Hinduism facts and figures
- There are 872 million Hindus worldwide, according to the 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica. This accounts for 13.3 per cent of the world's population.
- The faith is practised in 116 countries around the world.
- Most Hindus live in India. Only six million followers live outside of Asia.
- In India, 92 per cent of people believe religion is very important.
- According to the 2001 census, 297,200 Canadians identify themselves as practising Hindus.
- That's about one per cent of the total population, roughly the same number of people who identify themselves as being Buddhist, Jewish or Sikh.
- A little more than 73 per cent live of Canada's Hindus live in Ontario.
- The faith was represented in each province and territory in the 2001 census. Yukon and Nunavut had the lowest totals, with 10 residents in each territory identifying themselves as Hindu.
Viewpoint and Analysis
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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
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
Because the Dharma is so pervasive and eternal, it covers all situations. There is nothing on the news, in society, or in science that could ever bring doubt to my beliefs.
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
