What is a religion?


“an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules used to worship a god or group of gods,”



What happens when a belief system is no longer organised?

More than 4,000 religious organisation n only 5 making headlines?

Why?

The gamete theory,gamete is a cell which can no longer replicate on it own........

Christianity

Based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago, Christianity has over 2 billion followers and can be found in virtually every corner of the globe.
It is the dominant religion I the world



Christianity has divided into three major branches. Roman Catholicism represents the continuation of the historical organized church as it developed over the centuries, and is headed by the Pope. Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism separated in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope excommunicated each other. Eastern Orthodoxy (which includes the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches and several others) differs from Catholicism in its refusal of allegiance to the Pope, its emphasis on the use of icons in worship, and the date it celebrates Easter. Other cultural, political, and religious differences exist as well.

Protestantism arose in the 16th century. Protestants do not acknowledge the authority of the Pope, reject many traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Church, and emphasize the importance of reading the Bible and the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Protestantism encompasses numerous denominational groups, including Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Evangelicals.

Islam


Only two religions in the world have over one billion estimated followers, the first of which is Islam with an estimated 1.3 billion believers who make up 20.1 percent of the world’s population. A monotheistic religion, Islam follows the teachings of the Qur’an, which is believed to be the word of God. Though Muslims acknowledge prophets like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus as integral to their faith, they believe that Muhammad of Mecca was a divine messenger sent by God himself to guide humanity on the path of righteousness.





There God allah

Hinduism



Hinduism traces its origins to India where it is, by far, the most popular religion in the country even today. Though many argue that it is also the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism’s unconfirmed origins and lack of a founder make the claim impossible to verify as scholars were left to guess that its doctrine began sometime in the first millennium BCE.

Much like its mysterious and complex origins, Hinduism also contains a variety of philosophies that are interconnected through rituals, texts, ideas, meditations and pilgrimages that all share the belief in many gods and goddesses (known as Devas) such as Shiva, Krishna and Lakshmi.



gods
Shiva, Krishna and Lakshm etc

Buddhism



Buddhism with an estimated 375 million followers who make up around 5.9 percent of the world’s population. Though many consider Buddhism to have Chinese roots, its origin traces to India’s very own Gautama Buddha (or “the awakened one”) who became a spiritual figurehead as he taught throughout northern India in the first millennium BCE. With his teachings embodied in the Four Noble Truths, Buddha spread his doctrine as he inspired others to end their suffering by overcoming the cravings of the physical self to achieve ultimate liberation.

As Buddha’s teachings spread and the religion prospered, followers divided into two major sects known as Theravada and Mahayana while sharing a common goal of achieving Nirvana by following the Noble Eightfold Path to overcome suffering and reach rebirth.

Sikhism



an estimated 25 million followers, Sikhism traces its origins back to India in the 1400s when Nanak became the religion’s first Guru and teacher. By the death of the tenth Sikh Guru, Sikhism had become well-established and soon adopted the sacred scripture of Guru Granth Sahib. Outlining the doctrine of faith, the text is filled with meditations and teachings on the equality of all mankind, selfless acts of service to others, social justice, honesty and unity all done in the name of God

Judaism



an estimated 15 million followers that make up 0.2 percent of the world’s population. Rich in history, Judaism originated over 3,000 years ago when the Israelites developed a relationship with God and Abraham became the first Hebrew and father of the Jewish people. Through various promises with God, Abraham’s descendants received the Torah from Moses on Mount Sinai in what would become the religion’s most sacred text.

Founded on the belief that there is only one God whose teachings are in the Torah and are supplemented by texts such as the Midrash and Talmud, Judaism has a variety of practices, texts, beliefs and influences such as Christianity, Islam and Bahaism.

Bahaism



Established in Persia in the 19th century, Bahaism is not only one of the newest religions in the world it is also the seventh most popular with an estimated 7.5 million followers. Native to the Middle East, Bahaism has three key principles that are rooted in the belief that there is only one God who created the entire universe and that all religions and humans were made by this God to create unity. Bahaism also teaches that diversity among people should be celebrated since all humans are created equal in their purpose to better learn, know and love God.

Proclaiming himself as a messenger from God, Baha’u’llah founded Bahaism during the 1800s shortly before he was exiled from Persia to the Ottoman Empire where he was imprisoned for his teachings. Dying a prisoner, Baha’u’llah’s only hope to spread Bahaism fell on his son, Abdu’l-Baha, who shared his father’s doctrines throughout the region. Since then, Bahaism has spread to over 200 countries around the world to create a community of followers who believe prophets like Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha and Baha’u’llah were all divine messengers of peace.

“Confucianism



say…” Referenced by people around the globe and even in pop culture today, Confucianism with over 6.4 million followers. Typically considered a system of humanistic beliefs rather than a structured religion, Confucianism originated in the teachings of a Chinese philosopher known as Confucius who lived from 551 to 479 BCE. Confucius proclaimed himself as a transmitter of the values of China’s Zhou Dynasty, which was rooted in politeness and consideration for others.

Recognized as one of China’s official religions, Confucianism is a global religion with followers predominately in the East Asian realm in countries like Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Regardless of location or ethnicity, all Confucians live by a doctrine of compassion and believe that people are essentially good but can become better through self-cultivation and teaching. With a growing appreciation for such compassion and self-awareness, many believe that a Confucian revival is on the horizon with the Holy Confucian Church established in China last year to unite and fuel the growth of believers around the world.

This is very good thread.

If you expatiate a bit on sects of those religions it will be good.

juman:
This is very good thread.

If you expatiate a bit on sects of those religions it will be good.

The thread name itself is a hamper.....i don't like religion but...head up :check shintoism n jaism