Baha'i
Baha'i has
more than five million followers. It was founded by Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri,
who took the name Baha'u'llah (Glory of God) while in exile in Baghdad. His
coming had been foretold by Mirza Ali Mohammed, known as al-Bab, who founded
Babism in 1844, a sect from which the Baha'i faith grew. The central tenets
of the Baha'i faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of humanity, and
the common foundation of all religion. The people of Baha'i also believe in
the equality of men and women, universal education, world peace, and the
creation of a federal system of world government.
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Buddhism
Buddhism
has 360 million followers worldwide. It was founded in southern Nepal in
the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. by Siddharta Gautama, known as the Buddha
(Enlightened One). The Buddha achieved enlightenment through meditation and
he gathered a community of monks to carry on his teachings. According to
Buddha, meditation and the practice of good religious and moral behavior
can lead to Nirvana, the state of enlightenment, although before achieving
Nirvana one is subject to repeated lifetimes that are good or bad depending
on one's actions (karma). Existence, for Buddhists, is a realm of suffering.
Desire, along with the belief in the importance of one's self, causes suffering.
Achievement of Nirvana ends suffering. And Nirvana is attained only by meditation
and by following the path of righteousness in action, thought and attitude.
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Catholicism
The Roman
Catholic Church, with 980 million followers, is the largest Christian church
in the world. It claims direct historical descent from the church founded
by the apostle Peter. The Pope in Rome is the spiritual leader of all Roman Catholics.
He administers church affairs through bishops and priests. Members accept
the gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible, as well as the
church's interpretations of these. God's grace is conveyed through the seven
sacraments, especially the Eucharist or communion that is celebrated at mass,
the regular service of worship. The other six sacraments are baptism, confirmation,
penance, holy orders, matrimony, and anointing of the sick. Redemption through
Jesus Christ is professed as the sole method of obtaining salvation, which
is necessary to ensure a place in heaven after life on earth.
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Confucianism
Confucianism
is a community springing from Confucius, a Chinese philosopher in the 6th
and 5th centuries B.C., whose sayings and dialogues, known collectively as
the Analects, were written down by his followers. Confucianism, which grew
out of a strife-ridden time in Chinese history, stresses the relationship
between individuals, their families, and society, based on li (proper behavior)
and jen (sympathetic attitude). Its practical, socially oriented philosophy
was challenged by the more mystical precepts of Taoism and Buddhism, which
were partially incorporated to create neo-Confucianism during the Sung dynasty
(CE 960-1279). The overthrow of the Chinese monarchy and the Communist revolution
during the twentieth century have severely lessened the influence of Confucianism
on modern Chinese culture.
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Hinduism
A religion
with 900 million followers, Hinduism developed from indigenous religions of
India in combination with Aryan religions brought to India around 1500 BCE,
and codified in the Veda and the Upanishads, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.
Hinduism is a term used to broadly describe a vast array of sects to which
most Indians belong. Although many Hindus reject the caste system-in which
people are born into a particular subgroup that determines their religious,
social, and work-related duties-it is widely accepted and classifies society
at large into four groups: the Brahmins or priests, the rulers and warriors,
the farmers and merchants, and the peasants and laborers. The goals of Hinduism
are release from repeated reincarnation through the practice of yoga, adherence
to Vedic scriptures, and devotion to a personal guru. Various deities are
worshipped at shrines; the divine trinity, representing the cyclical nature
of the universe, are Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva
the destroyer.
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Islam
Islam has
1.3 billion followers worldwide. It was founded by the prophet Mohammed, who
received the holy scriptures of Islam, the Koran, from Allah (God) c. A.D.
610. Islam (Arabic for "submission to God") maintains that Mohammed is the
last in a long line of holy prophets, preceded by Adam, Abraham, Moses, and
Jesus. In addition to being devoted to the Koran, followers of Islam (Muslims)
are devoted to the worship of Allah through the Five Pillars: the statement
"There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his prophet"; prayer, conducted
five times a day while facing Mecca; the giving of alms; the keeping of the
fast of Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim year; and the making
of a pilgrimage at least once to Mecca, if possible. The two main divisions
of Islam are the Sunni and the Shiite; the Wahabis are the most important
Sunni sect, while the Shiite sects include the Assassins, the Druses, and
the Fatimids, among countless others.
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Judaism
Stemming
from the descendants of Judah in Judea, Judaism was founded c. 2000 B.C.
by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and has 18 million followers in the U.S. Judaism
espouses belief in a monotheistic God, who is creator of the universe and
who leads His people, the Jews, by speaking through prophets. His word is
revealed in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), especially in that part
known as the Torah. The Torah also contains, according to rabbinic tradition,
a total of 613 biblical commandments, including the Ten Commandments, which
are explicated in the Talmud. Jews believe that the human condition can be
improved, that the letter and the spirit of the Torah must be followed, and
that a Messiah will eventually bring the world to a state of paradise. Judaism
promotes community among all people of Jewish faith, dedication to a synagogue
or temple (the basic social unit of a group of Jews, led by a rabbi), and
the importance of family life. Religious observance takes place both at home
and in temple. Judaism is divided into three main groups who vary in their
interpretation of those parts of the Torah that deal with personal, communal,
international, and religious activities: the Orthodox community, which views
the Torah as derived from God, and therefore absolutely binding; the Reform
movement, which follows primarily its ethical content; and the Conservative
Jews, who follow most of the observances set out in the Torah but allow for
change in the face of modern life. A fourth group, Reconstructionist Jews,
rejects the concept of the Jews as God's chosen people, yet maintains rituals
as part of the Judaic cultural heritage.
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Orthodox Eastern Church
With 250
million followers, the Orthodox Eastern Church is the second largest Christian
community in the world. It began its split from the Roman Catholic Church
in the fifth century. The break was finalized in 1054. The followers of the
Orthodox Church are in fact members of many different denominations, including
the Church of Greece, the Church of Cyprus, and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Orthodox religion holds biblical Scripture and tradition, guided by the Holy
Spirit as expressed in the consciousness of the entire Orthodox community,
to be the source of Christian truth. It rejects doctrine developed by the
Western churches. Doctrine was established by seven ecumenical councils held
between 325 and 787 and amended by other councils in the late Byzantine period.
Relations between the Orthodox churches and Roman Catholicism have improved
since the Second Vatican Council (1962.65).
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Rosicrucianism
Rosicrucianism
is a modern movement begun in 1868 by R. W. Little that claims ties to an
older Society of the Rose and Cross that was founded in Germany in 1413 by
Christian Rosencreuz. The Rosicrucian Brotherhood was established in
Quakertown, Pennsylvania, by Reuben Swinburne Clymer in 1902. The Ancient
Mystical Order Rosae Crusis (AMORC) was founded in San Jose, California, in
1915 by H. Spencer Lewis. Both sects could be classified as either fraternal
or religious organizations, although they claim to empower members with cosmic
forces by unveiling secret wisdom regarding the laws of nature.
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Shinto
Shinto,
with 3.5 million followers in the U.S., is the ancient native religion of
Japan, established long before the introduction of writing to Japan in the
fifth century A.D. The origins of its beliefs and rituals are unknown. Shinto
stresses belief in a great many spiritual beings and gods, known as kami,
who are paid tribute at shrines and honored by festivals, and reverence for
ancestors. While there is no overall dogma, adherents of Shinto are expected
to remember and celebrate the kami, support the societies of which the kami
are patrons, remain pure and sincere, and enjoy life.
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Sikhism
Sikhism:
A progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500
years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people
worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches
a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living,
equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism
is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh
Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
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Taoism
Both a philosophy
and a religion, Taoism was founded in China by Lao.tzu, who is traditionally
said to have been born in 604 B.C. Its number of followers is uncertain. It
derives primarily from the Tao-te-ching, which claims that an ever-changing
universe follows the Tao, or path. The Tao can be known only by emulating
its quietude and effortless simplicity; Taoism prescribes that people live
simply. spontaneously, and in close touch with nature and that they meditate
to achieve contact with the Tao. Temples and monasteries, maintained by Taoist
priests, are important in some Taoist sects. Since the Communist revolution,
Taoism has been actively discouraged in the People's Republic of China, although
it continues to flourish in Taiwan.
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Unitarian Universalist Association
A liberal
and diverse religious organization comprised of mostly atheists (or non-theists),
agnostics, Humanists, liberal Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Neopagans,
etc. The denomination's 800,000 members take their origin from the merger
of the Universal Church of America (organized in 1779) and the American Unitarian
Association (founded in 1823). They profess no creed. They have strong social,
ethical concerns, and emphasize the search for religious truth through freedom
of belief. They accept theists, humanists, and agnostics in religious
fellowship. They are making efforts to create a worldwide interfaith religious
community. Many members come from other denominations and religions.
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Zoroastrianism
Founded by Spenta Zarathustra sometime around 1500 to 1000 BCE in ancient
Persia. He preached what may have been the first monotheism with a
single supreme god, Ahura Mazda. Zoroastrianism became the state religion
of various Persian empires, until the 7th Century CE. It is a small
religion with about 140,000 members. Yet its importance to humanity is much
greater than its current numbers might suggest. Their theology has
had a great impact on Judaism, Christianity and other later religions, in
the beliefs surrounding God and Satan, the soul, heaven and hell, savior,
resurrection, final judgment, etc. It is one of the oldest religions
still in existence. The Zorastrian holy book is called the Avesta.
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