Other entries have been suggested, but, really, there are limits. World Religions Explained Caudle Podcast Religion & Spirituality Listen on Apple Podcasts. Religions organize themselves—their institutions, practitioners, and structures—in a variety of fashions. Boston, MA: Shambhala. Scholars from a variety of disciplines have strived to classify religions. In sociology, the term is used to refer to a religious group that most all members of a society belong to. What role do cults have today? The term ecclesia, originally referring to a political assembly of citizens in ancient Athens, Greece, now refers to a congregation. Published by Hammond World Atlas Corporation, Langenscheidt Publishing Group, New York, USA. A denomination is a large, mainstream religious organization, but it does not claim to be official or state sponsored. When membership in a sect increases over time, it may grow into a denomination. However, the growth in religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue that promotes the idea that all religions are equal, and the erroneous teachings that many ways lead to God or to heaven all exist today. It's also the smallest, with only about 12 million followers around the world. Some of the major, and oldest, of the world’s religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. in China. A Short Guide to Comparative Religions. Their God communicates to believers through prophets and rewards good deeds while also punishing evil.Most Jews (with the exception of Messianic Jews and a few other groups) believe that their Messiah hasn’t yet come—but will one day.Jewish people worship in holy places known as synagogues, and their spiritual lead… The major religions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and Judaism) differ in many respects, including how each religion is organized and the belief system each upholds. Confucianism: In ancient times Jewish people were called Hebrews or Israelite. What is your understanding of monotheism versus polytheism? A form of belief, rather than a specific system. Similarly, the Catholic Bible includes the Apocrypha, a collection that, while part of the 1611 King James translation, is no longer included in Protestant versions of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Confused by Catholicism? Polytheism is any religion that honors more than one god, but not in a dualistic relationship. Join me today! Religions have emerged and developed across the world. To help clarify these groups, go to http://openstaxcollege.org/l/Christian_denominations. Indeed, many Nobel Peace Prize winners and other great humanitarians over the centuries would have classified themselves as atheists or agnostics. Three main incarnations—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—are sometimes compared to the manifestations of the divine in the Christian Trinity. From “protest” comes the term Protestant. The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) is one of the most revered and influential Tibetan Buddhist leaders. The major world religions of today are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. This essay will attempt to create a new religion (called the Harmony) that is inspired by the commonalities seen in many world religions. World Religions looks at the beliefs and practices of many different religions, from the ancient Egyptians through to Zoroastrianism--the Detailed annotations to stunning illustrations provide intriguing insights into the world's most important religions--offering a deeper appreciation of the beliefs central to … until it was officially abolished when communist leadership discouraged religious practice in 1949. Some scholars have compared this Chinese tradition to its Confucian counterpart by saying that “whereas Confucianism is concerned with day-to-day rules of conduct, Taoism is concerned with a more spiritual level of being” (Feng and English 1972). The major religions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and Judaism) differ in many respects, including how each religion is organized and the belief system each upholds. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama around 500 B.C.E. Some groups that are controversially labeled as cults today include the Church of Scientology and the Hare Krishna movement. How might you classify the Mennonites? It is important to recognize that being a nonbeliever in a divine entity does not mean the individual subscribes to no morality. Using this method of classification, religions might fall into one of these basic categories. (Photo courtesy of Akash Mazumdar). The term cult is sometimes used interchangeably with the term new religious movement (NRM). Muhammad is seen only as a prophet, not as a divine being, and he is believed to be the messenger of Allah (God), who is divine. Hinduism is the most dominant religion in India. Hindus generally believe in a set of principles called dharma, which refer to one’s duty in the world that corresponds with “right” actions. This isn't a hardcore lesson but lessons for beginners who want to just learn the basics. After their Exodus from Egypt in the thirteenth century B.C.E., Jews, a nomadic society, became monotheistic, worshipping only one God. It is simply impossible to list all varieties of religion1 as we as a species have created an almost infinite variety of religious and transcendental ideas. ©2020 Vexen Crabtree all rights reserved.This site uses the HTF Disclaimer (as linked here). 'World Religions' details the beliefs from modern Scientology to the world's oldest faith - Zoroastrianism - and everything in between. Murray; Robert Huber; Elizabeth Mechem; Sarah Novak; Devid West Reynolds, PhD; Tricia Wright; Thomas Cussans. Most religions transition through different organizational phases. Part of the neo-pagan range of religions, An organized form of atheism where moral and ethical goodness is emphasized, A campaign saw many put this down as their religion on the UK census in 2001. The Holy Spirit is a term Christians often use to describe religious experience, or how they feel the presence of the sacred in their lives. Hinduism is a perfect example, as are a number of lesser-known religions that … Other differences include the nature of belief in a higher power, the history of how the world and the religion began, and the use of sacred texts and objects. Most of the world religions place an individual on their own, striving for spiritual perfection. In Taoism, the purpose of life is inner peace and harmony. One way to remember these religious organizational terms is to think of cults, sects, denominations, and ecclesia representing a continuum, with increasing influence on society, where cults are least influential and ecclesia are most influential. As with Christianity’s Old Testament, many of the Qur’an stories are shared with the Jewish faith. With intriguing artwork, flow charts, and diagrams, complex world religions are made accessible in this comprehensive guide. For a primer on Judaism, read Judaism 101 at http://openstaxcollege.org/l/Jew_FAQ. A paperback book. In its pejorative use, these groups are often disparaged as being secretive, highly controlling of members’ lives, and dominated by a single, charismatic leader. Islam is monotheistic religion and it follows the teaching of the prophet Muhammad, born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 570 C.E. 2002. Mystified by Mysticism? Talmud refers to a collection of sacred Jewish oral interpretation of the Torah. This is your chance. Cults, like sects, are new religious groups. Note that some religions may be practiced—or understood—in various categories. Return to … Siddhartha was said to have given up a comfortable, upper-class life to follow one of poverty and spiritual devotion. At the age of thirty-five, he famously meditated under a sacred fig tree and vowed not to rise before he achieved enlightenment (bodhi). Tao is usually translated as “way” or “path.” The founder of the religion is generally recognized to be a man named Laozi, who lived sometime in the sixth century B.C.E. The sacred text for Christians is the Bible. Suspected of being on the verge of mass suicide after predictions of the end of the world failed in year 2000, A self-help religious group involving meditation, with few fixed beliefs, Celtic religion in prehistoric England. The Islamic house of worship is called a mosque. The Five Oldest main World Religions in order are: Hinduism - The oldest religion, it may date to prehistoric times. These existential questions are central to the five major world religions -- and that's not all that connects these faiths. An extraordinary teacher, his lessons—which were about self-discipline, respect for authority and tradition, and jen (the kind treatment of every person)—were collected in a book called the Analects. Similarly, many Westerners view the multiple manifestations of Hinduism’s godhead as polytheistic, which is a religion based on belief in multiple deities,, while Hindus might describe those manifestations are a monotheistic parallel to the Christian Trinity. Today the largest religion in the world, Christianity began 2,000 years ago in Palestine, with Jesus of Nazareth, a charismatic leader who taught his followers about caritas (charity) or treating others as you would like to be treated yourself. Sociological terms for different kinds of religious organizations are, in order of decreasing influence in society, ecclesia, denomination, sect, and cult. The symbols of fourteen religions are shown. The Pocket Dalai Lama. The central concept of tao can be understood to describe a spiritual reality, the order of the universe, or the way of modern life in harmony with the former two. (Photo courtesy of David Stanley/flickr). The followers of Islam, whose U.S. population is projected to double in the next twenty years (Pew Research Forum 2011), are called Muslims. By Elizabeth Breuilly, Joanne O'Brien & Martin Palmer. Craig, Mary, transl. Sorting through the different Christian denominations can be a daunting task. One foundation of Christian doctrine is the Ten Commandments, which decry acts considered sinful, including theft, murder, and adultery. PBS’s Frontline explores “the life of Jesus and the rise of Christianity” in this in-depth documentary. It explores spiritual concepts such as faith, prayer, ritual, holy texts, holy lands, spiritual beings, and spiritual phenomena from the point of view of those who believe and practice each respective faith. This is your chance. While Christians believe that he already appeared in the person of Jesus Christ, Jews and Muslims disagree. Some wonder if this one world religion already exists today. Baha'is believe that the different cultural interpretations of religion all have the same goal, and they strive for prosperity across faiths. cornerstones of Muslim practice is journeying to the religion’s most sacred place, Mecca. The Jews’ covenant, or promise of a special relationship with Yahweh (God), is an important element of Judaism, and their sacred text is the Torah, which Christians also follow as the first five books of the Bible. By the end of this section, you will be able to: The symbols of fourteen religions are depicted here. The oldest religion in the world, Hinduism originated in the Indus River Valley about 4,500 years ago in what is now modern-day northwest India and Pakistan. There are three key terms that will be introduced and used throughout this course, namely: philosophy, religion, and world view. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. The religion was developed by Kung Fu-Tzu (Confucius), who lived in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E. A List of All Religions and Belief Systems, "theism" is any religion that contains god(s), and "polytheism" is a form of theism, http://www.humanreligions.info/religions.html, The Phenomenon Of Religion: A Thematic Approach. Religion Explained is a YouTube channel and blog, created by Thomas Oury (left), dedicated to documenting religious beliefs and practices as explained by religious practitioners. Momen, Moojan(1999) The Phenomenon Of Religion: A Thematic Approach. Jewish people believe there’s only one God who has established a covenant—or special agreement—with them. It also contains a collection of deities but in the manifestation of only one Supreme Deity known as the Brahman. Hindu women sometimes apply decorations of henna dye to their hands for special occasions such as weddings and religious festivals. While Jews, Christians, and Muslims share many of same historical religious stories, their beliefs verge. For example, Christianity began as a cult, transformed into a sect, and today exists as an ecclesia. Consider the different types of religious organizations in the United States. It is also important to note that every society also has nonbelievers, such as atheists, who do not believe in a divine being or entity, and agnostics, who hold that ultimate reality (such as God) is unknowable. In this section, we will explore seven of the world’s major religions. Religions of the World Religions of the World is a collection of animated films exploring the origins and stories of a variety of religions. Most polytheistic religions acknowledge dozens, hundreds, thousands, or even millions of deities. Through the pages, the author looks at the beliefs and practices of many different religions from the ancient Egyptians to the faiths practiced today. Often a sect begins as an offshoot of a denomination, when a group of members believes they should separate from the larger group. Origins & Background Heritage Area of Origin Founded Founder, Description Description God(s)? Baha'i is a monotheistic religion, but it teaches that religious truth is manifested and revealed by the founders of all the major world religions, including Jesus Christ and the Buddha. How might your ideology be an obstacle to understanding the theism of another religion you’re unfamiliar with? Multiple sacred texts, collectively called the Vedas, contain hymns and rituals from ancient India and are mostly written in Sanskrit. What role did ecclesia play in the history of the United States? In fact, its teachings were developed in context of problems of social anarchy and a near-complete deterioration of social cohesion. Smith, Huston. For more insight on Confucianism, read the Analects by Confucius, at http://openstaxcollege.org/l/Confucius_Analects. A paperback book. Can you match the symbol to the religion? World Religions gives insights into the world's main religions and offers a deeper appreciation for the belief you have chosen as your own. Abraham is believed to be the father of the Jewish people. Each time, some faithful believers were rescued by flying saucers and put back on Earth, A varied cultural religion practiced traditionally on a town-by-town and region-by-region basis, A millenarian cult based on the belief that Jesus would return to judge survivors in 1999. Subtitled: "The Illustrated Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions, & Festivals". Controversy exists over whether some groups are cults, perhaps due in part to media sensationalism over groups like polygamous Mormons or the Peoples Temple followers who died at Jonestown, Guyana. Afterlife Holy Texts, Current edition: 2013 May 25Last Modified: 2020 Apr 25, Web URL: http://www.humanreligions.info/religions.html. Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of different religions at a simple level? Dissatisfied with the social solutions put forth, Kung Fu-Tzu developed his own model of religious morality to help guide society (Smith 1991). Most of the well-known Christian denominations in the United States today began as sects. The distinctive identities of different faiths are explored in World Religions by studying the main principles and thinking of each religion. 1972. In U.S. society, do you believe there is social stratification that correlates with religious beliefs? Confucianism was the official religion of China from 200 B.C.E. 1991 [1958]. 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