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religion

Code of belief or philosophy that often involves the worship of a God or gods. Belief in a supernatural power is not essential (absent in, for example, Buddhism and Confucianism), but faithful adherence is usually considered to be rewarded; for example, by escape from human existence (Buddhism), by a future existence (Christianity, Islam), or by worldly benefit (Sōka Gakkai Buddhism). Religions include:

ancient and pantheist religions of Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome;

animist or polytheistic traditional central African religions, voodoo and related beliefs in Latin America and the Caribbean, traditional faiths of American Indians, Maoris, Australian Aborigines, and Javanese;

oriental Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto;

‘religions of a book’ Judaism, Christianity (the principal divisions are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant), and Islam (the principal divisions are Sunni and Shiite);

combined derivation these include Baha'ism, the Unification church, and Mormonism.

Religion and behaviour

A common factor in religions is the ascription to the God or gods of an interest in the behaviour of humans and their judgement of it as right or wrong, although the standards of morality attributed to gods vary enormously. From this follows the idea that a deity is to be obeyed, or at least placated, or retribution will follow. Assistance from a divine being can usually be obtained on certain terms. Most religions also have the idea of reward and punishment after death. In addition to each of these general ideas are a large number of ritual practices, such as penances, prayer, healing, festivities, and sacrifices; there are usually also teachings on morals and the afterlife.

Religious studies Comparative religion aims to study the various faiths impartially. Other related studies are the psychology of religion, which examines human states of mind under religious influence - for example, ecstasy, diabolic possession, and faith healing - and the possible causes of these states; and the philosophy of religion, which coincides to a large extent with natural theology.

Until the Enlightenment, the universality of religion was taken for granted in the West, though its forms were known to differ widely. In some Western countries, such as the USA, religious belief is still strong; other societies are predominantly secular.

Causes of belief Religion may originate in pondering the unknown; in the need to explain phenomena that are not understood; in awe of natural forces; in a psychological need for outside support; in dreams and visions; or in the veneration of ancestors or clan totems. Religious belief has generally been encouraged by rulers and governments because people are more likely to obey rules that have the force of supernatural authority behind them.

celibacy Eliade, Mircea folk religion Greek religion mission (religion)

Ramakrishna Schleiermacher, Friedrich Ernst Daniel theology toleration