This is an interesting look at 5,000 years of "major religion" spread around the world … but don't read too much into it:
1. The term "major religion" is both understanding and overstating. The mapincludes Judaism which, honestly, is overstating its importance except as the precursor to Christianity and Islam. A look at the numbers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups) shows Judaism is waaaaay down the list, even as faiths like Taoism, Traditional Chinese Religion, and Shinto are ignored here.
It's also overstating it in terms of treating broad religious categories seamlessly. Is there a huge swath of the world "controlled" by Islam? Yes. Is it a monolithic faith? No more than Christianity, or Hinduism, or Buddhism are. For that matter, the Christianity of some Christian nations is, at best, formalized.
And, of course, quite a number of nations have substantial minority religious populations that aren't reflected here.
2. As with colonization maps, there's an implication that there's "nothing there" before one of the major faiths sweeps in.
3. The video focuses on big movements, sweeping around the globe, ignoring some interesting things that are happening else-times on the other side.
On the other hand, I had no idea that there was a substantial Hindu presence in Suriname and Guyana (due to indentured East Indian workers who were brought there by the Dutch and English), though, again, the map exaggerates; Guyana's population is 57% Christian, 28% are Hindu; Suriname is similar.
In short, it's interesting as far as it goes, but as much as a jumping off point as anything else.
(It's also annoying that I can't pause the video without article ads popping up. Rrg.)
Map shows how religion spread around the world – Business Insider
VIDEO: 5,000 years of religious history in two minutes.
