Worldreligions Menu

Ayyavazhi (Tamil: அய்யாவழி, meaning “Path of the Father”) is a monotheistic spiritual tradition that emerged in southern India during the mid-nineteenth century, centred on the teachings and life of its prophet, Ayya Vaikundar (also known as Vaikunda Swami, c. 1809–1851). Though not

Shinto Japanese religion of the indigenous gods of the country. The word Shinto means “the way of the gods.” This is to distinguish it from the way of the BUDDHA, or BUDDHISM,

Jainism is a religion in India. Jains get their name because they follow the teachings and example of the jina, which means victor. For them, the victor is MAHAVIRA (sixth century B.C.E.).

The Bahá’í Faith is a universalist monotheistic religion that originated in nineteenth-century Persia (modern-day Iran). It teaches the unity of God, the unity of all religions, and the unity of humankind, proclaiming that all the great prophets throughout

Confucianism Influential East Asian spiritual and ethical tradition. It originated with CONFUCIUS at the end of the sixth century B.C.E. Since then, Confucianism has often been the official ideology of the Chinese

Zoroastrianism Religion of ancient Persia based on the teachings of the prophet Zarasthustra (Zoroaster in Greek). Zoroastrianism influenced the development of Western angelologies and Demonologies. Zarathustra may have been born as early

Taoism A Chinese religion; pronounced with an initial “d,” and therefore also spelled Daoism. Taoism teaches that by living in harmony with the Tao (pronounced and sometimes spelled Dao) or the way

The term New Age or New Age Thinking is a general label used since the late 20th century and after to cover a number of interrelated spiritual interests. They include belief in

Buddhism A religion that traces its history back to the BUDDHA, Siddhartha Gautama (c. 560–c. 480 B.C.E.). Buddhism is widely practiced throughout southeast and east Asia. It also has strong traditional ties