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List of religions and spiritual traditions facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
For more details, see Major religious groups, Religious denomination, and History of religion

While the word religion is difficult to define, one standard model of religion used in religious studies courses defines it as

[a] system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.

Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws, or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, or ultimate concerns.

The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with the words "faith" or "belief system", but religion differs from private belief in that it has a public aspect. Most religions have organized behaviours, including clerical hierarchies, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, congregations of laity, regular meetings or services for the purposes of veneration of a deity or for prayer, holy places (either natural or architectural) or religious texts. Certain religions also have a sacred language often used in liturgical services. The practice of a religion may also include sermons, commemoration of the activities of a God or gods, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, rituals, liturgies, ceremonies, worship, initiations, funerals, marriages, meditation, invocation, mediumship, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religious beliefs have also been used to explain parapsychological phenomena such as out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, and reincarnation, along with many other paranormal and supernatural experiences.

Some academics studying the subject have divided religions into three broad categories: world religions, a term which refers to transcultural, international faiths; Indigenous religions, which refers to smaller, culture-specific or nation-specific religious groups; and new religious movements, which refers to recently developed faiths. One modern academic theory of religion, social constructionism, says that religion is a modern concept that suggests all spiritual practice and worship follows a model similar to the Abrahamic religions as an orientation system that helps to interpret reality and define human beings, and thus believes that religion, as a concept, has been applied inappropriately to non-Western cultures that are not based upon such systems, or in which these systems are a substantially simpler construct.

Eastern religions

Main article: Eastern religions

Eastern religions are the religions which originated in East, South and Southeast Asia encompassing a diverse range of eastern and spiritual traditions.

East Asian religions

Main article: East Asian religions
See also: Three teachings

World religions that originated in East Asia, also known as Taoic religions; namely Taoism and Confucianism and religions and traditions descended from them.

Chinese philosophy schools

Main article: Hundred Schools of Thought
  • Taojia ("School of the Tao")
  • Fajia ('School of Law")
    • Zonghengjia ("School of Diplomacy")
  • Huang–Lao
  • Mojia ("School of Mo")
    • Mingjia ("School of Names")
  • Nongjia ("School of Agrarianism")
  • Ruijia ("School of Scholars")
  • Yangism
  • Yinyangjia ("School of Yin Yang")
  • Zajia ("School of Syncretism")

Confucianism

Main article: Confucianism
  • Confucian ritual religion
  • Han Learning
  • Korean Confucianism
    • Donghak
  • Lingnan Confucianism
  • Neo-Confucianism
    • Cheng-Zhu school
    • Edo Neo-Confucianism
    • Yangmingism
  • New Confucianism
    • Progressive Confucianism
  • New Text
    • Changzhou school
  • Old Text

Taoism

Main article: Taoism
See also: Taoist schools
  • Korean Taoism
  • Quanzhen School ("School of the Fulfilled Virtue")
  • Shangqing School ("School of the Highest Clarity")
  • Way of the Five Pecks of Rice
    • Way of the Celestial Masters
      • Zhengyi Dao ("Way of the Right Oneness")

Syncretic Taoism

  • Dragon Gate Taoism
    • Wuliupai ("School of Wu-Liu")
  • Kōshin
  • Xuanxue ("Neo-Taoism")
  • Yao Taoism ("Meishanism")

Indian religions

Main article: Indian religions

The four world religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, also known as Dharmic religions; namely Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism and religions and traditions descended from them.

Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism
See also: Schools of Buddhism
  • Pre-sectarian Buddhism (theorized)
    • Mahayana
      • Chinese Buddhism
        • Tiantai
          • Tendai
          • Cheontae
        • Huayan school
          • Daśabhūmikā
        • Chan Buddhism
          • Seon Buddhism
          • Thiền Buddhism
            • Trúc Lâm (syncretic)
          • Zen Buddhism
            • Japanese Zen
          • Caodong school
            • Sōtō
              • Keizan line
              • Jakuen line
              • Giin line
          • Linji school
            • Otokan line
              • Rinzai
            • Ōbaku
            • Fuke-shū
          • Sanbo Kyodan
      • Madhyamaka
        • Sanlun
        • Jonang
        • Prasaṅgika
        • Svatantrika
      • Nichiren Buddhism
      • Pure Land Buddhism
        • Jōdo Shinshū
          • Honganji-ha
          • Ōtani-ha
          • Yuzu Nembutsu
          • Seizan
        • Jōdo-shū
      • Yogācāra
        • East Asian Yogācāra
    • Nikaya Buddhism (also called "Hinayana")
      • Theravada
        • Sangharaj Nikaya
        • Mahasthabir Nikaya
        • Dwara Nikaya
        • Shwegyin Nikaya
        • Thudhamma Nikaya
        • Amarapura–Rāmañña Nikāya
          • Galduwa Forest Tradition
        • Siam Nikaya
        • Sri Lankan Forest Tradition
        • Dhammayuttika Nikaya
          • Thai Forest Tradition
        • Maha Nikaya (Thailand)
          • Dhammakaya Movement
      • Vipassana movement (United States)
    • Vajrayana
      • Azhaliism
      • Bongthingism
      • Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
      • Newar Buddhism
      • Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism
      • Shingon Buddhism
        • Tachikawa-ryū
      • Southern Esoteric Buddhism
      • Tibetan Buddhism
        • Bon (syncretic)
        • Gelug
          • Yellow Shamanism (syncretic)
        • Kagyu
          • Dagpo Kagyu
            • Karma Kagyu
            • Drukpa Kagyu
          • Shangpa Kagyu
        • Nyingma
        • Sakya
        • Jonang
        • Bodongpa
  • Navayana

Dharmic philosophy schools

Main article: Hindu philosophy
  • Āstika (Orthodox schools)
    • Nyaya
    • Mimamsa
    • Samkhya
    • Vaisheshika
    • Vedanta
      • Advaita Vedanta
      • Akshar-Purushottam Darshan
      • Bhedabheda
        • Achintya Bheda Abheda
        • Dvaitadvaita
      • Dvaita Vedanta
      • Pratyabhijna
      • Shaiva Siddhanta
      • Shiva Advaita
      • Shuddhadvaita
      • Vishishtadvaita
    • Yoga (philosophy)
  • Nāstika (Heterodox schools)

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism
For more details, see Hindu denominations and Bhakti movement
  • Sant Mat
    • Dadupanth
    • Kabir panth
    • Ravidassia religion
    • Sadh
  • Shaivism
    • Aghori
    • Kapalika
    • Kashmir Shaivism
    • Kaumaram
    • Nath
      • Adinath Sampradaya
      • Inchegeri Sampradaya
    • Pashupata Shaivism
    • Shaiva Siddhanta
    • Veerashaivism
      • Lingayatism
  • Shaktism
    • Srikula
  • Smartism
  • Śrauta
  • Tantra
    • Kaula
  • Vaishnavism/Krishnaism
    • Balmikism
    • Bhagavata tradition
    • Brahma Sampradaya
      • Madhva tradition
      • Gaudiya Vaishnavism
        • Manipuri Vaishnavism
      • Haridasa
    • Ekasarana Dharma
    • Kapadi Sampradaya
    • Mahanubhava
    • Nimbarka Sampradaya
    • Pranami/Pranami Sampraday
    • Radha Vallabh Sampradaya
    • Ramsnehi Sampradaya
    • Rudra Sampradaya
      • Pushtimarg
    • Sri Vaishnavism
      • Ramanandi Sampradaya
      • Thenkalais
        • Manavala Mamunigal Sabha
    • Vaishnava-Sahajiya
    • Warkari
  • Zunism (disputedly Hindu)

Syncretic Hinduism

  • Banjara Hinduism
  • Baul
  • Bhil Hinduism
  • Folk Hinduism
  • Dyaoism
  • Indonesian Hinduism
    • Balinese Hinduism
    • Javanese Hinduism
      • Tenggerese Hinduism
    • Kaharingan
    • Naurus
      • Nuaulu religion

Jainism

Main article: Jainism
See also: Jain schools and branches
  • Digambara
    • Kanji Panth
    • Taran Panth
  • Śvētāmbara
    • Murtipujaka
    • Sthānakavāsī
  • Yapaniya (Historical)

Sikhism

Main article: Sikhism
For more details, see Sects of Sikhism

Sects such as the Nirankari, Ramraiya and Namdhari are not accepted within the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Sikh Code of Conduct) as they believe in a current human Satguru which goes against Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Dohra in Ardaas.

  • Tat Khalsa
  • Udasi
  • Nanakpanthi
  • Nirankari
  • Nirmala
  • Sewapanthi
  • Nihang
  • Taksali
  • Mina
  • Ramraiya
  • Namdhari
  • Akhand Kirtani
  • 3HO
  • Sanatan Sikh

Yoga

Main article: Yoga

Abrahamic religions

Main article: Abrahamic religions
See also: Western religions

Christianity

Main article: Christianity
See also: List of Christian denominations
Early Christianity
Main article: Early christianity
See also: Diversity in early Christian theology
Eastern Christianity
Main article: Eastern Christianity
Western Christianity
Main article: Western Christianity
See also: List of Independent Catholic denominations and List of the largest Protestant denominations

Syncretic

Other

  • American Civil Religion
  • Bosnian Church (Historical)
  • Christian Universalism
  • Nondenominational Christianity
  • Nontrinitarianism
    • Tolstoyan movement

Islam

Main article: Islam
See also: Islamic schools and branches, Ilm al-Kalam, Ahl al-Hadith, and Islamism
Khawarij
Main article: Khawarij
  • Azraqi (Historical)
  • Haruriyyah (Historical)
  • Ibadi
  • Najdat (Historical)
  • Sufri (Historical)
Shia Islam
Main article: Shia Islam
See also: List of extinct Shia sects
  • Alevism
  • Alawites (Nusayris)
  • Isma'ilism
    • Mustaali
      • Dawoodi Bohra
        • Alavi Bohra
        • Atba-i-Malak
          • Atba-i-Malak Badar
          • Atba-i-Malak Vakil
        • Hebtiahs Bohra
        • Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
      • Sulaymani
    • Nizari
  • Twelver
    • Ja'fari jurisprudence
      • Akhbari
      • Shaykhism
      • Usuli
  • Zaidiyyah
    • Jarudiyah
    • Batriyya
Sufism
Main articles: Sufism and Islamic Mysticism
See also: List of Sufi orders
Sunni Islam
Main article: Sunni Islam

Syncretic

  • Abangan
  • Ali-Illahism
  • Din-i Ilahi
  • Kafirism
  • Wetu Telu
  • Satpanth

Other

Judaism

Main articles: Judaism and Jewish religious movements
See also: Jewish schisms

Historical Judaism

  • Essenes
    • Bana'im
    • Hemerobaptists (possible ancestor of Mandaeism)
    • Maghāriya
    • Nasoraeans (ancestor of Mandaeism)
  • Hypsistarianism
  • Magarites
  • Messianic sects
    • Ebionites
    • Elcesaites
  • Nazirite
  • Pharisees (ancestor of Rabbinic Judaism)
  • Sabbateans
    • Frankism
  • Sadducees (possible ancestor of Karaite Judaism)
    • Boethusians
  • Second Temple Judaism
  • Therapeutae
  • Zealots (Judea)
    • Sicarii
Kabbalah
Main articles: Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism
Non-Rabbinic Judaism Rabbinic Judaism
Main article: Rabbinic Judaism

Other Abrahamic

Iranian religions

Main articles: Iranian religions and Religion in Iran

Manichaeism

Main article: Manichaeism
See also: Manichaean schisms
  • Athinganoi (Historical)
  • Chinese Manichaeism

Yazdânism

Main article: Yazdânism
  • Ishikism
  • Shabakism
  • Yarsanism
  • Yazidism

Zoroastrianism

Main article: Zoroastrianism
  • Behafaridians (Historical)
  • Ilm-e-Khshnoom
  • Khurramites (Historical)
  • Mazdakism (Historical)
    • Mazdaznan
  • Zurvanism

Indigenous (ethnic, folk) religions

Main articles: Ethnic religion and Folk religion
See also: List of ethnic religions, Paganism, Animism, Totemism, Shamanism, and Fetishism

Religions that consist of the traditional customs and beliefs of particular ethnic groups, refined and expanded upon for thousands of years, often lacking formal doctrine. Some adherents do not consider their ways to be "religion", preferring other cultural terms.

African

Main article: Religion in Africa

Traditional African

Main article: Traditional African religions
  • ǃKung religion
  • Abwoi religion
  • Acholi religion
  • Afizere traditional religion
  • Akan religion
    • Asante religion
  • Azande traditional religion
  • Bafia religion
  • Baka traditional religion
  • Bantu religion
    • Abagusii religion
    • Akamba traditional religion
    • AmaMpondomise traditional religion
    • Badimo
    • Balondo religion
    • Baluba religion
    • Bamileke religion
    • Bamum traditional religion
    • Banyole traditional beliefs
    • Bubi spirituality
    • Bushongo religion
    • Bwiti
    • Chaga faith
    • Chokwe spiritual beliefs
    • Duala traditional religion
    • Fipa religion
    • Furiiru traditional religion
    • Giriama traditional religion
    • Herero traditional faith
    • Himba religion
    • Kikuyu traditional religion
    • Kongo religion
    • Kwe faith
    • Lozi religion
    • Luvale religion
    • Makua traditional religion
    • Mbole religion
    • Nyakyusa religion
    • Ovambo traditional religion
    • Pedi traditional religion
    • Songye religion
    • Suku religion
    • Swazi traditional religion
    • Tonga religion
    • Tsonga traditional religion
    • Tumbuka religion
    • Xhosa traditional religion
    • Zulu traditional religion
  • Baoule traditional religion
  • Bari traditional religion
  • Bassa traditional religion
  • Biri traditional religion
  • Bobo religion
  • Bori
  • Bwa religion
  • Chamba traditional religion
  • Dahomean religion
  • Damara religion
  • Dan religion
  • Dinka religion
  • Dogon religion
  • Ebira traditional religion
  • Edo traditional religion
  • Efik religion
  • Ekoi religion
  • Esan traditional religion
  • Fali traditional religion
  • Frafra beliefs
  • Gbagyi traditional religion
  • Hadza religion
  • Hyel
  • Idoma traditional religion
  • Ijaw traditional religion
  • Inam
  • Jola traditional religion
  • Asisian religion
  • Khoekhoen religion
  • Kissi traditional religion
  • Kono traditional religion
  • Koore religion
  • Krahn religion
  • Kuku traditional beliefs
  • Lobi animism
  • Lotuko ethnic religion
  • Lugbara religion
  • Maasai religion
  • Madi traditional religion
  • Manjak religion
  • Mbuti religion
  • Moba ethnic religion
  • Mursi animism
  • Nso religion
  • Nuer religion
  • Nyongo Society
    • Bakossi beliefs
  • Odinala / Odinani
  • Oropom religion
  • Safwa religion
  • Samburu religion
  • San religion
  • Serer religion
  • Sidama religion
  • Surma religion
  • Tammari traditional religion
  • Temne traditional religion
  • Traditional Berber religion
  • Turkana traditional religion
  • Urhobo traditional religion
  • Vodun
  • Waaqeffanna
  • Yoruba religion
    • Ifá
  • Indigenous religion in Zimbabwe
    • Shona traditional religion

Diasporic African

Main article: Afro-American religion

Altaic

Main article: Shamanism in Siberia
See also: List of Tengrist movements
  • Evenki shamanism
  • Manchu shamanism
  • Turko-Mongolic religion
    • Altaic shamanism
      • Burkhanism
    • Dukha shamanism
    • Mongolian shamanism
      • Black shamanism
      • Tengrism
        • Aiyy
        • Tengir Ordo
        • Vattisen Yaly
    • Nanai shamanism
    • Oroqen shamanism
    • Shor shamanism
    • Soyot shamanism
    • Ulch shamanism
    • Yakut shamanism

American

Main article: Native American religion

Austroasiatic

  • Asur religion
  • Birhor traditional religion
  • Bru religion
  • Đạo Lương
    • Đạo Mẫu
      • Four Palaces
    • Thánh Trần worship
  • Ka Niam Khasi
  • Mon religion
  • Muong ethnic religion
  • Nicobarese traditional religion
  • Ka Niamtre
  • Paoch animism
  • Santal religion
  • Sarnaism
  • Senoi ethnic religion
  • Sora traditional beliefs
  • Tampuan animism
  • Ta Oi animism

Austronesian

  • Amis native religion
  • Aliran Kepercayaan/Mythology of Indonesia
    • Adat Pu'un
    • Aluk
    • Batak Parmalim
    • Dayak religion
      • Kaharingan
    • Jingi Tiu
    • Kejawèn
    • Kapitayan
      • Kangeanese religion
    • Karo Pemena
    • Kendayan religion
    • Marapu
    • Rejang religion
    • Rotenese religion
    • Saminism Movement
    • Sangirese religion
    • Sumbawa religion
    • Sundanese Wiwitan
    • Wai Apu religion
  • Dayawism
    • Batak folk religion
    • Bicolano religion
    • Blaan folk religion
    • Capiznon folk religion
    • Cuyunon folk religion
    • Gaddang folk religion
    • Ifugao folk religion
    • Ilocano folk religion
    • Itneg folk religion
    • Kalinga folk religion
    • Kankanaey folk religion
    • Karay-a folk religion
    • Mangyan folk religion
    • Palawan folk religion
    • Pangasinan folk religion
    • Sama Bajau folk religion
    • Sambal folk religion
    • Subanon folk religion
    • Tagalog folk religion
    • Tagbanwa folk religion
    • Tboli folk religion
    • Teduray folk religion
    • Visayan folk religion
  • Fomba Gasy
  • Jarai religion
  • Kanakanavu native religion
  • Malaysian folk religion
    • Datuk Keramat
    • Jakun religion
    • Pengarap Iban
    • Melanau religion
    • Momolianism
    • Murut religion
    • Orang Kanaq religion
    • Orang Seletar religion
    • Semai religion
    • Semaq Beri religion
    • Temuan religion
  • Micronesian religion
    • Carolinian religion
    • Chamorro religion
    • Chuukese religion
    • Nauruan indigenous religion
  • Polynesian narrative
    • Cook Islands narrative
    • Hawaiian religion
    • Mangarevan narrative
    • Māori religion
    • Niuean narrative
    • Rapa Nui narrative
    • Samoan narrative
    • Tahitian narrative
    • Tongan narrative
    • Tuvaluan narrative
  • Paiwan shamanism
  • Sakizaya native religion
  • Taivoan animism
  • Tao native religion

Caucasian

  • Khabzeism
  • Vainakh religion

Dravidian

Main article: Dravidian folk religion
See also: Religion in ancient Tamilakam
  • Khond traditional religion
  • Kota religion
  • Koyapunem
  • Sauria Paharia religion
  • Tamil religion
  • Toda religion

Indo-European

  • Kalashism
  • Nagpuria religion
  • Ossetian native religion
  • Punjabi folk religion
  • Tharu religion

Koreanic and Japonic

  • Koshintō (Historical)
  • Matagi spirituality
  • Muism
    • Gasin faith
  • Ryukyuan religion

Melanesian and Aboriginal

Main article: Melanesian mythology

Negrito

Paleosiberian

Main article: Shamanism in Siberia
  • Ainu religion
  • Koryak religion
  • Itelmen religion
  • Nivkh traditional religion
  • Yukaghir shamanism

Sino-Tibetan

  • Banrawat religion
  • Bathouism
  • Benzhuism
  • Biate animism
  • Bimoism
  • Bon
    • Dongba
    • Hangui
  • Burmese folk religion
    • Lisu religion
  • Chang Naga animism
  • Chutia religion
  • Chinese Folk Religion
    • Ancestor Worship
    • Chinese folk religion in Southeast Asia
    • Faism
    • Mazu worship
    • Northeast China folk religion
    • Queen Mother worship
    • Shangdiism
    • Shenism
    • Wang Ye worship
    • Wuism
  • Daba
  • Dingba
  • Donyi-Polo
  • Songsarek
  • Gurung shamanism
  • Hani religion
  • Hnam Sakhua
  • Jingpo religion
  • Kan Khwan
  • Karbi animism
  • Karen animism
  • Kiratism
    • Yumaism
  • Maring beliefs
  • Miji animism
  • Mizo religion
  • Mro religion
  • Nuo folk religion
  • Nyezi-No
  • Qiang folk religion
  • Reang religion
  • Sanamahism
  • Tangsa Naga animism
  • Toto nature religion
  • Zahv

Tai and Miao

  • Hlai animism
  • Kev Dab Kev Qhuas
  • Kam religion
  • Maonan traditional religion
  • Mo
  • Pa Then religion
  • Qabiao religion
  • Satsana Phi
    • Ahom religion
    • Giay animism
    • Lamet religion
    • Nung religion
    • Saek religion
  • Sui religion
  • Then

Uralic

  • Komi shamanism
  • Mari Native Religion

Other

  • Beduin shamanism

New religious movements

Main article: New religious movement
See also: List of new religious movements

Religions that cannot be classed as either world religions or traditional folk religions, and are usually recent in their inception.

Cargo cults

Main article: Cargo cults
  • John Frum
  • Johnson cult
  • Pomio Kivung
  • Prince Philip Movement
  • Vailala Madness

New ethnic religions

Main article: Ethnic religion
See also: List of ethnic religions

Black

  • African Zionism
  • Ausar Auset Society
  • Black Muslims
    • American Society of Muslims
  • Dini Ya Msambwa
  • Five-Percent Nation
  • Godianism
  • Igbe religion
  • Moorish Science Temple of America
    • Moorish Orthodox Church of America
  • Mumboism
  • Nation of Islam
    • United Nation of Islam
  • Nuwaubian Nation
Black Hebrew Israelites
Main article: Black Hebrew Israelites
Rastafari
Main article: Rastafari
  • Bobo Ashanti
  • Nyabinghi
  • Twelve Tribes of Israel

White

  • Ariosophy
  • British Israelism
  • Christian Identity
  • Creativity
  • French Israelism
  • Nordic Israelism
  • Wotansvolk

Native American

World religion-derived new religions

Abrahamic-derived

  • Antoinism
  • Beili Wang
  • Branch Davidians
  • Chrislam
  • Eastern Lightning
  • The Family International
  • Gafatar
  • Grail Movement
  • Holy Spirit of Blood and Water Church
  • Koreshanity
  • Lalpa Kohran Thar
  • Mama Tada
  • Mentuhui
  • Modekngei
  • Noahidism
  • Pai Marire
  • Pilgrims of Ares
  • Rātana
  • Ringatu
  • Spiritism
  • Unification Church
    • Unification Church of the United States
  • World Elijah Evangelical Mission
  • Zhushenjiao

Chinese salvationist religions

Main article: Chinese salvationist religions
  • Baguadao ("Way of the Eight Trigrams")
  • Dejiao ("Teaching of Virtue")
  • Huangjidao ("Way of the Imperial Pole")
  • Huangtiandao ("Way of the Yellow Sky")
  • Huazhaidao ("Way of Flowers and Fasting")
  • Jiugongdao ("Way of the Nine Palaces")
  • Luandao ("Phoenix Way")
  • Luoism ("Way of Luo")
    • Chinese religions of fasting
      • Xiantiandao ("Way of Former Heaven")
        • Guiyidao ("Way of the Return to the One")
        • Shengdao ("Holy Way")
        • Yaochidao ("Way of the Mother of Pearl Lake")
        • Yiguandao ("Persistent Way")
          • Haizidao
        • Yixin Tiandao ("Heart-bound Heavenly Way")
    • Dacheng
    • Hongyangism
  • Maitreyanism
  • Sanyiism
  • Shanrendao ("Way of the Virtuous Man")
  • Taigu school
  • Tiandihui
  • Tiandiism
  • Tianguangdao ("Way of the Heavenly Light")
  • Tianxian Miaodao ("Way of the Temple of the Heavenly Immortals")
  • Weixinism
  • White Lotus
  • Xuanyuandao ("Way of Xuanyuan")
  • Yellow Sand Society
  • Zailiism ("Way of the Abiding Principle)
  • Zhongyongdao ("Way of the Golden Mean")

Hindu reform movements

Main article: Hindu denominations § Newer movements
See also: Neo-Vedanta and Hindu reform movements
  • Adidam
  • Adi Dharm
  • Ananda
  • Ananda Ashrama
  • Ananda Marga
  • Arya Samaj
  • Ayyavazhi
  • Chinmaya Mission
  • Hare Krishna
  • Mahanam Sampraday
  • Mahima Dharma
  • Matua Mahasangha
  • Oneness Movement
  • Rajneesh movement
  • Satsang
  • Shirdi Sai Baba movement
  • Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres
  • Sri Aurobindo Ashram
  • Sri Ramana Ashram
    • Neo-Advaita
  • Swaminarayan Sampradaya
    • Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
    • Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi
      • International Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal
      • Swaminarayan Gurukul
    • Nar Narayan Dev Gadi
      • International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation
      • Narnarayan Dev Yuvak Mandal
    • Swaminarayan Gadi (Maninagar)
    • Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha
  • Transcendental Meditation

Muist-derived

Main article: Korean new religions
  • Cheondoism
    • Jeungsanism
      • Daesun Jinrihoe
      • Jeung San Do
      • Bocheonism
    • Suwunism
  • Daejongism

Neo-Buddhism

Main article: Buddhist modernism
  • Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương
  • Diamond Way Buddhism
  • Falun Gong
  • Guanyin Famen
  • Humanistic Buddhism
  • Navayana
  • New Kadampa Tradition
  • Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga
  • PL Kyodan
  • Reiyūkai
    • Risshō Kōsei Kai
  • Rimé movement
  • Shambhala Buddhism
  • Shinnyo-en
  • Soka Gakkai
  • Triratna Buddhist Community
  • True Buddha School
  • Won Buddhism

Perennial and interfaith

Shinshukyo

Main article: Japanese new religions
  • Aum Shinrikyo
    • Aleph
    • Hikari no Wa
  • Happy Science
  • Ijun
  • Konkokyo
  • Kurozumikyō
  • Oomoto
    • Church of World Messianity
      • Mahikari
    • Seicho-no-Ie
    • Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama
    • Shumei
  • Sekai Shindokyo
  • Shinmeiaishinkai
  • Tenrikyo
  • Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō
  • Zenrinkyo

Sikh-derived

  • Contemporary Sant Mat movements
    • Advait Mat
    • Radha Soami
      • Radha Soami Satsang Beas
      • Radha Soami Satsang Dayagbal
      • Radha Swami Satsang, Dinod
      • Ruhani Satsang
      • Manavta Mandir
      • Science of Spirituality (a.k.a. Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
    • Radha Soami-influenced
      • Ancient Teachings of the Masters
      • Dera Sacha Sauda
      • Eckankar
      • Elan Vital (formerly Divine Light Mission)
      • Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
    • Ravidassia

Modern paganism

Main article: Modern paganism
See also: List of Neopagan movements

Ethnic neopaganism

See also: Polytheistic reconstructionism and European Congress of Ethnic Religions
  • Hetanism
  • Baltic neopaganism
    • Dievturība
    • Romuva
  • Caucasian neopaganism
    • Abkhaz neopaganism
    • Assianism
  • Celtic neopaganism
  • Heathenry (a.k.a. Germanic neopaganism)
  • Hellenism
  • Heraka
  • Italo-Roman neopaganism
    • Nova Roma
    • Roman Traditional Movement
  • Kemetism
    • Kemetic Orthodoxy
  • Semitic neopaganism
  • Rodnovery (a.k.a. Slavic neopaganism)
    • Native Polish Church
    • Peterburgian Vedism
    • Rodzima Wiara
    • Rodnover Confederation
    • Sylenkoism
    • Union of Slavic Native Belief Communities
    • Ynglism
  • Uralic neopaganism
    • Estonian neopaganism
    • Suomenusko
    • Hungarian neopaganism
    • Mastorava
    • Udmurt Vos
  • Zalmoxianism
  • Zuism

Syncretic neopaganism

  • Adonism
  • Christopaganism
    • Christian Wicca
  • Church of All Worlds
  • Church of Aphrodite
  • Cochrane's Craft
  • Maria Lionza
  • Druidry
  • El Tio
  • Feraferia
  • Goddess movement
  • Huna
  • Ivanovism
  • Krama
  • Neoshamanism
  • Pow-wow
  • Radical Faeries
  • Ringing Cedars' Anastasianism
  • Santa Muerte
  • Stregheria
  • Summum
  • Technopaganism
  • Wicca
    • British Traditional Wicca
      • Gardnerian Wicca
      • Alexandrian Wicca
      • Central Valley Wicca
      • Algard Wicca
      • Chthonioi Alexandrian Wicca
      • Blue Star Wicca
    • Seax-Wica
    • Universal Eclectic Wicca
    • Celtic Wicca
    • Dianic Wicca
    • Faery Wicca
    • Feri Tradition
    • Georgian Wicca
    • Odyssean Wicca
    • Wiccan church
      • Covenant of the Goddess

Entheogenic religions

Main article: Entheogen
  • Church of the Universe
  • Neo-American Church
  • Santo Daime
  • Temple of the True Inner Light
  • Tensegrity
  • THC Ministry
  • União do Vegetal

New Age Movement

Main article: New Age
  • A Course in Miracles
  • Association for Research and Enlightenment
  • Chaos Magic
  • Conversations with God
  • Eckankar
  • Love Has Won
  • Rainbow Family
  • The Family

New Thought

Main article: New Thought
See also: List of New Thought denominations and independent centers
  • Christian Science
  • Church of Divine Science
  • Church of the Truth
  • Church Universal and Triumphant
  • Home of Truth
  • Jewish Science
  • Psychiana
  • Religious Science
  • Seicho-no-Ie
  • The Infinite Way
  • Unity Church
  • Universal Foundation for Better Living

Parody religions and fiction-based religions

Main article: Parody religion
See also: List of fictional religions

Post-theistic and naturalistic religions

Main articles: Post-theism and Religious naturalism

UFO religions

Main article: UFO religions
  • Aetherius Society
  • Ashtar Galactic Command
  • Chen Tao ("True Way")
  • Fiat Lux
  • Ground Crew Project
  • Heaven's Gate
  • Industrial Church of the New World Comforter
  • Mark-Age
  • Nuwaubian Nation
  • Order of the Solar Temple
  • Raëlism
  • Scientology
    • Independent Scientology
  • The Seekers
  • Unarius Academy of Science
  • Universe people
  • Urantia movement

Western esotericism

Main article: Western esotericism
See also: Ceremonial magic, Left-hand path and right-hand path, and Occult
  • Anthroposophy
  • Archeosophical Society
  • Builders of the Adytum
  • Cthulhu Mythos cults
  • Eubiose
  • Fourth Way
  • Fraternity of the Inner Light
  • Hermeticism
    • Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
      • The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.
  • Illuminates of Thanateros
  • Luciferianism
    • Fraternitas Saturni
    • Neo-Luciferian Church
  • New Acropolis
  • Occultism
    • Gaianism
    • Mayanism
    • Michael Teachings
  • Ordo Aurum Solis
  • Otherkin
  • Rosicrucian
    • Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
    • Lectorium Rosicrucianum
    • Rosicrucian Fellowship
      • Order of Nine Angles
      • Temple of the Black Light
      • Temple of Set
  • Spiritualism
    • Faithism
  • Thelema
  • Theosophy
    • Neo-Theosophy
      • Angi Yoga
        • Roerichism
  • Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth

Historical religions

Main article: History of religion

Prehistoric religion

Main article: Prehistoric religion

Bronze Age

Classical antiquity

Post-classical period

Other categorisations

By demographics

Main article: Religious demographics
  • Major religious groups

By area

For more details, see Religion and geography
  • Religion in Africa
  • Religion in Asia
  • Religion in Oceania
  • Religion in Europe
  • Religion in North America
  • Religion in South America
  • Religions by country
    • List of state-established religions
    • Buddhism by country
      • Buddhism in the United States
    • Christianity by country
      • Roman Catholicism by country
      • Eastern Orthodoxy by country
      • Oriental Orthodoxy by country
      • Protestantism by country
    • Hinduism by country
    • Islam by country
      • Ahmadiyya by country
    • Judaism by country, Jewish population by country
    • Sikhism by country

See also

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List of religions and spiritual traditions Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.