All religions have important people whose teachings and lives embody the spirit of the faith and present models of faith’s promise. This chart shows the founders, teachers, and key leaders of major religions:
| Person | Role | Religion |
|---|---|---|
| Buddha | Founder of Buddhism | Buddhism |
| Confucius | Philosopher and teacher; founder of Confucianism | Confucianism |
| Guru Nanak | First guru (divine leader) of Sikhism | Sikhism |
| Jesus | Prophet and Son of God | Christianity |
| Lao-Tzu | Attributed writer of Tao Te Ching, founder of Taoism | Taoism |
| Mahavira | Spiritual leader and last of the 24 Tirthankara (Jain saints) | Jainism |
| Moses | Prophet who talked to God and was given the Ten Commandments | Judaism, Christianity, Islam |
| Muhammad | Prophet to whom God revealed the Qur’an | Islam |
| Zoroaster | Founder of Zoroastrianism | Zoroastrianism |