There are so many world religions. World religions
Those who lived thousands of years ago had their own beliefs, deities and religion. With the development of human civilization, religion also developed, new beliefs and movements appeared, and it is impossible to unambiguously conclude whether religion depended on the level of development of civilization or, on the contrary, it was people’s beliefs that were one of the keys to progress. In the modern world, there are thousands of beliefs and religions, some of which have millions of adherents, while others have only a few thousand or even hundreds of believers.
Religion is one of the forms of awareness of the world, which is based on faith in a higher power. As a rule, each religion includes a number of moral and ethical norms and rules of conduct, religious rituals and ceremonies, and also unites a group of believers into an organization. All religions rely on human belief in supernatural forces, as well as on the relationship of believers with their deity(s). Despite the apparent difference between religions, many postulates and dogmas of various beliefs are very similar, and this is especially noticeable in the comparison of the world's main religions.
Major world religions
Modern researchers of religions identify three main religions of the world, the adherents of which are the vast majority of all believers on the planet. These religions are Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, as well as numerous movements, branches and based on these beliefs. Each of the world's religions has more than a thousand years of history, sacred scripture and a number of cults and traditions that believers should observe. As for the geography of the spread of these beliefs, if less than 100 years ago it was possible to draw more or less clear boundaries and recognize Europe, America, South Africa and Australia as “Christian” parts of the world, North Africa and the Middle East as Muslim, and states located in the southeastern part of Eurasia - Buddhist, now every year this division becomes more and more arbitrary, since on the streets of European cities you can increasingly meet Buddhists and Muslims, and in the secular states of Central Asia there can be a Christian temple and mosque.
The founders of world religions are known to every person: the founder of Christianity is considered to be Jesus Christ, Islam - the prophet Magomed, Buddhism - Siddhartha Gautama, who later received the name Buddha (enlightened). However, it should be noted that Christianity and Islam have common roots in Judaism, since Islam also has the prophet Isa ibn Mariyam (Jesus) and other apostles and prophets whose teachings are recorded in the Bible, but Islamists believe that the fundamental teachings are still the teachings of the prophet Magomed, who was sent to earth after Jesus.
Buddhism
Buddhism is the oldest of the world's major religions, its history goes back more than two and a half thousand years. This religion originated in the southeast of India, its founder is considered to be Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who through contemplation and meditation achieved enlightenment and began to share the truth revealed to him with other people. Based on the teachings of the Buddha, his followers wrote the Pali Canon (Tripitaka), which is considered a sacred book by followers of most movements of Buddhism. The main currents of Buddhism today are Hinayama (Theravada Buddhism - "Narrow Path to Liberation"), Mahayana ("Broad Path to Liberation") and Vajrayana ("Diamond Path").
Despite some differences between the orthodox and new movements of Buddhism, the basis of this religion is the belief in reincarnation, karma and the search for the path of enlightenment, through which one can be freed from the endless chain of rebirths and achieve enlightenment (nirvana). The difference between Buddhism and other major religions of the world is the Buddhist belief that a person’s karma depends on his actions, and everyone goes through their own path of enlightenment and is responsible for their own salvation, and the gods, whose existence Buddhism recognizes, do not play a key role in the fate of a person, since they are also subject to the laws of karma.
Christianity
The birth of Christianity is considered to be the first century AD; The first Christians appeared in Palestine. However, taking into account the fact that the Old Testament of the Bible, the holy book of Christians, was written much earlier than the birth of Jesus Christ, it is safe to say that the roots of this religion are in Judaism, which arose almost a millennium before Christianity. Today there are three main directions of Christianity - Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy, branches of these directions, as well as those who also consider themselves Christians.
The basis of Christian beliefs is belief in the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in angels and demons and in the afterlife. The difference between the three main directions of Christianity is that Orthodox Christians, unlike Catholics and Protestants, do not believe in the existence of purgatory, and Protestants consider inner faith to be the key to the salvation of the soul, and not the observance of many sacraments and rituals, therefore churches of Protestant Christians are more are more modest than the churches of Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and the number of church sacraments among Protestants is less than among Christians who adhere to other movements of this religion.
Islam
Islam is the youngest of the world's major religions, originating in the 7th century in Arabia. The holy book of Muslims is the Koran, which records the teachings and instructions of the prophet Muhammad. At the moment, there are three main currents of Islam - Sunnis, Shiites and Kharijites. The main difference between the first and other branches of Islam is that the Sunnis consider the first four caliphs to be the legal successors of Magomed, and also, in addition to the Koran, recognize the Sunnas telling about the Prophet Magomed as sacred books, and the Shiites believe that only his direct blood relatives can be the successors of the Prophet descendants. The Kharijites are the most radical branch of Islam; the beliefs of the supporters of this movement are similar to the beliefs of the Sunnis, however, the Kharijites recognize only the first two caliphs as the successors of the Prophet.
Muslims believe in one God, Allah and his prophet Magomed, in the existence of the soul and in the afterlife. In Islam, great attention is paid to the observance of traditions and religious rituals - every Muslim must perform salat (daily five times prayer), fast in Ramadan and make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his life.
What is common in the three major world religions
Despite the differences in rituals, beliefs and certain dogmas of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, all these beliefs have some common features, and the similarities between Islam and Christianity are especially noticeable. Belief in one God, in the existence of the soul, in the afterlife, in fate and in the possibility of help from higher powers - these are the dogmas that are inherent in both Islam and Christianity. The beliefs of Buddhists differ significantly from the religions of Christians and Muslims, but the similarities between all world religions are clearly visible in the moral and behavioral norms that believers must observe.
The 10 biblical Commandments that Christians are required to observe, the laws prescribed in the Koran, and the Noble Eightfold Path contain moral standards and rules of conduct prescribed for believers. And these rules are the same everywhere - all the major religions of the world prohibit believers from committing atrocities, harming other living beings, lying, behaving loosely, rudely or disrespectfully towards other people and encourage them to treat other people with respect, care and development in character positive traits.
Adventism
Adventism(from Latin adventus - “coming”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose in the USA in the 30s. XIX century The founder of A. - farmer William Miller - predicted the imminence of the end of the world and the onset of the thousand-year Kingdom of Christ (he believed that this would happen in the forties of the 19th century). At present, the belief in the imminent second coming remains the basis of A. His followers do not consider the soul to be immortal; in their opinion, she dies and is resurrected with her body. Adventists are confident that God will resurrect all people, but the righteous will receive eternal life, and sinners will be destroyed along with Satan after the Last Judgment. The largest movement of A. is the Seventh Day Adventists, formed in 1844 in New Hampshire (USA).
Anabaptism
Anabaptism(from the Greek anabaptizo - “I immerse again”, “I baptize again”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose in Switzerland in the 30s. XVI century Anabaptists advocated baptism at a conscious age (those baptized in infancy were baptized again), placed personal faith above the authority of Holy Scripture, demanded the complete separation of Church and state, and called for the introduction of community of property.
Anglican Church
Anglican Church b - Protestant Church of England. In IS34, King Henry VIII broke off relations with the Pope and declared himself the head of the Church, the doctrine of which was proclaimed in 1562. Many of its rituals are close to Catholic ones (church hierarchy with episcopate and celibate clergy; magnificent cult; liturgy, etc.) . Anglicanism combines the Catholic doctrine of the saving power of the Church with the Protestant doctrine of salvation by personal faith. From the end of the 17th century. In Anglicanism, three parties were identified: “high” (closer to Catholicism), “low” (closer to Protestantism) and “broad” (occupies an intermediate position).
Armenian Gregorian Church
Armenian Gregorian Church- is part of the Ancient Eastern churches. Founded in 301 by Bishop Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It is headed by the Supreme Patriarch - Catholicos of all Armenians, whose residence is in the city of Etchmiadzin.
Baptistism
Baptistism(from the Greek baptizo - “baptize”, “immerse”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose at the beginning of the 17th century. The founder of the first community in Amsterdam was the Anglican priest John Smith. B. considers it unnecessary to baptize infants whose parents are Christians. Baptism is seen as an act of conscious conversion to faith, spiritual rebirth. Baptists adhere to the doctrine of salvation for all who believe in Christ.
Brahmanism
Brahmanism- An ancient Indian religion that grew out of Vedism. It is based on the doctrine of Brahman - the divine basis of all things - and Atman - the individual spirit. B. spread to India in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. In this religious system, the primary role was given to brahmanas - experts in the Vedas. Under the influence of the Brahmanical teaching on karma, a strict caste system developed in India, built on the belief that all people are different from the very moment of birth (Brahmins were considered the highest caste). Animistic ideas and the cult of ancestors played a major role. B. is distinguished by complex rituals and strict ritual regulation of life. The main texts of B. are the Upanishads (lit., “sitting at the feet of the teacher”).
Buddhism
Buddhism- the oldest of the three world religions, which arose in northeast India in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. Its founder is considered to be Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later received the name Buddha (lit., “awakened” or “enlightened”). At the beginning of our era, B. was divided into two branches: Hinayana and Mahayana. In B. there is no opposition between subject and object, spirit and matter. The religion is based on the teaching of the “four noble truths”: there is suffering, its cause, the state of liberation and the path to it. According to B., life is an expression of “flows” of immaterial particles - dharmas, the combinations of which determine the existence of everything that exists. Rebirth occurs in accordance with the law of karma - retribution depending on behavior in a previous life. B.'s moral ideal is not to harm anyone. The goal of any Buddhist is to achieve nirvana - a state of peace, bliss, merging with the Buddha.
Wahhabism
Wahhabism- a religious and political movement in Islam that emerged at the end of the 18th century. in Arabia. Its name comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the first preacher of the movement. V. preaches the restoration of the purity of original Islam and monotheism. Wahhabis reject the cult of prophets and pilgrimages to holy places.
Vedism
Vedism(Vedic religion) is the oldest Indian religion, which developed in the 2nd millennium BC. e. after the invasion of the territory of India by nomadic tribes - the Aryans. The hymns and prayers of the Aryans made up a huge collection of sacred traditions - the Vedas. A characteristic feature of V. is the deification of the forces of nature. The basis of the Vedic cult is sacrifice, accompanied by a complex ritual. The concepts of samsara (the circle of existence) and karma (the law of retribution) first appeared in India.
Gnosticism
Gnosticism(from the Greek gnosis - “knowledge”) is a religious and philosophical teaching that spread in the first centuries of our era in the east of the Roman Empire. The Gnostics believed that the basis of the universe were two opposing principles - the Highest Spirit (World Soul Sophia) and matter. The highest spirit - the focus of light - is the source of spiritual particles (eons, ions). According to the Gnostics, people consist of body, soul and spirit (the latter is a particle of the Divine, imprisoned in matter). The spirit strives to free itself from prison, so the world is filled with continuous struggle. The Gnostics argued that man is elevated above the world in order to catch the spark of reason emanating from the supreme deity.
Georgian Orthodox Church
Georgian Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Divine services are performed according to the Julian calendar, mainly in the Old Georgian language. The Church is headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch, whose residence is in Tbilisi.
Taoism
Taoism- Chinese religion that arose in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. Traditionally, the sage Lao Tzu is considered its founder. His work “Tao Te Ching” is devoted to two basic concepts of Taoism: Tao (lit., “path”, “method”) and Te (lit., “grace”). Lao Tzu proposed a model of the world in which Tao - the mysterious force that governs the Universe - stands above all gods, acts at all levels of existence, and leads everything to harmony. The cornerstone of D. is the doctrine of immortality, the achievement of which, according to Taoists, is facilitated by religious contemplation, breathing and gymnastic training, sexual hygiene, and alchemy.
Jainism
Jainism- a religion that arose in the VI-V centuries. in the east of the Hindustan Peninsula. Its founder is considered to be the kshatriya Vardahamana. Jains claim that the world exists forever, that it was never created by anyone. The main thing in their teaching is the self-improvement of the soul, thanks to which its liberation from the earthly world occurs. Jains believe in the transmigration of souls and that a new incarnation depends on how a person lived his previous life. The final goal of a person should be liberation from rebirth - nirvana, which only an ascetic can achieve. Therefore, in D. great importance is attached to the practice of asceticism.
Zen
Zen- the Japanese name of one of the schools of Buddhism that penetrated into Japan from China in the 8th-12th centuries. The basis of the concept of D. is the proposition that it is impossible to express the truth in human language and images. The state of enlightenment can be achieved suddenly, solely through inner experience. In the field of dogmatics, D. went to the extreme denial of authorities, morality, good and evil.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism- an ancient monotheistic religion that arose at the turn of the 1st-2nd millennium BC. e. in the eastern regions of the Iranian Plateau. The prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) is considered its founder; his revelations made up the sacred book 3. “Avesta”. Zarathushtra taught to worship the highest and all-knowing God, the creator of all things - Ahura Mazda, from whom all other deities originated. He is opposed by the evil deity Angra Mainyu (Ahriman). In the ethical concept of Z., the main attention is focused on human activity, based on the triad: good thought, good word, good deed. The worship of Ahura Mazda was expressed primarily in the worship of fire (which is why Zoroastrians are sometimes called fire worshipers).
Jerusalem Orthodox Church
Jerusalem Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. The oldest of the Christian Churches. The Apostle James is considered the first bishop. The main Christian shrines are also located in Jerusalem: the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, etc.
Hinduism
Hinduism(Hindu-sama, Hindu-dharma - “religion of the Hindus”, “law of the Hindus”) - a religion originating in the Harappan or Indus civilization, which existed in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. India is not actually a single religion, but is a system of local Indian beliefs. It does not have a coherent system of doctrine, a single symbol of faith and uniform dogmas. The key concept of I. is dharma - a universal and eternal order that preserves the integrity of the world. The main sign of belonging to Hinduism should be considered recognition of the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmanical order based on it. There are common attitudes: karma (literally, “deed”, “deed”), samsara (literally, “circle of being”) and the need to liberate from them. Only a person who has at least one Indian parent can profess I.
The main symbols of Hinduism
Lotus- one of the oldest and leading symbols of Hinduism. Its flowers open in the light of the sun, and its numerous petals resemble its rays. That is why the lotus became the emblem of the sun and the life-giving cosmic force that brings life, as well as unsullied purity and spiritual perfection. The lotus has become a symbol and attribute of many solar deities - Surya, Vishnu, Lakshmi, who are often depicted sitting on lotus thrones. As a symbol of fertility, it is also associated with the Mother Goddess, conveying the image of the creative womb and special sacred power. Rosettes, medallions and ornaments with lotuses are often used in iconography.
Yantra(lit. amulet, magical drawing) - a diagram that can denote a deity or serve as a kind of map that helps to master or strengthen meditation. To address each revered deity, a specific yantra is prescribed.
Swastika- a sign of good wishes and prosperity. The swastika is a cross with the ends bent clockwise or counterclockwise (right- and left-handed swastika). The right-handed swastika is regarded as benevolent, the left - as malicious. Since ancient times, the swastika has been a sign of the sun and light, and therefore of life and prosperity.
Ohm- the sound and the syllable representing it have been used since ancient times as bringing good. It is a symbol of totality, universal integrity and continuity; considered the source of all sounds and the main mantra. Yogis strive to comprehend its meaning in deep meditation; it is pronounced at the beginning and at the end of all significant matters, in the titles of texts, etc.
Islam
Islam- one of the three world religions that arose in the 7th century. in Arabia. Its founder is Muhammad, who appeared as a prophet in Mecca in 610. The holy book of Islam is the Koran, compiled after the death of Muhammad according to his sayings.
Five main "pillars of Islam":
- 1) the belief that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet (shahadah);
- 2) praying five times daily (salat); 3) alms in favor of the poor (zakat);
- 4) fasting in the month of Ramadan (sawi);
- 5) a pilgrimage to Mecca, performed at least once in a lifetime (Hajj). The entire legal system of India is based on a special set of rules - Sharia. Muslims recognize the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. A prerequisite for every believer is the rite of circumcision. In India there is a ban on depicting living beings. In the 10th century a system of theoretical theology - kalam - was created.
Judaism
Judaism- the earliest monotheistic religion that arose in the 1st millennium BC. e. in Palestine. Distributed mainly among Jews. Jews believe in one God, the immortality of the soul, the afterlife, the coming coming of the Messiah, God's chosenness of the Jewish people (the idea of a “covenant,” a union of the people with God, in which the Jewish people act as the bearer of Divine revelation). The canon of sacred books of Israel includes the Torah (the Pentateuch of Moses), the books of the prophets and the Scriptures. Various interpretations and commentaries of the canon are collected in the Talmud.
Calvinism
Calvinism- one of the Protestant movements, the origins of which are the work of the French theologian Jacques Calvin, “Instruction in the Christian Faith.” K. is characterized by the recognition only of the Holy Scriptures and the doctrine of predestination (God determined in advance for everyone his fate, which cannot be changed. A person’s success serves as a sign that he is faithfully fulfilling his destiny). Having appeared in Geneva, K. spread to France, the Netherlands, Scotland and England.
Catacomb Church
Catacomb Church- a collective name for that part of the Orthodox clergy and Orthodox communities that in the 20s of the 20th century. left the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, accusing it of collaborating with the Soviet authorities, and took an illegal position. Catholicism is one of the three main directions in Christianity, which finally took shape after the division of churches in 1054. The Catholic Church is strictly centralized, has a single center in the Vatican, a single head - the Pope (the dogma of the infallibility of his judgments has been accepted). Holy Scripture is equalized with Holy Tradition. Seven sacraments accepted. Icons and saints are venerated. There is a dogma about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. Catholics believe in the existence of purgatory. Services take place in national languages, as well as in Latin.
Quakerism
Quakerism(from the English quake - “to shake”) is one of the Protestant denominations founded in the 17th century. in England by George Fox. Quakers emphasize the need to be in constant awe of God. Their worship consists of internal conversation with God and preaching. Quakers developed a doctrine of absolute pacifism, rejecting any violence.
Confucianism
Confucianism- a philosophical and religious system that appeared in China in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. The philosophical system of China was created by the wandering teacher Confucius (Kung Tzu). This religion is based on the concept of “heaven” and “heavenly decree” (fate). A person endowed by Heaven with certain qualities must act in accordance with them, as well as the moral laws of the Tao (path) and improve his qualities through training. One of the central places in Confucianism is occupied by the concept of Ren (humanity) - ideal relationships between people in the family, society and state. The basic principle of this concept is: “What you don’t wish for yourself, don’t do to others.” A characteristic feature of this religion is anthropocentrism. Under Emperor Wu, China occupied a dominant position in China (it was combined with the doctrine of the cosmic forces of Yin and Yang and the five primary elements of Wu Xing).
Krishnaism
Krishnaism(“International Society for Krishna Consciousness”) is one of the movements in Hinduism. The founder of the society is the Indian preacher Abdam Charin De (1896-1977). According to his teachings, there is only one absolute God - Krishna. The goal of K.'s cult practice is to achieve the so-called “Krishna consciousness” - a state in which the believer is freed from the power of the material world and returns to God. Love for Krishna is highest in achieving religious ecstasy through individual or group meditation.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism- a Protestant movement, the beginning of which can be considered October 31, 1517, when the monk Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 theses to the gates of Wittenberg Cathedral. L. denies that the clergy is endowed with the grace of a mediator between God and people; asserts that a person is saved only by personal faith in Christ, and not by the special merits of saints and not by good deeds in favor of the Church. In L. there is a clear distinction between the sphere of the Gospel (religious) and the sphere of law (state). Sacraments such as confession and absolution are denied; it is believed that repentance includes only alms and faith.
Manichaeism
Manichaeism- ancient Iranian religious teaching about the eternal struggle between the forces of Light and Darkness, that is, between universal good and evil. The founder of the doctrine is the preacher and mystic Mani, who lived in the 11th century. n. e. M. attributes the act of creation of the world to the good Demiurge, called the Spirit of Life. Manichaeans believe that he created the world in order to separate the mixed particles of light and darkness from each other.
Mahayana
Mahayana Buddhism(Sanskrit mahayana - “great chariot”) is the largest direction of Buddhism, which took shape in the first centuries of our era. From India, M. spread to China, Tibet, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Southern Siberia, receiving the name Northern Buddhism. M. argues that salvation is possible for everyone, and not just for members of the Buddhist community. A bodhisattva (literally, “one whose essence is Enlightenment” is the ideal of M.) must take care of the salvation of all living beings. In M. Buddha is no longer just a Teacher, but a supernatural being who can be worshiped as a deity.
Methodism
Methodism- a Protestant movement that appeared in England in the 18th century, the founders of which were the brothers John and Charles Wesley. M. sets a goal for a person: to live according to the Gospel, devote his time to prayer and good deeds, study the Holy Scriptures in the original, strictly adhering to the established method, maintaining discipline and order.
Mormons
Mormons(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is a Protestant church founded in 1830 by American Joseph Smith. By analogy with the early apostolic church, Mormons have established positions of apostles, prophets, shepherds, teachers and evangelists. The central theological theme of Mormon teaching is “the gathering of the tribes of Israel and the restoration of the true Christian church.”
Pietism
Pietism(from Latin pietas - “piety”) - a religious movement in Lutheranism that arose in Germany at the end of the 17th century. P. puts religious feelings above all theological dogmas, church authorities, etc. His supporters opposed philosophy and culture. In a broad sense, “pietism” denotes a religious-mystical mood, formal piety.
Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy(Greek orthodoxia - “correct judgment”, “correct glory”) - one of the three main directions of Christianity. It became independent after the division of the churches into Western and Eastern in 1054. There is no strict organizational unity; there are numerous differences in ritual and canonical issues. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God is not recognized. The Holy Scriptures are considered as part of the Holy Tradition. Seven sacraments accepted. In most countries, services are held in national languages.
Presbyterians
Presbyterians(from the Greek presbytes “elder”, “elder”) - a Protestant movement that arose in the second half of the 16th century. in England and Scotland under the influence of Calvinism. The name itself indicates a special form of church organization. P. does not have centralized administrative leadership. Their doctrine is based on ideas about the ineradicable sinfulness of man and about salvation as an undeserved and predetermined grace of God.
Protestantism
Protestantism- one of the three main directions of Christianity. Its appearance is associated with the Reformation - a powerful anti-Catholic movement in the 16th century. in Europe. The name of P. is associated with the protest of 6 German princes and 14 cities against the decision of the Speyer Reichstag (1529), which voted for an intolerant attitude towards Lutheranism in Germany. Belief in the direct and personal connection of the believer with Christ determines the three basic principles of P.: 1) Only Holy Scripture is true, and the Bible is the only source of divine revelation. 2) Salvation is God's gift, embodied in the atoning death and resurrection of Christ; it is achieved only by personal faith. 3) Every believer is a priest. Protestants deny the authority of the Pope, the mediation of the Virgin Mary, the intercession of saints, indulgences and sacraments not administered by Christ (in most Protestant churches only baptism and communion are recognized). The first Protestants were actively involved in translating the Bible into national languages.
Puritans
Puritans(from Latin purus - “pure”) - a religious movement in the Anglican Church that arose in the second half of the 16th century. and fought to “cleanse” the Church of England of Catholicism. P. was united by the idea of the “kingdom of saints” and the “conciliar” Church; they sought freedom from episcopate control.
Revivalism
Revivalism(from the English revival - “rebirth”, “awakening”) - Protestant movement of the 17th century. in Britain and the American colonies. R. insisted on the possibility of cleansing not only personal sins, but also from original human sin. This is achieved through “being born again” - a spiritual rebirth that miraculously changes the whole person.
Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church(ROC) - is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Founded in 988 under Prince Vladimir I as a metropolis of the Church of Constantinople with its center in Kyiv. In 1589, Metropolitan Job of Moscow was elevated to the rank of patriarch. Divine services are performed according to the Julian calendar. The main language of worship is Church Slavonic.
Satanism
Satanism- a generalized name for anti-Christian sects whose members worship Satan. The first of the Satanic sects of the New Age is considered to be the “Church of Satan”, founded in 1968 by Anthony LaVey.
Jehovah witnesses
Jehovah witnesses(Jehovah's Witnesses) - one of the later movements in Protestantism, founded by Charles Russell in 1870. Plaintiffs' Witnesses deny the dogma of the Trinity, but recognize all three of its hypostases. Jehovah God is considered the source of all life. Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of the supreme God; only he was created by Jehovah directly, everything else was created through Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses are confident that the leaders of their organization and religious authorities will be resurrected immediately after death and will enter the “government of Christ”; everyone else is promised eternal life after Armageddon.
Sikhism
Sikhism(from Sanskrit sikh - “student”) - one of the national religions of India. Formed at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries. under the influence of Islam that penetrated into India and originally represented a Protestant trend in Hinduism. The founder of Sikhism was guru (teacher) Nanak (1469-1539). This religion is based on the belief that true devotion to God lies in deep inner faith. Sikhism is monotheistic, does not recognize the clergy, denies public worship, external attributes and caste differences. It developed the path of spiritual improvement - nam-marg, or Sahaj Yoga.
Shintoism
Shintoism- a religion common in Japan. It arose from the pagan veneration of kami - the omnipresent manifestations of everything sacred. In the 7th century the unification of all local kami cults into a single whole began. The most ancient forms of beliefs (magic, totemism, fetishism) have been preserved in Shinto. In this religion there are no clear distinctions between humans and kami. S. does not promise salvation in some other world, but considers the harmonious coexistence of man with the world around him as an ideal.
Old Believers
Old Believers(Raskolnichestvo) - a set of religious movements that arose as a result of the schism of the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century. Opponents of Nikon's reform, who sought to unite the Russian and Greek Orthodox churches, believed that after this reform official Orthodoxy ceased to exist. There are practically no dogmatic differences between the Old Believers and the Russian Orthodox Church. The discrepancies concern only some rituals and inaccuracies in the translation of liturgical books. The Old Believers retained the two-fingered sign of the cross, they only recognize the eight-pointed cross, etc.
Sunnism
Sunnism- the main direction of Islam, which considers the first caliphs - Abu Bakr, Omar and Osman - to be the legitimate successors of Mohammed. Along with the Koran, the Sunnah (traditions about the prophet) is recognized. When deciding on the highest Muslim authority, they feast “on the consent of the entire community” (its religious elite).
Sufism
Sufism(from Arabic, suf - “wool”) - a mystical trend in Islam that arose in the 8th-9th centuries. S. is based on intimate knowledge, thanks to which the individual received the opportunity for self-improvement. The basis of Sufi teaching is the desire to comprehend the secrets of faith. The method of Sufism was instant illumination. Through music and dance, Sufis try to achieve sacred ecstasy, which they understand as a state in which in consciousness there is no longer any division into good and evil, truth and falsehood, faith and unbelief.
Hinayana
Hinayana(from Sanskrit hinayana - “small vehicle”) - one of the main directions of Buddhism, which arose at the beginning of our era, includes 18 different schools. It established itself in Southeast Asia, receiving the name “Southern Buddhism.” X. believes that only members of the Buddhist community, that is, monks, can achieve nirvana. The ideal of X. is an arhat (literally, “one who has achieved Enlightenment”), X. also requires monks to tirelessly work on themselves and complete loneliness on the path to the highest goal. Buddha in X. is a man who, after more than five hundred rebirths, was destined to reveal the “four noble truths” to living beings.
Christianity
Christianity- one of the three world religions that arose in Palestine in the 1st century. n. e. At the beginning of the 4th century. X. becomes the state religion of the Roman Empire, and by XIV it spreads throughout almost all of Europe. At the heart of X. is the belief that two thousand years ago God sent into the world his son, the God-man Jesus Christ, who lived, preached, suffered and died on the cross as a man. The main book of Christians is the Bible. X. believe in one God, existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The concept of original sin is very important for Christians. Another characteristic feature of X. is that it can only exist in the form of a Church (this is either a community of believers, or a temple, or a form of the Christian faith). The sacred symbol of X is the cross. All Christians believe in the coming end of the world and the second coming of Christ.
Shamanism
Shamanism(from Evenk, saman - “excited”) - one of the oldest forms of religious practice of mankind, the central figure in which is the shaman - a mediator between the world of people and the world of spirits, who has the ability to heal people. Unlike priests and priests, he performs sacred acts with the help of spirits. In addition, the shaman undergoes “re-creation” in another world. Communication with spirits, during which the shaman falls into a trance, is called ritual. Currently, shamanism is widespread in many Asian countries, in Siberia, and interest in Indian shamans has increased.
Shiism
Shiism(from Arab, ah-shia - “followers”, “party”) - one of the directions in Islam. Initially formed as a political party that recognized Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, as the prophet's successor. In Sh., the doctrine of the “hidden imam” arose, that is, about the mysteriously disappeared twelfth imam, who must return to earth at the appointed hour and restore justice. Shiites do not recognize the Sunnah and have their own tradition.
Greek Orthodox Church
Hellenic (Greek) Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. In 1850, according to church canons, it was recognized as “the Church of Constantinople itself.” The Gregorian calendar is used. The seat of the Archbishop of Athens and all of Hellas is Athens.
Followers of Jesus Christ are united in more than 100 churches, movements and sects. These are Eastern Catholic churches (22). Old Catholicism (32). Protestanism (13). Orthodoxy (27). Spiritual Christianity (9). Sects (6). It is the largest world religion both in terms of the number of adherents, of which there are about 2.1 billion, and in terms of geographical distribution - almost every country in the world has at least one Christian community.
On the issue of relationships Christianity and science, one can discern two extreme - although dominant, but equally incorrect points of view. Namely, firstly, that religion and science are in no way consistent with each other - religion, brought to its ultimate “foundations”, does not need science and denies it, and vice versa, science, for its part, excludes religion to the extent that turns out to be able to explain the world without resorting to the services of religion. And, secondly, that between them, in fact, there are not and cannot be any fundamental disagreements - already due to the different subject matter and multidirectionality of “metaphysical” interests. It is not difficult to see, however, that both points of view (1) dialectically presuppose each other and (2) are also defined dialectically (“antinomically”, etc.) in relation to one principle (“unity” of the world, being, consciousness etc.) – in the first case it is negative, in the second – positive.
Judaism is divided into 11 movements: Orthodox Judaism, Litvaks, Hasidism, Orthodox modernism, religious Zionism, Conservative Judaism, Reform Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism, the movement of humanistic Judaism, Renovationist Judaism of Rabbi Michael Lerner, Messianic Judaism. Has up to 14 million followers.
The positive aspects of the interaction between science and Torah are as follows. According to the Jewish worldview, the world was created for the sake of the Torah and the Torah was the plan for the creation of the world. Therefore, they potentially form a harmonious whole.
Islam is divided into 7 movements: Sunnis, Shiites, Ismailis, Kharijites, Sufism, Salafis (Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia), radical Islamists. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslim communities exist in more than 120 countries and, according to various sources, unite up to 1.5 billion people.
The Qur'an encourages the development of science and scientific knowledge and encourages people to think about and study natural phenomena. Muslims consider scientific activity to be an act of religious order. Using my own example, I can say that when working under contracts in Muslim countries I always received a warm welcome, respect and gratitude. In Russian regions, they strive to get information “for free, please” and forget to say thank you.
Buddhism consists of three main and many local schools: Theravada - the most conservative school of Buddhism; Mahayana - the latest form of development of Buddhism; Vajrayana – occult modification of Buddhism (Lamaism); Shingon-shu is one of the main Buddhist schools of Japan, belonging to the Vajrayana movement. Estimates of the number of followers of Buddhism range from 350 to 500 million. According to the Buddha, “all that we are is the result of our thoughts, the mind is everything.”
Shintoism- traditional religion of Japan. Forms of Shinto: temple, imperial court, state, sectarian, folk and home. Only about 3 million Japanese turned out to be ardent supporters of Shintoism, who gave preference to this particular religion. The development of science in Japan speaks for itself.
Religions of India. Sikhism. A religion based in Punjab, in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. 22 million followers.
Jainism. Dharmic religion that appeared in India around the 6th century BC. e., preaches non-harm to all living beings in this world. 5 million followers.
Hinduism. A religion that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The historical name of Hinduism in Sanskrit is Sanatana Dharma, which translated means “eternal religion”, “eternal path” or “eternal law”. It has its roots in the Vedic civilization, which is why it is called the world's oldest religion. 1 billion followers.
The privileged caste is the Brahmins. Only they alone could be ministers of the cult. Brahmins in ancient India had great advantages. In addition to the monopoly on professional religious activities, they also had a monopoly on pedagogical and scientific activities.
Religions of China. Taoism. Chinese traditional teaching, including elements of religion, mysticism, fortune telling, shamanism, meditation practice, and science.
Confucianism. Formally, Confucianism never had the institution of a church, but in terms of its significance, the degree of penetration into the soul and education of the consciousness of the people, it successfully played the role of a religion. In Imperial China, Confucianism was the philosophy of learned thinkers. Over 1 billion followers.
African traditional religions. Practiced by approximately 15% of Africans, they include a variety of concepts of fetishism, animism, totemism and ancestor worship. Some religious beliefs are common to many African ethnic groups, but they are usually unique to each ethnic group. Has 100 million followers.
Voodoo. The general name for religious beliefs that emerged among the descendants of black slaves taken from Africa to South and Central America.
It is difficult to say anything about the place of science in these religions, since there is a lot of magic there.
Shamanism. A well-established name in science for a set of people’s ideas about ways of conscious and purposeful interaction with the transcendental (“otherworldly”) world, primarily with spirits, which is carried out by a shaman.
Cults. Phallic cults, cult of ancestors. In Europe and America, the cult of ancestors has long ceased to exist, having been replaced by the study of genealogies. It still exists in Japan to this day.
Over the centuries, religions have had a huge influence on shaping the history and culture of the world - from philosophy to law, from music to architecture, from war to peace.
Most of the world's greatest and most popular religions come from two sources - either the Abrahamic or Indian religions. Abrahamic religions, whose common origin is the message about the ancient patriarch Abraham - Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The Indian subcontinent is the common birthplace of religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism.
The most popular religions in the world
1. Christianity – 2.4 billion believers
Christianity, which developed from Judaism more than two thousand years ago, is now the religion with the largest number of followers, making up almost 32% of the world's population. Christianity is the dominant religion in Europe, Russia, North and South America, South, Central and East Africa and Oceania. Large Christian communities also inhabit other parts of the world, including Indonesia, Central Asia and the Middle East. The three main recognitions of Christianity are Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. Christians believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe, who sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to save humanity from sin. All who believe in the teachings proclaimed by Christ through his passion, death on the cross and resurrection will be guaranteed eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. The holy book of Christians is the Bible (Holy Bible), compiled from the books of the Old and New Testaments. The main moral commandments that every Christian must follow were revealed by God to Moses in the form of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments.
2. Islam – 1.8 billion believers
The second largest religion in the world is Islam, which is now the religion with the fastest growing number of followers. Islam is the dominant religion in Indonesia, the Middle East, Central and South Asia and North Africa. The two main branches of Islam are Sunnis, which comprise about 75-90% of all Muslims and Shiites. Islam was born in the 7th century. in Mecca, where he came into the world and became the creator of the second largest religion in the world. For followers of Islam, Muhammad is also the most important prophet to whom God, called Allah, revealed the text of the Quran, the holy book of Muslims, which is the source of their faith and practice. Sunni Islam is based on five pillars, which are: profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca.
3. Hinduism – 1.15 billion believers
Hinduism, called the oldest religion in the world, was formed between 500 BC. and 300 AD, i.e. immediately after the Vedic period in which the Vedas, which are the holy books for Hinduism, were formed. Most of his followers are inhabited by the countries of the Indian subcontinent - India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. Hinduism is not a uniform religion with a clearly defined doctrine. Hinduism is rather a group of many factions, differing in their views on the essence of God and practice and at the same time associated with the Vedas, the belief in reincarnation and karma, that is, the law of action and reaction and in liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. Hinduism has a rich pantheon of all religions and is characterized by the belief in devas, numerous deities that are usually seen as concepts of a single god. Among the most important of these is Vishnu, in iconography depicted as a four-armed man with blue skin and Shiva, depicted with a characteristic head arrangement in which a crescent moon is attached, with a snake wrapped around his neck and a trident in his hand.
4. Buddhism – 520 million believers
Buddhism was formed in ancient India between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, from where it spread to much of Asia. Its creator was Buddha Shakyamuni, who proclaimed the Four Noble Truths, which formed the basis of this entire religion. Buddhism is classified as a metrological religion because it is not characterized by belief in a ruling god or gods of the world and worship. Buddhism is divided into two main schools: Theravada, which is popular mainly in Sri Lanka and in Southeast Asian countries and Mahayana, with the largest number of followers in East Asian countries. All schools of Buddhism combine the desire to overcome suffering and liberation from samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth), but differ in their interpretation of how to achieve these goals.
5. Chinese folk religion - 400 million believers
The list of the 5 largest religions in the world is completed by Chinese folk religion. Although China, ruled by the Communist Party, is an atheist state, the government officially recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism.
However, the largest religion in China is the Chinese folk religion, also known as the Han religion (Han makes up approximately 92% of China's total population and almost half of Taiwan's population), which was formed in the period around the 2nd century BC. Since most Chinese do not recognize their spiritual beliefs and related practices as a religion, and if they do, it is rarely a pure form of any religion, so it is very difficult to collect reliable statistics on the subject.
According to a study conducted for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, approximately 400 million Chinese practice some form of folk religion or Taoism. In Han Chinese religion, an important role is played by the cult of ancestors, respect for the forces of nature and belief in the rational order of the world, in which both people, deities and spirits intervene. Around the 11th century, Chinese folk religion also adopted the teachings and practices of other religions, including the concept of karma and reincarnation from Buddhism, the concept of the hierarchy of gods from Taoism or philosophical Confucian thought - thus forming a religious system that, although full of differences depending on region of the country.
Have a good day everyone! The concept of religions appears quite often in exams in the humanities. Therefore, I would recommend looking at these religions of the world, their list, in order to better navigate them.
A little about the concept of “World Religions”. It often refers to the three main religions: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. This understanding is incomplete to say the least. Because these religious systems have different currents. In addition, there are a number of religions that also unite many people. Before publishing the list, I also recommend reading the article about that .
List of world religions
Abrahamic religions- these are religions that go back to one of the first religious patriarchs - Abraham.
Christianity— briefly about this religion you can. It is represented today in several directions. The key ones are Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. The holy book is the Bible (mainly the New Testament). It unites about 2.3 billion people today
Islam- how religion took shape in the 7th century AD and absorbed the revelations of Allah to his prophet Muhammad. It was from him that the prophet learned that one must pray a hundred times a day. However, Muhammad asked Allah to reduce the number of prayers, and in the end Allah allowed prayers five times a day. By the way, the ideas about heaven and hell in Islam and Christianity are somewhat different. Paradise here is the quintessence of earthly blessings. Holy book Koran. Today it unites about 1.5 billion people.
Judaism- a religion predominantly of the Jewish people, unites 14 million adherents. What struck me most was the worship service: during it you can behave quite casually. The holy book is the Bible (mainly the Old Testament).
Other religions
Hinduism- unites about 900 million followers and includes belief in an eternal soul (atman) and in a universal God. This religion and others like it are also called dharmic - from the Sanskrit word “dharma” - things, the nature of things. The religious priests here are called Brahmins. The key idea is the rebirth of souls. For those interested, jokes aside, look at Vysotsky: a song about the transmigration of souls.
Buddhism- unites over 350 million adherents. It comes from the fact that the soul is bound by the wheel of samsara - the wheel of reincarnation, and only work on oneself can allow it to break out of this circle into nirvana - eternal bliss. There are different branches of Buddhism: Zen Buddhism, Lamaism, etc. The sacred texts are called Tripitaka.
Zoroastrianism(“Good Faith”) is one of the oldest monothetic religions, incorporating faith in the one god Ahura Mazda and his prophet Zarathushtra, uniting about 7 million people. Religion embodies belief in good and evil thoughts. The latter are the enemies of God and must be eradicated. Light is the physical embodiment of God and is worthy of veneration, which is why this religion is also called fire worship. Thus, in my opinion, this is the most honest religion, since it is thoughts that define a person, and not his actions. If you agree with this, please like at the end of the post!
Jainism- unites approximately 4 million adherents and proceeds from the fact that all living beings are eternally living in the spiritual world, calls for self-improvement through the cultivation of wisdom and other virtues.
Sikhism- unites about 23 million adherents and includes an understanding of God as the Absolute and as a part of every person. Worship occurs through meditation.
Juche is a North Korean political ideology that many consider a religion. It was formed on the basis of the transformation of the ideas of Marxism-Leninism and synthesis with traditional Chinese philosophy.
Confucianism- in the strict sense of the word, it is a more ethical and philosophical teaching than religion and combines ideas about proper behavior, ritual and tradition, which, according to Confucius, must be represented. The main treatise is Lun-yu. Consolidates about 7 million people.
Shintoism- this religion is widespread mainly in Japan, so read about it.
Khao Dai- a fairly new religious system that appeared in 1926 and combines many tenets of Buddhism, Lamaism, etc. Calls for equality between the sexes, pacifism, etc. It originated in Vietnam. In essence, religion embodies everything that has been missing in this region of the planet for a long time.
I hope you got an idea about the religions of the world! Like and subscribe for new articles.
Best regards, Andrey Puchkov