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World Religions
Introduction
It isn't easy to live without a god. But living in general is an undertaking that challenges and frustrates the most of us, with or without a god. We are as humans, special in that we lead our lives and treat our lives in a relatively cognizant, rational manner. We are naturally reflective creatures. We have the capacity to do more than simply live our lives; we are able to step away from our physical situation and consider it, assess it, make judgements, and make decisions. One doesn't need to be an academic professor in philosophy to face colossal thoughts, such as wrestling with his humanity or trying to solve important moral dilemmas.
There is one such philosophical issue that we have all faced in one form or another, at one time or another: God. "Does God exist? Do I believe in God?" one asks upon reflection. Some can confidently answer those questions with relative ease, because their minds are already made up about the issue. Many are content to believe, while others are content to doubt.Most of us struggle with this issue of God to some degree. God is a wonderfully fascinating topic, one that is very pressing and important to so many of us.
There are many definitions for the term "religion" in common usage. "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life."
Religion was and continues to be a very influential aspect of human lives, from the earliest known evidence of human religion by Homo sapiens neanderthalensis around 100,000 years ago to the present day.
Religion, or at least religious inquiry, is something that virtually all humans have in common. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history, people have wondered about the meaning of life, how to make the best of it, what happens afterwards, and if there is anyone or anything "out there." Religion is the universal tool for explaining things, which we do not understand through the context the known physical world.
Although there are countless religions, each different from the other, they all serve the same purpose. Each answers questions, which all humans seem to be programmed to ask: Why are we here? What happens when I die? How shall I live my life?
Religion helps us to transmit our values from one generation to another, and influences the way we interact with the natural environment. It teaches us how to see ourselves in light of the universe and gives purpose and meaning to life.
The world's principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major basic groups and all religious figures teach of a single, cross-cultural truth.
They may be classified in the following basic groups:
Theism: Theism, in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists. In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe. Theism, in this specific sense, conceives of God as personal, present and active in the governance and organization of the world and the universe. The use of the word theism as indicating a particular doctrine of monotheism arose in the wake of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century to contrast with the then emerging deism that contended that God, though transcendent and supreme, did not intervene in the natural world and could be known rationally but not via revelation.
The term theism derives from the Greek theos meaning God. The term theism was first used by Ralph Cudworth (1617–88).Types of Theism
Animism · Deism · Monotheism · Panentheism · Pantheism · Nontheism · Polytheism · Transtheism
Animism:
Animism (from Latin anima "soul, life") refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle.
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Deism:
Deism in the philosophy of religion is the standpoint that reason and observation of the natural world, without the need for organized religion, can determine that a supreme being created the universe.
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Monotheism:
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one god, as distinguished from polytheism, the belief in more than one god, and atheism, the belief that there is no god.
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Panentheism:
Panentheism is a belief system which posits that God exists and interpenetrates every part of nature, and timelessly extends beyond as well. Panentheism is distinguished from pantheism, which holds that God is synonymous with the universe.
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Pantheism:
Pantheism is the view that the Universe (Nature) and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god.
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Nontheism:
Nontheism is a term that covers a range of both religious and nonreligious attitudes characterized by the absence of — or the rejection of — theism or any belief in a personal god or gods.
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Polytheism:
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals.
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Transtheism:
Transtheistic is a term coined by philosopher Paul Tillich or Indologist Heinrich Zimmer, referring to a system of thought or religious philosophy which is neither theistic, nor atheistic.
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Secularism and irreligion:
Atheism · Agnosticism
Atheism:
Atheism, in a broad sense, is the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. Atheism is contrasted with theism, which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.
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Agnosticism:
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable. Agnosticism can be defined in various ways, and is sometimes used to indicate doubt or a skeptical approach to questions. In some senses, agnosticism is a stance about the similarities or differences between belief and knowledge, rather than about any specific claim or belief.
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Religions & belief systems (In Alpabetical Order)
Aladura, Asatru, Baha'i Faith, Bön, Buddhism, Cao Dai, Chinese Religion, Chopra Center, Christianity, Christian Science, Confucianism, Eckankar, Epicureanism, Falun Gong, Greco-Roman Religion, Hare Krishna, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Kemetic Reconstructionism, Mayan Religion, Mithraism, Mormonism, Neopaganism, The Occult.
Largest religions or belief systems by number of adherents
Four largest religions
Adherents
% of world population
Article
World population
6.8 billion
Figures taken from individual articles:
Christianity
1.9 billion – 2.1 billion
29% – 32%
Christianity by country
Islam
1.3 billion – 1.57 billion
19% – 21%
Islam by country
Buddhism
500 million – 1.5 billion
7% – 21%
Buddhism by country
Hinduism
950 million – 1 billion
14% – 15%
Hinduism by country
Total
4.65 billion – 6.17 billion
68.38% – 90.73%
Read more on Religions? ....
Author: Saladin F.
SEE ALSO: | Abrahamic Religions | Judaism | Christianity | Islam | Hinduism | Buddhism | Paganism | Helenic Judaism | Gnosticism | Cabalism | Knights Templars| | Freemasons | The Illuminati |
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