Religion is distinguished from other social phenomena by belief in the supernatural, the presence of a set of spiritual and moral rules of behavior, cult rituals that unite a group of people-followers into various types of religious forms - church, sect, movement, confession, community, etc. There are more than 5,000 religions in the modern world.
It is necessary
Encyclopedia "Peoples and Religions of the World"
Instructions
Step 1
Scientists associate the origin of the word "religion" with two Latin verbs religare (to unite, connect, reunite) and relegere (to discuss again, to revere). In today's understanding, religio is piety, piety.
Step 2
When classifying religions, several features stand out. For example, religion can be dead or alive. Religious beliefs of Egypt, ancient Greece or the civilization of the ancient Indians are only partly relevant, but they are preserved in myths, legends, and tales. Some of them have undergone transformation and have a small number of adherents. Therefore, scientists enter the description of these religions in encyclopedias and philosophical dictionaries.
Step 3
In some parts of the world, tribal religions are preserved, for example, among the aborigines of Australia, Africa and Oceania. People belonging to a certain clan believe that they are protected and punished by some animal or natural phenomenon - a totem. Parts of animals can also act as a totem - the head of a turtle, an eagle's feather, etc. Totemism is allocated in a separate section of the classification of religions.
Step 4
The next feature in the systematization of religious beliefs and trends is national-territorial. A striking example is India, which has created a huge number of religions - Sikhism, Brahmanism, Jainism, Hinduism, etc. In China, it is Confucianism; Zoroastrianism in Iran.
Step 5
The most numerous by the number of followers in the classification list of religions are the world ones: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. They are distinguished by their territorial distribution. For example, Hinduism is considered a world religion, despite the fact that its origins are in India. Indians are settled all over the world, they are citizens of European countries, America and the countries of the East. Actually, like the Jews.
Step 6
Each of the world's religions has its own characteristics. Hinduism has a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses who are responsible for certain aspects of human life. Shiva - for the world order (he is the creator, he is the destroyer), Ganesha - for offspring, trade, science and art, Lakshmi - for prosperity, etc. You cannot become a Hindu during life, you can only be born.
Step 7
Buddhism is on the third step of the popularity pedestal 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 save himself from the suffering of this world through certain spiritual practices. Having completed his spiritual feat, the prince received the name Buddha, which means - the enlightened one who has attained nirvana. Nowadays, Buddhism has many varieties and is widespread in the countries of Asia, Southeast Asia and the Far East. There are adherents of this religion in Russia as well. Buddhism is professed voluntarily, everyone can become a Buddhist.
Step 8
Islam is the second most popular in the world. This religion arose about 600 years after the birth of the founder of Christianity, thanks to the Prophet Muhammad, who preached the belief in the one God Allah. Muslims honor the ancient Christian scriptures and believe in the myth of the fall of Adam and Eve. Islamists believe that people fell into sin and delusion, and Muhammad was called by God to earth to correct the situation. With the development of society, Islam also underwent significant changes, there were currents of Shiites, Sunnis, etc. and spread all over the world.
Step 9
Christianity is the world's leading monotheistic religion in terms of the number of followers, based on the myth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who sacrificed himself for the sins of men. Christianity is professed by 2.4 billion people. It is the most widespread religion, but also the most heterogeneous and non-monolithic. First, it is divided into Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. Sects have emerged from Christianity and continue to emerge: Baptism, Lutheranism, Seventh-day Adventists, Anglicanism, Pentecostalism, etc. Christianity gives believers hope for reunification with God the Father after death, not forgiveness of sins, provided that certain moral and ethical rules are observed - do not kill, do not steal, do not desire, etc.
