|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
Revival of Norse and
Germanic paganism, 1970s Scandinavia and |
unknown |
Polytheistic, Norse gods
and goddesses, Norse creation myths. |
Salvation or redemption
not emphasized. Fatalistic view of universe. |
|
Sacrifice of food or
drink, toast to the gods, shamanism (less frequently), celebration of
solstice holidays. Nine Noble Virtues is moral code. |
Eddas (Norse epics); the Havamal
(proverbs attributed to Odin) |
|
|
Atheism |
Appears in history, but
especially after the Enlightenment (19th cent). |
1.1 billion (this figure
includes agnostic and non-religious, which tend to be grouped on surveys) |
none |
Only humans can help
themselves and each other solve the world's problems. |
none |
none |
Influential works
include those by Marx, Freud, Feuerbach, and Voltaire. |
|
Founded by Bahá'u'lláh, 1863, |
5-7 million |
One God, who has revealed
himself progressively through major world religions. |
The soul is eternal and
essentially good. Purpose of life is to develop spiritually and draw closer
to God. |
Soul separates from the
body and begins a journey towards or away from God. Heaven and hell are
states of being. |
Daily prayer,
avoidance of intoxicants, scripture reading, hard work, education, work
for social justice and equality. |
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and other Bahá'í
leaders |
|
|
Indigenous religion of |
100,000 |
Nontheistic Buddhism, but meditation on peaceful and
wrathful deities. |
Purpose is to gain
enlightenment. |
Reincarnation until gain
enlightenment |
Meditation on mandalas and Tibetan deities, astrology, monastic life. |
Bonpo canon |
|
|
Founded by Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) in c. 520 BC, |
360 million |
Varies: Theravada
atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent. |
Purpose is to avoid
suffering and gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at
least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit. |
Reincarnation
(understood differently than in Hinduism, with no surviving soul) until gain
enlightenment |
Meditation, mantras,
devotion to deities (in some sects), mandalas
(Tibetan) |
Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Mahayana
sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others. |
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
Founded in 1926, |
4-6 million |
God represented by
Divine Eye. Founders of Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity
venerated, and saints including Victor Hugo. |
Goal is peace and
harmony in each person and in the world. Salvation by "cultivating self
and finding God in self." |
Reincarnation. Bad karma
can lead to rebirth on a darker planet; good karma to better life on earth.
Eventual attainment of nirvana or heaven. |
Hierarchy similar to
Roman Catholicism. Daily prayer. Meditation. Communication with spirit world
(now outlawed in |
Caodai canon |
|
|
Indigenous folk religion
of |
394 million |
Dualistic yin and yang;
mythological beings and folk deities. |
Purpose is a favorable
life and peaceful afterlife, attained through rituals and honoring of
ancestors. |
Judgment, then
reincarnation or temporary hell until gain a Buddhist-type paradise. |
Ancestor worship,
prayer, longevity practices , divination, prophecy
and astrology, feng shui.
|
None |
|
|
Founded by Deepak Chopra
in 1991, |
unknown |
monism - God or Supreme
Reality pervades all things; all is unity |
Humans have limitless
potential, but do not recognize this. Health and success can be had by
focusing on whole self (mind, body, spirit). |
Reincarnation |
Yoga, meditation,
massage, nutrition, mindfulness, detox sessions,
positive thinking. |
Deepak Chopra's many
books, such as the Seven Spiritual Laws
of Success |
|
|
Founded by Jesus Christ
in c. 30 AD, |
2 billion |
One God who is a Trinity
of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit |
All have sinned and are
thereby separated from God. Salvation is through faith in Christ and, for
some, sacraments and good works. |
Eternal heaven or hell
(or temporary purgatory). |
Prayer, Bible study,
baptism, Eucharist, church on Sundays, numerous holidays. |
The Holy Bible (Old and
New Testaments) |
|
|
Founded by Mary Baker
Eddy in 1879, |
150,000 - 400,000 |
One God. No Trinity (in
traditional sense). Matter and evil do not exist. |
Salvation is "Life,
Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin,
sickness and death destroyed." |
Heaven is "not a
locality, but a divine state of Mind in which all the manifestations of Mind
are harmonious and immortal." |
Spiritual healing
through prayer and knowledge, Sunday services, daily Bible and Science & Health reading. |
Christian Bible, Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures |
|
|
Founded by Confucius
(551–479 BC), |
5-6 million |
Not addressed |
Purpose of life is to
fulfill one's role in society with propriety, honor, and loyalty. |
Not addressed |
Honesty, politeness,
propriety, humaneness, perform correct role in society, loyalty to family,
nation |
Analects |
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
Deism |
Especially popularized
in the 18th-cent. Enlightenment under Kant, Voltaire, Paine, Jefferson, and
others |
unknown |
One Creator God who is
uninterested in the world. Reason is basis for all knowledge. |
Not addressed |
Not addressed |
None prescribed,
although some deists practice prayer. |
Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason and similar texts |
|
John Paul Twitchell in 1965, |
50-500,000 |
The Divine Spirit,
called "ECK" |
"Each of us is
Soul, a spark of God sent to this world to gain spiritual experience."
Salvation is liberation and God-realization. |
Reincarnation. The Soul
is eternal by nature and on a spiritual journey. Liberation possible in a
single lifetime. |
Spiritual Exercises of
ECK: mantras, meditation, and dreams. These enable Soul travel and spiritual
growth. |
Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad and books by Harold Klemp
|
|
|
Epicurus in c.300 BC, |
unknown |
A deistic sort of
polytheism: the gods exist, but take no notice of humans. |
Materialism: everything
is made of atoms, including gods and the soul. |
No afterlife. The soul
dissolves when the body dies. |
Pursue the highest
pleasures (friendship and tranquility) and avoid pain. |
Letters and Principal Doctrines of Epicurus |
|
|
Li Hongzhi
in 1992 in |
10 million |
Countless gods and
spiritual beings. Demonic aliens. |
The Falun
(wheel) is an energy source located in the navel. Goal is spritual
transcendence, achieved by practicing Falun Gong. |
Not addressed |
Five exercises to
strengthen the Falun. Cultivation of truthfulness,
benevolence and forbearance. Meat eating discouraged. |
Zhuan Falun and other writings by Master Li |
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
Gnosticism |
Various teachers
including Valentinus, 1st-2nd cents.
AD |
ancient form extinct;
small modern revival groups |
The supreme God is
unknowable; the creator god is evil and matter is evil. |
Humans can return to the
spiritual world through secret knowledge of the universe. |
Return to the spiritual
world. |
Asceticism, celibacy |
Gnostic scriptures
including various Gospels
and Acts attributed to
apostles. |
|
Variety of religions of
ancient Greeks |
ancient form extinct |
Olympic pantheon (Zeus,
etc.) mixed with eastern deities like Isis and Cybele |
Human life is subject to
the whim of the gods and to Fate; these can be controlled through sacrifice
and divination. |
Beliefs varied from no
afterlife to shadowy existence in the underworld to a paradise-like afterlife
(mainly in mystery religions). |
Animal sacrifice,
harvest offerings, festivals, games, processions, dance, plays, in honor of
the gods. Secret initiations and rituals in mystery religions. |
Epic poems of Homer and
Hesiod. |
|
|
|
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
1966, |
250,000-1 million |
|
Salvation from this Age
of Kali is by a return to Godhead, accomplished through
Krishna-Consciousness. |
Reincarnation until
unite with the Godhead. |
Chanting, dancing,
evangelism, vegetarianism, temple worship, monastic-style living. |
The Bhagavad-Gita As
It Is |
|
Indigenous religion of |
900 million |
One Supreme Reality
(Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses |
Humans are in bondage to
ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release
from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth. |
Reincarnation until gain
enlightenment. |
Yoga, meditation,
worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess,
pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's
dharma (purpose/ role). |
The Vedas,
Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita,
Ramayana, etc. |
|
|
Muhammad, 622 AD, |
1.3 billion (Sunni: 940
million) |
One God (Allah in
Arabic) |
Humans must submit (islam)
to the will of God to gain |
|
Five Pillars: Faith,
Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions
before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and
fast of Ramadan. |
Qur'an (Scripture); Hadith (tradition) |
|
|
Mahavira, c. 550 BC, eastern |
4 million |
The universe is eternal;
many gods exist. Gods, humans and all living things are classified in a
complex hierarchy. |
The soul is uncreated
and eternal and can attain perfect divinity. Purpose is to gain liberation
from cycle of rebirt, by avoiding all bad karma,
especially by causing no harm to any sentient being. |
Reincarnation until
liberation. |
Monasticism under the
Five Great Vows (Non-Violence, Truth, Celibacy, Non-Stealing,
Non-Possessiveness); worship at temples and at home. Meditation and mantras. |
The teachings of Mahavira in various collections. |
|
|
Charles Taze Russell, 1879, |
6.5 million |
One God, Jehovah. No
Trinity - Christ is the first creation of God; the Holy Spirit is a force. |
Salvation is through
faith in Christ and obeying Jehovah's laws. The End of the World is soon. |
Heaven for 144,000 chosen Witnesses, eternity on new earth for other
Witnesses. All others annihilated. No hell. |
No blood transfusions,
no celebration of holidays, no use of crosses or religious images. Baptism,
Sunday service at Kingdom Hall, strong emphasis on evangelism. |
|
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
The religion of the
Hebrews (c. 1300 BC), especially after the destruction of the |
14 million |
One God, Yahweh. |
Obey God's commandments,
live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next. |
Not historically
emphasized. Beliefs vary from no afterlife to shadowy existence to the World
to Come (similar to heaven). |
Circumcision at birth,
bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood. Synagogue services on Saturdays. No pork or
other non-kosher foods. Holidays related to historical events. |
Bible (Tanakh), Talmud |
|
|
|
c.250 AD (rise of the
Mayan civilization) |
Historically, up to 2
million. Some survival today. |
Many gods, including Itzamná, Kukulcán, Bolon Tzacab, and Chac |
Appease and nourish the
gods; determine luckiest dates for various activities. |
The soul journeys
through dark and threatening underworld; but sacrificial victims and women
who die in childbirth go to heaven. |
Astronomy, divination,
human sacrifice, elaborate burial for royalty, worship in stone
pyramid-temples |
|
|
Joseph Smith, 1830, |
12.2 million |
God the Father, the Son
Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate individual beings |
Humans existed as
spirits before this life, salvation is returning to God. Salvation by faith
in Christ, good works, ordinances, and evangelism. |
All return to spirit
world for period of instruction before resurrection. Mormons to heaven with
God and families; others rewarded but not with God; hell for those who reject
God after death. |
Abstinence from alcohol,
tobacco, coffee and tea; baptism for the dead; eternal marriage; temple
garments under daily clothes; active evangelism. |
Christian Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and |
|
|
Teachings of Marcus
Garvey (1920s, |
1 million |
God is Jah, who became incarnate in Jesus (who was black) and Haile Selassie. |
Humans are temples of Jah. Salvation is primarily in this world and consists of
liberation from oppression and return to |
Some Rastas
will experience "everliving" (physical
immortality). Heaven is a return to |
Many practices based on
Jewish biblical Law. Abstinence from most or all meat, artificial foods, and
alcohol. Use of marijuana in religious rituals and for medicine. Wearing of
dreadlocks. |
Holy Piby
(the "Blackman's Bible). The Ethiopian epic Kebra
Negast also revered. |
|
|
L. Ron |
70,000 or several
million, depending on the source |
God(s) not specified;
reality explained in the Eight Dynamics |
Human consists of body,
mind and thetan; capable of great things. |
Reincarnation |
Auditing, progressing up
various levels until "clear". Focus on education and drug recovery
programs. |
Writings of Hubbard,
such as Dianetics
and Scientology |
|
|
Indigenous religion of |
3-4 million |
Polytheism based on the kami,
ancient gods or spirits. |
Humans are pure by
nature and can keep away evil through purification rituals and attain good
things by calling on the kami. |
Death is bad and impure.
Some humans become kami after death. |
Worship and offerings to
kami at shrines and at home. Purification rituals. |
Important texts are Kojiki
or 'Records of Ancient Matters' and Nihon-gi or 'Chronicles of Japan' |
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
|
Guru Nanak, c. 1500 AD, |
23 million |
One God ( |
Overcome the self, align
life with will of God, and become a "saint soldier," fighting for
good. |
Reincarnation until
resolve karma and merge with God. |
Prayer and meditation on
God's name, services at temple (gurdwara), turban
and five Ks. Balance work, worship, and charity. No monasticism or
asceticism. |
Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) |
|
|
Zeno in c.313 BC, |
unknown |
Pantheism: the logos pervades the universe. |
Purpose is happiness,
achieved by virtue, i.e., living reasonably. |
Possible continued
existence of the Soul, but not a personal existence. |
Ethical and
philosophical training, self-reflection, careful judgment and inner calm. |
Fragments of founders
plus later writers like Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus
Aurelius. |
|
|
Lao-Tzu, c. 550 BC, |
20 million |
Pantheism - the Tao
pervades all. Yin-yang - opposites make up a unity. |
Purpose is inner
harmony, peace, and longevity. Acheived by living
in accordance with the Tao. |
Revert back to state of
non-being, which is simply the other side of being. |
General attitude of
detachment and non-struggle, "go with the flow" of the Tao.
Tai-chi, acupuncture, and alchemy to help longevity. |
Tao Te Ching, Chuang-Tzu |
|
|
Formal merger of
Unitarians and Universalists in 1961, |
800,000 |
Not specified. Members
might believe in one God, many gods, or no God. |
Salvation is
"spiritual health or wholeness." Members seek "inner and outer
peace," insight, health, compassion and strength. |
Not specified. Some
believe in an afterlife, some do not. Very few believe in hell -
"Universalism" indicates the belief that all will be saved. |
Ceremonies for
marriages, funerals, etc. Church services have elements from various
religions. Emphasis on civil rights, social justice, equality and
environment. Most UUs are anti-death penalty and
pro-gay rights. |
Many sacred texts are
revered by various members; some none at all. The Bible is the most commonly
used text. |
|
|
Based on ancient pagan
beliefs, but modern form founded early 1900s. Founder generally said to be
Gerald Gardner. |
1-3 million |
Polytheism, centered on
the Goddess and God, each in various forms; also a belief in a Supreme Being
over all |
"If it harms none,
do what you will." |
Reincarnation until
reach the Summerland |
Prayer, casting a
circle, Drawing Down the Moon, reciting spells, dancing, singing, sharing
cakes and wine or beer |
No sacred text;
foundational texts include The Witch
Cult in Western Europe and The
God of the Witches |
|
|
Zoroaster in c.6th cent.
BC, |
c. 200,000 |
One God, Ahura Mazda, but a dualistic worldview in which an evil
spirit, Angra Mainyu, is
almost as powerful. |
Humans are free to do good or evil, must choose the side of good. |
Judgement followed by heaven or hell. Hell is temporary
until final purgation and return to Ahura Mazda. |
Good deeds, charity,
equality, hard work. |
Zend Avesta |
|
|
Religion/Sect/
Group/Philosophy/ Belief System |
Origins & History |
Adherents Worldwide (approx.) |
God(s) and Universe |
Human Situation and Life's Purpose |
Afterlife |
Practices |
Texts |
