Various Religions

A religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

Athiesm

Atheists are people who do not believe in a god or gods (or other immaterial beings), or who believe that these concepts are not meaningful.

Some atheists put it more firmly and believe that god or gods do not exist.

Bahá'í

The Bahá'í faith is one of the youngest of the world's major religions.

It was founded by Baha'u'llah in Iran in the 19th century.

Buddhism

Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life and do not worship gods or deities.

Candomblé

Candomblé is a religion based on African beliefs which is particularly popular in Brazil. It is also practised in other countries, and has as many as two million followers.

Christianity

Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago.

For ease of navigation, we include as Christian any group that sincerely regards itself as Christian, and whose beliefs are based on the teaching of Jesus.

Hinduism

Hinduism originated over 3000 years ago. Hinduism claims to have many founders, teachers and prophets who claim first hand experience of God.

When Hindus promote the idea of spirituality as a principle rather than a personality, they call this Brahman.

Islam

Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad. Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.

Muslims believe that there is only one God. The Arabic word for God is Allah.

Jainism

Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation.

The aim of Jain life is to achieve liberation of the soul.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement probably best known for their door-to-door evangelistic work.

There are about 6.5 million active Witnesses in 235 countries in the world (2005), including 1 million in the USA and 125,000 in the UK.

Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions and was founded over 3500 years ago in the Middle East.

Jews believe that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to set an example of holiness and ethical behaviour to the world.

Mormonism

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 19th Century America and has over 12 million members world-wide, including 190,000 in the UK.

The Church is centred on Christ, but has substantial differences in belief to the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.

Paganism

Paganism encompasses a diverse community with some groups concentrating on specific traditions, practices or elements such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods.

Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, Sacred Ecologists, Odinists and Heathens all make up parts of the Pagan community.

Rastafari

Rastafari is a young, Africa-centred religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia in 1930.

Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return to Africa members of the black community who are living in exile as the result of colonisation and the slave trade.

Santeria

Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha.

Santeria is a syncretic religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba.

Shinto

Shinto has no known founder or single sacred scripture.

Shinto is wholly devoted to life in this world and emphasises man's essential goodness.

Sikhism

Sikhism was founded in the Punjab by Guru Nanak in the 15th Century CE and is a monotheistic religion.

Sikhs think religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping with life's everyday problems.

Taoism

Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese customs and worldview.

Taoist ideas have become popular throughout the world through Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and various martial arts.

Unitarianism

Unitarianism is an open-minded and individualistic approach to religion that gives scope for a very wide range of beliefs and doubts.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.

It was founded by the prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago.