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The Big Religion Chart

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The Big Religion Chart The Big Religion Chart The ReligionFacts "Big Religion Chart" is an attempt to summarize all the complexities of religions and belief systems into tiny little boxes on a single, quick-reference comparison chart. Yes, of course this is impossible. As we always warn with our comparison charts, this is no substitute for reading about religions in greater detail, talking with religious adherents, etc. But this religion comparison chart can (hopefully) be a useful and accessible way to "get the gist" of some unfamiliar groups and compare basic beliefs and practices of the world's religions and belief systems. Despite the chart's simplistic title, we have been very inclusive with what is regarded as a "religion" for purposes of this comparison chart. Basically, the grounds for a group's inclusion are that it provides a set of teachings and/or rituals that deal with the traditionally "religious" issues of ultimate reality, the meaning of life, and/or how to find fulfillment, spiritual health or salvation. Also, all the groups listed below can be found in dictionaries of religion. Inclusion of a group on this list does not mean that the group is a "religion" per se (note that atheism is listed) or a "true religion" or that "[one listed group] is just as much a religion as [another listed group]." Similarly, if a group does not appear on this chart it doesn't mean it's not a religion or doesn't matter; the chart is not comprehensive and is continually growing. In addition, listing groups separately does not mean they are mutually exclusive, nor does grouping them together mean that they are basically the same thing. This is not an authoritative list of religions, simply a resource on some worldviews and ways of life that hopefully some will find useful. Links in the left column go to ReligionFacts articles where available (see also the A-Z Religion Index). For more information on numbers of adherents, please see Adherents.com, from which most of the stats are taken. Last updated: 12/4/07. Religion/Sect/ Origins & Adherents God(s) and Human Afterlife Practices Texts More Info Belief System History Worldwide Universe Situation and (approx.) Life's Purpose Aladura Various 1 million Generally Strong emphasis Not Spiritual healing None ReligionFacts prophet-healing monotheistic; a on healing and emphasized; is central. Mix of article churches mix of salvation in this views vary. Anglican and founded since Anglican, life through African rituals; a c.1918, West Pentecostal prayer, fasting prophet plays a Nigeria. and traditional and other rituals. prominent role. African beliefs. Asatru Revival of unknown Polytheistic, Salvation or Valhalla Sacrifice of food Eddas ReligionFacts Norse and Norse gods redemption not (heaven) for or drink, toast to (Norse article Germanic and emphasized. death in battle; the gods, epics); the paganism, goddesses, Fatalistic view of Hel (peaceful shamanism (less Havamal Asatru Alliance 1970s Norse creation universe. place) for frequently), (proverbs Scandinavia myths. most; Hifhel celebration of attributed to Wikipedia and USA. (hell) for the solstice holidays. Odin) very evil. Nine Noble Virtues is moral code. Atheism Appears in 1.1 billion There is no Only humans none none Influential The Secular history, but (this figure God or divine can help works Web especially after includes being. Beliefs themselves and include those the agnostic and about the each other solve by Marx, BBC Religion Enlightenment non-religious, universe the world's Freud, (19th cent). which tend to generally problems. Feuerbach, Wikipedia be grouped based on latest and Voltaire. on surveys) scientific findings. Baha'i Faith Founded by 5-7 million One God, who The soul is Soul separates Daily prayer, Writings of ReligionFacts Bahá'u'lláh, has revealed eternal and from the body avoidance of Bahá'u'lláh section 1863, Tehran, himself essentially good. and begins a intoxicants, and other Iran. progressively Purpose of life is journey scripture reading, Bahá'í The Baha'i through major to develop towards or hard work, leaders World world religions. spiritually and away from education, work draw closer to God. Heaven for social justice God. and hell are and equality. states of being. Bön Indigenous 100,000 Nontheistic Purpose is to Reincarnation Meditation on Bonpo canon ReligionFacts religion of Tibet. Buddhism, but gain until gain mandalas and article meditation on enlightenment. enlightenment Tibetan deities, peaceful and astrology, Tibet.com wrathful monastic life. deities. Buddhism Founded by 360 million Varies: Purpose is to Reincarnation Meditation, Tripitaka ReligionFacts Siddharta Theravada avoid suffering (understood mantras, devotion (Pali Canon); section Gautama (the atheistic; and gain differently than to deities (in Mahayana Buddha) in c. Mahayana enlightenment in Hinduism, some sects), sutras like BuddhaNet 520 BC, NE more and release from with no mandalas the Lotus India. polytheistic. cycle of rebirth, surviving soul) (Tibetan) Sutra; Buddha taught or at least attain until gain others. nothing is a better rebirth enlightenment permanent. by gaining merit. Religion/Sect/ Origins & Adherents God(s) and Human Afterlife Practices Texts More Info Belief System History Worldwide Universe Situation and (approx.) Life's Purpose Cao Dai Founded in 4-6 million God Goal is peace Reincarnation. Hierarchy similar Caodai ReligionFacts 1926, Vietnam represented by and harmony in Bad karma can to Roman canon article by Ngo Van Divine Eye. each person and lead to rebirth Catholicism. Daily Chieu and Founders of in the world. on a darker prayer. CaoDai.org others based Buddhism, Salvation by planet; good Meditation. on a séance. Taoism, "cultivating self karma to better Communication Hinduism, and finding God life on earth. with spirit world Islam, and in self." Eventual (now outlawed in Christianity attainment of Vietnam). venerated, and nirvana or saints including heaven. Victor Hugo. Chinese Indigenous folk 394 million Dualistic yin Purpose is a Judgment, Ancestor worship, None ReligionFacts Religion religion of and yang; favorable life then prayer, section China. mythological and peaceful reincarnation longevity beings and folk afterlife, attained or temporary practices Chinese Cultural deities. through rituals hell until gain a , divination, Studies and honoring of Buddhist-type prophecy and ancestors. paradise. astrology, feng shui. Chopra Center Founded by unknown monism - God Humans have Reincarnation Yoga, meditation, Deepak ReligionFacts Deepak Chopra or Supreme limitless massage, Chopra's article in 1991, Reality potential, but do nutrition, many books, California pervades all not recognize mindfulness, such as the Official Website things; all is this. Health and detox sessions, Seven unity success can be positive thinking. Spiritual had by focusing Laws of on whole self Success (mind, body, spirit). Christianity Founded by 2 billion One God who All have sinned Eternal heaven Prayer, Bible The Holy ReligionFacts (Catholic, Jesus Christ in is a Trinity of and are thereby or hell (or study, baptism, Bible (Old section Protestant, c. 30 AD, Israel. Father, Son, separated from temporary Eucharist, church and New Orthodox) and Holy Spirit God. Salvation is purgatory). on Sundays, Testaments) Wikipedia through faith in numerous Christ and, for holidays. BBC Religion some, sacraments and good works. Christian Founded by 150,000 - One God. No Salvation is Heaven is "not Spiritual healing Christian ReligionFacts Science Mary Baker 400,000 Trinity (in "Life, Truth, and a locality, but a through prayer Bible, article Eddy in 1879, traditional Love understood divine state of and knowledge, Science & Massachusetts. sense). Matter and Mind in which Sunday services, Health with Official Website and evil do not demonstrated as all the daily Bible and Key to the exist. supreme over manifestations Science & Health Scriptures all; sin, sickness of Mind are reading. and death harmonious destroyed." and immortal." Confucianism Founded by 5-6 million Not addressed Purpose of life is Not addressed Honesty, Analects ReligionFacts Confucius to fulfill one's politeness, article (551–479 BC), role in society propriety, China with propriety, humaneness, Wikipedia honor, and perform correct loyalty. role in society, loyalty to family, nation Religion/Sect/ Origins & Adherents God(s) and Human Afterlife Practices Texts More Info Belief System History Worldwide Universe Situation and (approx.) Life's Purpose Deism Especially unknown One Creator Not addressed Not addressed None prescribed, Thomas World Union of popularized in God who is although some Paine's The Deists the 18th-cent. uninterested in deists practice Age of Enlightenment the world. prayer. Reason and Wikipedia under Kant, Reason is similar texts Voltaire, Paine, basis for all Jefferson, and knowledge. others Druze Al-Darazi in 500,000 Universal Live a good life Reincarnation. Modest lifestyles, Al-Naqd al- Wikipedia 11th century, Intelligence (al- for a favorable Heaven is a fasting before Eid Khafi (Copy Cairo, Egypt. Aql al-Kulli) or reincarnation. spiritual al-Adha. Beliefs of the Lexicorient Roots in the Divine Essence Await the re- existence and practices are Secret); Al- Isma'iliyya sect (akin to appearance of when one has hidden for Juz'al-Awwal of Shia Islam. Neoplatonism), al-Hakim (a escaped protection from (Essence of of which al- Fatimid caliph reincarnation. persecution. the First) Hakim is who Hell is distance Special group of believed to be disappeared in from God in initiates called an incarnation. 1021), who will lifetime after uqqal. usher in a lifetime. Golden Age for true believers. Eckankar John Paul 50-500,000 The Divine "Each of us is Reincarnation. Spiritual Shariyat-Ki- ReligionFacts Twitchell in Spirit, called Soul, a spark of The Soul is Exercises of Sugmad and article 1965, Las "ECK" God sent to this eternal by ECK: mantras, books by Vegas. world to gain nature and on meditation, and Harold Official Website spiritual a spiritual dreams. These Klemp experience." journey. enable Soul Salvation is Liberation travel and liberation and possible in a spiritual growth. God-realization. single lifetime. Epicureanism Epicurus in unknown A deistic sort of Materialism: No afterlife.
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