Known religions?

Question

How many known, active religions are there in the world today?

Even if I cut the "statistical" 4200 religions in half to 2100, does that mean 2099 of those religions are wrong amd worship the wrong God? We all can't be right, can we?

Answer 1

On the surface, the many religions in existence today seem quite different from one another. However, if we strip them of the things that are mere embellishments and later additions, or if we remove those distinctions that are the result of climate, language, peculiar conditions of their native land, and other factors, it is amazing how similar most of them turn out to be.

For example, most people would think that there could hardly be any two religions more different from each other than the Roman Catholic Church of the West and Buddhism of the East. However, what do we see when we put aside the differences that could be attributed to language and culture? If we are objective about it, we have to admit that there is a great deal that the two have in common. Both Catholicism and Buddhism are steeped in rituals and ceremonies. These include the use of candles, incense, holy water, the rosary, images of saints, chants and prayer books, even the sign of the cross. Both religions maintain institutions of monks and nuns and are noted for celibacy of priests, special garb, holy days, special foods. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it serves to illustrate the point. The question is, Why do two religions that appear to be so different have so many things in common?

As enlightening as the comparison of these two religions turns out to be, the same can be done with other religions. When we do so, we find that certain teachings and beliefs are almost universal among them. Most of us are familiar with such doctrines as the immortality of the human soul, heavenly reward for all good people, eternal torment for the wicked in an underworld, purgatory, a triune god or a godhead of many gods, and a mother-of-god or queen-of-heaven goddess. Beyond these, however, there are many legends and myths that are equally commonplace. For example, there are legends about man’s fall from divine grace owing to his illicit attempt to achieve immortality, the need to offer sacrifices to atone for sin, the search for a tree of life or fountain of youth, gods and demigods who lived among humans and produced superhuman offspring, and a catastrophic flood that devastated nearly all of humanity.

What can we conclude from all of this? We note that those who believed in these myths and legends lived far from one another geographically. Their culture and traditions were different and distinct. Their social customs bore no relationship to one another. And yet, when it comes to their religions, they believed in such similar ideas. Although not every one of these peoples believed in all the things mentioned, all of them believed in some of them. The obvious question is, Why? It was as if there was a common pool from which each religion drew its basic beliefs, some more, some less. With the passage of time, these basic ideas were embellished and modified, and other teachings developed from them. But the basic outline is unmistakable.

Logically, the similarity in the basic concepts of the many religions of the world is strong evidence that they did not begin each in its own separate and independent way. Rather, going back far enough, their ideas must have come from ONE common origin.

Interestingly, among the legends common to many religions is one that says humankind began in a golden age in which man was guiltless, lived happily and peacefully in close communion with God, and was free from sickness and death. While details may differ, the same concept of a perfect paradise that once existed is found in the writings and legends of many religions.

The Avesta, the sacred book of the ancient Persian Zoroastrian religion, tells about “the fair Yima, the good shepherd,” who was the first mortal with whom Ahura Mazda (the creator) conversed. He was instructed by Ahura Mazda “to nourish, to rule, and to watch over my world.”

Among the ancient Greeks, Hesiod’s poem Works and Days speaks of the Five Ages of Man, the first of which was the “Golden Age” when men enjoyed complete happiness.

Ancient Chinese legends also tell of a golden age in the days of Huang-Ti (Yellow Emperor).

Similar legendary accounts of a time of happiness and perfection at the beginning of man’s history can be found in the religions of many other peoples—Egyptians, Tibetans, Peruvians, Mexicans, and others. Was it just by accident that all these peoples, who lived far from each other and who had totally different cultures, languages, and customs, entertained the same ideas about their origin? Was it just by chance or coincidence that all of them chose to explain their beginnings in the same way? Logic and experience tell us that this could hardly be so. On the contrary, interwoven in all these legends, there MUST be some common elements of truth about the beginning of man and his religion.

The Bible’s account of man’s early history is reflected in the key elements found in many legends. The record reveals that as the human race began to disperse from Mesopotamia, they carried with them their memories, experiences, and ideas everywhere they went. In time these were elaborated and changed and became the warp and woof of religion in every part of the world. In other words, the account in Genesis constitutes the original, crystal-clear pool from which stemmed the basic ideas about the beginning of man and worship found in the various religions of the world. To these they added their particular doctrines and practices, but the link is unmistakable.

Answer 2

Religion:- Religion is a procedure of ideals and worships which involves a code of ethics and a philosophy of lifestyles. There are many faiths on this planet at present. Some of those religions are of contemporary starting place however so much of them are very historical. In truth we all know from historical past that guy has consistently had a faith. Even the primitive guys dwelling in caves or jungles had a few kind of faith. The ideas and rituals in guy's faith have CONTINUALLY developed and come to be extra rational and complex as time went on. The primitive religions of the Cave Man and the Bush Man gave upward thrust to the contemporary religions of the beyond 3 thousand years. Today, the foremost religions of the arena comprise: World Religion ----- Originated in Zoroastrianism ----- Iran Confucianism ----- China Hinduism ------ India Taoism ------ China Jainism ------ India Judaism ------ Neat East Christianity ------ Near East Islam ------ Near East Buddhism ------- India Shinto ------- Japan These are the first-class religions of the arena which don't seem to be handiest accountable for all our gathered wealth of knowledge, philosophy, ethics, and social and ethical codes, however have encouraged the tradition, the language and the ethical attitudes of nearly each and every PERSON dwelling at present. Difference among Religious and Non Religious Peoples. a million. The devout men and women consider in whatever at the same time the others don't. two. The devout men and women participate in distinctive acts of worship at the same time the others don't. three. The devout men and women appear to comply with a distinctive code for his or her social and ethical behaviour at the same time the others don't. four. The devout men and women uncover a cause of lifestyles and feature a sure philosophy toward it, at the same time the others don't.

Answer 3

Thousands. Nobody could possibly list them all here. But check out http://www.adherents.com , where they do have a fairly extensive listing. They claim to have "statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc."

Answer 4

6.5 billion. Each person has his or her own individual religious beliefs that no organized religious body can do anything with. Your beliefs are free.