Religion is distinguished from other social phenomena by belief in the supernatural, the presence of a set of spiritual and moral rules of conduct, religious rites that unite a group of followers in various types of religious formations - church, sect, current, faith, community, etc. In the modern world, there are more than 5, 000 religions.
You will need
Encyclopedia "Peoples and religions of the world"
Instruction manual
1
Scientists associate the origin of the word “religion” with the two Latin verbs religare (unite, bind, reunite) and relegere (discuss again, reverence). In today's understanding, religio is piety, piety.
2
When classifying religions, several features are highlighted. For example, religion can be alive or dead. The religious beliefs of Egypt, ancient Greece or the civilization of the ancient Indians are only partially relevant, but are preserved in myths, legends, and legends. Some of them have undergone a transformation and have a small number of adherents. Therefore, scientists make a description of these religions in the encyclopedia and philosophical dictionaries.
3
In some parts of the world, tribal religions are preserved, for example, among the natives of Australia, Africa and Oceania. People belonging to a particular clan believe that they are protected and punished by a certain animal or natural phenomenon - a totem. Parts of animals, such as a turtle’s head, an eagle’s feather, etc., can also serve as a totem. Totemism stands out in a separate section of the classification of religions.
4
The next sign in the systematization of religious beliefs and movements is national-territorial. A vivid example is India, which has created a huge number of religions - Sikhism, Brahmanism, Jainism, Hinduism, etc. In China, it is Confucianism; Zoroastrianism in Iran.
5
The largest in number of followers in the classification list of religions are the world: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. They are distinguished by territorial prevalence. For example, Hinduism is considered a world religion, despite the fact that its origins are in India. Indians are settled around the world, are citizens of European countries, America and the countries of the East. Actually, like the Jews.
6
Each of the world religions has its own characteristics. Hinduism has a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses who are responsible for certain aspects in human life. Shiva - for the world order (he is also the creator, he is the destroyer), Ganesha - for posterity, trade, science and art, Lakshmi - for prosperity, etc. Hindu can not be in life, they can only be born.
7
Buddhism is on the third stage of the podium of the popularity of world religions. It originated in India about 600 years before the birth of Christ. Its founder is Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment and preached the belief that a person can rid himself of the suffering of this world through certain spiritual practices. Having completed his spiritual feat, the prince received the name Buddha, which means enlightened, attained nirvana. Nowadays, Buddhism has many varieties and is widely distributed in Asia, Southeast Asia and the Far East. Adherents of this religion are in Russia. Buddhism is practiced of good will, everyone can become a Buddhist.
8
Islam ranks second in popularity in the world. This religion arose about 600 years after the birth of the founder of Christianity, thanks to the prophet Muhammad, who preached faith in the one god Allah. Muslims honor the ancient sacred Christian scriptures and believe in the myth of the fall of Adam and Eve. Islamists believe that people fell into sin and error, and Muhammad was called by God to the earth in order to rectify the situation. With the development of society, Islam has also undergone significant changes, there are currents of Shiites, Sunnis, etc. and spread all over the world.
9
Christianity is the world’s monotheistic religion, the leader in the number of followers, based on the myth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who sacrificed himself for human sins. Christianity professes 2.4 billion people. This is the most common religion, but also the most heterogeneous and non-monolithic. Firstly, it is divided into Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. From Christianity, sects have stood out and continue to stand out: Baptism, Lutheranism, Seventh-day Adventists, Anglicanism, Pentecostalism, etc. Christianity gives believers hope for reunion with their God-father after death, not forgiveness of sins subject to certain moral and ethical rules - do not kill, do not steal, do not wish, etc.
note
Any religion helps a person in search of the meaning of life and his place in this world, since it includes not only a set of rules and norms of behavior, but also philosophical reflections on the structure and creation of the universe. Unless, of course, this is a fraudulent sect created to enrich its founders at the expense of followers. In such a sect, one can lose not only property, but also health.
Useful advice
Avoid sects that propagandize themselves loudly or, conversely, hide under the signs of public organizations.
