Chapter 3 - Summary of Key Religions, Faiths and Beliefs
practised in London
The Equality Act covers religion, religious faith and philosophical beliefs. This document
summarises the key faiths found in London. It is not a definitive or exhaustive guide, and as
with all religions, there will be a large spectrum of observance within each religion. Use this
guide as a starting point to understand the very basics, but always talk to your customer or
colleagues about the specifics of their own situation.
What religions are in London?
The 2011 Census of England and Wales identified London as the most diverse region in
terms of religious affiliation with over a fifth of the population identifying with a religion other
than Christian1. Over 14 faiths are practiced in London, and the GLA identified that over half
of England and Wales’ total Hindu and Jewish population live in London (50.4% and 56.4%
respectively)2.
According to the ONS Annual Population Survey 2012, Christianity remains the highest
single category of belief across London, followed by those without any religion and then
Muslims3.
Christian
Non-religion
Muslim
Hindu
Jewish
Sikh
Buddhist
Other religion
51% (= almost 4 million people)
24% (= around 2 million people)
13.4% (= around 1 million people)
5.2%
2.1%
1.4%
1%
1.8%
The areas with the highest proportion of Muslims are in Tower Hamlets (34.5%) and
Newham (32%), but both Redbridge and Waltham Forest also have over 20%. The
proportion of Hindus is highest in Harrow (25.3%) and Brent (17.8%). The biggest growth
since 2001 was seen in Harrow where there was an increase of 5.7%.
Affiliation with Buddhism is greater in London than in the rest of the country, although still
relatively low with Greenwich (1.7%) and Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster (1.5%)
being the largest. There is a concentration of Jewish people in Barnet (15.2%) and Hackney
(6.3%), and Sikhs are also a significant minority in Hounslow (10.3%) and Ealing (7.9%).
The Boroughs of Newham, Harrow, Brent and Redbridge have the lowest proportions of the
population reporting no religion.
1
www.ONS.gov.uk
GLA 2011 Census Snapshot: Religion (published in Dec 2012)
3 Annual Population Survey 2012 http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/user-guidance/lm-guide/sources/household/aps/index.html
2
Key characteristics of the main religions, faiths and beliefs in
London
Baha'i
Observance Baha'i should say one of three prayers during the day in a quiet place facing
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
south-east. Some of these prayers require movement and prostration, and
they are preceded by washing face and hands (can be done anywhere).
They must not be said in a group.
Festivals normally require a day off work. Main festivals are:
Baha'I Fast: 2 - 20 March when fasting is required from sunrise to sunset
Naw-Ruz (new year): 21 March
Ridvan: 21 April - 2 May. This is the most important festival and includes 3
holy days where Bah'i may not want to work (21 and 29 April, and 2 May)
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh: 29 May
Martyrdom of the Báb: 9 July
Birth of the Báb: 20 October
Nineteen Day Feast: every 19 days there will be a communal feast and
prayers
Most Bah'I don't drink alcohol or use narcotic drugs
No dress code
The Bahá'í faith accepts all religions as having true and valid origins
None
Buddhism
Observance There are as many forms of Buddhist worship as there are schools of
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Sub-
Buddhism - and there are many of those. Prayers do not need to be said at
particular times or places.
There are several traditions in Buddhism arising from different cultural and
ethnic backgrounds as well as various geographical origins, each with
different festivals built into a lunar calendar (i.e. they will not be at the same
times each year). There are many festivals, so it is worth asking a Buddhist
customer which ones they would want to celebrate. Key ones are:
Sangha Day: February
Losar (Tibetan New Year): February
Parinirvana (death of Buddha): February
Wesak (Buddha's birthday): May
Most Buddhists are vegetarian, and sometimes will not prepare or serve
meat to others. Many also do not drink alcohol.
Most Buddhists will not wear clothing that conflicts with their belief in nonharm (e.g. no leather or fur).
Theravada Buddhism : popular in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos
and Burma (Myanmar)
Mahayana Buddhism: strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea
Zen Buddhism: a mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism
divisions
Christianity
Observance Practising Christians may wish to attend Church on Sundays, and some
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
may object to working on a Sunday.
There are a wide variety of Christian Churches, which vary in their rituals
and observations. However, key dates for most practising Christians will
include:
Easter: includes Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and
Easter Sunday. Fasting or abstinence is often associated with this period.
The dates of this festival is determined by the lunar calendar so will vary
from year to year, but normally Ash Wednesday is in February/March, and
the other dates in March-April.
Whitsun/Pentecost: follows 6 weeks after Easter
All Saints Day: 1 November
Christmas Day: 25 December
No restrictions, although some Churches forbid alcohol
Some Christian Churches forbid the use of cosmetics, and require females
to dress modestly. Many will wear the symbol of a cross or crucifix on a
necklace, and some wear the symbol of a fish.
Catholics have additional feast days (15 August: Feast of the Assumption;
29th June: Saints Peter and Paul) which can involve additional church
services.
There are a lot of sub-divisions of Christianity, but the key ones are:
Protestant
Catholic
Baptist
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Methodist
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Seventh Day Adventist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Morman)
Salvation Army
United Reformed Church
Jehovah's Witness (see "Other Religions" below for more information)
Hinduism
Festivals
Hinduism is a diverse religion and not all will celebrate the same festivals.
Most are also determined by the Hindu calendar so dates will vary. Key
festivals are:
Diwali (festival of lights): October/November
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi): August
Krishna Janmashtami or Krishna Jayanti (birth of Krishna): 8 days after
Rakhi
Navaratri: 9-day harvest festival in October
Most Hindus are vegetarian or vegan - most will not eat meat, fish or eggs.
They will very rarely eat beef, even if they eat meat in general.
There are a number of occasions when Hindus may need to fast during
festivals, but this very much depends on which festivals they celebrate and
how.
Hindu women will often wear a bindi (a red spot on the forehead) which
denotes the Hindu faith. Married women may additionally wear a mangal
sutra, which is a necklace worn as well as a wedding ring.
Some Orthodox Hindu men will have a tilak (a clay marking on their
foreheads) or wear a shikha (a small ponytail of hair, often hidden beneath
remaining hair).
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single
scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. For these reasons,
Hinduism can be seen as a "family of religions" rather than a single religion.
Following bereavement, close relatives observe a 13-day mourning period at
home, and male relatives may shave their heads or visit the Ganges in India
to spread ashes.
Vaishnavism
Shaivism
Shaktism
Smartism
Islam
Observance Devout Muslims pray five times a day for about 15 minutes each (Salat).
Festivals
This can take place anywhere clean and quiet. Prayer times are at dawn
(Fajr), midday after the sun passes its highest (Zuhr ), late afternoon (Asr),
after sunset (Maghrib) and late evening (Isha).
Friday midday prayers are the most important and can take longer. These
prayers must also be said with others, and require a visit to a mosque or
prayer gathering.
Before prayer, observant Muslims must ritually purify by washing in running
water (wudhu) - this includes hands, face, arms to the elbow and feet to the
ankle.
Festivals are lunar and therefore vary from year to year. The most
important are:
Ramadan: in the ninth month of the lunar calendar, this festival requires
fasting (sawm) from dawn to sunset. Fasting includes food, drink and
smoking.
Eid Al-Fitr: three days of celebration to mark the end of Ramadan
Eid Al-Adha: three-day festival which is two months and 10 days after Eid
Al-Fitr
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
Muslims do not eat food derived from a pig (including things like bread and
ice-cream if it contains lard), or meat from a carnivorous animal.
Meat must be slaughtered by the Halal method.
Islam also forbids alcohol, whether as drink or in food.
Muslims are required to cover the body, so men may not wish to wear
shorts. Women are required to dress modestly, and may want to cover
various parts of the body by wearing a burqa (whole body, head to foot),
jilbab (coat covering body except head and hands), hijab (head) or niqab
(face)
Gambling is forbidden.
Physical contact between the sexes is discouraged, and some Muslims may
refuse to shake hands with the opposite sex.
All Muslims should take a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime (the
Hajj).
Sunni
Shi'a
Sufism
Jainism
Observance Whereas most Jains will observe prayers each day, they do not have to be
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Sub-
done at specific times or at a temple. Jains should carry out sitting
meditation in one place for 48 minutes each day.
Main festivals are:
Mahavira Jayanti: This festival in April celebrates the day of Mahavira's
birth and is often celebrated with processions and readings in the temple
Paryushan: This festival in August consists of eight days of intensive
fasting, repentance and worship.
Diwali (festival of lights): October/November
Kartak Purnima: This follows Diwali in October/November and can include
processions. It is also considered to be an auspicious time for pilgrimage.
Mauna Agyaras: This is a day-long observance of fasting, silence and
meditation in November/December.
Jains are vegetarians. They will also not serve meat to guests, or permit any
ill-treatment of animals.
Fasting is very common. Although a Jain may fast at any time, most will fast
at special times during the year, at festivals and holy days. Fasting is more
often done by Jain women than men.
There is no specific dress code
Jains believe in doing no harm, and this has an impact on the kind of job
they can do. They are not permitted to do any job that causes harm. This
may include such professions as those involving tree cutting or fires,
fermentation (e.g. brewing), trading in meat/fish products, honey or eggs,
trading in silk, leather etc, selling pesticides or weapons, digging or working
in zoos.
Digambara sect
divisions
Svetambara sect
Jehovah's Witness
Observance Much missionary work involves visiting door-to-door to discuss scripture with
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
people they meet
Memorial of Christ's Death: March/April (lunar calendar)
Although technically Christian, Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or
Easter due to the pagan origins of these festivals. They also do not
celebrate birthdays or other secular festivals that originate in other religions.
Jehovah's Witnesses avoid eating meat that has not been properly bled.
They also tend to avoid alcohol, tobacco or other stimulants
No dress code except modesty and smartness when outside the home
Jehovah's Witnesses maintain a degree of separation from the world. They
claim that they are in but not of the world.
Witnesses discourage participation in university education for its own sake.
They also refuse military service and voting in elections
None
Judaism
Observance Observant Jews cannot work on the Sabbath (Shabbat - 25 hours from dusk
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
on Friday) and festivals, and this can include travelling using transport,
writing, carrying, using electricity or a phone, and commercial transactions.
Festivals are lunar and therefore vary from year to year. The most
important are:
Passover: two sets of two days in March/April
Pentecost: two days in May/June
New Year (Rosh Hashanah): two days in Sept/Oct
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): 1 day of fasting in Sept/Oct
Tabernacles (Sukkot): two sets of two days in Sept/Oct
Hanukkah: Nov/Dec
Jews are required to eat kosher food - this is food that has been prepared in
a particular manner and has not been in contact with non-Kosher food or
utensils.
Orthodox Jewish men keep their heads covered, with many Jewish men
wearing a skullcap (kippah or yarmulke) when praying. Orthodox Jewish
men wear Tefillin boxes (sometimes called phylacteries) on their head and
their arm during weekday morning prayer.
Women dress modestly and may not want to wear trousers, short skirts or
short sleeves. They may also want to cover their heads.
Following bereavement, close relatives mourn for seven days (Shiva) at
home.
To allow Orthodox Jews a bit of flexibility in their strict Shabbat rules, three
areas of London have been designated Eruv (areas where pushing or
carrying objects is allowed). These areas are in Hendon, Golders Green and
Hampstead Garden Suburb, together with parts of Childs Hill, Cricklewood,
East Finchley, Finchley & Mill Hill, Edgware and Borehamwood.
Liberal
Orthodox (e.g. Hasidic/Haredi)
Masorti (Conservative)
Reform
Subdivisions
Rastafarianism
Observance There are no specific religious observance rituals
Main festivals are:
Festivals
Food

Dress

Other

Subdivisions
Birthday of Haile Selassie 1: 23 July
Ethiopian New Year: 11 September
Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie 1: 2 November
Christmas: 25 December
Rastafarians eat I-tal (natural and clean) which means mostly vegetarian
including avoiding eggs and shellfish. However they will eat smaller fish.
Many Rastafarians eat only organic food, often mostly raw.
They do not drink alcohol, milk or coffee.
Hair is uncut and plaited into deadlocks, often covered by a hat which is
usually red, green and gold.
Practising women must not wear makeup, dress in promiscuous clothing or
use chemicals in their hair. They should cover their hair at prayer.
The faith encourages the ritual inhalation of marijuana but this is unlawful in
the UK.
Those who are strict Rastafari believe that women are subordinate to men
and should not work outside the home.
Only in degrees of observance
Sikhism
Observance Sikhs do not observe a Sabbath, day of rest, or set aside any special day for
Festivals
worship.
Worship for Sikhs takes place every morning and evening in the form of
meditation, prayer, singing of hymns and reading scripture either
communally or individually.
Sikh festivals sometimes follow a lunar calendar and sometimes a solar one,
so dates may vary. Key festivals are:
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh: 5 Jan
Vaisakhi (New Year): 14 April
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev: 16 June
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Day: 1 Sept
Diwali: Oct/Nov
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur: 24 Nov
Birthday of Guru Nanak: November
Sikhs do not eat meat that has been ritually slaughtered (like Halal). Some
do not eat beef and many are vegetarian.
Many Sikhs do not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco.
Fully initiated Sikhs do not eat meat, fish or eggs.
In clothing, practising males observe the five Ks of the faith. These are:
Kesh: Uncut hair - no hair to be removed from body, and the wearing of a
turban (some women will do this too)
Kangha: Wooden comb, normally worn in hair
Kara: Metal bracelet (worn by women too)
Kachhahera: Knee length underpants
Kirpan: Short sword worn under the clothing so that it's not visible
Food
Dress
Traditional female dress is a Salwaar Kameez - loose fitting top and bottoms
with a chunni (a large rectangular piece of cloth) to cover the head and
shoulders.
All Sikhs, men and women, do not cut body hair. Most Sikh men therefore
have beards, and both men and women have long hair worn in buns.
There are no sub-divisions except by level of devoutness.
Other
Subdivisions
Ancient religions
Observance There are no required prayers or places for ancient religions such as
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other


Subdivisions
Druidry, Paganism, Wicca, Astaru, Odinism and Shamanism
Festival dates vary but some key dates are:
Spring and Autumn Equinox: around 20 March and 21 September
Summer and Winter Solstice: around 20 June and 21 December
Many followers are vegetarian or vegan
No specific dress, but followers may wear jewellery such as an ankh,
pentagram, hammer or crystal
Paganism encompasses a diverse community. Some groups concentrate on
specific traditions or practices such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions
or certain gods.
Most Pagans share an ecological vision that comes from the Pagan belief in
the organic vitality and spirituality of the natural world.
No sub-divisions. Each group is separate.
And a word about atheism and secularism
Observance Atheism is the absence of belief in any Gods or spiritual beings. The word
Atheism comes from a, meaning without, and theism meaning belief in god
Festivals
Food
Dress
Other
Subdivisions
Secularism
or gods.
Although atheists do not have religious ceremonies as it is essentially a
philosophical belief, they will still celebrate, for example, naming ceremonies
for babies, weddings and funerals.
No special requirements
No special requirements
Atheism differs from Agnosticism which holds that you can neither prove nor
disprove God's existence.
Many atheists are also secularist, and are hostile to any special treatment
given to organised religion.
It is possible to be both atheist and religious (e.g. virtually all Buddhists are)
but most Atheists simply do not believe in the existence of any god.
Humanist
Rationalist
Secularism and Atheism are not the same thing. Atheism is a lack of belief
in gods, whereas according to the British National Secular Society,
secularism simply provides a framework for ensuring equality in a
democratic society for believers and non-believers alike. Whereas Atheists
support secularism, secularism itself does not seek to challenge the tenets
of any particular religion or faith, neither does it seek to impose atheism on
anyone.
For more information about these and other religions, see Chapter 11 Further Information
and Advice.