Common misconceptions about different world religions
- Indeed, practically every religion has developed misconceptions over time. These misconceptions are often based on faulty or mistaken beliefs, or they're simply the failure to understand these religions properly. Not only are these myths off base, they've also created conflicts and prejudice against believers. From the Abrahamic religions to Hinduism and Buddhism, let's debunk their biggest misconceptions. Click on for more.
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
All Christians believe in the same thing
- From Catholics to Protestants and Orthodox Christians, indeed Christians are divided into hundreds of denominations, thousands of churches, and endless communities. Therefore, apart from the belief that Jesus is divine, conformity and uniformity are uncommon.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Jesus was born on December 25
- Although most Christians celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus, the actual date isn't stated in the gospels or in any other historical sources.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Christianity is anti-science
- Christianity is often stereotyped as being anti-science, but in reality many Christians embrace science and its discoveries. In fact, some Christians even accept certain scientific beliefs on top of their faith, like environmentalism and evolution.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
The Bible was written by Jesus
- The Bible is actually a collection of many books that were written by multiple, mostly unknown authors.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Christians aren't allowed to have fun
- A common misconception is that Christians aren't allowed to have fun. Sure, they might have to stay away from sinful things, but fun and sin are not always synonymous.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Christians go to church only on Sundays
- While the majority of Christian denominations hold church services on Sundays, a number of traditions have mid-week Wednesday evening services as well.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery if they have a tattoo
- While there is a phrase in Leviticus (19:28) that opposes tattoos, not everyone adheres to every practice, and many Jews do have body art.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Jews believe in heaven and hell
- Jews don't believe in hell. Instead, some believe in Gehinnom, where the soul is cleansed for up to 12 months prior to being accepted into heaven. However, it's not a place for punishment. Heaven is also very different, as there's no structural concept like in other faiths.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't work on the Sabbath
- Shabbat falls between sundown on Friday and an hour after sundown on Saturday. During this time, a Jew is not supposed to do any kind of work. However, this practice isn't observed by everyone, especially secular Jews.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Jews can't eat pork
- Eating pork is only prohibited for Jews who keep kosher, which is a choice that not all Jews make. For example, in Israel only approximately 36% of secular Jews keep kosher.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Jews don't believe in a Messiah
- Contrary to Christians, Jews don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Instead, they believe that Messiah will come from the Davidic line, the familial line of King David, and rule over the Jewish people.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
The Old Testament is the Jewish Bible
- In truth, Jews follow the teachings of the Talmud and Tanakh, which are made up of the Torah, Nevi’im, and K’tuvim. The Old Testament is only made up of parts of these books.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Muslim women have no rights
- Many countries across the world, including Islamic countries, have patriarchal cultures, which are often socially constructed. Islam as a religion, on the other hand, actually preaches equality of the sexes.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Muslims worship a different God
- Many people believe that Allah is a specific Islamic deity, but in reality it just means God in Arabic. Christian Arabs even use the word Allah when referring or praying to God. And since Islam is an Abrahamic religion, Muslims therefore believe in the same God as Christians and Jews.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
All Muslims are Arabs
- Far from the truth. Out of the 1.6 billion Muslims living worldwide, over 60% of them are from South and Southeast Asia. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country. Also, not all Arabs are Muslims either.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Muslim men are encouraged to practice polygamy
- While many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities, the practice is actually rare and often looked down upon. Many Muslims even consider it an outdated tradition.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Muslims starve for an entire month every year
- Ramadan is a month in which Muslims partake in various charitable and religious activities, the most prominent of which is fasting from sunrise to sunset. But that doesn't mean they don't eat or drink during the whole month. Abstaining from food and drink only takes place during daylight hours, which usually ends with a big feast at sunset.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
All Muslims are the same
- Like in most religions, there are many sects of Islam. The two major branches are Sunni and Shi'a, but there are also thousands of subgroups with different doctrines.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Hindus worship cows
- Hindus don't pray to cows, but they do regard all creation and all life as sacred. Cows are especially sacred, as they're seen as gentle, maternal figures who provide milk. That’s why Hindus refrain from eating beef.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Hindu women wearing red dots on their foreheads are married
- That red dot is actually a bindi, and indeed it was once a symbol of marriage for Hindu women. But today it is largely decorative.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
There are 330 million Hindu gods
- In Hinduism, there is only one supreme God that can't be fully known or understood. However, Hindus are encouraged to relate to God in the way that suits them best. For example, like worshiping many deities who are believed to be manifestations of God.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
All Hindus are vegetarians
- In reality, a majority of Hindus do eat meat. But about 30% don't. This stems from a fundamental belief in ahimsa, the principle of non-violence.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
The Bhagavad Gita is like the Bible
- Though Hinduism is rich in scripture with a vast collection of ancient religious writings, it doesn't have a central, authoritative book.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Hinduism supports a discriminatory caste system
- Caste discrimination is rooted not in religion, but in culture. A social hierarchy passed down through families, many modern Hindus have argued that caste-based discrimination isn't intrinsic to Hinduism. Therefore, it shouldn't be thought of as religiously sanctioned.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Reincarnation is the Buddhist version of the afterlife
- Reincarnation means being reborn into the material, mortal world. This constant cycle of unsatisfactory striving and life and death is called samsara. The escape from this is nirvana. And Buddhists don’t know what happens after consciousness "escapes."
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Buddha was a human being, not a god, and the religion he founded has no place for the worship of gods
- Actually, Buddhism has many celestial beings, devas, and advanced spiritual beings, bodhisattvas, who respond to the prayers of the devout.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists are pacifists
- Many believe that war has never been fought in the name of Buddhism. However, there have been many battles between Buddhists, and even against non-Buddhists. For example, Tibetan Buddhists fought bravely against British forces that invaded Tibet in 1904.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Buddhism is a philosophy and not a religion
- The majority of Buddhist practices over history have been focused on a good rebirth in the next lifetime, for all beings in the universe. While Buddhism has many philosophical schools, it's still a religion.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists meditate
- Meditation is often identified as the central practice of Buddhism. However, the majority of Buddhists throughout history have not meditated. Traditionally considered a monastic practice, it was only in the 20th century that mediation spread to laypeople.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
All Buddhists are vegetarians
- Originally, Buddhist monks and nuns begged for their daily meal, and therefore were supposed to eat whatever was offered to them, including meat. While vegetarianism has been promoted by some Buddhist texts, not all are vegetarian. Sources: (CNN) (HuffPost) (Teen Vogue) (UCLA) See also: Discover Satan's equivalents in religions around the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Common misconceptions about different world religions
© Shutterstock
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![30 rules to teach your kids while they’re young](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66defb236e65d.jpg)
![Astronauts who have been in space the longest](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66df185033e6a.jpg)
![Is 'Monk Mode' the productivity hack between you and your goals?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e175790f3cf.jpg)
![Shocking moments from past political conventions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e1730a1ad2c.jpg)
![Spiritual methods to attract more luck into your life](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e16bf8e6496.jpg)
![The top 30 things you can accomplish in 30 minutes or less](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e1699ebc109.jpg)
![NASA reveals what happens if you fall into a black hole](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e165ae1d850.jpg)
![Things about 9/11 that still don't make sense](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e1635a587b1.jpg)
![How pit bulls got a bad reputation](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d9cc5c4ac01.jpg)
![What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a warning?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e1736ec2291.jpg)
![The far-reaching use of radar](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dd9cc6b3efb.jpg)
![The weirdest things these countries are the best at](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d97fc9a5c1e.jpg)
![The world's most famous stolen paintings](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e1604d4eaa8.jpg)
![How to clean your fridge like a pro](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e0808e15677.jpg)
![Bizarre ways ancient Greeks and Romans predicted the future](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66cf4adcc6d85.jpg)
![30 easy steps to save money every month](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e0562fd310c.jpg)
![30 animals with surprisingly human traits](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e02526e9f78.jpg)
![Why roller coaster loops aren’t circular](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d87042446f3.jpg)
![What you might not know about Democratic voters](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e051dc9fbae.jpg)
![What you might not know about Republican voters](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e050993d6fa.jpg)
![The most (and least) expensive countries in the EU](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66deceb8d4348.jpg)
![A parent's guide to raising emotionally intelligent children](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e0329ddb080.jpg)
![The secrets to networking for introverts](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e0283261d2e.jpg)
![Beyond basics: 30 interview questions that can help get you hired](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e02e5c6d72e.jpg)
![Common medical conditions in cats and dogs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e02f87493d3.jpg)
![Is AI the future of the Three Mile Island nuclear facility?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e02ad7f3c7c.jpg)
![What is dry drowning?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66db11d379a0c.jpg)
![The worst injuries in Olympic history](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dffce38acf4.jpg)
![Exploring the pros and cons of Montessori education](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66e012c88d195.jpg)
![Who exactly are the Māori?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dc640de8808.jpg)
![Behind the race to mine the bottom of the ocean](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dae3dd36418.jpg)
![What was life like in 1920s America?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d869779f9ef.jpg)
![The times America closed its borders to immigrants](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d5945d225f5.jpg)
![Why is flying becoming more dangerous?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66db2965e1d5a.jpg)
![Reasons why you didn't get a second date](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66db25335eca8.jpg)
![US cities where you can buy a house for less than US$100K](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66db243b097db.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week