The
world's principal
religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups, though this is not a uniform practice. This theory began in the 18th century with the goal of recognizing the relative levels of
civility
Civility comes from the word ''civis'', which in Latin means " citizen". Merriam Webster defines civility as civilized conduct (especially: courtesy or politeness) or a polite act or expression. Historically, civility also meant training in the hu ...
in different societies, but this practice has since fallen into disrepute in many contemporary cultures.
History of religious categories
Christian categorizations
Initially, Christians had a simple dichotomy of world beliefs: Christian civility versus foreign heresy or barbarity. In the 18th century, "
heresy" was clarified to mean
Judaism and
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
; along with
paganism
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...
, this created a fourfold classification which spawned such works as
John Toland
John Toland (30 November 167011 March 1722) was an Irish people, Irish rationalist philosopher and freethought, freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, whi ...
's ''Nazarenus, or Jewish, Gentile, and Mahometan Christianity'', which represented the three
Abrahamic religions as different "nations" or sects within ''religion'' itself, the "true
monotheism."
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe (; born Daniel Foe; – 24 April 1731) was an English writer, trader, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel ''Robinson Crusoe'', published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its ...
described the original definition as follows: "Religion is properly the Worship given to God, but 'tis also applied to the Worship of Idols and false Deities." At the turn of the 19th century, in between 1780 and 1810, the language dramatically changed: instead of "religion" being synonymous with spirituality, authors began using the plural, "religions," to refer to both Christianity and other forms of worship. Therefore,
Hannah Adams's early encyclopedia, for example, had its name changed from ''An Alphabetical Compendium of the Various Sects...'' to ''
A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations''.
In 1838, the four-way division of Christianity, Judaism,
Mahommedanism (archaic terminology for
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
) and paganism was multiplied considerably by
Josiah Conder's ''Analytical and Comparative View of All Religions Now Extant among Mankind''. Conder's work still adhered to the four-way classification, but in his eye for detail he puts together much historical work to create something resembling the modern Western image: he includes
Druze
The Druze (; ar, دَرْزِيٌّ, ' or ', , ') are an Arabic-speaking esoteric ethnoreligious group from Western Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, syncretic, and ethnic religion based on the teachings of ...
,
Yezidis,
Mandaeans, and
Elam
Elam (; Linear Elamite: ''hatamti''; Cuneiform Elamite: ; Sumerian: ; Akkadian: ; he, עֵילָם ''ʿēlām''; peo, 𐎢𐎺𐎩 ''hūja'') was an ancient civilization centered in the far west and southwest of modern-day Iran, stretc ...
ites under a list of possibly monotheistic groups, and under the final category, of "polytheism and pantheism," he listed
Zoroastrianism, "Vedas, Puranas, Tantras, Reformed sects" of India as well as "Brahminical idolatry,"
Buddhism,
Jainism,
Sikhism,
Lamaism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
, "religion of China and Japan," and "illiterate superstitions" as others.
The modern meaning of the phrase "world religion," putting non-Christians at the same level as Christians, began with the 1893
Parliament of the World's Religions in
Chicago. The Parliament spurred the creation of a dozen privately funded lectures with the intent of informing people of the diversity of religious experience: these lectures funded researchers such as
William James,
D. T. Suzuki, and
Alan Watts, who greatly influenced the public conception of world religions.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the category of "world religion" fell into serious question, especially for drawing parallels between vastly different cultures, and thereby creating an arbitrary separation between the religious and the secular.
Islam categorizations
In
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
, the
Quran mentions three different categories:
Muslims, the
People of the Book
People of the Book or Ahl al-kitāb ( ar, أهل الكتاب) is an Islamic term referring to those religions which Muslims regard as having been guided by previous revelations, generally in the form of a scripture. In the Quran they are ident ...
, and
idol worshipers.
Classification
Religious traditions fall into super-groups in
comparative religion, arranged by historical origin and mutual influence. Abrahamic religions originate in
West Asia,
Indian religions
Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent. These religions, which include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism,Adams, C. J."Classification of ...
in the
Indian subcontinent (South Asia) and
East Asian religions in
East Asia. Another group with supra-regional influence are
Afro-American religion
African diaspora religions are a number of related Pagan beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. They derive from Pagan traditional African religions with some infl ...
, which have their origins in Central and West Africa.
* Middle Eastern religions:
**
Abrahamic religions are the largest group, and these consist mainly of
Judaism,
Christianity,
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
, and the
Baháʼí Faith. They are named for the patriarch
Abraham, and are unified by the practice of monotheism. Today, at least 3.8 billion people are followers of Abrahamic religions and are spread widely around the world apart from the regions around East and Southeast Asia. Several Abrahamic organizations are vigorous
proselytizers. Abrahamic religions with fewer adherents include the
Baháʼí Faith,
the
Druze faith
The Druze (; ar, دَرْزِيٌّ, ' or ', , ') are an Arabic-speaking esoteric ethnoreligious group from Western Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, syncretic, and ethnic religion based on the teachings of H ...
,
Samaritanism,
and
Rastafari
Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control of ...
.
**
Iranian religions
Iranian religions also known as Persian religions are, in the context of comparative religion, a grouping of religious movements that originated in the Iranian (Persian) plateau (or Greater Iran).
Background
The beliefs, activities, and cultura ...
, partly of
Indo-European origins, include
Zoroastrianism,
Yazdânism
Yazdânism, or the Cult of Angels, is a pseudohistoric pre-Islamic religion with claimed ties relating to a Mithraic religion of the Kurds. The term was introduced and proposed by Kurdish and Belgian scholar Mehrdad Izady to represent what he consi ...
,
Uatsdin
Assianism (, ''Watsdin'') is a modern Pagan religion derived from the traditional mythology of the Ossetians, modern descendants of the Scythians of the Alan tribes, believed to be a continuation of the ancient Scythian religion. The religion is ...
,
Yarsanism,
Yazidism.
**
Gnosticism, including historical traditions of
Manichaeism and
Mandaeism, which is still alive in the Middle East and diaspora.
* Eastern religions:
**
Indian religions
Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent. These religions, which include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism,Adams, C. J."Classification of ...
, originated in
Greater India
Greater India, or the Indian cultural sphere, is an area composed of many countries and regions in South and Southeast Asia that were historically influenced by Indian culture, which itself formed from the various distinct indigenous cultures ...
and they tend to share a number of key concepts, such as
dharma
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...
,
karma,
reincarnation among others. They are of the most influence across the
Indian subcontinent, East Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as isolated parts of Russia. The main Indian religions are
Hinduism,
Jainism,
Buddhism and
Sikhism.
**
East Asian religions consist of several East Asian religions which make use of the concept of ''
Tao
''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, as conceived in the context of East Asian philosophy, East Asian religions, or any other philo ...
'' (in Chinese), ''
Đạo'' (in Vietnamese) or ''
Dō Dō may refer to:
* Dō (architecture)
* Dō (armour)
* Dō (martial arts)
* Dō (philosophy)
''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, ...
'' (in Japanese or Korean). They include many
Chinese folk religions,
Taoism and
Confucianism, as well as
Vietnamese,
Korean and
Japanese religions, which are influenced by Chinese religious thought.
* Indigenous
ethnic religion
In religious studies, an ethnic religion is a religion or belief associated with a particular ethnic group. Ethnic religions are often distinguished from universal religions, such as Christianity or Islam, in which gaining converts is a pri ...
s, found on every continent, now marginalized by the major organized faiths in many parts of the world or persisting as undercurrents (
folk religions) of major religions. Includes
traditional African religion
The traditional beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural ...
s, Asian
shamanism
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a Spirit world (Spiritualism), spirit world through Altered state of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, such as tranc ...
,
Native American religion
Native American religions are the spiritual practices of the Native Americans in the United States. Ceremonial ways can vary widely and are based on the differing histories and beliefs of individual nations, tribes and bands. Early European ...
s,
Austronesian
Austronesian may refer to:
*The Austronesian languages
*The historical Austronesian peoples
The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, M ...
and
Australian Aboriginal traditions,
Chinese folk religions, and postwar
Shinto. Under more traditional listings, this has been referred to as "
paganism
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...
" along with
historical polytheism.
** African religions:
*** The religions of the tribal peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, but excluding
ancient Egyptian religion
Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex system of polytheistic beliefs and rituals that formed an integral part of ancient Egyptian culture. It centered on the Egyptians' interactions with many deities believed to be present in, and in control ...
, which is considered to belong to the ancient Middle East;
***
African diasporic religions
African diaspora religions are a number of related Pagan beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. They derive from Pagan traditional African religions with some influ ...
practiced in the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
, imported as a result of the
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, or Euro-American slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people, mainly to the Americas. The slave trade regularly used the triangular trade route and i ...
of the 16th to 18th centuries, building on
traditional religions of Central and West Africa.
*
New religious movement is the term applied to any religious faith which has emerged since the 19th century, often
syncretizing, re-interpreting or reviving aspects of older traditions such as
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi ( ta, அய்யாவழி, ml, അയ്യാവഴി ''Ayyāvaḻi'' , ) is a henotheistic belief that originated in South India.Tha. Krishna Nathan, ''Ayyaa vaikuNdarin vaazvum sinthanaiyum'', p. 62: "" (The day at which Vaik ...
,
Mormonism,
Ahmadiyya,
Pentecostalism,
polytheistic reconstructionism, and so forth.
Religious demographics
One way to define a major religion is by the number of current adherents. The population numbers by religion are computed by a combination of census reports and population surveys (in countries where religion data is not collected in census, for example the United States or France), but results can vary widely depending on the way questions are phrased, the definitions of religion used and the bias of the agencies or organizations conducting the survey. Informal or unorganized religions are especially difficult to count.
There is no consensus among researchers as to the best methodology for determining the religiosity profile of the world's population. A number of fundamental aspects are unresolved:
* Whether to count "historically predominant religious culture
* Whether to count only those who actively "practice" a particular religion
* Whether to count based on a concept of "adherence"
* Whether to count only those who expressly self-identify with a particular denomination
* Whether to count only adults, or to include children as well.
* Whether to rely only on official government-provided statistics
* Whether to use multiple sources and ranges or single "best source(s)"
Largest religious groups
Medium-sized religions
By region
*Religions by country according to The World Factbook – CIA
*
Religion by region
*
Religion in Africa
*
Religion in Antarctica
Religion in Antarctica is largely dominated by Christianity, with Christian buildings being the only religious buildings on the continent. Although used regularly for Christian worship, the Chapel of the Snows has also been used for Buddhist a ...
*
Religion in Asia
**
Religion in the Middle East
**
Muslim world (SW Asia and N Africa)
*
Religion in Europe
**
Religion in the European Union
**
Christian world
*
Religion in North America
Religion in North America is dominated by various branches of Christianity and spans the period of Native American dwelling, European settlement, and the present day. Religion has been a major influence on art, culture, philosophy and law ...
*
Religion in Oceania
*
Religion in South America
Religion in South America has been a major influence on art, culture, philosophy and law. Christianity is the continent's main religion, with Roman Catholics having the most adherents. Sizeable minorities of non-religious people and adherents of o ...
Trends in adherence
Maps of self-reported adherence
See also
*
Irreligion
*
List of religions and spiritual traditions
While the word religion is hard to define, one standard model of religion used in religious studies courses defines it as a
Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life ...
*
List of religious populations
*
Numinous
*
Religious conversion
*
State religion
A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular state, secular, is not n ...
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
External links
Animated history of World Religionsfrom the "Religion & Ethics" part of the BBC website, interactive animated view of the spread of world religions (requires Flash plug-in).
BBC A-Z of Religions and BeliefsMajor World ReligionsInternational Council for Inter-Religious Cooperation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major Religious Groups
Religion-related lists
Religious demographics
eo:Religio#Listo de religioj laŭ grandeco