Final answer:
The claim that Ganesha is the most popular God in Hinduism is false, as Hinduism is diverse with many deities. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the major deities performing the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. Hinduism has no single founder, whereas Buddhism was founded by Buddha.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Prothero, it is false that Ganesha is the most popular God in Hinduism. While Ganesha is widely revered as the god of good luck and remover of obstacles, Hinduism does not have a single most popular deity. Instead, it is a richly diverse religion with a pantheon that includes many gods and goddesses, frequently centered around a Supreme Being. The three main deities in Hinduism are Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. These deities represent the cosmological cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction within the universe.
The question of who could be called the "founder" of Hinduism is somewhat complex as Hinduism has no single founder; it is a synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions. In terms of central figures in Hindu texts, Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism, while Buddha is the founder of Buddhism and is also considered an avatar of Vishnu in some Hindu traditions.