Types of religions diagram. Types of primitive, early, pagan, eastern religion

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 the 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 held at Julian calendar mainly in Old Georgian. 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 - Japanese name 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. V eastern regions 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. Key concept I. - dharma - 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 Jewish people acts as a 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 on 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 Bible equalized with Sacred 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 relationship 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.” Characteristic feature This religion is anthropocentrism. Under Emperor Wu, China occupied a dominant position in China (it was combined with the doctrine of space forces 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, observing discipline and order.

Mormons

Mormons(Church of Jesus Christ of Saints last day) is a Protestant church founded in 1830 by the 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 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 Protestant direction 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. Established in South-East 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. lies the belief that two thousand years ago God sent his son into the world, 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 humanity, central figure in which a shaman appears - an intermediary 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.

Faith in God surrounds a person from infancy. In childhood, this still unconscious choice is associated with family traditions that exist in every home. But later a person can consciously change his religion. How are they similar and how are they different from each other?

The concept of religion and the prerequisites for its appearance

The word “religion” comes from the Latin religio (piety, sacredness). This is an attitude, behavior, actions based on faith in something that surpasses human understanding and is supernatural, that is, sacred. The beginning and meaning of any religion is faith in God, regardless of whether he is personified or impersonal.

There are several known preconditions for the emergence of religion. Firstly, from time immemorial man has been trying to go beyond the boundaries of this world. He strives to find salvation and consolation beyond his borders and sincerely needs faith.

Secondly, a person wants to give an objective assessment of the world. And then, when he cannot explain the origin of earthly life only by natural laws, he makes the assumption that a supernatural force is attached to all this.

Thirdly, the person believes that various events and incidents of a religious nature confirm the existence of God. The list of religions for believers already serves as real proof of the existence of God. They explain this very simply. If God did not exist, there would be no religion.

The most ancient types, forms of religion

The origin of religion occurred 40 thousand years ago. It was then that the emergence of the simplest forms of religious beliefs was noted. It was possible to learn about them thanks to the discovered burials, as well as rock and cave paintings.

In accordance with this, the following types of ancient religions are distinguished:

• Totemism. A totem is a plant, animal or object that was considered sacred by one or another group of people, tribe, clan. At the heart of this oldest religion there was a belief in the supernatural power of the amulet (totem).

• Magic. This is a form of religion based on belief in human magical abilities. With the help of symbolic actions, a magician is able to influence the behavior of other people, natural phenomena and objects from a positive and negative side.
• Fetishism. From among any objects (an animal or human skull, a stone or a piece of wood, for example), one was selected to which supernatural properties were attributed. It was supposed to bring good luck and protect from danger.
• Animism. All natural phenomena, objects and people have a soul. She is immortal and continues to live outside the body even after its death. All modern views Religions are based on the belief in the existence of souls and spirits.
• Shamanism. The tribal leader or priest was believed to have supernatural powers. He entered into conversation with the spirits, listened to their advice and fulfilled their demands. Belief in the power of the shaman is at the core of this form of religion.

List of religions

There are more than a hundred different religious movements in the world, including ancient forms and modern movements. They have their own time of occurrence and differ in the number of followers. But at the heart of it big list lie the three most numerous world religions: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Each of them has different directions.

World religions in the form of a list can be presented as follows:

1. Christianity (almost 1.5 billion people):

• Orthodoxy (Russia, Greece, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia);
• Catholicism (states Western Europe, Poland Czech Republic, Lithuania and others);
• Protestantism (USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia).

2. Islam (about 1.3 billion people):

• Sunnism (Africa, Central and South Asia);
• Shiism (Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan).

3. Buddhism (300 million people):

• Hinayana (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand);
• Mahayana (Tibet, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam).

National religions

In addition, in every corner of the world there are national and traditional religions, also with their own directions. They originated or became particularly widespread in certain countries. On this basis, the following types of religions are distinguished:

• Hinduism (India);
• Confucianism (China);
• Taoism (China);
• Judaism (Israel);
• Sikhism (Punjab state in India);
• Shintoism (Japan);
• paganism (Indian tribes, peoples of the North and Oceania).

Christianity

This religion originated in Palestine in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD. Its appearance is associated with faith in the birth of Jesus Christ. At the age of 33, he suffered martyrdom on the cross to atone for human sins, after which he was resurrected and ascended to heaven. Thus, the son of God, who embodied supernatural and human nature, became the founder of Christianity.

The documentary basis of the doctrine is the Bible (or Holy Scripture), consisting of two independent collections of the Old and New Testaments. The writing of the first of them is closely related to Judaism, from which Christianity originates. The New Testament was written after the birth of religion.

Symbols of Christianity are the Orthodox and Catholic cross. The main provisions of faith are defined in dogmas, which are based on faith in God, who created the world and man himself. Objects of worship are God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.

Islam

Islam, or Islam, originated among the Arab tribes of Western Arabia at the beginning of the 7th century in Mecca. The founder of the religion was the Prophet Muhammad. This man was prone to loneliness from childhood and often indulged in pious reflections. According to the teachings of Islam, at the age of 40, the heavenly messenger Jabrail (Archangel Gabriel) appeared to him on Mount Hira, who left an inscription in his heart. Like many other world religions, Islam is based on belief in one God, but in Islam he is called Allah.

Holy Scripture - Koran. The symbols of Islam are the star and crescent. The main provisions of the Muslim faith are contained in dogmas. They must be recognized and unquestioningly implemented by all believers.

The main types of religion are Sunnism and Shiism. Their appearance is associated with political disagreements between believers. Thus, Shiites to this day believe that only the direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad carry the truth, while Sunnis think that this should be a chosen member of the Muslim community.

Buddhism

Buddhism originated in the 6th century BC. The homeland is India, after which the teaching spread to the countries of Southeast, South, Central Asia and to Far East. Considering how many other most numerous types of religions exist, we can safely say that Buddhism is the most ancient of them.

The founder of the spiritual tradition is Buddha Gautama. This was an ordinary person, whose parents were awarded the vision that their son would grow up to be a Great Teacher. The Buddha was also lonely and brooding, and very quickly turned to religion.

There is no object of worship in this religion. The goal of all believers is to achieve nirvana, a blissful state of insight, to free themselves from their own shackles. Buddha for them represents a certain ideal that should be equaled.

At the heart of Buddhism is the teaching of the Four Noble Truths: about suffering, about the origin and causes of suffering, about the true cessation of suffering and the elimination of its sources, about the true path to the cessation of suffering. This path consists of several steps and is divided into three stages: wisdom, morality and concentration.

New religious movements

In addition to those religions that originated a long time ago, in modern world New creeds still continue to emerge. They are still based on faith in God.

The following types of modern religions can be noted:

• Scientology;
• neo-shamanism;
• neopaganism;
• Burkhanism;
• neo-Hinduism;
• Raelites;
• oomoto;
• and other currents.

This list is constantly modified and supplemented. Some types of religions are especially popular among show business stars. For example, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, and John Travolta are seriously interested in Scientology.

This religion arose in 1950 thanks to science fiction writer L. R. Hubbard. Scientologists believe that every person is inherently good, his success and peace of mind depend on himself. According to the fundamental principles of this religion, people are immortal beings. Their experience lasts longer than one human life, and the abilities are unlimited.

But everything is not so simple in this religion. In many countries it is believed that Scientology is a sect, a pseudo-religion with a lot of capital. Despite this, the trend is very popular, especially in Hollywood.

All world religions, with the exception of Buddhism, originate from a relatively small corner of the planet, located between the deserted shores of the Mediterranean, Red and Caspian seas. From here come Christianity, Islam, Judaism and the now almost extinct Zoroastrianism.

Christianity. The most widespread of the world's religions is Christianity, with 1.6 billion followers. Christianity retains its strongest position in Europe, America and Australia.

Christianity appeared at the beginning of our era as a development of biblical wisdom that had been created over the previous 2000 years. The Bible teaches us to understand and realize the meaning of life. Biblical thinking attaches decisive importance to the issue of life and death, the end of the world.

Jesus Christ preached the ideas of brotherhood, hard work, non-covetousness and love of peace. The service of wealth was condemned and the superiority of spiritual values ​​over material values ​​was proclaimed.

The First Ecumenical Council, which met in Nicaea in 325, laid the dogmatic foundations of the One Holy Council Apostolic Church for many centuries to come.

Christianity adopted the view of the “inseparable and inseparable” union of two natures in Jesus Christ - divine and human. In the 5th century supporters of Archbishop Nestor were condemned, who recognized the basic human nature of Christ (later separated into Nestorians), and followers of Archimandrite Eutyches, who argued that in Jesus Christ there is only one divine nature. Supporters of the one nature of Jesus Christ began to be called Monophysites. Adherents of monophysics make up a certain proportion among modern Orthodox Christians.

In 1054, the main split of the Christian Church took place into the Eastern (Orthodox, centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul)) and the Western (Catholic) church, centered in the Vatican. This division runs through the entire history of the world.

Orthodoxyestablished itself mainly among the peoples of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Largest number adherents of Orthodoxy - Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Greeks, Romanians, Serbs, Macedonians, Moldovans, Georgians, Karelians, Komi, peoples of the Volga region (Mari, Mordovians, Udmurts, Chuvash). There are pockets of Orthodoxy in the USA, Canada, and a number of Western European countries.

A tragic split occurred in the history of Russian Orthodoxy, which led to the emergence of the Old Believers. The origins of the schism go back to the years of the adoption of Christianity by Russia. In those days, two closely related statutes dominated in Byzantium, according to which the rite of worship was carried out. In the east of Byzantium, the most widespread was the Jerusalem Charter, and in the west the Studian (Constantinople) Charter prevailed. The latter became the basis of the Russian charter, while in Byzantium the Jerusalem Charter (St. Sava) increasingly became predominant. From time to time, certain innovations were introduced into the Jerusalem Rule, so that it began to be called modern Greek.

Russian Church until the middle of the 17th century. conducted the ritual according to the archaic Studite Rule with two-fingered baptism, preserving Orthodoxy in the highest purity. Many Orthodox peoples looked at Moscow as a spiritual center.

Outside the Russian state, including in Ukraine, church rites were carried out according to the modern Greek model. Since the union of Ukraine and Russia in 1654, Kyiv begins to exert a huge influence on the spiritual life of Moscow. Under its influence, Moscow begins to turn away from antiquity and adopts a new way of life, more pleasing to Kyiv. Patriarch Nikon introduces new ranks and rituals. The icons are updated according to Kyiv and Lviv models. Patriarch Nikon edits Church Slavonic liturgical books based on modern Greek editions of the Italian press.

In 1658 Nikon founded the New Jerusalem monastery and the city of New Jerusalem, according to his plan, the future capital of the Christian world.

As a result of Nikon's reforms, six major innovations were introduced into the canon. The two-fingered sign of the cross was replaced by a three-fingered sign, instead of “Jesus” it was ordered to write and pronounce “Jesus”, during the sacraments it was ordered to walk around the temple against the sun.

The introduction of non-Orthodox veneration of the king placed him above religious spiritual dominion. This reduced the role of the church in the state, reducing it to the position of the Church Prikaz (prikaz, this is a kind of ministry in Russia at that time). Many believers perceived Nikon's reforms as a deep tragedy, secretly professed the old faith, went to torment for it, burned themselves, went into forests and swamps. The fateful year of 1666 led to a catastrophic split of the Russian people into those who accepted the new rite and those who rejected it. The latter retained the name “Old Believers.”

Catholicism is the other main branch of Christianity.It is common in Northern and South America. Catholics include Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, part of the French, most of the Belgians, part of the Austrians and Germans (southern lands of Germany), Poles, Lithuanians, Croats, Slovenes, most of the Hungarians, Irish, some Ukrainians (in the form of Uniatism or Greek Catholicism). A major center of Catholicism in Asia is the Philippines (the influence of Spanish colonization). There are many Catholics in the countries of Africa, Australia, and Oceania.

Western Catholic Church boldly discarded the old ones and came up with new rituals that were closer in spirit to the Europeans and their ideas about the world as a space calling for conquest. Expansionism and enrichment of the church were dogmatically justified. The speeches of non-Catholics and heretics were brutally suppressed. The result was continuous wars, massive repressions of the Inquisition and a decline in the authority of the Catholic Church.

In the XIV-XV centuries. ideas of humanism and renaissance arose in Europe. During the Reformation of the 16th century. Protestantism separated from Catholicism. Protestantism, which arose in Germany, was formed in the form of several independent movements, the most important of which were Anglicanism (closest to Catholicism), Lutheranism and Calvinism. From the Protestant churches, new movements were formed that were sectarian in nature, their number currently exceeds 250. Thus, Methodism spun off from Anglicanism, and the Salvation Army, organized on a military scale, is closely associated with Methodism. Baptism is genetically related to Calvinism. Pentecostal sects emerged from Baptistism, and the Jehovah's Witnesses sect also separated. Mormons of non-Christian confession occupy a special place in the Protestant environment.

The stronghold of Protestantism is the Northern and Central Europe. In the United States, about 64% of the population is Protestant. The largest group of American Protestants are Baptists, followed by Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. In Canada and South Africa, Protestants make up about half the population. There are many adherents of Protestantism in Nigeria. Protestantism predominates in Australia and most countries in Oceania. Certain forms of this branch of Christianity (especially Baptism and Adventism) are common in Russia and Ukraine.

The founder of Protestantism, the Catholic monk M. Luther, came out with demands to limit the excessive power of the church and calls for hard work and frugality. At the same time, he argued that the salvation of the human soul and deliverance from sins is accomplished by God himself, and not by human forces. The Calvinist Reformation went even further. According to Calvin, God pre-eternally chose some people for salvation and others for destruction, regardless of their will. Over time, these ideas turned into a revision of Christian dogmas. Calvinism turned out to be imbued with an anti-Christian denial of asceticism and the desire to replace it with the cult of the natural man. Protestantism has become the ideological justification of capitalism, the deification of Progress, and the fetishization of money and goods. Protestantism, like no other religion, reinforces the dogma of the conquest of nature, which was later adopted by Marxism.

Islam the youngest world religion. Islam dates back to 622 AD. e., when the Prophet Muhammad and his followers moved from Mecca to Medina and the Bedouin Arab tribes began to join him.

Traces of Christianity and Judaism can be seen in the teachings of Muhammad. Islam recognizes Moses and Jesus Christ as the penultimate prophet as prophets, but places them below Muhammad.

IN privacy Muhammad banned pork, alcoholic drinks and gambling. Wars are not rejected by Islam and are even encouraged if they are fought for faith (holy war of jihad).

All the foundations and rules of the Muslim religion are united in the Koran. Explanations and interpretations of obscure passages of the Koran made by Muhammad were recorded by his close people and Muslim theologians and compiled a collection of traditions known as the sunnah. Later, Muslims who recognized the Koran and the Sunnah began to be called Sunnis, and Muslims who recognized only one Koran, and of the Sunnah only sections based on the authority of the prophet’s relatives, were called Shiites. This division still exists today.

Religious dogma formed the basis of Islamic law, Sharia - a set of legal and religious norms based on the Koran.

Sunnis make up about 90% of Muslims. Shiism predominates in Iran and southern Iraq. In Bahrain, Yemen, Azerbaijan and mountainous Tajikistan, half the population is Shia.

Sunnism and Shiism gave rise to a number of sects. From Sunnism came Wahhabism, which is dominant in Saudi Arabia and is spreading among the Chechens and some peoples of Dagestan. The main Shiite sects were Zaydism and Ismailism, influenced by atheism and Buddhism.

In Oman, the third branch of Islam, Ibadism, has become widespread, whose followers are called Ibadis.

Buddhism. The oldest of the world's religions is Buddhism, which arose in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. in India. After more than 15 centuries of dominance in India, Buddhism gave way to Hinduism. However, Buddhism spread widely throughout the countries of Southeast Asia, penetrating into Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Mongolia. The number of Buddhist adherents is estimated at approximately 500 million people.

In Buddhism, all the social and moral dogmas of Hinduism are preserved, but the requirements of caste and asceticism are weakened. Buddhism pays more attention to current life.

At the beginning of the first millennium, Buddhism split into two major branches. The first of them - Theravada, or Hinayana - requires believers to undergo mandatory monasticism. Its adherents - Theravadins - live in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand (about 90% of the population of these countries), as well as in Sri Lanka (about 60%).

Another branch of Buddhism - Mahayana - admits that lay people can also be saved. Mahayana followers are concentrated in China (including Tibet), Japan, Korea, and Nepal. There are some Buddhists in Pakistan, India, and among Chinese and Japanese immigrants to the Americas.

Judaism. Judaism can be classified among the world religions with a certain degree of convention. This is the national religion of the Jews, which arose in Palestine in the 1st century. BC e. Most adherents are concentrated in Israel (the official religion of the state), the USA, European countries and Russia.

Judaism retained the ideas of brotherhood and mutual assistance from the Egyptian religion with the ideas of righteousness and sinfulness, heaven and hell. New dogmas responded to the unity of the Jewish tribes and the increase in their belligerence. The sources of the doctrine of this religion are the Old Testament (recognized by later Christianity) and the Talmud (“commentaries” to the Old Testament books).

National religions. The most common national religions are those of India. What is noteworthy is the introversion of Indian religions, their focus on such an internal and spiritual connection that opens up wide opportunities for self-improvement, creates a feeling of freedom, bliss, humility, dedication, tranquility, and is capable of compressing and collapsing the phenomenal world until a complete coincidence of the world essence and the human soul.

Religion of China consisted of several parts. The earliest beliefs are those associated with agriculture, developed in the 7th millennium BC. They believed that there was nothing higher than in which a country man finds peace and beauty. About 3.5 thousand years ago, previous beliefs were supplemented by the cult of veneration of great ancestors - sages and heroes. These cults were embodied in Confucianism, formulated by the philosopher Confucius, or Kung Fu Tzu (551-479 BC).

The ideal of Confucianism was the perfect man - modest, selfless, with a feeling self-esteem and love for people. The social order in Confucianism is one in which everyone acts in the interests of the people, represented by the extended family. The goal of every Confucian is moral self-improvement, respectful respect for elders, honoring parents and family traditions.

At one time, Brahmanism and Buddhism penetrated into China. On the basis of Brahmanism, almost simultaneously with Confucianism, the doctrine of Taoism arose. Chan Buddhism, which spread in Japan under the name Zen Buddhism, is internally connected with Taoism. Together with Taoism and Confucianism, Chinese religions have developed into a worldview, the main features of which are the worship of the family (ancestors, descendants, home) and a poetic perception of nature, the desire to enjoy life and its beauty (S. Myagkov, 2002, N. Kormin, 1994 G.).

Religion of Japan. From about the 5th century. AD The Japanese became acquainted with the wisdom of India and China, adopted a Buddhist-Taoist attitude towards the world, which did not contradict their primordial faith, Shintoism, the belief that everything is full of spirits, gods (ka-mi), and therefore deserves a reverent attitude. Main feature What transformed Japanese Shinto under the Chinese influence was that it, like Taoism, does not teach goodness and does not expose evil, for “the tangled threads of happiness and misfortune cannot be separated.” The eradicated evil will inevitably emerge in such vigorous growth that the world builder did not even suspect about it. The Japanese perceive their homeland as the sacred property of the nation, which is in the temporary care of the living for transmission to descendants. Several million Japanese are adherents of Shintoism (T. Grigorieva, 1994).

Zoroastrianism distributed mainly in India (Parsis), Iran (Gebras) and Pakistan.

In addition to the major religions, there are dozens of local traditional beliefs in the world, mainly in the form of fetishism, animism and shamanism. There are especially many of them in Africa, primarily in Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Benin.

In Asia, followers of tribal cults predominate only in East Timor, but are also common on the islands of western Oceania and among the peoples of Northern Russia (shamanism).

Religion as people's belief in higher powers and interaction with them has existed for a long time. Today, researchers identify three main religions of the world: Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.

Basic signs of religion

The external manifestations of a particular religion are usually called its signs. What are the main characteristics of religion?

1. Religious consciousness/psychology is an essential element of any teaching that unites all adherents.
2. The religious activity of believers, which includes all rituals.
3. Organizations are associations of believers, the types of which can be very different - community, church, sect, etc.
4. Religious relations: external and domestic politics members of the organization.

It is these 4 main signs of religion, despite the fact that each has its own, that are the basis for the behavior of all adherents.

Major world religions

The main world religions arose in this order:

• Buddhism originated more than 2500 thousand years ago,
• in the 1st century AD Christianity appeared
• only in the 7th century AD. Islam appeared.

At the heart of Buddhism is the belief in karma - a cause-and-effect relationship that determines a person’s destiny, as well as in nirvana - the end point of a path that a person can go through over several lives, achieving absolute enlightenment, that’s what the religion of Buddhism is.

Christianity presupposes an unshakable belief in the trinity of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And it has several main movements, which are often mistaken for 3 religions:

• Catholicism,
• Orthodoxy,
• Protestantism.

Indeed, these branches of Christianity have many differences in everything. Catholics and Orthodox Christians are very different from Protestants. Protestantism - the latest direction of Christianity - preaches the rejection of the attributes of cult (temples, icons, etc.). Protestants also believe that good works cannot save the soul, but only personal faith can do this, and a person is destined for a certain fate even before his birth. This point of view is not supported by either Orthodoxy or Catholicism.

Catholics accept the existence of purgatory, while Orthodox Christians believe that the soul can immediately go to either heaven or hell. The highest authority for Catholics is the Pope, and for Orthodox Christians it is Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. There are also many differences in rituals.

Can there be 5 main religions?

Some do not agree that there are only three world religions, and identify 5 main religions, complementing the list:

• Hinduism,
• Judaism.

Hinduism is the main religion in India and Nepal. But it has followers in many other countries. Hindus believe in the transmigration of the soul, and who the soul will transmigrate into in the next life depends on the person’s behavior during life. The main difference between Hinduism is the belief in many gods of different ranks.

Judaism is the national religion of the Jews, based on the idea that Jews are God's chosen people, their mission is to convey divine truths to all humanity. But despite this, Judaism assumes the equality of all people in relation to God.

Besides these religions, there are many others, and each has its own adherents. Only some have millions, and some have only a few hundred people.

Do you consider yourself to be a member of any religion? Tell us about it in

Whether you go to the mosque on Fridays, attend synagogue on Saturdays, or pray in church on Sundays, religion has touched your life in one way or another. Even if the only thing you ever worshiped was your favorite couch and your best friend the television, your world was still shaped by the religious beliefs and practices of other people.
People's beliefs influence everything from their political views and works of art to the clothes they wear and the food they eat. Religious beliefs have more than once quarreled nations and inspired people to violence; they also played an important role in some scientific discoveries.
It’s not news to anyone that religion greatly influences society. Every civilization, from the ancient Mayans to the Celts, had some kind of religious practice. In its earliest forms, religion provided society with a system of beliefs and values ​​according to which it could reproduce and educate youth. In addition, it also helped explain the processes and phenomena of such a beautiful and such a complex and sometimes frightening world around us.
Evidence of some rudiments of religion has been found in artifacts of the Neolithic era, and although religion has greatly evolved compared to the primitive rituals of that time, no faith really dies. Some, such as the worldview of the Druids, continue to live to the present day, while others, such as the ancient Greek and Roman religions, live on as components and some separate aspects of later Christianity and Islam.
Below we have made a short overview of 10 religions. Despite their ancient origins, many of them have clear parallels with major modern religions.

10: Sumerian Religion

Although there is anecdotal evidence indicating that people may have been practicing religion as early as 70,000 years ago, the earliest reliable evidence of an established religion dates back to approximately 3500 BC. That is, by the time the Sumerians built the world's first cities, states and empires in Mesopotamia.
From the thousands of clay tablets that are found in the areas where the Sumerian civilization was located, we know that they had a whole pantheon of gods, each of whom “managed” their own sector of phenomena and processes, that is, people explained for themselves the mercy or wrath of a particular god something that could not be explained otherwise.
All the Sumerian gods were “linked” to specific astronomical bodies, and they also controlled natural forces: for example, the rising and setting of the sun were attributed to the sparkling chariot of the sun god Utu. The stars were considered to be the cows of Nannar, the moon deity who traveled across the sky, and the crescent moon was his boat. Other gods represented such things and concepts as the ocean, war, fertility.
Religion was central part life of Sumerian society: kings claimed to act at the will of the gods and thus fulfilled both religious and political duties, and sacred temples and giant terraced platforms known as ziggurats were considered the dwellings of the gods.
The influence of the Sumerian religion can be seen in most existing religions. The Epic of Gilgamesh, the earliest surviving work of ancient Sumerian literature, contains the first mention of the great flood, which is also found in the Bible. And the seven-tiered Babylonian ziggurat is probably the same Tower of Babel that quarreled the descendants of Noah.

9: Ancient Egyptian Religion

To see the influence of religion on the life of Ancient Egypt, just look at the thousands of pyramids located in the region. Each building symbolizes the Egyptian belief that human life continues even after death.
The reign of the Egyptian pharaohs lasted from approximately 3100 to 323 BC. and consisted of 31 separate dynasties. The pharaohs, who had divine status, used religion to maintain their power and subjugate absolutely all citizens. For example, if the pharaoh wanted to gain favor more tribes, all he had to do was accept their local god as his own.
While the sun god Ra was the main god and creator, the Egyptians recognized hundreds of other gods, approximately 450. And at least 30 of them received the status of the main deities of the pantheon. With so many gods, the Egyptians were uncomfortable with true coherent theology, but they were bound by a common belief in an afterlife, especially after the invention of mummification.
The manuals, called "coffinerary texts", gave those who could afford this guidance in funeral arrangements a guarantee of immortality. The tombs of wealthy people often contained jewelry, furniture, weapons, and even servants for a fulfilling afterlife.
Flirting with Monotheism
One of the first attempts to establish monotheism occurred in Ancient Egypt, when Pharaoh Akhenaten came to power in 1379 BC. and declared the sun god Aten to be the only god. The pharaoh tried to erase all mention of other gods and destroy their images. During Akhenaten's reign, the people tolerated this so-called "Atonism", however, after his death he was declared a criminal, his temples were destroyed, and his very existence was erased from records.

8: Greek and Roman Religion

Gods of Ancient Greece

Like the Egyptian, the Greek religion was polytheistic. Although the 12 Olympian deities are most widely recognized, the Greeks also had several thousand other local gods. During the Roman period of Greece, these gods were simply adapted to Roman needs: Zeus became Jupiter, Venus Aphrodite, and so on. In fact, much of Roman religion was borrowed from the Greeks. So much so that these two religions are often referred to under common name Greco-Roman religion.
The Greek and Roman gods had quite bad characters. They were no strangers to jealousy and anger. This explains why people had to make so many sacrifices in the hope of appeasing the gods, making them refrain from causing harm, and instead help people, do good deeds.
Along with sacrificial rites, which were the primary form of Greek and Roman religion, festivals and rituals occupied an important place in both religions. In Athens, at least 120 days a year were holidays, and in Rome, not much business was undertaken without first performing religious rituals that guaranteed the approval of the gods. Special people followed the signs sent by the gods, observing the chirping of birds, weather events or the entrails of animals. Ordinary citizens could also question the gods at sacred places called oracles.

Religion of Rite
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Roman religion was important role rituals in virtually every aspect of daily life. Not only were rituals performed before every senate meeting, festival, or other public event, but they also had to be performed flawlessly. If, for example, it was discovered that a prayer had been misread before a government meeting, then any decision made during that meeting could be invalidated.

A religion based solely on nature, Druidry emerged from shamanic practices and witchcraft in prehistoric times. Initially, it was distributed throughout Europe, but then became concentrated in the Celtic tribes as they moved towards the British coast. It continues to be practiced today among small groups.

The main idea of ​​Druidry is that a person should perform all actions without causing harm to anyone, even himself. There is no other sin than harming the Earth or others, the Druids believe. Likewise, there is no blasphemy or heresy, since man is unable to harm the gods, and they are able to defend themselves. According to Druid beliefs, people are only a small part of the Earth, which in turn is a single living being inhabited by gods and spirits of all kinds.

Although Christians tried to suppress Druidry for its polytheistic pagan beliefs and accused its followers of performing cruel sacrifices, the Druids were actually peaceful people who practiced meditation, reflection and awareness rather than sacrificial acts. Only animals were sacrificed and then eaten.
Since the entire religion of Druidry was built around nature, its ceremonies were associated with the solstices, equinoxes and 13 lunar cycles.

Somewhat similar to the pagan faith of Wicca, Asatru is a belief in the pre-Christian gods of Northern Europe. Dating back to the beginning of the Scandinavian Bronze Age around 1000 BC. Asatru took much from the ancient Norse Viking beliefs, and many of Asatru's followers continue to replicate Viking customs and traditions, such as sword fighting.
The main values ​​of the religion are wisdom, strength, courage, joy, honor, freedom, energy and the importance of ancestral ties with ancestors. Like Druidry, Asatru is based in nature, and the entire faith is tied to the changing of the seasons.
Asatru states that the universe is divided into nine worlds. Among them are Asgard - the kingdom of the gods and Midgard (Earth) - the home of all humanity. The connection of these nine worlds is the World Tree, Yggdrasil. The main god and creator of the universe is Odin, but Thor, the god of war, the defender of Midgard, was also highly respected: it was his hammer that the Vikings depicted on their doors to ward off evil. The hammer, or Mjollnir, is worn by many Asatru followers in the same way that Christians carry a cross.
Tax exemption
Although some aspects of Asatru may seem implausible to the uninitiated, it is becoming increasingly widespread throughout the world. In addition to being a registered religion in Iceland and Norway, it is exempt from taxes in the United States.

To be fair, it needs to be clarified that, technically, Hinduism is not one religion. This concept actually encompasses many beliefs and practices originating in India.
Hinduism is one of the oldest existing religions, with roots traced back to approximately 3000 BC. Although some of its supporters claim that the doctrine has always existed. The religion's scriptures are collected in the Vedas, the oldest known religious works in the Indo-European languages. They were collected approximately between 1000 and 500 BC. and is revered by Hindus as eternal truth.

The overarching idea of ​​Hinduism is the quest for moksha, belief in destiny and reincarnation. According to Hindu beliefs, people have an eternal soul, which is continuously reborn in different incarnations, according to its lifestyle and actions in previous lives. Karma describes the consequences that follow from these actions, and Hinduism teaches that people can improve their destiny (karma) through prayer, sacrifice and various other forms of spiritual, psychological and physical disciplines. Ultimately, by following righteous paths, a Hindu can be liberated from rebirth and attain moksha.
Unlike other major religions, Hinduism does not claim any founder. Its connection with any specific historical event cannot be traced. Today, almost 900 million people around the world consider themselves Hindus, with the majority of them living in India.

4: Buddhism

Buddhism, which originated in India around the 6th century BC, is similar to Hinduism in many ways. It is based on the teachings of a man known as Buddha, who was born as Siddhartha Gautama and raised as a Hindu. Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in reincarnation, karma and the idea of ​​achieving complete liberation - Nirvana.
According to Buddhist legend, Siddhartha had a rather sheltered youth and was amazed when he discovered that people around him seemed to experience such things as grief, poverty and illness. After meeting a group of people seeking enlightenment, Siddhartha began searching for a way to end human suffering. He for a long time fasted and meditated, and finally achieved the ability to break out of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. It was this achievement of "bodhi", or "enlightenment", that led to him now being known as the Buddha, or "Enlightened One".
Four Noble Truths: (chatvari aryasatyani), the four truths of the Holy One are one of the basic teachings of Buddhism, which all its schools adhere to.
1. All existence is suffering.
2. All suffering is caused by human desires.
3. Renunciation of desires will end suffering.
4. There is a path to the end of suffering - the Eightfold Path.
Buddhism does not place too much emphasis on deity; self-discipline, meditation and compassion are much more important. As a result, Buddhism is sometimes regarded more as a philosophy than a religion.
Path
Like Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are more philosophies than religions. Both originated in China in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. both are actively practiced in China today. Taoism, which is based on the concept of "Tao", or "Way", greatly values ​​life and preaches simplicity and a relaxed approach to life. Confucianism is based on love, kindness and humanity.

Another religion originating from India. Jainism proclaims as main goal achieving spiritual freedom. Originates from the lives and teachings of the Jains, spiritual teachers who achieved the highest level of knowledge and understanding. According to Jain teachings, followers of the religion can achieve freedom from material existence or karma. As in Hinduism, this liberation from reincarnation is called moksha.
Jains also teach that time is eternal and consists of a series of ascending or descending movements that last for millions of years. During each of these periods, there are 24 Jainas. Only two of these teachers are known in the current movement: Parsva and Mahavira, who lived in the 9th and 6th centuries BC, respectively. In the absence of any higher gods or a creator god, followers of Jainism revere the Jains.
Unlike Buddhism, which condemns suffering, the idea of ​​Jainism is asceticism, self-denial. The Jain way of life is governed by the "Great Vows", which proclaim non-violence, honesty, sexual abstinence, renunciation. Although these vows are strictly observed by hermits, Jains also follow them in proportion to their abilities and circumstances, with the goal of self-development along the 14-stage path of spiritual growth.

Although other religions had short periods monotheism, Judaism is considered the world's oldest monotheistic faith. Religion is based on what the Bible describes as agreements between God and some of the founding fathers. Judaism is one of three religions that trace their origins to the patriarch Abraham, who lived in the 21st century BC. (The other two are Islam and Christianity.)
The Five Books of Moses are included at the beginning of the Hebrew Bible, forming the Torah (Pentateuch), the Jewish people are the descendants of Abraham and will one day return to their country Israel. Therefore, Jews are sometimes called the “chosen people.”
The religion is based on the Ten Commandments, which represent a sacred agreement between God and people. Along with 613 other guidelines contained in the Torah, these ten commandments determine the way a believer lives and thinks. By following the laws, Jews show their commitment to God's will and strengthen their position in the religious community.
In rare unanimity, all three major world religions recognize the Ten Commandments as fundamental.

Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of the Persian prophet Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, who lived between 1700 and 1500 BC. His teachings are revealed to the world in the form of 17 psalms called Gathas, which constitute the Holy Scripture of Zoroastrianism, known as the Zend Avesta.
A key aspect of the Zoroastrian faith is ethical dualism, the constant struggle between good (Ahura Mazda) and evil (Angra Mainyu). Personal responsibility is of great importance to Zoroastrians, since their destiny depends on the choice they make between these two forces. Followers believe that after death, the soul comes to the Bridge of Judgment, from where it goes either to heaven or to a place of torment, depending on what actions predominated during life: good or bad.
Because positive choices are not so difficult to make, Zoroastrianism is generally seen as an optimistic faith: Zarathustra is supposedly the only child who laughed at birth instead of crying. Currently, Zoroastrianism is one of the smallest among the world's major religions, but its influence is felt widely. Christianity, Judaism and Islam were all formed on its tenets.