One major difference in non-western countries from America is religion. Instead of Catholics, non-western countries are primarily three different religions. These religions also have a lot in common along with their differences. These religions are very important in these countries and are practiced strongly by believers. They are a big part of life in these traditional, underdeveloped countries. The primary religions are Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Islam is a religion that has many fallacies in the United States. Stereotypes give Islam a bad reputation in the United States. Stereotypes such as all Muslims are Arabs and Arabs are terrorists make Muslims and the Islamic religion all terrorists. This is the greatest fallacy because 7/8 of all Muslims are not Arab. Islam is most popular in Indonesia and India. The Islam religion is in 55 countries and still growing worldwide. If the religion continues to grow at the same rate, by the year 2010 Islam will be the number one religion in the world and United States.

Islam is a monotheistic religion that means that Muslims believe in one God, Allah. Muslims believe that Allah created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Mohammed is the messenger of Islam and the Quran is the Islamic holy book. Islam became a huge empire and has many similar characteristics to Christianity. Muslims are very true to their faith by practicing their duties of a Muslim. These duties are accomplished by following the Pillars of Islam. The five pillars are profession of faith, prayer, alms giving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage. Their profession of faith is the belief in one God. Allah is the only God worshipped by Muslims. Prayer is a huge part of daily life for a Muslim. A Muslim will pray five times a day facing Mecca, the holy city. They pray in the morning, late morning, and noon, afternoon and at sunset every day. It is also important to Muslims to give alms. Alms giving are giving to the poor or less fortunate. On average, Muslims give a generous ten- percent to the less fortunate every year compared to U.S. foreign aid of .03 percent. Muslims follow a lunar calendar and Ramadan is the most important month of the year according to Muslims. Ramadan is a month of fasting. From the time the sun rises until it sets, Muslims will not eat, drink, smoke or have sex. This helps them to understand the hunger of the less fortunate. Finally, Muslims are supposed to complete a pilgrimage and visit the three holy cities before he or she dies. Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are the three holy cities.

Islam was also one of the first revolutionized religions in the world. Since 610 there was no slavery. Muslims believe that all people are equal except in faith. Women also have been allowed to have property and collect inheritance since this time. Education has also been a big part of Islam. Al-Azhar University in Cairo has been around since the year 910 and is still around today. They studied Arabic numerals, algebra, chemistry and astronomy. Islam is actually a wonderful religion that is on the rise and the stereotypes need to go.

Hinduism is also a large, old religion in non-western countries. Hinduism has been around four to five thousand years longer than Christianity. Hindus combine many religions and have many differences and extremes yet very basic. Hindus believe in their holy book called the Vedas. The Vedas professes that all living things have a purpose and once the purpose has been served, a new life is determined. Hindus strongest belief is Karma. Karma is the belief that ones thoughts, words and actions determine ones existence in the next life. This belief of life after death is called Samsara. Samsara is the belief that souls are reborn. Souls do not die; they are reborn into a new existence in another life. A Hindu’s Karma determines whether or not he or she will be reborn as a rich man, a poor man, a plant, an animal, an angel, and even a devil. The better a Hindu’s Karma, the better his next life. These Samsaras are determined by the four permissible goals in life, Kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha. Kama is the desire for pleasure and love. A Hindu will learn that there is much more to life than his or her own personal pleasure and happiness. Artha is the desire for power and substance. This is a rich person with high social position and materialistic. However, there is a much deeper satisfaction than being rich. Dharma is the belief of duty towards others. To renounce success and do to others as you want for self and seek for the good in others. There is still one higher, more gratifying style of life. Moksha is liberation, the only true satisfaction for life. Hindus with the fullness of being will live no more lives the cycle is over. The soul of a Hindu who accomplishes Moksha will be free in Nirvana.

Hinduism also has a Caste system practiced in some countries. India does not allow the practice of a Caste system but are allowed to believe in it. The Caste system is the belief that rebirth is determined by a Hindu’s Karma into any form of life. Hindus believe that all people are not equal. A Hindu’s Karma makes him unequal to others with no accident of birth. Birth is determined by Karma and a Hindu will be born and die in his or her Caste. Brahmin is the highest life, priesthood. This is a gift to be born to study, teach, understand and live Hinduism. Kshatriya is a life of nobility. Living rich and defending society. Vaisya is the life of common people. These people are workers, average people from day to day. They are the productivity of society. Shudra is the lowest group in the caste system. These people are servants, slaves, non-Aryan and non-European. However there is one worse life, the outcastes. These are the people who are not good enough to even be in a Caste. These are the ill, poor and homeless people who will never make it into a Caste until his or her next life. Hinduism is strongly practiced and religion, like Catholics goal is to reach heaven, Hindus try to reach Nirvana.

Finally, there is Buddhism, another popular religion in non-western countries. Siddhartha Gautama started Buddhism in India as a rebellion against Hinduism. Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in India and lived in luxury and comfort. At age nineteen, his parents married him to a beautiful princess. He began to take chariot rides into the city. For the first time he became aware of hunger, poverty and diseases. He saw a man die of hunger right in front of him. Gautama was confused and decided to leave that night to discover the true meaning of life leaving the palace, wife, kid and family behind. He became a beggar and lived in poverty for years. He was seeking enlightenment. Finally after forty-nine days of meditation in the forest, Siddhartha was enlightened. He figured out the meaning of life and began to teach it to everyone. Buddhism began and Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha, "the enlightened one." Hindus reject him and he was forced out of India. The religion spread into China, which is now largest Buddhist country, and Buddhism has become one of the world’s largest religions.