Symbols of some of the more common religions.
Top to bottom, left to right:
Row 1. Christian, Jewish, Hindu
Row 2. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Muslim, Buddhist, Shintoist
Row 3. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Sikh, Baha'i, Jain. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India.

A religion is a set of beliefs and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Reality, in everyday usage means "the state of things as they actually exist" In its most general sense a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system Human nature is the concept that there are a set of logical characteristics including ways of thinking feeling and acting that all 'normal' human beings have in common Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions In some Religions law can be thought of as the ordering principle of Reality; Knowledge as revealed by God defining and governing all human affairs Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

In the frame of European religious thought,^[1] religions present a common quality, the "hallmark of patriarchal religious thought": the division of the world in two comprehensive domains, one sacred, the other profane. Western religion includes Abrahamic religions that have their roots in the ancient Middle-East including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and its The Dichotomy between the sacred and the Profane has been identified by French Sociologist Émile Durkheim as the ^[2] Religion is often described as a communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Divinity and divine (sometimes 'the Divinity' or 'the Divine' are broadly applied but loosely defined terms used variously within different faiths and belief systems — The meaning of the word truth extends from Honesty, Good faith, and Sincerity in general to agreement with Fact or Reality Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, tradition, rituals, and scriptures are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Morality (from the Latin la moralitas "manner character proper behavior" has three principal meanings Secularity ( adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from Religion. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Religion is also often described as a "way of life" or a Life stance. The term lifestyle was originally coined by Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler in 1929 Life stance or lifestance refers to a person's relation with what he or she accepts as of Ultimate importance, the presuppositions and theory of this and the commitments

The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures. "Organized religion" generally refers to an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion with a prescribed set of beliefs, often taking the form of a legal entity (see religion-supporting organization). Note This Wikipedia entry deals with the legal concept legal person. Religious activities generally need some infrastructure to be conducted Other religions believe in personal revelation. "Religion" is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system,"^[3] but is more socially defined than that of personal convictions. Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in

Etymology

The English word religion is in use since the 13th century, loaned from Anglo-French religiun (11th century), ultimately from the Latin religio, "reverence for God or the gods, careful pondering of divine things, piety, the res divinae". Religion in North America spans the period of Native American dwelling European settlement and the present day Religion in Canada encompases a wide range of groups and Canada has no Official religion. Lightmatter Hsi Lai Temple 4jpg|thumb|200px| Hsi Lai Temple (lit Unlike some other Latin American countries Mexico has no official Religion, and the Constitution of 1917 and the anti-clerical laws imposed limitations Religion in Cuba reflects the island’s diverse cultural elements The many kinds of religion in the Dominican Republic have been growing and changing Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-religious Nation. The largest religious groups are the Roman Catholics and Hindus; the Anglicans, Religion in Nicaragua is a significant part of the culture of Nicaragua and forms part of the constitution. Status of religious freedom in Colombia|Christianity in Colombia|Protestants in Colombia|Roman Catholicism in Colombia|Islam in Colombia The Religion According to the 1993 Census 89% of the Peruvian population over 12 years old declared themselves as Catholics 6 The Roman Catholic church has a dominant presence in religion in Bolivia. Religion in Brazil is very diversified although over seventy percent of the population declared being Roman Catholic in the last IBGE A majority of the population of Argentina is nominally Roman Catholic. Current Situation According to article 24 of the Paraguayan Constitution of 1992 freedom of religion is recognised and there is no official religion Religion in Iceland was initially the Norse paganism that was commonly believed by Vikings (from 874 to 1000 2006 Census The 2006 census showed the following results Eurobarometer Poll 2005 According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005 This article is about the development of religion in the United Kingdom (UK since its formation in 1707 The most predominant religion in Portugal is Roman Catholicism. Today Roman Catholicism is the largest Religion in the country Catholicism is by far the largest religious group in Italy (Catholics make up for the 87 France is a secular country where Freedom of thought and of religion are preserved in virtue of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Historically the Netherlands is characterized by multitude of Religions Although religious diversity remains to the present day there is a major decline of religious A 2006 inquiry in Flanders, long considered more religious than the Brussels or Wallonia regions in Belgium, showed 55% of its inhabitants calling Christianity is the largest religion in Germany with 59981000 (73 Switzerland has no country-wide State religion, though most of the cantons (except for Geneva and Neuchâtel) recognize official churches ( There are many active religions in Luxembourg. The most important in terms of size of congregation and historical importance is Roman Catholicism, but the state Adherence Figures Among religions in Austria, Roman Catholic Christianity is the predominant one Of the religions in Denmark, the most prominent is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark which is the official state religion Sweden was pagan before the 11th century, when the country underwent Christianization. Religion in Norway is overwhelmingly Protestant ( Evangelical - Lutheran) with 82 Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (82 Religious denominations in Poland Religion in Poland has changed throughout centuries of History of Poland (see also Historical demography of Poland The Religion in Lithuania is predominantly Catholic reflecting Lithuania's history with a strong presence from other minorities Religion in Moldova is separate from the state The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova provides for freedom of religion and the Government generally respects this right Orthodox Christianity ( Russian: Православие Pravoslavije) is Russia’s traditional religion deemed part of Russia's "historical The majority of Albanians today are either Atheists or Agnostics. Serbia is a multireligious country The dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity (notably the Serbian Orthodox Church) but there are also numerous adherents of Montenegro is a multireligious country Although Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion there are also numerous adherents of Islam and Catholic Bulgaria has been a traditionally Christian state since the adoption of Christianity in 865 with the dominant confession being Eastern Orthodoxy of the Romania is a Secular state, thus having no National religion. The Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the religion of 95%-98% of the Greek population and is accorded the status of "prevailing religion" in the constitution In the small Mediterranean Island nation of Malta the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Religion in Egypt controls many aspects of social life and is endorsed by law Religion in Israel is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle Lebanon has several different main religions The main two Religions are Islam ( Sunni, Shia, and Druze) and Christianity The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a majority Muslim country with 88% of the population following Sunni Islam while a small minority of around 2% follow Shia The majority of Armenians follow Christianity, which has existed in Armenia for over 1700 years The religions of Azerbaijan comprise different religious trends spread among the people and ethnic groups residing in the country Most Iranians are Muslims 90% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, the official state religion and about 8% belong to the Sunni branch mainly Kurds and Iran's Balochi The major religion is Islam which is practiced by about 95% of Iraqis Membership in a religious community is ordinarily determined by birth Islam is the largest religion of Turkey More than 99 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunni. Religion in Africa is multifaceted Most Africans adhere to either Christianity or Islam. Several religions in Nigeria coexist helping to accentuate regional and ethnic distinctions Religion is an important aspect in the country of Sudan, with most of the country's people being animists, Christians, or Muslims. A large number of religions are traditionally practiced in Ethiopia, the most numerous today being Christianity, Islam, and Animism. The 2002 government census estimated that 82 percent of the population of Seychelles is Roman Catholic and 6 percent is Anglican Religion in Uganda consists of several different Religions which unfortunately accentuate regional and ethnic differences separating people as different rather than Zambia is officially a Christian nation but a wide variety of religious traditions exist Christianity Christianity was first brought to Kenya in the fifteenth century by the Portuguese and spread rapidly during the nineteenth century when it experienced a revival South Africa has a wide mix of religions. Many Religions are represented in the ethnic and regional diversity of South Africa's population Asia is the world's most populous and largest Continents with millions of different peoples following a wide variety of different religions. The majority Religion in Afghanistan is Islam, with over 99% of Afghans being counted as Muslims. A census held by the Pakistan International Bureau indicates that over 96% of the population of Pakistan are Muslims There are small non-Muslim religious groups Christians For information on only the Major religions in India see Major religions in India. Nepal was formerly the world’s only constitutionally declared Hindu state but following the movement for democracy in early 2006 and the breaking of King Gyanendra Sri Lanka's population practices a variety of religions 77% of Sri Lankans are Theravada Buddhists 15% are Hindus 7 The earliest established religions in Vietnam are Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism (called the "triple religion" or Religion in China has been characterized by Pluralism since the beginning of Chinese history. Religion in Hong Kong is part and parcel of the Culture of Hong Kong. Religion in Macau is diverse there is no state religion the freedom of religion and belief is protected by Macau 's constitutional document the Macau Basic Law A wide diversity of Religions can be found on Taiwan, due to its multicultural history and religious freedom written in the Constitution of the Traditionally religion in North Korea primarily consists of Buddhism and Confucianism, and to a lesser extent Christianity and syncretic Religion in South Korea is dominated by the traditional Buddhist faith and a large and growing Christian population The primary religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintō (神道 " the way of the gods " Malaysia is a multiconfessional society with slightly more than half of its people being Muslims The internal conflicts the nation has faced have generally been precipitated Singapore is a multi-religious country due to its diverse ethnic mix of peoples originating from various countries There are a number of Religions that exist in the Philippines. Religion plays a major role in life in Indonesia. It is stated in the first principle of the state ideology Pancasila: "belief in the one and only God" Religion in Papua New Guinea is predominantly Christian with traditional Animist and Ancestor worship still found in some places There is no State religion in Australia, the establishment of which is prohibited by the Constitution. Religion in New Zealand was originally dominated by Māori religion in the days before the European colonization. Prior to the introduction of Christianity and other belief systems Fijian religion could be classified in modern terms as forms of animism and divination which strongly affected every aspect of life This article includes major religions only Others could include smaller popular religions as Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Sikhism, et cetera Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Pietas redirects here See Pietas (goddess for the divine personification of this virtue Res divina Latin for service of the gods, meant the laws of the Roman state that dealt with the religious duties of the state and its officials ^[4]

The ultimate origins of Latin religio are obscure. It is usually accepted to derive from ligare "bind, connect"; likely from a prefixed re-ligare, i. e. re (again) + ligare or "to reconnect. " This interpretation is favoured by modern scholars such as Tom Harpur and Joseph Campbell, but was made prominent by St. Augustine, following the interpretation of Lactantius. Thomas "Tom" Harpur (born 1929 is a Canadian author broadcaster, Journalist and Theologian. Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer Lucius Caelius (or Caecilius? Firmianus Lactantius was an Early Christian author (ca Another possibility is derivation from a reduplicated *le-ligare. A historical interpretation due to Cicero on the other hand connects lego "read", i. Marcus Tullius Cicero ( Classical Latin ˈkikeroː usually ˈsɪsərəʊ in English January 3, 106 BC &ndash December 7, 43 BC was a Roman e. re (again) + lego in the sense of "choose", "go over again" or "consider carefully". ^[5]

Definitions of religion

Further information: Sociology of Religion, Transcendence, Theism, Sacred (comparative religion), Religion and mythology, and Myth and ritual

Religion has been defined in a wide variety of ways. The sociology of religion is primarily the study of the practices Social structures historical backgrounds development, universal themes and Theism, in its most inclusive usage is the belief in at least one Deity. SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. Religion and mythology differ but have overlapping aspects Both terms refer to systems of concepts that are of high importance to a certain community making statements concerning the In traditional societies myth and ritual are two central components of religious practice Most definitions attempt to find a balance somewhere between overly sharp definition and meaningless generalities. Some sources have tried to use formalistic, doctrinal definitions while others have emphasized experiential, emotive, intuitive, valuational and ethical factors. Definitions mostly include:

• a notion of the transcendent or numinous, often, but not always, in the form of theism
• a cultural or behavioural aspect of ritual, liturgy and organized worship, often involving a priesthood, and societal norms of morality (ethos) and virtue (arete)
• a set of myths or sacred truths held in reverence or believed by adherents

Sociologists and anthropologists tend to see religion as an abstract set of ideas, values, or experiences developed as part of a cultural matrix. In Religion, transcendence is a condition or state of being that surpasses physical existence and in one form is also independent of it Numinous (ˈnjuːmɨnəs is a term coined by German theologian Rudolf Otto to describe that which is wholly other. Theism, in its most inclusive usage is the belief in at least one Deity. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. Morality (from the Latin la moralitas "manner character proper behavior" has three principal meanings Ethos (ˈiːθɒs (grc ἦθος ἔθος plurals ethe (ἤθη ethea (ἤθεα is a Greek word originally meaning "accustomed Virtue ( Latin virtus; Greek) is moral Excellence. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual Arete (Greek; ˈærəteɪ in English in its basic sense means " Goodness " " Excellence " or " Virtue " of See also Mythology Myth is derived from the Greek word μύθος mythos, which simply means 'story' The meaning of the word truth extends from Honesty, Good faith, and Sincerity in general to agreement with Fact or Reality Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a Proposition or Premise to be true For example, in Lindbeck's Nature of Doctrine, religion does not refer to belief in "God" or a transcendent Absolute. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Instead, Lindbeck defines religion as, "a kind of cultural and/or linguistic framework or medium that shapes the entirety of life and thought… it is similar to an idiom that makes possible the description of realities, the formulation of beliefs, and the experiencing of inner attitudes, feelings, and sentiments. ”^[6] According to this definition, religion refers to one's primary worldview and how this dictates one's thoughts and actions.

Other religious scholars have put forward a definition of religion that avoids the reductionism of the various sociological and psychological disciplines that reduce religion to its component factors. Religion may be defined as the presence of a belief in the sacred or the holy. For example Rudolf Otto's "The Idea of the Holy," formulated in 1917, defines the essence of religious awareness as awe, a unique blend of fear and fascination before the divine. Rudolf Otto ( September 25 1869 – 6 March 1937) was an eminent German Lutheran theologian and Scholar Friedrich Schleiermacher in the late 18th century defined religion as a "feeling of absolute dependence. Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (ˈʃlaɪɐmaxɐ ( November 21, 1768 &ndash February 12, 1834) was a German theologian "

The Encyclopedia of Religion defines religion this way:^[7]

In summary, it may be said that almost every known culture involves the religious in the above sense of a depth dimension in cultural experiences at all levels — a push, whether ill-defined or conscious, toward some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life. When more or less distinct patterns of behaviour are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience — varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture. "

Other encyclopedic definitions include: "A general term used. . . to designate all concepts concerning the belief in god(s) and goddess(es) as well as other spiritual beings or transcendental ultimate concerns"^[8] and "human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, spiritual, or divine. "^[9]

Religion and superstition

In keeping with the Latin etymology of the word, religious believers have often seen other religions as superstition. Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief Likewise, some atheists, agnostics, deists, and skeptics regard religious belief as superstition.

Religious practices are most likely to be labeled "superstitious" by outsiders when they include belief in extraordinary events (miracles), an afterlife, supernatural interventions, apparitions or the efficacy of prayer, charms, incantations, the meaningfulness of omens, and prognostications.

Greek and Roman pagans, who modeled their relations with the gods on political and social terms scorned the man who constantly trembled with fear at the thought of the gods, as a slave feared a cruel and capricious master. "Such fear of the gods (deisidaimonia) was what the Romans meant by 'superstition' (Veyne 1987, p 211). Early Christianity was outlawed as a superstitio Iudaica, a "Jewish superstition", by Domitianin the 80s AD, and by AD 425, Theodosius II outlawed pagan traditions as superstitious. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death Flavius Theodosius ( 10 April, 401 – July 28, 450) called the Calligrapher, known in English as Theodosius II, was Ancient Roman religion encompasses the collection of Beliefs and Rituals practised in Ancient Rome in the form of Cult practices

The Roman Catholic Church considers superstition to be sinful in the sense that it denotes a lack of trust in the divine providence of God and, as such, is a violation of the first of the Ten Commandments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states superstition "in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion" (para. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the twenty-two #2110).

The Catechism clearly dispels commonly held preconceptions or misunderstandings about Catholic doctrine relating to superstitious practices:

Superstition is a deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e. g. , when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand is to fall into superstition. Cf. Matthew 23:16-22 (para. #2111)

History

Detail from Religion, Charles Sprague Pearce (1896). Charles Sprague Pearce ( October 13, 1851 - May 18, 1914) American artist was born at Boston Massachusetts. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D. The oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings the Thomas Jefferson Building was built between 1890 and 1897 C.

Development of religion

Main articles: Origin of religion, Development of religion, Anthropology of religion, and Prehistoric religion

There are a number of models regarding the ways in which religions come into being and develop. The historical origins of religion are to be distinguished from their psychological or social origins The anthropology of religion involves the study of religious institutions in relation to other social institutions and the comparison of religious beliefs and practices across Cultures Prehistoric religion is a general term for the religious beliefs and practices of prehistoric peoples Broadly speaking, these models fall into three categories:

• Models which see religions as social constructions;
• Models which see religions as progressing toward higher, objective truth;
• Models which see a particular religion as absolutely true.

In pre-modern (pre-urban) societies, religion is one defining factor of ethnicity, along with language, regional customs, national costume, etc. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them Customs is an Authority or agency in a Country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods As Xenophanes famously comments:

Men make gods in their own image; those of the Ethiopians are black and snub-nosed, those of the Thracians have blue eyes and red hair. Xenophanes of Colophon ( Greek ( 570 – 480 BC was a Greek Philosopher, Poet, and social and religious Critic. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page "Thracians" also refers to modern inhabitants of Thrace, regardless of ethnicity

Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized civil religions with an organized clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are defined by their ethnicity, and conversion essentially equates to cultural assimilation to the people in question. The intended meaning of the term civil religion often varies according to whether one is a sociologist of religion or a professional political commentator Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. The notion of gentiles ("nations") in Judaism reflect this state of affairs, the implicit assumption that each nation will have its own religion. he-Latn '''Goy''' (גוי regular plural he-Latn ''goyim'' he גויים is a transliterated Hebrew word which translates as " Nation " or " people " Historical examples include Germanic polytheism, Celtic polytheism, Slavic polytheism and pre-Hellenistic Greek religion. Germanic paganism refers to the religious beliefs of the Germanic peoples preceding Christianization. Celtic polytheism refers to the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Celts, prior to the Christianization of the Celtic-speaking lands Slavic mythology is the Mythological aspect of the Religion that was practised by the ancient Slavs. Greek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices.

The "Axial Age"

Main article: Axial Age

Karl Jaspers, in his Vom Ursprung und Ziel der Geschichte (The Origin and Goal of History), identified a number of key Axial Age thinkers as having had a profound influence on future philosophy and religion, and identified characteristics common to each area from which those thinkers emerged. German Philosopher Karl Jaspers coined the term the axial age ( Achsenzeit in the German language original to describe the period Karl Theodor Jaspers ( February 23, 1883 – February 26, 1969) was a German Psychiatrist and Philosopher who Jaspers saw in these developments in religion and philosophy a striking parallel without any obvious direct transmission of ideas from one region to the other, having found very little recorded proof of extensive inter-communication between the ancient Near East, Greece, India and China. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language The Ancient Near East refers to early Civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia (modern Iraq The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent succeeds the Late Harappan (Cemetery H culture also known as the last phase of the Indus Valley Tradition The Iron Age in Ancient China begins in ca 600 BC and is taken to last until the beginning of Imperial China and the rise of the Qin Dynasty Jaspers held up this age as unique, and one which to compare the rest of the history of human thought to. The history of ideas is a field of Research in History that deals with the expression preservation and change of human Ideas over time Jaspers' approach to the culture of the middle of the first millennium BCE has been adopted by other scholars and academics, and has become a point of discussion in the history of religion. The History of religions ( Religiongeschichteschule, school of religious history was a 19th century German school of thought which was the first to systematically

In its later part, the "Axial Age" culminated in the development of monism and monotheism, notably of Platonic realism and Neoplatonism in Hellenistic philosophy, the notion of atman in Vedanta Hindu philosophy, and the notion of Tao in Taoism. Monism is the metaphysical and Theological view that all is one that all reality is subsumed under the most fundamental category of being or existence For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Platonic realism is a philosophical term usually used to refer to the idea of realism regarding the existence of universals after the Greek Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by Hellenistic philosophy is the period of Western philosophy that was developed in the Hellenistic civilization following Aristotle and ending with Neoplatonism Vedanta ( Devanagari: sa वेदान्त Vedānta) is a spiritual tradition explained in the Upanishads that is concerned with the Self-realisation Hindu philosophy is divided into six Sanskrit ''{{IAST|āstika}}'') schools of thought or darshanas (literally "views" Sankhya Tao ( 道, Pinyin Dào) is a metaphysical concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions

Middle Ages

The present-day world religions established themselves throughout Eurasia during the Middle Ages by: Christianization of the Western world; Buddhist missions to East Asia; the decline of Buddhism and rise of Hinduism in the Indian subcontinent; and the spread of Islam throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa and parts of Europe and India. The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. For the superstate in George Orwell 's novel see Nations of Nineteen Eighty-Four. The historical phenomenon of Christianization (or Christianisation &mdash see spelling differences) the conversion of individuals to Christianity The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings The Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to China started in the 1st century CE with a semi-legendary or quasi-historical account of an embassy sent to the West by the The Decline of Buddhism in India, in the land of its birth occurred for a variety of reasons and happened even as it continued to flourish beyond the frontiers of India Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. The Spread of Islam began shortly after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan

During the Middle Ages, Muslims were in conflict with Zoroastrians during the Islamic conquest of Persia; Christians were in conflict with Muslims during the Byzantine-Arab Wars, Crusades, Reconquista and Ottoman wars in Europe; Christians were in conflict with Jews during the Crusades, Reconquista and Inquisition; Shamans were in conflict with Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims and Christians during the Mongol invasions; and Muslims were in conflict with Hindus and Sikhs during Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual extirpation of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older European PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The term Inquisition can refer to any one of several institutions charged with trying and convicting heretics within the Roman Catholic Church and Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions The Mongol Empire emerged in the course of the 13th century by a series of conquests and invasions throughout Central and Western Asia, reaching Eastern Europe A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from the 11th to the 17th centuries though earlier Muslim conquests made limited inroads into the region beginning

Many medieval religious movements emphasized mysticism, such as the Cathars and related movements in the West, the Bhakti movement in India and Sufism in Islam. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Monotheism reached definite forms in Christian Christology and in Islamic Tawhid. For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with Hindu monotheist notions of Brahman likewise reached their classical form with the teaching of Adi Shankara. Overview In the very first book of the Rig Veda, 116446 states ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadantya Truth is One but sages call upon God Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below

Modern period

European colonisation during the 15th to 19th centuries resulted in the spread of Christianity to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, Australia and the Philippines. Colonisation (also known as Colonization) occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The 18th century saw the beginning of secularisation in Europe, rising to notability in the wake of the French Revolution. Secularization or secularisation generally refers to the process of transformation by which a Society migrates from close identification with religious institutions The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an

In the 20th century, the regimes of Communist Eastern Europe and Communist China were explicitly anti-religious. During the Cold War, the term Communist Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it either controlled or that were Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES A great variety of new religious movements originated in the 20th century, many proposing syncretism of elements of established religions. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Adherence to such new movements is limited, however, remaining below 2% worldwide in the 2000s. Adherents of the classical world religions account for more than 75% of the world's population, while adherence to indigenous tribal religions has fallen to 4%. Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized Civil religions with an organized Clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are As of 2005, an estimated 14% of the world's population identifies as nonreligious. Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion

Classification

Main article: Major religious groups

Further information: Comparative religion and Sociological classifications of religious movements

Religious traditions fall into super-groups in comparative religion, arranged by historical origin and mutual influence. The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. Comparative religion is a field of Religious study that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes myths rituals and concepts among the world's religions Sociologists have proposed various classifications' of religious movements. Comparative religion is a field of Religious study that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes myths rituals and concepts among the world's religions Abrahamic religions originate in the Middle East, Indian religions in India and Far Eastern religions in East Asia. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Indian religions, also called Dharmic religions, are the related religious traditions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, namely Hinduism, India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country In the study of Comparative religion, the East Asian religions (also known as Far Eastern religions, Chinese religions, or Taoic religions) form Another group with supra-regional influence are African diasporic religions, which have their origins in Central and West Africa. Afro-American religions (also African diasporic religions) are a number of related Religions that developed in the Americas among African Central Africa is a core Region of the African Continent often considered to include Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent.

Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc In summary, religious adherence of the world's population is as follows: "Abrahamic": 53. 5%, "Indian": 19. Indian religions, also called Dharmic religions, are the related religious traditions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, namely Hinduism, 7%, irreligious: 14. Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion 3%, "Far Eastern": 6. In the study of Comparative religion, the East Asian religions (also known as Far Eastern religions, Chinese religions, or Taoic religions) form 5%, tribal religions: 4. Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized Civil religions with an organized Clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are 0%, new religious movements: 2. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part 0%.

• Abrahamic religions are by far the largest group, and these consist primarily of Christianity, Islam and Judaism (sometimes Bahá'í is also included). Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind They are named for the patriarch Abraham, and are unified by their strict monotheism. Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Today, around 3. 4 billion people are followers of Abrahamic religions and are spread widely around the world apart from the regions around South-East Asia. Several Abrahamic organizations are vigorous proselytizers. Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion and particularly another religion
• Indian religions originated in Greater India and tend to share a number of key concepts, such as dharma and karma. Indian religions, also called Dharmic religions, are the related religious traditions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, namely Hinduism, The term Greater India has several related meanings In medieval literature and geography: the term "Greater India" ( P The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" They are of the most influence across the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, South East Asia, as well as isolated parts of Russia. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The main Indian religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Indian religions mutually influenced each other. Sikhism was also influenced by the Abrahamic tradition of Sufism. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف
• Far Eastern religions consist of several East Asian religions which make use of the concept of Tao (in Chinese) or Do (in Japanese or Korean). In the study of Comparative religion, the East Asian religions (also known as Far Eastern religions, Chinese religions, or Taoic religions) form They include Taoism, Shinto, Chondogyo, Caodaism, and Yiguandao. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Cheondoism or Chondoism (in Korean Hangul 천도교 Cheondogyo, " Religion of the Heavenly Way" is a 20th-century Cao Đài ( Vietnamese:) is a relatively new syncretist, Monotheistic Religion, officially established in Tây Ninh, I-Kuan Tao, also Yi Guan Dao, or usually initialized as IKT (一貫道 translated as the "The pervasive Truth" is a New religious movement that Far Eastern Buddhism (in which the group overlaps with the "Indian" group) and Confucianism (which by some categorizations is not a religion) are also included. See also Chinese Buddhism, Korean Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism East Asian Buddhism is a collective term for Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B
• Iranic religions originated in Iran and include Zoroastrianism, Yazdanism and historical traditions of Gnosticism (Mandaeanism, Manichaeism). Several important religions and religious movements originated in Greater Iran, that is amongst speakers of various Iranian languages and hence with an Iranian cultural For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Yazdânism is a term introduced by Mehrdad Izady to denote a group of native Kurdish monotheistic religions Alevism Yarsan and Yazidism Izady Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Mandaeism or Mandaeanism ( Mandaic: Mandaiuta, مندائية Mandā'iyya) is a Monotheistic Religion with a strongly Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating It has significant overlaps with Abrahamic traditions, e. g. in Sufism and in recent movements such as Bábísm and Bahá'í. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Bábism () is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852 then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire (especially Cyprus) as The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind
• African diasporic religions practiced in the Americas, imported as a result of the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 18th centuries, building of traditional religions of Central and West Africa. Afro-American religions (also African diasporic religions) are a number of related Religions that developed in the Americas among African The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America The Atlantic Slave trade, also known as the transatlantic slave trade, was the trade of African people supplied to the Colonies of the New World See also Religion in Africa African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African Central Africa is a core Region of the African Continent often considered to include Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent.
• Indigenous tribal religions, formerly found on every continent, now marginalized by the major organized faiths, but persisting as undercurrents of folk religion. Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized Civil religions with an organized Clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are Folk religion consists of Beliefs Superstitions and Rituals transmitted from generation to generation in a specific Culture. Includes African traditional religions, Asian Shamanism, Native American religions, Austronesian and Australian Aboriginal traditions and arguably Chinese folk religion (overlaps with Far Eastern religions). See also Religion in Africa African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African Like other religions Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives The Austronesian people or Austronesian-speaking people, are a population group present in Oceania and Southeast Asia who speak or had ancestors who spoke Australian Aboriginal myths (also known as Dreamtime stories Songlines or Aboriginal Oral literature) are the stories traditionally performed Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. Under more traditional listings, this has been referred to as "Paganism" along with historical polytheism. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals
• New religious movements, a heterogeneous group of religious faiths emerging since the 19th century, often syncretizing, re-interpreting or reviving aspects of older traditions (Bahá'í, Hindu revivalism, Ayyavazhi, Pentecostalism, polytheistic reconstructionism), some inspired by science-fiction (UFO religions). A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements collectively termed as Hindu reform movements. Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Polytheistic reconstructionism, or simply Reconstructionism, is an approach to Neopaganism first emerging in the late 1960s to early 1970s and gatherig momentum A UFO religion or UFO cult is an informal term used to describe a faith community whose belief in the existence of Extraterrestrials and/or UFOs is a central See List of new religious movements, list of groups referred to as cults. This list of new religious movements (NRMs lists groups that either identify themselves as religious ethical or spiritual organizations or are generally seen as such by religious scholars

Demographic distribution of the major super-groupings mentioned is shown in the table below:

Kumbh Mela, a Hindu religious festival is the Largest religious gathering on earth. Geoeye.com

Groups estimated to exceed 500,000 adherents which are not listed under any of the categories above are the following (adherents.com[2]):

• Juche (North Korea): 19 million
• Spiritism (not an organized religion): 15 million
• Neopaganism: 1 million
• Unitarian-Universalism: 800,000
• Rastafarianism: 600,000
• Scientology: 500,000

Religious belief

Main article: Religious belief

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are one, a painting in the litang style portraying three men laughing by a river stream, 12th century, Song Dynasty. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Ethnic religions may include officially sanctioned and organized Civil religions with an organized Clergy, but they are characterized in that adherents generally are India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country See also Religion in Africa African traditional religions, also referred to as African indigenous religions or African Afro-American religions (also African diasporic religions) are a number of related Religions that developed in the Americas among African The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America Kumbh Mela ( Devanagari: कुम्भ मेला is a mass Hindu Pilgrimage. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical This is a list of the largest historic gatherings of people for a single event Adherentscom is a website that aims to collect and present information about Religion including "churches denominations religious bodies Faith groups The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, Spiritism is a Christian philosophical Doctrine, established in France in the mid-nineteenth century Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American Science fiction author L Religious belief refers to a mental state in which trust ( Faith) is placed in a Creed related to the Supernatural, Sacred, or divine Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Religious belief usually relates to the existence, nature and worship of a deity or deities and divine involvement in the universe and human life. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy Alternately, it may also relate to values and practices transmitted by a spiritual leader. Unlike other belief systems, which may be passed on orally, religious belief tends to be codified in literate societies (religion in non-literate societies is still largely passed on orally^[10]). In Law, codification is the process of collecting and restating the law of a Jurisdiction in certain areas usually by subject forming a Legal code. In some religions, like the Abrahamic religions, it is held that most of the core beliefs have been divinely revealed. Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication

Related forms of thought

Religion and science

Main article: Relationship between religion and science

Religious knowledge, according to religious practitioners, may be gained from religious leaders, sacred texts (scriptures), and/or personal revelation. The relationship between religion and science has long held interest for scholars particularly in the Philosophy of science, the Philosophy of religion, and Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication Some religions view such knowledge as unlimited in scope and suitable to answer any question; others see religious knowledge as playing a more restricted role, often as a complement to knowledge gained through physical observation. Some religious people maintain that religious knowledge obtained in this way is absolute and infallible (religious cosmology). See Cosmology (disambiguation. Religious cosmologies are ways of explaining the history and evolution of the Universe based

Early science such as geometry and astronomy was connected to the divine for most medieval scholars. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Geometry ( Greek γεωμετρία; geo = earth metria = measure is a part of Mathematics concerned with questions of size shape and relative position Astrology and astronomy are historically one and the same discipline ( Latin: astrologia) and were only gradually recognized as separate in western In the Middle Ages, Science progressed dramatically from the time of antiquity in areas as diverse as Astronomy, Medicine, and Mathematics The compass in this 13th century manuscript is a symbol of God's act of creation. A compass or pair of compasses is a Technical drawing instrument that can be used for inscribing Circles or arcs They can also be used as

The scientific method gains knowledge by testing hypotheses to develop theories through elucidation of facts or evaluation by experiments and thus only answers cosmological questions about the physical universe. Scientific method refers to bodies of Techniques for investigating phenomena The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of Knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion. In scientific inquiry an experiment ( Latin: Ex- periri, "to try out" is a method of investigating particular types of research questions or Physical cosmology, as a branch of Astronomy, is the study of the large-scale structure of the Universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its In Religion and Esotericism, the term " physical universe " or " material universe " is used to distinguish the physical It develops theories of the world which best fit physically observed evidence. The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of Knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion. All scientific knowledge is subject to later refinement in the face of additional evidence. Scientific theories that have an overwhelming preponderance of favorable evidence are often treated as facts (such as the theories of gravity or evolution).

Many scientists held strong religious beliefs (see List of Christian thinkers in science) and worked to harmonize science and religion. This list concerns the issue of the Relationship between religion and science, but is specific to Christian history Isaac Newton, for example, believed that gravity caused the planets to revolve about the Sun, and credited God with the design. Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (ˈnjuːtən 4 January 1643 31 March 1727) Biography Early years See also Isaac Newton's early life and achievements Gravitation is a natural Phenomenon by which objects with Mass attract one another A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. In the concluding General Scholium to the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, he wrote: "This most beautiful System of the Sun, Planets and Comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being. The Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica ( Latin: "mathematical principles of natural philosophy" often Principia " Nevertheless, conflict arose between religious organizations and individuals who propagated scientific theories which were deemed unacceptable by the organizations. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, has in the past^[11] reserved to itself the right to decide which scientific theories were acceptable and which were unacceptable. In the 17th century, Galileo was tried and forced to recant the heliocentric theory based on the medieval church's stance that the Greek Hellenistic system of astronomy was the correct one. Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564 &ndash 8 January 1642 was a Tuscan ( Italian) Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, and Philosopher In Astronomy, heliocentrism is the theory that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System. Greek astronomy is the Astronomy of those who wrote in the Greek language in Classical antiquity. ^[12][13]

Many theories exist as to why religions sometimes seem to conflict with scientific knowledge. In the case of Christianity, a relevant factor may be that it was among Christians that science in the modern sense was developed. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Unlike other religious groups, as early as the 17th century the Christian churches had to deal directly with this new way to investigate nature and seek truth.

The perceived conflict between science and Christianity may also be partially explained by a literal interpretation of the Bible adhered to by many Christians, both currently and historically. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Catholic Church has always held with Augustine of Hippo who explicitly opposed a literal interpretation of the Bible whenever the Bible conflicted with Science. Biblical literalism (also called Biblicism) is a primarily pejorative term referring to the adherence to an explicit and literal sense of the Bible. The literal way to read the sacred texts became especially prevalent after the rise of the Protestant reformation, with its emphasis on the Bible as the only authoritative source concerning the ultimate reality. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time ^[14] This view is often shunned by both religious leaders (who regard literally believing it as petty and look for greater meaning instead) and scientists who regard it as an impossibility.

Some Christians have disagreed or are still disagreeing with scientists in areas such as the validity of Keplerian astronomy, the theory of evolution, the method of creation of the universe and the Earth, and the origins of life. In Astronomy, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are three mathematical laws that describe the motion of Planets in the Solar System. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy Life is a state that distinguishes Organisms from non-living objects such as non-life and dead organisms being manifested by growth through Metabolism On the other hand, scholars such as Stanley Jaki have suggested that Christianity and its particular worldview was a crucial factor for the emergence of modern science. The Reverend Father Professor Stanley L Jaki OSB (b Győr, Hungary August 17 1924) is a Benedictine priest and Distinguished A comprehensive world view (or worldview) is a term Calqued from the German word Weltanschauung ( Welt is the German In fact, most of today's historians are moving away from the view of the relationship between Christianity and science as one of "conflict" - a perspective commonly called the conflict thesis. Conflict thesis is the theoretical premise of an intrinsic conflict between Science and Religion. ^[15][16] Gary Ferngren in his historical volume about Science & Religion states:

While some historians had always regarded the [conflict] thesis as oversimplifying and distorting a complex relationship, in the late twentieth century it underwent a more systematic reevaluation. The result is the growing recognition among historians of science that the relationship of religion and science has been much more positive than is sometimes thought. Although popular images of controversy continue to exemplify the supposed hostility of Christianity to new scientific theories, studies have shown that Christianity has often nurtured and encouraged scientific endeavour, while at other times the two have co-existed without either tension or attempts at harmonization. If Galileo and the Scopes trial come to mind as examples of conflict, they were the exceptions rather than the rule. ^[17]

In the Bahá'í Faith, the harmony of science and religion is a central tenet. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind A fundamental principle of the Bahá'í Faith is the harmony of religion and science. ^[18] The principle states that that truth is one, and therefore true science and true religion must be in harmony, thus rejecting the view that science and religion are in conflict. ^[18] `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, asserted that science and religion cannot be opposed because they are aspects of the same truth; he also affirmed that reasoning powers are required to understand the truths of religion and that religious teachings which are at variance with science should not be accepted; he explained that religion has to be reasonable since God endowed humankind with reason so that they can discover truth. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ( ar عبد البهاء &lrm (23 May 1844 - 28 November 1921 born `Abbás Effendí, was the son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the ^[19] Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, described science and religion as "the two most potent forces in human life. Shoghí Effendí Rabbání ( March 1, 1897 - November 4, 1957) better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the appointed head of the "^[20]

Proponents of Hinduism claim that Hinduism is not afraid of scientific explorations, nor of the technological progress of mankind. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. According to them, there is a comprehensive scope and opportunity for Hinduism to mold itself according to the demands and aspirations of the modern world; it has the ability to align itself with both science and spiritualism. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Spiritualism is a Religion founded in part on the writings of the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772 This religion uses some modern examples to explain its ancient theories and reinforce its own beliefs. For example, some Hindu thinkers have used the terminology of quantum physics to explain some basic concepts of Hinduism such as Maya or the illusory and impermanent nature of our existence. Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons Maya ( Sanskrit sa माया māyā) in Indian religions, has multiple meanings

The philosophical approach known as pragmatism, as propounded by the American philosopher William James, has been used to reconcile scientific with religious knowledge. Pragmatism generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Peirce, who first stated the Pragmatic maxim. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language For other people named William James see William James (disambiguation William James (January 11 1842 – August 26 1910 was a pioneering Pragmatism, simplistically, holds that the truth of a set of beliefs can be indicated by its usefulness in helping people cope with a particular context of life. Thus, the fact that scientific beliefs are useful in predicting observations in the physical world can indicate a certain truth for scientific theories; the fact that religious beliefs can be useful in helping people cope with difficult emotions or moral decisions can indicate a certain truth for those beliefs. (For a similar postmodern view, see grand narrative). In Critical theory, and particularly Postmodernism, a metanarrative (from Meta - Narrative, sometimes also known as a master- or

Religion, metaphysics, and cosmology

Religion and philosophy meet in several areas, notably in the study of metaphysics and cosmology. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science Cosmology (from Greek grc κοσμολογία - grc κόσμος kosmos, "universe" and grc -λογία -logia) is study In particular, a distinct set of religious beliefs will often entail a specific metaphysics and cosmology. That is, a religion will generally have answers to metaphysical and cosmological questions about the nature of being, of the universe, humanity, and the divine.

Mysticism and esotericism

Man meditating

Mysticism focuses on methods other than logic, but (in the case of esoteric mysticism) not necessarily excluding it, for gaining enlightenment. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. Rather, meditative and contemplative practices such as Vipassanā and yoga, physical disciplines such as stringent fasting and whirling (in the case of the Sufi dervishes), or the use of psychoactive drugs such as LSD, lead to altered states of consciousness that logic can never hope to grasp. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness The word Contemplation comes from the Latin root templum (from Greek temnein to cut or divide and means to separate something from its environment and to enclose it in a sector Vipassanā ( Pāli) or vipaśyanā (विपश्यना Sanskrit) means Insight into the impermanent nature or Anicca, Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all Food, Drink, or both for a period of time Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Darvesh or Dervish ( Arabic and Persian: درویش) as it is known in European languages refers to members of Sufi A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a Chemical substance that acts primarily upon the Central nervous system where it alters Brain However, regarding the latter topic, mysticism prevalent in the 'great' religions (monotheisms, henotheisms, which are perhaps relatively recent, and which the word 'mysticism' is more recent than,) includes systems of discipline that forbid drugs that damage the body, including the nervous system.

Mysticism (to initiate) is the pursuit of communion with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or Deity through direct, personal experience (intuition or insight) rather than rational thought. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Reality, in everyday usage means "the state of things as they actually exist" Divinity and divine (sometimes 'the Divinity' or 'the Divine' are broadly applied but loosely defined terms used variously within different faiths and belief systems — Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Mystics speak of the existence of realities behind external perception or intellectual apprehension that are central to being and directly accessible through personal experience. They say that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge.

Esotericism is often spiritual (thus religious) but can be non-religious/-spiritual, and it uses intellectual understanding and reasoning, intuition and inspiration (higher noetic and spiritual reasoning,) but not necessarily faith (except often as a virtue,) and it is philosophical in its emphasis on techniques of psycho-spiritual transformation (esoteric cosmology). Esoteric cosmology is Cosmology that is an intrinsic part of an esoteric or occult system of thought Esotericism refers to "hidden" knowledge available only to the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. Exotericism is the opposite of Esotericism in any application All religions are probably somewhat exoteric, but most ones of ancient civilizations such as Yoga of India, and the mystery religions of ancient Egypt, Israel (Kabbalah,) and Greece are examples of ones that are also esoteric. Exotericism is the opposite of Esotericism in any application Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Mystery Religions, Sacred Mysteries or simply Mysteries, were "religious cults of the Graeco-Roman Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca

Spirituality

Main article: Spirituality

Members of an organized religion may not see any significant difference between religion and spirituality. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Or they may see a distinction between the mundane, earthly aspects of their religion and its spiritual dimension.

Some individuals draw a strong distinction between religion and spirituality. They may see spirituality as a belief in ideas of religious significance (such as God, the Soul, or Heaven), but not feel bound to the bureaucratic structure and creeds of a particular organized religion. They choose the term spirituality rather than religion to describe their form of belief, perhaps reflecting a disillusionment with organized religion (see Major religious groups), and a movement towards a more "modern" — more tolerant, and more intuitive — form of religion. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. These individuals may reject organized religion because of historical acts by religious organizations, such as Christian Crusades and Islamic Jihad, the marginalisation and persecution of various minorities or the Spanish Inquisition. The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. The Spanish Inquisition started and was established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile to maintain The basic precept of the ancient spiritual tradition of India, the Vedas, is the inner reality of existence, which is essentially a spiritual approach to being. A Precept (from the Latin præcipere, to teach is a commandment instruction or order intended as an authoritative rule of action There are currents of Idealism in classical Hindu philosophy. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Disambiguation For the Wigwam album see Being (album, for spiritual or religious beingness, see Ego (spirituality

Myth

Main article: Mythology

The word myth has several meanings. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore"

1. A traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon;
2. A person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence; or
3. A metaphor for the spiritual potentiality in the human being. ^[21]

Ancient polytheistic religions, such as those of Greece, Rome, and Scandinavia, are usually categorized under the heading of mythology. Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Religions of pre-industrial peoples, or cultures in development, are similarly called "myths" in the anthropology of religion. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic The anthropology of religion involves the study of religious institutions in relation to other social institutions and the comparison of religious beliefs and practices across Cultures The term "myth" can be used pejoratively by both religious and non-religious people. By defining another person's religious stories and beliefs as mythology, one implies that they are less real or true than one's own religious stories and beliefs. Joseph Campbell remarked, "Mythology is often thought of as other people's religions, and religion can be defined as mis-interpreted mythology. Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer "^[22]

In sociology, however, the term myth has a non-pejorative meaning. There, myth is defined as a story that is important for the group whether or not it is objectively or provably true. Examples include the death and resurrection of Jesus, which, to Christians, explains the means by which they are freed from sin and is also ostensibly a historical event. This article concerns itself with Jesus Christ Christian, Islamic and other religious interpretations of resurrection in general Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) But from a mythological outlook, whether or not the event actually occurred is unimportant. Instead, the symbolism of the death of an old "life" and the start of a new "life" is what is most significant.

Urarina shaman, 1988

Cosmology

Main articles: Religious cosmology, Philosophy, Metaphysics, Esotericism, and Mysticism

Main articles: Spirituality, Mythology, and Philosophy of religion

Humans have many different methods which attempt to answer fundamental questions about the nature of the universe and our place in it (cosmology). The Urarina are an Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon Basin ( Loreto) who inhabit the Chambira, Urituyacu and Corrientes Rivers See Cosmology (disambiguation. Religious cosmologies are ways of explaining the history and evolution of the Universe based Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Philosophy of religion is a branch of Philosophy that is concerned with the philosophical study of religion including arguments over the nature and existence of God religious Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy Cosmology (from Greek grc κοσμολογία - grc κόσμος kosmos, "universe" and grc -λογία -logia) is study Religion is only one of the methods for trying to answer one or more of these questions. Other methods include science, philosophy, metaphysics, astrology, esotericism, mysticism, and forms of shamanism, such as the sacred consumption of ayahuasca among Peruvian Amazonia's Urarina. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity This entry focuses on the Ayahuasca brew for information on the vine of the same name see Banisteriopsis caapi Ayahuasca Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Amazon Rainforest (Brazilian Portuguese: Floresta Amazônica or Amazônia; Spanish: Selva Amazónica or Amazonía The Urarina are an Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon Basin ( Loreto) who inhabit the Chambira, Urituyacu and Corrientes Rivers The Urarina have an elaborate animistic cosmological system,^[23] which informs their mythology, religious orientation and daily existence. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals Cosmology (from Greek grc κοσμολογία - grc κόσμος kosmos, "universe" and grc -λογία -logia) is study The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos In many cases, the distinction between these means are not clear. For example, Buddhism and Taoism have been regarded as schools of philosophies as well as religions.

Given the generalized discontents with modernity, consumerism, over-consumption, violence and anomie, many people in the so-called industrial or post-industrial West rely on a number of distinctive religious worldviews. Modernity is a term that refers to the Modern era. It is distinct from Modernism, and in different contexts refers to cultural and intellectual movements of the Consumerism is the equation of personal Happiness with the purchase of material possessions and consumption. Violence is the exertion of force so as to injure or abuse The word is used broadly to describe the destructive action of natural phenomena like Storms and Earthquakes Anomie, in contemporary English language is a sociological term that signifies in individuals an erosion diminution or absence of personal norms standards or values A comprehensive world view (or worldview) is a term Calqued from the German word Weltanschauung ( Welt is the German This in turn has given rise to increased religious pluralism, as well as to what are commonly known in the academic literature as new religious movements, which are gaining ground across the globe. Religious pluralism (rel Comparative religion) is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of different Religions and is used in a number of related A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part

Criticism

Main articles: Criticism of Religion, Antireligion, Secularism, Agnosticism, and Atheism

The Canadian scholar of comparative religion, Wilfred Cantwell Smith argued that religion, rather than being a universally valid category as is generally supposed, is a peculiarly European concept of comparatively recent origin. Criticism of religion involves Criticism of the concept of Religion, the validity of religion the practice of religion and the consequences of religion Antireligion is opposition to Religion. Antireligion is distinct from Atheism, although many antireligionists are also atheists Secularism is generally the assertion that governmental practices or institutions should exist separately from Religion or religious beliefs Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the Atheism Wilfred Cantwell Smith ( July 21[[ 916]] &ndash February 7[[ 000]] was a professor of Comparative religion

Most Western criticism of religious constructs and their social consequences has come, however, from atheists and agnostics. Atheism Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the The prosecution case first gathered force during the 18th century European Enlightenment, though pioneering critics such as Voltaire and his fellow Encyclopedists were for the most part deists. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century François-Marie Arouet ( 21 November 1694 30 May 1778) better known by the Pen name Voltaire, was a French The Encyclopédistes were a group of 18th century writers in France who compiled the Encyclopédie edited by Denis Diderot and Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation The French Revolution then baptized in blood what later became known as secularism, a set of priorities itself accorded hallowed status in the constitutions of the new French and the U. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an Secularism is generally the assertion that governmental practices or institutions should exist separately from Religion or religious beliefs S. republics - as well as in a swelling stream of nation states, revolutionary or post-colonial, which sought to emulate them. Marx famously declared religion to be the "opium of the people," a statement the implications of which were applied with an iron fist in social systems inspired by his writings, most notably in the Soviet Union and China and, most notoriously, in Cambodia. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Khmer Rouge from 1975 until 1979 when Cambodia was ruled by the government of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge party the official name of The possible implications of the rest of Marx's celebrated sentence - that religion is "the heart of a heartless world" - were left stubbornly unconsidered. Systematic criticism of the philosophical underpinnings of religion had paralleled the upsurge of scientific discourse within industrial society: T.H. Huxley had in 1869 coined the term "agnostic," a baton taken up with alacrity by such figures as Robert Ingersoll and, later, Bertrand Russell, who told the world Why I am not a Christian. Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS (4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895 was an English Biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy Colonel Robert Green Ingersoll ( August 11, 1833 &ndash July 21, 1899) was a Civil War veteran American political leader Bertrand Arthur William Russell 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970 was a British Philosopher, Historian Why I Am Not a Christian is an Essay by the British philosopher Bertrand Russell hailed by The Independent as

Many contemporary critics consider religion irrational by definition. ^[24][25][26] Some assert that dogmatic religions are in effect morally deficient, elevating to moral status ancient, arbitrary, and ill-informed rules - taboos on eating pork, for example, as well as dress codes and sexual practices^[27] - possibly designed for reasons of hygiene or even mere politics in a bygone era. Morality (from the Latin la moralitas "manner character proper behavior" has three principal meanings Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness Some consider religion, as such, as little more than a noble lie. In politics a noble lie is a Myth or untruth, often but not invariably of a religious nature knowingly told by an Elite to maintain social harmony particularly

In North America and Western Europe the social fallout of the 9/11 attacks has fertilized a flurry of secularist tracts with titles such as The God Delusion, The End of Faith and God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. The God Delusion is a 2006 bestselling non-fiction book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding The End of Faith (2004 is a book written by Sam Harris, concerning organized religion the clash between religious faith and rational thought and the problems of This criticism is mostly focused on the monotheistic Abrahamic traditions. Abrahamic mythology is a term used in Comparative mythology to refer to those aspects of religious belief and tradition common to the Abrahamic religions as distinct

See also

Main lists: List of basic religious topics and List of religious topics

• International Association for the Scientific Study of Religion
• Code of Hammurabi
• Evolutionary origins of religion
• List of religious populations
• Origin of religion (disambiguation)
• Religions by country

Notes

References

External links

• IACSR - International Association for the Scientific Study of Religion
• Studying Religion - Introduction to the methods and scholars of the academic study of religion
• Full-text search engine - Searchable sacred texts of the major World Religions
• Guide to World Religions
• A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right - Marx's original reference to religion as the opium of the people.
• Religious tolerance
• The Complexity of Religion and the Definition of “Religion” in International Law Harvard Human Rights Journal article from the President and Fellows of Harvard College(2003)
• Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents by Adherents. com (August 28, 2005) Retrieved December 22, 2005
• Philosophy and religion - an overview