premise: The worlds major religions are Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism. The oldest is Hinduism which is believed to have been worshipped for at least 5,000 years. Religion provides a sense of community, a shared set of values that shape daily life, a definition of the meaning of life and a set of beliefs as to how the world began and what happens after death. Except for Buddhism the major religions all identify a supreme god and define the way in which followers commune with that god. Religions have sacred texts, for example in Sikhism the text is called the Adi Granth, and religions have revered places for communal worship. In Judaism the synagogue is the place for communal prayer and religious learning. All religion involves ceremony and festivals and observances at points in a religious calendar and at significant stages in the life of its prophet or prophets and the lives of its followers. For example, followers of the Christian faith celebrate baptism, the rite of a persons entry into the faith, and Muslims celebrate important events in the life of the Prophet, including his birthday.
hypothesis: The main theme of the passage is an examination of the ceremonies, festivals and observances of the worlds major religions and the lives of the prophet or prophets and the followers.