Name

History

Adherents

Aladura

Various prophet-healing
churches founded since
c.1918, West Nigeria.

Asatru

Revival of Norse and

Germanic paganism,
1970s Scandinavia and
USA.

Polytheistic, Norse gods and Salvation or redemption not Valhalla (heaven) for death in
goddesses, Norse creation
emphasized. Fatalistic
battle; Hel (peaceful place) for
myths.
outlook.
most; Hifhel (hell) for the very evil.

Bah' Faith

Founded by Bah'u'llh,
1863, Tehran, Iran.

5-7 million

One God, who has revealed

The soul is eternal and
Soul separates from the body and
himself progressively
essentially good. Purpose of begins a journey towards or away
through major world
life is to develop spiritually from God. Heaven and hell are
religions.
and draw closer to God.
states of being.

Bon

Indigenous religion of
Tibet.

100

1 million

Gods

Meaning of Life

Generally monotheistic; a
mix of Anglican,
Strong emphasis on healing
Pentecostal and traditional and salvation in this life.
African beliefs.

Nontheistic Buddhism, but

meditation on peaceful and
wrathful deities.

Purpose is to gain
enlightenment.

Afterlife

Not emphasized; views vary.

Reincarnation until gain

enlightenment

Name

History

Buddhism

Based on teachings of
Siddharta Gautama (the
Buddha) in c. 520 BC,
NE India.

Cao Dai

Founded in 1926,
Vietnam by Ngo Van
Chieu and others based
on a sance.

Indigenous folk religion

Chinese Religion
of China.

Adherents

Gods

Meaning of Life

Afterlife

The Buddha said of death: Life is a

journey. Death is a return to earth.
The universe is like an inn. The
passing years are like dust. Regard
this phantom world As a star at
dawn, a bubble in a stream, A flash
of lightning in a summer cloud, A
flickering lamp - a phantom - and a
dream

360 million

Avoid suffering and gain

Varies: Theravada atheistic;
enlightenment and release
Mahayana more
from cycle of rebirth, or at
polytheistic. Buddha taught
least attain a better rebirth
nothing is permanent.
by gaining merit.

4-6 million

God represented by Divine

Goal is peace and harmony
Eye. Founders of Buddhism,
in each person and in the
Taoism, Hinduism, Islam,
world. Salvation by
reincarnation until Nirvana/Heaven
and Christianity venerated,
"cultivating self and finding
and saints including Victor
God in self."
Hugo.

394 million

Dualistic yin and yang;

mythological beings and
folk deities.

A favorable life and

peaceful afterlife, attained
through rituals and
honoring of ancestors.

reincarnation

Name

History

Adherents

Christianity

based on life and

teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth (born c. 4
BCE), a Jew from
Palestine under Roman
rule

2 billion

Confucianism

Founded by Confucius
(551479 BC), China

5-6 million

Not addressed

Druze

Founded by Al-Darazi
in 11th century, Cairo,
Egypt. Roots in the
Isma'iliyya sect of Shia
Islam.

500

Universal Intelligence (alAql al-Kulli) or Divine

Essence (akin to
Neoplatonism), of which alHakim is believed to be an
incarnation.

Live a good life for a

favorable reincarnation.
Reincarnation. Heaven is a spiritual
Await the re-appearance of
existence when one has escaped
al-Hakim (a Fatimid caliph
reincarnation. Hell is distance from
who disappeared in 1021),
God in lifetime after lifetime.
who will usher in a Golden
Age for true believers.

Eckankar

Founded by Paul
Twitchell in Las Vegas,
1965

The Divine Spirit, called

"ECK."

"Each of us is Soul, a spark

Reincarnation. The Soul is eternal
of God sent to this world to
by nature and on a spiritual
gain spiritual experience."
journey. Liberation possible in a
Salvation is liberation and
single lifetime.
God-realization.

50-500,000

Gods

Meaning of Life

All have sinned and are

thereby separated from
Holy Trinity = God the
God. Salvation is through
Father + God the Son + God
faith in Christ and, for
the Holy Spirit
some, sacraments and good
works.

Afterlife

Eternal heaven or hell (most

denominations); temporary
purgatory (Catholicism)

To fulfill one's role in

society with propriety,
honor, and loyalty.

Name

History

Adherents

Epicureanism

Based on the teachings

of Epicurus, c. 300
BCE, Athens.

unknown

A deistic sort of polytheism: Materialism: everything is

the gods exist, but take no made of atoms, including
notice of humans.
gods and the soul.

No afterlife. The soul dissolves

when the body dies.

10 million

The Falun (wheel) is an

energy source located in the
Countless gods and spiritual
navel. Goal is spritual
beings. Demonic aliens.
transcendence, achieved by
practicing Falun Gong.

Not addressed

Falun Gong

Li Hongzhi in 1992 in
China

Gnosticism

Various teachers
including Valentinus,
1st-2nd cents. AD

Various indigenous
religions of the ancient
Greco-Roman religion
Greeks and Romans, c.
500 BCE to 400 CE.

Hare Krishna

Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, 1966, USA
(with roots in 15thcentury Hindu
movement)

Gods

Meaning of Life

ancient form
Humans can return to the
The supreme God is
extinct; small
spiritual world through
unknowable; the creator god
modern revival
secret knowledge of the
is evil and matter is evil.
groups
universe.

ancient form
extinct

250,000-1
million

Afterlife

Return to the spiritual world.

Human life is subject to the Beliefs varied from no afterlife to

Olympic pantheon (Zeus,
whim of the gods and to
shadowy existence in the
etc.) mixed with eastern
Fate; these can be
underworld to a paradise-like
deities like Isis and Cybele controlled through sacrifice
afterlife (mainly in mystery
and divination.
religions).

Krishna is the Supreme

God.

Salvation from this Age of

Kali is by a return to
Godhead, accomplished
through KrishnaConsciousness.

Reincarnation until unite with the

Godhead.

Name

History

Hinduism

Indigenous religion of
India as developed to
present day.

Islam

Based on teachings of
the Prophet
Muhammad; founded
622 CE in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia.

Jainism

Founded by Mahavira,
c. 550 BCE, eastern
India

Founded by Charles
Jehovah's WitnessesTaze Russell, 1879,
Pittsburgh

Adherents

900 million

Gods

Meaning of Life

Afterlife

One Supreme Reality

(Brahman) manifested in
many gods and goddesses

Humans are in bondage to

ignorance and illusion, but
are able to escape. Purpose
is to gain release from
rebirth, or at least a better
rebirth.

Reincarnation until gain

enlightenment.

1.3 billion

One God (Allah in Arabic);

Humans must submit
the same God revealed
(islam) to the will of God to
(imperfectly) in the Jewish
gain Paradise after death.
and Christian Bibles

Paradise or Hell.

4 million

The universe is eternal;

Gain liberation from cycle
many gods exist. Gods,
of rebirth, by avoiding all
humans and all living things bad karma, especially by
are classified in a complex
causing no harm to any
hierarchy.
sentient being.

Reincarnation until liberation.

6.5 million

One God: Jehovah. No Salvation is through faith in

Heaven for 144,000 chosen
Trinity. Christ is the first
Christ and obeying
Witnesses, eternity on new earth
creation of God; the Holy Jehovah's laws. The End of for other Witnesses. All others
Spirit is a force.
the World is soon.
annihilated. No hell.

Name

History

Judaism

The religion of the

Hebrews (c. 1300 BC),
especially after the
destruction of the
Second Temple in 70
AD.

Mayan religion

Mormonism

Adherents

14 million

Gods

Meaning of Life

Afterlife

Obey God's
Not historically emphasized.
commandments, live
Beliefs vary from no afterlife to
One God: Yahweh (YHVH)
ethically. Focus is more on shadowy existence to the World to
this life than the next.
Come (similar to heaven).

At one time up
to 2 million.
Today, several
million Maya
The soul journeys through dark and
practice a
Many gods, including
Appease and nourish the
Began c.250 CE (rise of
threatening underworld; but
Roman
Itzamn, Kukulcn, Bolon gods; determine luckiest
the Mayan civilization)
sacrificial victims and women who
Catholicism that
Tzacab, and Chac
dates for various activities.
die in childbirth go to heaven.
retains many
elements of
traditional
Mayan religion.

Founded by Joseph
Smith, 1830, New York.

12.2 million

God the Father, the Son

Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Ghost are three separate
individual beings

All return to spirit world for period

Return to God by faith in of instruction before resurrection.
Christ, good works,
Mormons to heaven with God and
ordinances, and
families; others rewarded but not
evangelism.
with God; hell for those who reject
God after death.

Name

History

Adherents

Founded by Wallace Estimates range

Nation of Islam Fard Muhammad, 1930, from 10,000 to
Detroit, USA.
100,000

New Age

Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky and Annie
Besant in the 19th C,
Alice A. Bailey (18801949), flourished in
1970s and 80s

5 million

Gods

Meaning of Life

Afterlife

"One God whose proper

name is Allah." Wallace
Fard Muhammad became
the divine messiah and
incarnation of Allah in
1930.

"The Blackman is the

original man." Live
righteously and worship
Allah.

Mental resurrection of the

righteous. Black people will be
mentally resurrected first.

Dawning of a New Age of

heightened consciousness
and international peace.
Individuals can obtain a
The Divine is an impersonal
foretaste of the New Age
life force that pervades all
through spiritual
things
transformation
("Ascension"). More
emphasis on the latter now.
Evil comes from ignorance.

Reincarnation

Name

New Thought

History

Phineas Parkhurst
Quimby (1802-66) and
others, late 19th century,
USA.

160

Gods

Meaning of Life

Man is divine, essentially

spirit, and has infinite
Generally monism (all is
possibility. Mind can
One), but members might be
control the body. Sin and
theists, pantheists or
sickness caused by
panentheists. God is
incorrect thinking. Man can
immanent; the universe is
live in oneness with God in
essentially spiritual.
love, truth, peace, health,
and prosperity.

Afterlife

"Life is eternal in the invisible

kingdom of God."

Mostly unknown due to lack

of written records. Many
unknown, but art indicates
gods represented in art,
mostly extinct
importance of fertility (rain,
including the Olmec
corn, etc.)
Dragon, Maize Deity, Bird
Monster, and Were-Jaguar.

Olmec Religion

Rastafarianism

Adherents

Founded by Marcus
Garvey in the slums of
Jamaica in the 1920s
and 30s

1 million

God is Jah, who became Humans are temples of Jah.

Some Rastas will experience
incarnate in Jesus (who was Salvation is primarily in
"everliving" (physical immortality).
black); Ethiopian Emperor this world and consists of
Heaven is a return to Eden, which
Haile Selassie I was
liberation from oppression
is in Africa.
messiah.
and return to Africa.

Name

History

Scientology

Founded by L. Ron
Hubbard, 1954,
California

Rooted in Millerite
movement; founded
1863 in New England;
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
early leaders: Ellen
White, Hiram Edson
and Joseph Bates

Shinto

Indigenous religion of
Japan

Sikhism

Founded by Guru
Nanak, c. 1500, Punjab,
India.

spiritualism

Modern movement:
c.1850, USA, UK,
France

Adherents

Gods

Meaning of Life

Human consists of body,

70,000 or
God(s) not specified; reality mind and thetan; capable of
several million,
explained in the Eight
great things. Gain spiritual
depending on
Dynamics
freedom by ridding mind of
the source
engrams.

Afterlife

Reincarnation

A "peaceful pause" after death until

Live in accordance with the
the coming of Christ, then
Bible, including the Old
resurrection to judgment, followed
Testament. The Second
by eternity in heaven or
Coming will happen soon.
nonexistence. No hell.

25 million

(same as Christianity); Ellen

G. White considered a
prophet

3-4 million

Humans are pure by nature

and can keep away evil
Death is bad and impure. Some
kami: ancient gods or spirits through purification rituals
humans become kami after death.
and attain good things by
calling on the kami.

23 million

11 million

one God: Ik Onkar

Overcome the self, align

life with will of God, and
become a "saint soldier,"
fighting for good.

Reincarnation until resolve karma

and merge with God.

Generally based in a
Body and spirit are separate A spiritual existence with access to
Christian worldview. Main
entities. Morality and
the living. Condition depends on
focus is spirits of deceased contact with spirits affect morality of life and advancement is
humans.
afterlife.
possible.

Name

Taoism

History

Adherents

Zoroastrianism

Meaning of Life

Afterlife

20 million (394
Inner harmony, peace, and
Based on teachings of
Pantheism - the Tao
Revert back to state of non-being,
million of
longevity. Acheived by
Lao-Tzu, c. 550 BC,
pervades all. Yin-yang which is simply the other side of
Chinese religion
living in accordance with
China.
opposites make up a unity.
being.
in general)
the Tao.

Over 1 million
Founded by Sun Myung
(3 million acc.
Unification Church Moon, 1954, South
to official
Korea.
sources)

Wicca

Gods

Based on ancient pagan

beliefs, but modern
form founded early
1900s. Founder
generally said to be
Gerald Gardner.

1-3 million

Monotheism, with the

duality of God (esp.
masculine and feminine)
emphasized. No Trinity.

True love and world peace

instead of selfish love. True
love and the kingdom of
God on earth will be
restored by the creation of
"true families."

Polytheism, centered on the

Goddess and God, each in "If it harms none, do what
various forms; also a belief
you will."
in a Supreme Being over all

Eternal life in a spirit world.

reincarnation until reach the

Summerland

Based on teachings of
Zoroaster in 6th cent.
One God, Ahura Mazda, but
Judgment followed by heaven or
BCE Persia. Official
a dualistic worldview in Humans are free to do good
200,000, mostly
hell. Hell is temporary until final
religion of ancient
which an evil spirit, Angra
or evil, must choose the
in India
purgation and return to Ahura
Persia. May have
Mainyu, is almost as
side of good.
Mazda.
influenced Judaism and
powerful.
Vedic religion.

Practices

Texts

Spiritual healing is central. Mix of Anglican

and African rituals; a prophet plays a
prominent role.

none

Sacrifice of food or drink, toast to the gods,

shamanism (less frequently), celebration of
solstice holidays. Nine Noble Virtues is
moral code.

Eddas (Norse epics); the

Havamal (proverbs
attributed to Odin)

Daily prayer, avoidance of intoxicants,

scripture reading, hard work, education,
work for social justice and equality.

Writings of Bah'u'llh and

other Bah' leaders.

Meditation on mandalas and Tibetan deities,

astrology, monastic life.

Bonpo canon

Practices

Texts

Meditation, mantras, devotion to deities (in

some sects), mandalas (Tibetan)

Tripitaka (Pali Canon);

Mahayana sutras like the
Lotus Sutra; others.

Hierarchy similar to Roman Catholicism.

Daily prayer. Meditation. Communication
with spirit world (now outlawed in
Vietnam).

Caodai canon

Ancestor worship, prayer, longevity

practices, divination, prophecy and
astrology, feng shui.

none

Practices

Texts

Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist

(Communion), church on Sundays,
numerous holidays.

Bible (Hebrew Bible + New

Testament)

Honesty, politeness, propriety, humaneness,

perform correct role in society, loyalty to
family, nation

Analects

Modest lifestyles, fasting before Eid alAl-Naqd al-Khafi (Copy of

Adha. Beliefs and practices are hidden for
the Secret); Al-Juz'al-Awwal
protection from persecution. Special group
(Essence of the First)
of initiates called uqqal.

Spiritual Exercises of ECK: mantras,

meditation, and dreams. These enable Soul
travel and spiritual growth.

Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad and
books by Harold Klemp.

Practices

Texts

Pursue the highest pleasures (friendship and

tranquility) and avoid pain.

Letters and Principal

Doctrines of Epicurus

Five exercises to strengthen the Falun.

Cultivation of truthfulness, benevolence and
forbearance. Meat eating discouraged.

Zhuan Falun and other

writings by Master Li

Asceticism, celibacy

Gnostic scriptures including

various Gospels and Acts
attributed to apostles.

Animal sacrifice, harvest offerings,

festivals, games, processions, dance, plays,
in honor of the gods. Secret initiations and
rituals in mystery religions.

Epic poems of Homer and

Hesiod.

Chanting, dancing, evangelism,

vegetarianism, temple worship, monasticstyle living

The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

Practices

Texts

Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion

The Vedas, Upanishads,
to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy
Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana,
cities, live according to one's dharma
etc.
(purpose/ role).

Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms,

Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on
Qur'an (sacred text); Hadith
Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol
(tradition)
or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage
and fast of Ramadan.

Monasticism under the Five Great Vows

(Non-Violence, Truth, Celibacy, NonStealing, Non-Possessiveness); worship at
temples and at home. Meditation and
mantras.

The teachings of Mahavira

in various collections.

No blood transfusions, no celebration of

holidays, no use of crosses or religious
images. Baptism, Sunday service at
Kingdom Hall, strong emphasis on
evangelism.

New World Translation of the

Scriptures

Practices

Texts

Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at

adulthood. Synagogue services on
Saturdays. No pork or other non-kosher
foods. Holidays related to historical events.

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh);

Talmud

Dresden Codex; Madrid

Astronomy, divination, human sacrifice,
Codex; Paris codex; Books
elaborate burial for royalty, worship in stone of Chilam Balam; Popol
pyramid-temples
Vuh; The Ritual of the
Bacabs

Abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, coffee

and tea; baptism for the dead; eternal
marriage; temple garments under daily
clothes; active evangelism.

Christian Bible, Book of

Mormon, Doctrine and
Covenants, and Pearl of
Great Price

Practices

Texts

Prayer five times a day. Work for the

Qur'an and "Scriptures of all
equality of the African race. Respect laws of the Prophets of God" are
the land, don't carry arms, don't make war.
holy texts. Influential
Healthy living and abstinence from alcohol,
writings include Elijah
smoking and substance abuse. Modest
Muhammad's Message to the
dress.
Blackman in America (1965)

Astrology; mysticism; use of crystals; yoga;

tarot readings; holistic medicine; psychic
Works of a variety of New
abilities; angelic communications;
Age writers
channeling; amulets; fortune-telling

Practices

Texts

Emphasis on spiritual and mental healing,

Writings of Quimby (such as
but without rejection of modern medicine.
the The Quimby
Worship services; prayer for the sick;
Manuscripts) and other New
discussion of New Thought authors and
Thought authors
ideas.

sacrifices, large sculptures of human heads,

cave rituals, pilgrimages, ball-courts,
pyramids

none

Many practices based on Jewish biblical

Law. Abstinence from most or all meat,
artificial foods, and alcohol. Use of
marijuana in religious rituals and for
medicine. Wearing of dreadlocks.

Holy Piby (the "Blackman's

Bible"). The Ethiopian epic
Kebra Negast also revered.

Practices

Texts

Auditing, progressing up various levels until

Writings of Hubbard, such as
"clear". Focus on education and drug
Dianetics and Scientology
recovery programs.

24-hour Sabbath observance starting Friday Christian Bible; writings of

at sunset; adult baptism by immersion;
Ellen G. White as helpful
church services emphasizing sermon
supplement

Worship and offerings to kami at shrines

and at home. Purification rituals.

Kojiki (Records of Ancient

Matters); Nihon-gi
(Chronicles of Japan)

Prayer and meditation on God's name,

services at temple (gurdwara), turban and Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth
five Ks. Balance work, worship, and charity.
Sahib)
No monasticism or asceticism.

No authoritative texts.
Sunday services. Seances and other
Doctrine learned from spirit
communication with departed spirits. Spirit
guides (advanced departed
healing.
spirits).

Practices

Texts

General attitude of detachment and nonKojiki (Records of Ancient

struggle, "go with the flow" of the Tao. TaiMatters); Nihon-gi
chi, acupuncture, and alchemy to help
(Chronicles of Japan)
longevity.

Blessing Ceremony

The Divine Principle (1954)

by Rev. Moon.

No sacred text; foundational

Prayer, casting a circle, Drawing Down the
texts include The Witch Cult
Moon, reciting spells, dancing, singing,
in Western Europe and The
sharing cakes and wine or beer
God of the Witches

Good deeds, charity, equality, hard work.

Zend Avesta