In the world, according to experts, there are about 28, 700 religious movements and cults. But no one has exact data - not even scientists. They simply cannot be, because the process of education and the extinction of various beliefs is permanent and is likely to continue as long as humanity is alive. The echoes of ancient cults that have come down to our days from civilizations that lived long before us are still alive and professed by pagans from different countries. And the youngest religion appeared about 150 years ago in Iran. She is called Bahai. Her adherents are gradually spreading around the world. There are followers of this religion in Russia. Although, of course, two religious movements prevail in Russia: Christianity and Islam.
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Christianity is one of the world's largest religious groups. According to sociologists in the world, by mid-2013, there were about 2.355 billion Christians of various faiths in the world.
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The largest world denomination among Christians is Catholics: more than 1.2 billion people. But, since Orthodoxy has historically dominated in Russia, no more than 400-600 thousand Catholics live throughout its territory.
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Orthodoxy is the most extensive Christian denomination in Russia. About 70% of Russians consider themselves Orthodox. But, according to recent estimates, only 18-20 percent obey the canons, and those who read the New Testament, not to mention the Bible, are several times less.
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The second largest religion practiced by the inhabitants of Russia is Islam. In recent years, according to opinion polls conducted by the Levada Center, among Russian citizens there has been a tendency to increase interest and appeal to this particular religion. Currently, about 20 million Russian citizens call themselves Muslims.
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Buddhism is one of the most ancient world religions. After Islam, it is the next most adherent among the Russians. 1.5 to 2 million people are members of Buddhist communities.
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Judaism is the third largest in the world, but not in Russia. In Russia, according to a recent survey, just over 1 million citizens identify themselves with Judaism.
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In addition to the listed - the most numerous religious movements - in the territory of the Russian Federation there are also a large number of citizens professing various branches from dominant religions.
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For example, among Christians, in addition to the Orthodox Russian Orthodox Church and Catholics who identify themselves with the Roman Catholic Church, there are also Lutherans, Protestants, Greek Catholics, Armenian Gregorians, Old Believers, Uniates, Baptists, and other adherents of the teachings of Christ.
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Among Muslims in Russia also live citizens who profess various Mohammedan movements. The most numerous of them are Sufis and Salafists, Shiites and Sunnis have a smaller share.
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Buddhists are also not united. The main Buddhist movements prevalent in Russia: Tibetan Buddhism and Zen.
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In recent years, in Russia, under the pressure of a return to traditional cultural values, ancient Russian pagan cults began to revive: worship of the somn of natural gods - Perun, Dazhdbog, Stribog, Yarila.
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Among the reviving religious pagan cults in Russia, it is also necessary to note such as: Zoroastrianism, voodoo, shamanism, and others.
