Buddhism
Buddhism is the world’s oldest missionary religion. Since its beginnings some 2,500 years ago in northern India, it has spread around the world. There are now more than 350 million Buddhists in the world, most of whom belong to one of the 2 major schools: the Mahāyāna and the Theravāda.
Perhaps the single most significant unifying factor for the world’s diverse Buddhist populations is the figure of the Buddha himself, Siddhārtha Gautama.
Certain core philosophical tenets and beliefs that cut across the Buddhist world include Karma, Nirvāna, and renunciation.