Buddhism facts and figures
- There are 383 million Buddhists worldwide, according to the 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica. This accounts for 5.8 per cent of the world's population.
- The faith is practised in 130 countries around the world.
- Almost one in 10 Asians is Buddhist.
- There are only six million Buddhists practising outside of Asia.
- According to the 2001 census, 300,345 Canadians identify themselves as practising Buddhists. That's about one per cent of the total population.
- About 43 per cent of Canada's Buddhists live in Ontario, 29 per cent in British Columbia and 14 per cent in Quebec.
- The faith was represented in each province and territory in the 2001 census. Nunavut had the lowest total, with 15 residents identifying themselves as Buddhist.
Viewpoint and Analysis
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Part 2 (Runs 22:34)
The Faithful
As a Muslim, I feel inundated by sound bites from both sides of the fence. Islam is "the fastest growing religion" and a "religion of peace." Alternatively, I hear the terms "Islamofascist," "East vs. West" — the list goes on and on.
The Faithful
My first name, Gurjung, connects two ideas — gur is the beginning of the word guru, and jung means conflict or struggle. So, put together, Gurjung is the conflict/struggle of life with the Gurus' teachings to guide.
The Faithful
In that moment, I got to see a glimpse of the godness of God — absolutely huge, mysteriously holding all of reality, powerfully sovereign over all things, providentially moving and loving it all.
The Faithful
To be a Canadian Hindu to me means to take nothing as absolute truth. Dharma, the social good, is necessarily dynamic and adapts to suit every society.
The Faithful
The rich history of Judaism is a compelling story. I wonder how we survived both internal strife and external threats. The story of Joseph is an example of the former and the Holocaust the latter.
The Faithful
We were raised in the depths of the reserve by an Ojibwa father and a white mother. Sometimes that Sunday ritual of self-understanding and spiritual exposure meant going to a place called "the Lodge" almost right after church.
Our Radio Reports
- The World at Six, Jan. 11
- Eastern religions and the search for a relevant truth in a material age. (Runs 4:41) Listen
- The World at Six, Jan. 10
- Worship in the workplace, and the legal obligations for employers. (Runs 4:26) Listen
- World Report, Jan. 10
- When the interests of companies clash with the religious beliefs of their employees.
Listen: Part 1 (Runs 1:43) | Part 2 (Runs 1:45)
- The World at Six, Jan. 9
- The power of prayer in healing, and recovery from mental, physical and emotional illnesses.
Listen(Runs 4:52)
Your Comments
"By reading the descriptions of different religions, it appears the intent of 'religion' is to better ourselves, give answers and, most importantly, find peace within. If that really is the case, then can believing in a god do us any harm?" — Chris, Saskatchewan
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"One thing I hope for is that people keep asking God their hardest questions." — Geoff Rousseau
