Short answers, pulled from the story.
The word religion shifted from a singular spiritual concept to a plural noun in 1780. John Toland published Nazarenus during that era framing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as distinct nations within a single faith.
Christianity claims 2.3 billion followers today according to Pew Research Center estimates from 2010. These numbers rely on census reports and surveys rather than direct headcounts from every nation.
The Atlantic slave trade transported African diasporic practices to the Americas during the 16th through 18th centuries. Africa hosts tribal peoples whose traditional faiths differ sharply from ancient Egyptian religion classified as Middle Eastern heritage.
The Parliament of the World's Religions convened in Chicago in 1893 marking a turning point toward equal treatment of non-Christian faiths. Researchers like William James and Alan Watts received funding through privately funded lectures created after this event.
Ravidassia religion separated from Sikhism officially in 2010 reflecting ongoing internal diversification within Indian subcontinent faiths. Hinduism originated in Greater India sharing concepts like dharma karma and reincarnation with neighboring Indian religions.