What religion do Russians have? List of different religions of the peoples of the earth
Today there are more than 5,000 religions in the world, but only three are the main ones - Christianity, Buddhism and Islam. All of them help a person find the meaning of life and understand why he comes into this world. They combine belief in higher spiritual powers and the continued existence of the soul after the death of the body. What religions there are will be discussed in this article.
What religions exist?
Those who are interested in which religion is the most widespread should answer that Christianity. Its followers worship Jesus Christ, the son of God, who sacrificed himself for the sins of all mankind. This religion is practiced by about 2.5 billion people around the world. There are its separate movements, such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy, which are somewhat different from each other, and numerous sects have broken away from Christianity. The second most common religion is Islam. The Prophet Muhammad preached faith in one God, Allah, 600 years before the birth of Christ, and today Muslims of all countries honor him as the greatest seer and the sacred teaching of the Koran, which Allah sent down to him.
Buddhism arose around the same time as Islam. This religion originated in India and today its main followers live in Asia and the countries of the Far East. Buddhism calls for entering nirvana and seeing life as it is. The practice of self-restraint and meditation is practiced. For those who are interested in which religion is the very first, it is worth answering that Hinduism, which originated in 1500 BC.
However, it is also not a unified system of religious teachings and includes such schools and cults as Krishnaism, Tantrism, Shaivism, etc. Hinduism has never had its own founder, a single system of values and a common doctrine. For those wondering what dogmas the oldest religion in the world professes, it is worth saying that special importance is attached to a personal creator or God, an impersonal Absolute, as well as pluralism and non-absoluteness.
Adventism
Adventism(from Latin adventus - “coming”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose in the USA in the 30s. XIX century The founder of A. - farmer William Miller - predicted the imminence of the end of the world and the onset of the thousand-year Kingdom of Christ (he believed that this would happen in the forties of the 19th century). At present, the belief in the imminent second coming remains the basis of A. His followers do not consider the soul to be immortal; in their opinion, she dies and is resurrected with her body. Adventists are confident that God will resurrect all people, but the righteous will receive eternal life, and sinners will be destroyed along with Satan after the Last Judgment. The largest movement of A. is the Seventh Day Adventists, formed in 1844 in New Hampshire (USA).
Anabaptism
Anabaptism(from the Greek anabaptizo - “I immerse again”, “I baptize again”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose in Switzerland in the 30s. XVI century Anabaptists advocated baptism at a conscious age (those baptized in infancy were baptized again), placed personal faith above the authority of Holy Scripture, demanded the complete separation of Church and state, and called for the introduction of community of property.
Anglican Church
Anglican Church b - Protestant Church of England. In IS34, King Henry VIII broke off relations with the Pope and declared himself the head of the Church, the doctrine of which was proclaimed in 1562. Many of its rituals are close to Catholic ones (church hierarchy with episcopate and celibate clergy; magnificent cult; liturgy, etc.) . Anglicanism combines the Catholic doctrine of the saving power of the Church with the Protestant doctrine of salvation by personal faith. From the end of the 17th century. In Anglicanism, three parties were identified: “high” (closer to Catholicism), “low” (closer to Protestantism) and “broad” (occupies an intermediate position).
Armenian Gregorian Church
Armenian Gregorian Church- is part of the Ancient Eastern churches. Founded in 301 by Bishop Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It is headed by the Supreme Patriarch - Catholicos of all Armenians, whose residence is in the city of Etchmiadzin.
Baptistism
Baptistism(from the Greek baptizo - “baptize”, “immerse”) - a movement in Protestantism that arose at the beginning of the 17th century. The founder of the first community in Amsterdam was the Anglican priest John Smith. B. considers it unnecessary to baptize infants whose parents are Christians. Baptism is seen as an act of conscious conversion to faith, spiritual rebirth. Baptists adhere to the doctrine of salvation for all who believe in Christ.
Brahmanism
Brahmanism- An ancient Indian religion that grew out of Vedism. It is based on the doctrine of Brahman - the divine basis of all things - and Atman - the individual spirit. B. spread to India in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. In this religious system, the primary role was given to brahmanas - experts in the Vedas. Under the influence of the Brahmanical doctrine of karma, a strict caste system developed in India, built on the belief that all people are different from the very moment of birth (Brahmins were considered the highest caste). Animistic ideas and the cult of ancestors played a major role. B. is distinguished by complex rituals and strict ritual regulation of life. The main texts of B. are the Upanishads (lit., “sitting at the feet of the teacher”).
Buddhism
Buddhism- the oldest of the three world religions, which arose in northeast India in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. Its founder is considered to be Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later received the name Buddha (lit., “awakened” or “enlightened”). At the beginning of our era, B. was divided into two branches: Hinayana and Mahayana. In B. there is no opposition between subject and object, spirit and matter. The religion is based on the teaching of the “four noble truths”: there is suffering, its cause, the state of liberation and the path to it. According to B., life is an expression of “flows” of immaterial particles - dharmas, the combinations of which determine the existence of everything that exists. Rebirth occurs in accordance with the law of karma - retribution depending on behavior in a previous life. B.'s moral ideal is not to harm anyone. The goal of any Buddhist is to achieve nirvana - a state of peace, bliss, merging with the Buddha.
Wahhabism
Wahhabism- a religious and political movement in Islam that emerged at the end of the 18th century. in Arabia. Its name comes from the name of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the first preacher of the movement. V. preaches the restoration of the purity of original Islam and monotheism. Wahhabis reject the cult of prophets and pilgrimages to holy places.
Vedism
Vedism(Vedic religion) is the oldest Indian religion, which developed in the 2nd millennium BC. e. after the invasion of the territory of India by nomadic tribes - the Aryans. The hymns and prayers of the Aryans made up a huge collection of sacred traditions - the Vedas. A characteristic feature of V. is the deification of the forces of nature. The basis of the Vedic cult is sacrifice, accompanied by a complex ritual. The concepts of samsara (the circle of existence) and karma (the law of retribution) first appeared in India.
Gnosticism
Gnosticism(from the Greek gnosis - “knowledge”) is a religious and philosophical teaching that spread in the first centuries of our era in the east of the Roman Empire. The Gnostics believed that the basis of the universe were two opposing principles - the Highest Spirit (World Soul Sophia) and matter. The highest spirit - the focus of light - is the source of spiritual particles (eons, ions). According to the Gnostics, people consist of body, soul and spirit (the latter is a particle of the Divine, imprisoned in matter). The spirit strives to free itself from prison, so the world is filled with continuous struggle. The Gnostics argued that man is elevated above the world in order to catch the spark of reason emanating from the supreme deity.
Georgian Orthodox Church
Georgian Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Divine services are performed according to the Julian calendar, mainly in the Old Georgian language. The Church is headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch, whose residence is in Tbilisi.
Taoism
Taoism- Chinese religion that arose in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. Traditionally, the sage Lao Tzu is considered its founder. His work “Tao Te Ching” is devoted to two basic concepts of Taoism: Tao (lit., “path”, “method”) and Te (lit., “grace”). Lao Tzu proposed a model of the world in which Tao - the mysterious force that governs the Universe - stands above all gods, acts at all levels of existence, and leads everything to harmony. The cornerstone of D. is the doctrine of immortality, the achievement of which, according to Taoists, is facilitated by religious contemplation, breathing and gymnastic training, sexual hygiene, and alchemy.
Jainism
Jainism- a religion that arose in the VI-V centuries. in the east of the Hindustan Peninsula. Its founder is considered to be the kshatriya Vardahamana. Jains claim that the world exists forever, that it was never created by anyone. The main thing in their teaching is the self-improvement of the soul, thanks to which its liberation from the earthly world occurs. Jains believe in the transmigration of souls and that a new incarnation depends on how a person lived his previous life. The final goal of a person should be liberation from rebirth - nirvana, which only an ascetic can achieve. Therefore, in D. great importance is attached to the practice of asceticism.
Zen
Zen- the Japanese name of one of the schools of Buddhism that penetrated into Japan from China in the 8th-12th centuries. The basis of the concept of D. is the proposition that it is impossible to express the truth in human language and images. The state of enlightenment can be achieved suddenly, solely through inner experience. In the field of dogmatics, D. went to the extreme denial of authorities, morality, good and evil.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism- an ancient monotheistic religion that arose at the turn of the 1st-2nd millennium BC. e. in the eastern regions of the Iranian Plateau. The prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) is considered its founder; his revelations made up the sacred book 3. “Avesta”. Zarathushtra taught to worship the highest and all-knowing God, the creator of all things - Ahura Mazda, from whom all other deities originated. He is opposed by the evil deity Angra Mainyu (Ahriman). In the ethical concept of Z., the main attention is focused on human activity, based on the triad: good thought, good word, good deed. The worship of Ahura Mazda was expressed primarily in the worship of fire (which is why Zoroastrians are sometimes called fire worshipers).
Jerusalem Orthodox Church
Jerusalem Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. The oldest of the Christian Churches. The Apostle James is considered the first bishop. The main Christian shrines are also located in Jerusalem: the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, etc.
Hinduism
Hinduism(Hindu-sama, Hindu-dharma - “religion of the Hindus”, “law of the Hindus”) - a religion originating in the Harappan or Indus civilization, which existed in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. e. India is not actually a single religion, but is a system of local Indian beliefs. It does not have a coherent system of doctrine, a single symbol of faith and uniform dogmas. The key concept of I. is dharma - a universal and eternal order that preserves the integrity of the world. The main sign of belonging to Hinduism should be considered recognition of the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmanical order based on it. There are common attitudes: karma (literally, “deed”, “deed”), samsara (literally, “circle of being”) and the need to liberate from them. Only a person who has at least one Indian parent can profess I.
The main symbols of Hinduism
Lotus- one of the oldest and leading symbols of Hinduism. Its flowers open in the light of the sun, and its numerous petals resemble its rays. That is why the lotus became the emblem of the sun and the life-giving cosmic force that brings life, as well as unsullied purity and spiritual perfection. The lotus has become a symbol and attribute of many solar deities - Surya, Vishnu, Lakshmi, who are often depicted sitting on lotus thrones. As a symbol of fertility, it is also associated with the Mother Goddess, conveying the image of the creative womb and special sacred power. Rosettes, medallions and ornaments with lotuses are often used in iconography.
Yantra(lit. amulet, magical drawing) - a diagram that can denote a deity or serve as a kind of map that helps to master or strengthen meditation. To address each revered deity, a specific yantra is prescribed.
Swastika- a sign of good wishes and prosperity. The swastika is a cross with the ends bent clockwise or counterclockwise (right- and left-handed swastika). The right-handed swastika is regarded as benevolent, the left - as malicious. Since ancient times, the swastika has been a sign of the sun and light, and therefore of life and prosperity.
Ohm- the sound and the syllable representing it have been used since ancient times as bringing good. It is a symbol of totality, universal integrity and continuity; considered the source of all sounds and the main mantra. Yogis strive to comprehend its meaning in deep meditation; it is pronounced at the beginning and at the end of all significant matters, in the titles of texts, etc.
Islam
Islam- one of the three world religions that arose in the 7th century. in Arabia. Its founder is Muhammad, who appeared as a prophet in Mecca in 610. The holy book of Islam is the Koran, compiled after the death of Muhammad according to his sayings.
The five main “pillars of Islam”:
- 1) the belief that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet (shahadah);
- 2) praying five times daily (salat); 3) alms in favor of the poor (zakat);
- 4) fasting in the month of Ramadan (sawi);
- 5) a pilgrimage to Mecca, performed at least once in a lifetime (Hajj). The entire legal system of India is based on a special set of rules - Sharia. Muslims recognize the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. A prerequisite for every believer is the rite of circumcision. In India there is a ban on depicting living beings. In the 10th century a system of theoretical theology - kalam - was created.
Judaism
Judaism- the earliest monotheistic religion that arose in the 1st millennium BC. e. in Palestine. Distributed mainly among Jews. Jews believe in one God, the immortality of the soul, the afterlife, the coming coming of the Messiah, God's chosenness of the Jewish people (the idea of a “covenant,” a union of the people with God, in which the Jewish people act as the bearer of Divine revelation). The canon of sacred books of Israel includes the Torah (the Pentateuch of Moses), the books of the prophets and the Scriptures. Various interpretations and commentaries of the canon are collected in the Talmud.
Calvinism
Calvinism- one of the Protestant movements, the origins of which are the work of the French theologian Jacques Calvin, “Instruction in the Christian Faith.” K. is characterized by the recognition only of the Holy Scriptures and the doctrine of predestination (God determined in advance for everyone his fate, which cannot be changed. A person’s success serves as a sign that he is faithfully fulfilling his destiny). Appearing in Geneva, K. spread to France, the Netherlands, Scotland and England.
Catacomb Church
Catacomb Church- a collective name for that part of the Orthodox clergy and Orthodox communities that in the 20s of the 20th century. left the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, accusing it of collaborating with the Soviet authorities, and took an illegal position. Catholicism is one of the three main directions in Christianity, which finally took shape after the division of churches in 1054. The Catholic Church is strictly centralized, has a single center in the Vatican, a single head - the Pope (the dogma of the infallibility of his judgments has been accepted). Holy Scripture is equalized with Holy Tradition. Seven sacraments accepted. Icons and saints are venerated. There is a dogma about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. Catholics believe in the existence of purgatory. Services take place in national languages, as well as in Latin.
Quakerism
Quakerism(from the English quake - “to shake”) is one of the Protestant denominations founded in the 17th century. in England by George Fox. Quakers emphasize the need to be in constant awe of God. Their worship consists of internal conversation with God and preaching. Quakers developed a doctrine of absolute pacifism, rejecting any violence.
Confucianism
Confucianism- a philosophical and religious system that appeared in China in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. The philosophical system of China was created by the wandering teacher Confucius (Kung Tzu). This religion is based on the concept of “heaven” and “heavenly decree” (fate). A person endowed by Heaven with certain qualities must act in accordance with them, as well as the moral laws of the Tao (path) and improve his qualities through training. One of the central places in Confucianism is occupied by the concept of Ren (humanity) - ideal relationships between people in the family, society and state. The basic principle of this concept is: “What you don’t wish for yourself, don’t do to others.” A characteristic feature of this religion is anthropocentrism. Under Emperor Wu, China occupied a dominant position in China (it was combined with the doctrine of the cosmic forces of Yin and Yang and the five primary elements of Wu Xing).
Krishnaism
Krishnaism(“International Society for Krishna Consciousness”) is one of the movements in Hinduism. The founder of the society is the Indian preacher Abdam Charin De (1896-1977). According to his teachings, there is only one absolute God - Krishna. The goal of K.'s cult practice is to achieve the so-called “Krishna consciousness” - a state in which the believer is freed from the power of the material world and returns to God. Love for Krishna is highest in achieving religious ecstasy through individual or group meditation.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism- a Protestant movement, the beginning of which can be considered October 31, 1517, when the monk Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 theses to the gates of Wittenberg Cathedral. L. denies that the clergy is endowed with the grace of a mediator between God and people; asserts that a person is saved only by personal faith in Christ, and not by the special merits of saints and not by good deeds in favor of the Church. In Latvia, the sphere of the Gospel (religious) and the sphere of law (state) are clearly distinguished. Sacraments such as confession and absolution are denied; it is believed that repentance includes only alms and faith.
Manichaeism
Manichaeism- ancient Iranian religious teaching about the eternal struggle between the forces of Light and Darkness, that is, between universal good and evil. The founder of the doctrine is the preacher and mystic Mani, who lived in the 11th century. n. e. M. attributes the act of creation of the world to the good Demiurge, called the Spirit of Life. Manichaeans believe that he created the world in order to separate the mixed particles of light and darkness from each other.
Mahayana
Mahayana Buddhism(Sanskrit mahayana - “great chariot”) is the largest direction of Buddhism, which took shape in the first centuries of our era. From India, M. spread to China, Tibet, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Southern Siberia, receiving the name Northern Buddhism. M. argues that salvation is possible for everyone, and not just for members of the Buddhist community. A bodhisattva (literally, “one whose essence is Enlightenment” is the ideal of M.) must take care of the salvation of all living beings. In M. Buddha is no longer just a Teacher, but a supernatural being who can be worshiped as a deity.
Methodism
Methodism- a Protestant movement that appeared in England in the 18th century, the founders of which were the brothers John and Charles Wesley. M. sets a goal for a person: to live according to the Gospel, devote his time to prayer and good deeds, study the Holy Scriptures in the original, strictly adhering to the established method, observing discipline and order.
Mormons
Mormons(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is a Protestant church founded in 1830 by American Joseph Smith. By analogy with the early apostolic church, Mormons have established positions of apostles, prophets, shepherds, teachers and evangelists. The central theological theme of Mormon teaching is “the gathering of the tribes of Israel and the restoration of the true Christian church.”
Pietism
Pietism(from Latin pietas - “piety”) - a religious movement in Lutheranism that arose in Germany at the end of the 17th century. P. puts religious feelings above all theological dogmas, church authorities, etc. His supporters opposed philosophy and culture. In a broad sense, “pietism” denotes a religious-mystical mood, formal piety.
Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy(Greek orthodoxia - “correct judgment”, “correct glory”) - one of the three main directions of Christianity. It became independent after the division of the churches into Western and Eastern in 1054. There is no strict organizational unity; there are numerous differences in ritual and canonical issues. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God is not recognized. The Holy Scriptures are considered as part of the Holy Tradition. Seven sacraments accepted. In most countries, services are held in national languages.
Presbyterians
Presbyterians(from the Greek presbytes “elder”, “elder”) - a Protestant movement that arose in the second half of the 16th century. in England and Scotland under the influence of Calvinism. The name itself indicates a special form of church organization. P. does not have centralized administrative leadership. Their doctrine is based on ideas about the ineradicable sinfulness of man and about salvation as an undeserved and predetermined grace of God.
Protestantism
Protestantism- one of the three main directions of Christianity. Its appearance is associated with the Reformation - a powerful anti-Catholic movement in the 16th century. in Europe. The name of P. is associated with the protest of 6 German princes and 14 cities against the decision of the Speyer Reichstag (1529), which voted for an intolerant attitude towards Lutheranism in Germany. Belief in the direct and personal connection of the believer with Christ determines the three basic principles of P.: 1) Only Holy Scripture is true, and the Bible is the only source of divine revelation. 2) Salvation is God's gift, embodied in the atoning death and resurrection of Christ; it is achieved only by personal faith. 3) Every believer is a priest. Protestants deny the authority of the Pope, the mediation of the Virgin Mary, the intercession of saints, indulgences and sacraments not administered by Christ (in most Protestant churches only baptism and communion are recognized). The first Protestants were actively involved in translating the Bible into national languages.
Puritans
Puritans(from Latin purus - “pure”) - a religious movement in the Anglican Church that arose in the second half of the 16th century. and fought to “cleanse” the Church of England of Catholicism. P. was united by the idea of the “kingdom of saints” and the “conciliar” Church; they sought freedom from episcopate control.
Revivalism
Revivalism(from the English revival - “rebirth”, “awakening”) - Protestant movement of the 17th century. in Britain and the American colonies. R. insisted on the possibility of cleansing not only personal sins, but also from original human sin. This is achieved through “being born again” - a spiritual rebirth that miraculously changes the whole person.
Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church(ROC) - is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Founded in 988 under Prince Vladimir I as a metropolis of the Church of Constantinople with its center in Kyiv. In 1589, Metropolitan Job of Moscow was elevated to the patriarchal rank. Divine services are performed according to the Julian calendar. The main language of worship is Church Slavonic.
Satanism
Satanism- a generalized name for anti-Christian sects whose members worship Satan. The first of the Satanic sects of the New Age is considered to be the “Church of Satan”, founded in 1968 by Anthony LaVey.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses(Jehovah's Witnesses) - one of the later movements in Protestantism, founded by Charles Russell in 1870. Plaintiffs' Witnesses deny the dogma of the Trinity, but recognize all three of its hypostases. Jehovah God is considered the source of all life. Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of the supreme God; only he was created by Jehovah directly, everything else was created through Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses are confident that the leaders of their organization and religious authorities will be resurrected immediately after death and will enter the “government of Christ”; everyone else is promised eternal life after Armageddon.
Sikhism
Sikhism(from Sanskrit sikh - “student”) - one of the national religions of India. Formed at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries. under the influence of Islam that penetrated into India and originally represented a Protestant trend in Hinduism. The founder of Sikhism was guru (teacher) Nanak (1469-1539). This religion is based on the belief that true devotion to God lies in deep inner faith. Sikhism is monotheistic, does not recognize the clergy, denies public worship, external attributes and caste differences. It developed the path of spiritual improvement - nam-marg, or Sahaj Yoga.
Shintoism
Shintoism- a religion common in Japan. It arose from the pagan veneration of kami - the omnipresent manifestations of everything sacred. In the 7th century the unification of all local kami cults into a single whole began. The most ancient forms of beliefs (magic, totemism, fetishism) have been preserved in Shinto. In this religion there are no clear distinctions between humans and kami. S. does not promise salvation in some other world, but considers the harmonious coexistence of man with the world around him as an ideal.
Old Believers
Old Believers(Raskolnichestvo) - a set of religious movements that arose as a result of the schism of the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century. Opponents of Nikon's reform, who sought to unite the Russian and Greek Orthodox churches, believed that after this reform official Orthodoxy ceased to exist. There are practically no dogmatic differences between the Old Believers and the Russian Orthodox Church. The discrepancies concern only some rituals and inaccuracies in the translation of liturgical books. The Old Believers retained the two-fingered sign of the cross, they only recognize the eight-pointed cross, etc.
Sunnism
Sunnism- the main direction of Islam, which considers the first caliphs - Abu Bakr, Omar and Osman - to be the legitimate successors of Mohammed. Along with the Koran, the Sunnah (traditions about the prophet) is recognized. When deciding the issue of supreme Muslim power, they feast “on the consent of the entire community” (its religious elite).
Sufism
Sufism(from Arabic, suf - “wool”) - a mystical trend in Islam that arose in the 8th-9th centuries. S. is based on intimate knowledge, thanks to which the individual received the opportunity for self-improvement. The basis of Sufi teaching is the desire to comprehend the secrets of faith. The method of Sufism was instant illumination. Through music and dance, Sufis try to achieve sacred ecstasy, which they understand as a state in which in consciousness there is no longer any division into good and evil, truth and falsehood, faith and unbelief.
Hinayana
Hinayana(from Sanskrit hinayana - “small vehicle”) - one of the main directions of Buddhism, which arose at the beginning of our era, includes 18 different schools. It established itself in Southeast Asia, receiving the name “Southern Buddhism.” X. believes that only members of the Buddhist community, that is, monks, can achieve nirvana. The ideal of X. is an arhat (literally, “one who has achieved Enlightenment”), X. also requires monks to tirelessly work on themselves and complete loneliness on the path to the highest goal. Buddha in X. is a man who, after more than five hundred rebirths, was destined to reveal the “four noble truths” to living beings.
Christianity
Christianity- one of the three world religions that arose in Palestine in the 1st century. n. e. At the beginning of the 4th century. X. becomes the state religion of the Roman Empire, and by XIV it spreads throughout almost all of Europe. At the heart of X. is the belief that two thousand years ago God sent into the world his son, the God-man Jesus Christ, who lived, preached, suffered and died on the cross as a man. The main book of Christians is the Bible. X. believe in one God, existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The concept of original sin is very important for Christians. Another characteristic feature of X. is that it can only exist in the form of a Church (this is either a community of believers, or a temple, or a form of the Christian faith). The sacred symbol of X is the cross. All Christians believe in the coming end of the world and the second coming of Christ.
Shamanism
Shamanism(from Evenk, saman - “excited”) - one of the oldest forms of religious practice of mankind, the central figure in which is the shaman - a mediator between the world of people and the world of spirits, who has the ability to heal people. Unlike priests and priests, he performs sacred acts with the help of spirits. In addition, the shaman undergoes “re-creation” in another world. Communication with spirits, during which the shaman falls into a trance, is called ritual. Currently, shamanism is widespread in many Asian countries, in Siberia, and interest in Indian shamans has increased.
Shiism
Shiism(from Arab, ah-shia - “followers”, “party”) - one of the directions in Islam. Initially formed as a political party that recognized Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, as the prophet's successor. In Sh., the doctrine of the “hidden imam” arose, that is, about the mysteriously disappeared twelfth imam, who must return to earth at the appointed hour and restore justice. Shiites do not recognize the Sunnah and have their own tradition.
Greek Orthodox Church
Hellenic (Greek) Orthodox Church- is part of the Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. In 1850, according to church canons, it was recognized as “the Church of Constantinople itself.” The Gregorian calendar is used. The seat of the Archbishop of Athens and all of Hellas is Athens.
In this article we will answer the question of what religions exist in Russia. Russian religion is a complex of church movements that have gained a foothold in the lands of the Russian Federation. As a secular country, Rus' is defined by the Constitution in force since 1993.
It is known that at the beginning of the 4th century (the traditional date is 301), King Trdat III declared Christianity the state religion. This is how Armenia turned into the first Christian state on Earth.
Faith and Orthodoxy are an integral part of the life of almost every Armenian. Thus, the 2011 census of Armenians states that 2,858,741 souls profess Christianity of various denominations in the state. This figure indicates that this country has 98.67% God-fearing population.
The religion of Armenians is not the same: 29,280 believers worship the Armenian Evangelical Church, 13,843 - the Armenian Catholic Church, 8,695 consider themselves Jehovah's Witnesses, 7,532 call themselves Orthodox (Chalkadonites), 2,872 - Molokans.
By the way, the Apostolic Armenian Church is among the Orthodox Oriental churches. These include: Coptic, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Malankara and Syrian.
Yezidism
It is known that freedom of religion also exists in Armenia. This country is home to 25,204 adherents of Yazidism (almost 1% of the state's devout population). These are mainly Yazidi Kurds. They live in villages in the Ararat Valley, a little northwest of Yerevan. On September 29, 2012, the Ziarat Temple was inaugurated in the Armavir region of the state.
It is considered the first temple built outside Northern Iraq, the original homeland of the Yazidis. Its task is to satisfy the spiritual needs of the Yezidis of Armenia.
Judaism
God is the Creator of all life on Earth. This opinion is shared by all believers, no matter what religion they belong to. Interestingly, there are up to 3 thousand Jews in Armenia, who mainly live in Yerevan.
Islam
We have analyzed the Christian religion of Armenia. Who in this country welcomes Islam? It is known that this creed is practiced here by Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Persians, Armenians and other peoples. A mosque was built specifically for Muslims in Yerevan.
Today in this state the Muslim Kurdish community includes several hundred souls, most of whom live in the Abovyan region. Some Muslim Azerbaijanis live near the northern and eastern borders of Armenia in villages. In general, there are about one thousand Muslims in Yerevan - Kurds, people from the Middle East, Persians and about 1,500 Armenian women who converted to Islam.
Neopaganism
Aren't you tired of studying the endless religions of peoples? So, we continue to further analyze this interesting topic. The 2011 census shows that there are 5,434 pagan supporters living in Armenia.
The neo-pagan religious movement is called Getanism. It recreates the established Armenian pre-Christian dogma. Getanism was founded by armenologist Slak Kakosyan on the basis of the writings of Garegin Nzhdeh, the most famous Armenian nationalist.
All neo-pagan sacraments are constantly carried out in the Garni temple. The head of the Armenian pagan communities is the priest Petrosyan Zohrab. No one knows the specific number of followers of this faith. In general, Armenian neo-paganism is popular, as a rule, among fans of ultra-right and nationalist movements.
It is known that well-known Armenian politicians considered themselves gigantists: Ashot Navasardyan (founded the ruling Republican Armenian Party) and Margaryan Andranik (former prime minister of the country).
Freedom of belief in Russia
The convictions and religion of the Russian people prompted Emperor Nicholas II in 1905 (April 17) to issue a personal imperial decree for the Senate. This decree spoke about strengthening the origins of religious tolerance. It was this paper that for the first time in the history of Rus' legislated not only the rights to freedom of belief of persons of non-Orthodox faith, but also established that leaving it for other faiths is not subject to persecution. Additionally, the tsar legalized the Old Believers and abolished previously existing prohibitions and restrictions for other Christian denominations.
The Law on Religion states that religion has been a personal matter in Russia since January 20, 1918. This is exactly what the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR proclaimed.
And the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Part 2, Article 14) says that:
- Russia is a secular country. No religion here can be established as compulsory or state.
- Religious communities are separated from the state and are equal before the law. The Federal Law “On Religious Coalitions and Freedom of Conscience” in 1997 recorded “the exclusive role of Orthodoxy in Russian history, in the formation of its culture and spirituality.”
We hope this article helped you get a general idea of Russian religions.
As well as their classifications. In religious studies, it is common to distinguish the following types: tribal, national and world religions.
Buddhism
- the most ancient world religion. It originated in the 6th century. BC e. in India, and is currently widespread in the countries of South, Southeast, Central Asia and the Far East and has about 800 million followers. Tradition connects the emergence of Buddhism with the name of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. The father hid the bad things from Gautama, he lived in luxury, married his beloved girl, who bore him a son. The impetus for the spiritual upheaval for the prince, as legend says, was four meetings. First he saw a decrepit old man, then one suffering from leprosy and a funeral procession. So Gautama learned that old age, illness and death are the lot of all people. Then he saw a peaceful beggar wanderer who needed nothing from life. All this shocked the prince and made him think about the fate of people. He secretly left the palace and family, at the age of 29 he became a hermit and tried to find the meaning of life. As a result of deep reflection, at the age of 35 he became Buddha - enlightened, awakened. For 45 years, Buddha preached his teaching, which can be briefly summarized in the following basic ideas.
Life is suffering, the cause of which is the desires and passions of people. To get rid of suffering, you need to renounce earthly passions and desires. This can be achieved by following the path of salvation indicated by the Buddha.
After death, any living creature, including humans, is reborn again, but already in the form of a new living being, whose life is determined not only by its own behavior, but also by the behavior of its “predecessors”.
We must strive for nirvana, i.e. dispassion and peace, which are achieved by renouncing earthly attachments.
Unlike Christianity and Islam Buddhism lacks the idea of God as the creator of the world and its ruler. The essence of the teachings of Buddhism comes down to a call for every person to take the path of seeking inner freedom, complete liberation from all the shackles that life brings.
Christianity
Originated in the 1st century. n. e. in the eastern part of the Roman Empire - Palestine - as addressed to all the humiliated, thirsting for justice. It is based on the idea of messianism - hope in the Divine deliverer of the world from everything bad that exists on Earth. Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of people, whose name in Greek means “Messiah”, “Savior”. By this name, Jesus is associated with the Old Testament legends about the coming to the land of Israel of a prophet, a messiah, who would free the people from suffering and establish a righteous life - the kingdom of God. Christians believe that God's coming to Earth will be accompanied by the Last Judgment, when He will judge the living and the dead and send them to heaven or hell.
Basic Christian ideas:
- The belief that God is one, but He is a Trinity, that is, God has three “persons”: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which form one God who created the Universe.
- Faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God the Son is Jesus Christ. He has two natures at the same time: Divine and human.
- Belief in Divine grace is a mysterious power sent by God to free a person from sin.
- Belief in posthumous reward and afterlife.
- Belief in the existence of good spirits - angels and evil spirits - demons, along with their ruler Satan.
The holy book of Christians is Bible, which means “book” in Greek. The Bible consists of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the oldest part of the Bible. The New Testament (actually Christian works) includes: the four gospels (Luke, Mark, John and Matthew); the acts of the holy apostles; Epistles and Revelation of John the Theologian.
In the 4th century. n. e. Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Christianity is not united. It split into three currents. In 1054, Christianity split into the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. In the 16th century The Reformation, an anti-Catholic movement, began in Europe. The result was Protestantism.
And they admit seven Christian sacraments: baptism, confirmation, repentance, communion, marriage, priesthood and consecration of oil. The source of doctrine is the Bible. The differences are mainly as follows. In Orthodoxy there is no single head, there is no idea of purgatory as a place of temporary placement of the souls of the dead, the priesthood does not take a vow of celibacy, as in Catholicism. The head of the Catholic Church is the Pope, elected for life; the center of the Roman Catholic Church is the Vatican - a state that occupies several blocks in Rome.
It has three main currents: Anglicanism, Calvinism And Lutheranism. Protestants consider the condition for the salvation of a Christian not the formal observance of rituals, but his sincere personal faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Their teaching proclaims the principle of universal priesthood, which means that every layman can preach. Almost all Protestant denominations have reduced the number of sacraments to a minimum.
Islam
Originated in the 7th century. n. e. among the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. This is the youngest of the world. There are followers of Islam more than 1 billion people.
The founder of Islam is a historical figure. He was born in 570 in Mecca, which for that time was a fairly large city at the intersection of trade routes. In Mecca there was a shrine revered by the majority of pagan Arabs - the Kaaba. Muhammad's mother died when he was six years old, and his father died before his son was born. Muhammad was brought up in his grandfather's family, a noble but impoverished family. At the age of 25, he became the manager of the household of the wealthy widow Khadija and soon married her. At the age of 40, Muhammad acted as a religious preacher. He declared that God (Allah) had chosen him as his prophet. The ruling elite of Mecca did not like the sermon, and by 622 Muhammad had to move to the city of Yathrib, later renamed Medina. The year 622 is considered the beginning of the Muslim lunar calendar, and Mecca is the center of the Muslim religion.
The Muslim Holy Book is a processed record of Muhammad's sermons. During Muhammad's lifetime, his statements were perceived as direct speech from Allah and were transmitted orally. Several decades after the death of Muhammad, they were written down and would compile the Koran.
Plays an important role in the religion of Muslims Sunnah - a collection of edifying stories about the life of Muhammad and Sharia - a set of principles and rules of conduct obligatory for Muslims. The most serious ipexa.Mii among Muslims are usury, drunkenness, gambling and adultery.
The place of worship of Muslims is called a mosque. Islam prohibits the depiction of humans and animals; hollow mosques are decorated only with ornaments. In Islam there is no clear division between clergy and laity. Any Muslim who knows the Koran, Muslim laws and rules of worship can become a mullah (priest).
Great importance is attached to ritual in Islam. You may not know the intricacies of faith, but you should strictly perform the main rituals, the so-called five pillars of Islam:
- pronouncing the formula of confession of faith: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet”;
- performing daily five times prayer (namaz);
- fasting during the month of Ramadan;
- giving alms to the poor;
- making a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
(not the world, but everyone).
The world religion is a religion that has become widespread among the peoples of different countries around the world. Differences between world religions from national and nation-state religions in that in the latter the religious connection between people coincides with an ethnic connection (the origin of believers) or political. World religions are also called supranational, since they unite different peoples on different continents. History of world religions always closely connected with the course of the history of human civilization. List of world religions small. Religious scholars count three world religions, which we will briefly consider.
Buddhism.
Buddhism- oldest world religion, which arose in the 6th century BC on the territory of modern India. At the moment, according to various researchers, there are from 800 million to 1.3 billion believers.
In Buddhism there is no creator god, as in Christianity. Buddha means enlightened one. At the center of the religion are the teachings of the Indian prince Gautama, who abandoned his life of luxury, became a hermit and ascetic, and thought about the destinies of people and the meaning of life.
In Buddhism there is also no theory about the creation of the world (no one created it, and no one controls it), there is no concept of an eternal soul, there is no atonement for sins (instead - positive or negative karma), there is no such multi-component organization as the church in Christianity. Buddhism does not require absolute devotion and renunciation of other religions from believers. It sounds funny, but Buddhism can be called the most democratic religion. Buddha is something of an analogue of Christ, but at the same time he is not considered either a god or the son of God.
The essence of Buddhist philosophy- the desire for nirvana, self-knowledge, self-contemplation and spiritual self-development through self-restraint and meditation.
Christianity.
Christianity arose in the 1st century AD in Palestine (Mesopotamia) based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, which were described by his disciples (apostles) in the New Testament. Christianity is the largest world religion in terms of geography (it is present in almost all countries of the world) and in terms of the number of believers (about 2.3 billion, which is almost a third of the world's population).
In the 11th century, Christianity split into Catholicism and Orthodoxy, and in the 16th century, Protestantism also broke away from Catholicism. Together they make up the three largest movements of Christianity. There are more than a thousand smaller branches (currents, sects).
Christianity is monotheistic, although it monotheism a little non-standard: the concept of God has three levels (three hypostases) - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The Jews, for example, do not accept this; for them God is one, and cannot be binary or trinary. In Christianity, faith in God, service to God and righteous living are of paramount importance.
The main reference for Christians is the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments.
Both Orthodox and Catholics recognize the seven sacraments of Christianity (baptism, communion, repentance, confirmation, marriage, unction, priesthood). Main differences:
- Orthodox Christians do not have a Pope (single head);
- there is no concept of “purgatory” (only heaven and hell);
- priests do not take a vow of celibacy;
- slight difference in rituals;
- difference in holiday dates.
Among Protestants, anyone can preach; the number of sacraments and the importance of rituals are kept to a minimum. Protestantism is, in fact, the least strict movement of Christianity.
Islam.
IN Islam also one god. Translated from Arabic it means “conquest”, “submission”. God is Allah, the prophet is Muhammad (Mohammed, Magomed). Islam ranks second in the number of believers - up to 1.5 billion Muslims, that is, almost a quarter of the world's population. Islam arose in the 7th century on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Koran, the holy book of Muslims, is a collection of Muhammad's teachings (sermons) and was compiled after the death of the prophet. The Sunnah, a collection of parables about Muhammad, and the Sharia, a set of rules of conduct for Muslims, are also of considerable importance. In Islam, observance of rituals is of paramount importance:
- daily five times prayer (namaz);
- fasting in Ramadan (9th month of the Muslim calendar);
- giving alms to the poor;
- hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca);
- pronouncing the main formula of Islam (there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet).
Previously, world religions also included Hinduism And Judaism. This data is now considered outdated.
Unlike Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are related to each other. Both religions belong to the Abrahamic religions.
In literature and cinema, the concept of “one universe” is sometimes encountered. Heroes from different works live in the same world and may one day meet, such as Iron Man and Captain America. Christianity and Islam take place in “the same universe.” Jesus Christ, Moses, and the Bible are mentioned in the Koran, with Jesus and Moses being prophets. Adam and Hawa are the first people on Earth according to the Koran. Muslims also see a prophecy of the appearance of Muhammad in some biblical texts. In this aspect, it is interesting to observe that particularly severe religious conflicts arose precisely between these religions, which are close to each other (and not with Buddhists or Hindus); but we will leave this question to psychologists and religious scholars.