Encouragement:

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there". Acts 17:16,17

This study is offered as an effort to become familiar with other religions so that we might be able to "reason" with people we may encounter and to open our minds to become more tolerant of others and their beliefs.

As Christians, we should ask, what is the difference between faith, belief, and religion. First thought; faith is complete trust and confidence whereas religion is a specific system of belief. We should also ask how much impact culture has on a child as they grow up.

Disclaimer:

Your teacher is entering this study as a student. I have no first-hand knowledge of any religion other than Christianity. Therefore, everything contained here is research, with the hope of accuracy from the sources. (It should be noted the only source known to be inspired by God is His Holy Bible, so please consider the source when you make decisions that affect your life.) This is only a surface look at a few major religions with no intention of delving into in-depth content. You should also note that this subject could take many directions, might spark anger, and could cause different opinions to surface. This will not be an easy study. The approach taken here is to examine each religion so that we can understand the people better.

Introduction:

Religion is something people do, not just something people believe. It gives individuals a sense of purpose and has been one of the most powerful forces in human history. Understanding various religions is understanding the values and beliefs that drive a group of people to act and believe the way they do. Therefore, learning world religions is a significant task, as religious tolerance is the ideal result. By being able to comprehend how religion plays a role in the cultural identities of people all over the world, we will be less quick to judge others based on their beliefs and more likely to embrace individuals of all faiths. This link shows a live counting of the population of the world by country, open it and scroll down a little.

Religion or a spiritual tradition is:

a way of explaining the mysteries of life
how the world was created
why it was created
why there is life and death
what happens when people die
why there is suffering
a way of explaining a supreme power or absolute power, whether impersonal or personal, nameable or not
a way of explaining who or what created the world and all the living beings
a way of describing a dimension beyond the physical world -- the spiritual world
a way of explaining how to lead a good life on Earth and in an afterlife
these codes of behavior are often written in sacred documents or passed down through oral tradition
a way of worshiping the creator(s) or spiritual beings who are believed to have power over the world and people's lives and/or a way of paying respects and drawing inspiration from spiritual leaders
worship often includes prayers of thanks, prayers of hopes, prayers of supplication
people often worship a god or gods worship often happens in sacred places and spaces
worship often includes ceremonies and rituals conducted by spiritual guides
worship often involves sacred objects and images
A way of joining with others as a spiritual community
religions and other spiritual traditions often celebrate festivals or holy days and have special calendars that mark the important historical events in the evolution of the religion
religions and spiritual traditions include both private and public worship and practice
some spiritual practices do not involve worshipping a god or gods but are introspective and draw on the practitioner's own ability to be responsible for his/her spiritual path

How Many Religions Exist in the World

Determining the exact number of religions worldwide is a daunting, if not an impossible task, and for many reasons. Many religions can be difficult to tell apart for those not intimately familiar with their doctrine. Even more importantly, guidelines about what is a truly separate religion and what is simply a denomination (subdivision) are rare, if not nonexistent. To use Christianity as an illustration, the practices and beliefs of a traditional Mennonite church differ greatly from those of a modern Vineyard or Assembly of God church, but both are still considered part of the Christian religion. Conversely, Sikhism is generally considered to be its own unique religion despite claims that the religion is historically rooted in Hinduism.

On a similar, but smaller-scale note, the line between a spiritual, but non-religious experience and an actual religion can be different from person to person—for example, New Age practices, Wicca, and even certain forms of yoga can be considered a religion by some, but not to others. One popular estimate claims there exist some 4000-4300 religions worldwide, but this number is highly disputed. First off, it includes extinct belief systems which are no longer practiced today. Moreover, it counts each of the various denominations in a given religion separately—so Christianity, for example, would not count as one religion, but hundreds: Protestant, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, Assembly of God, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, and so on.

World Population by Religion

About 85% of the world's people identify with a religion. The most popular religion is Christianity, followed by an estimated 2.38 billion people worldwide. Islam, which is practiced by more than 1.91 billion people, is second. However, population researchers predict that Islam will have nearly caught up to Christianity by 2050. Other religions measured and projected include Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and two umbrella categories. The first is "folk religions", which collect traditional African religions, Chinese folk religions, and both Native American and Australian aboriginal religions. The second is "other religions", a catch-all that tracks smaller faiths such as Shintoism, Taoism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Finally, a significant number of people—nearly 1.2 billion worldwide—remain nonreligious or have atheist beliefs. (from: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/religion-by-country)

See this Interactive map.

General information:

The world's largest religion is Christianity, which is practiced by almost 2.4 billion people. Christianity is divided into Eastern and Western theology, and within those divisions, many branches, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Those branches further divide into the thousands of various denominations known today, including Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Seventh-day Adventists, Mormons, Amish, and more. In Vatican City and the Pitcairn Islands, 100% of the population is Christian. In several other nations, at least 93% of the population is Christian. Countries whose populations are at least 93% Christian: Vatican City, Pitcairn Islands, American Samoa, Armenia, Barbados, East Timor, El Salvador, Greece, Kiribati, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Tonga, and Venezuela.

Islam is the world's second-largest religion. People who practice Islam are known as Muslims. In the Maldives, Mauritania, and Saudi Arabia, 100% of inhabitants practice Islam. In many nations, at least 95% of inhabitants identify as either Sunni or Shi'a Muslim. Countries whose populations are at least 95% Muslim: Maldives, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Comoros, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen. There are 50 Muslim-majority countries worldwide.

Hinduism is the third-largest religion globally. Hinduism is considered dharma, or a way of life. It originated on the Indian subcontinent and is widely practiced throughout Southeast Asia. The four main denominations are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Unsurprisingly, India has the largest Hindu population but not the highest percentage of Hindus. There are an estimated 1.093 billion Hindus in India, about 79.8% of the population. Nepal has the second-highest Hindu population at 28.6, an estimated 81.3% of the population. Countries with a large number of Hindus: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United States, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Mauritius.

Buddhism also originated in India and is based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddhists have unique traditions, values, and beliefs, such as reincarnation. About 507 million people practice Buddhism worldwide. China has the largest Buddhist population with 254.7 million, followed by Thailand at 66.1 million, Burma (Myanmar) at 41.44 million, and Japan at 41.38 million. Cambodia has the highest percentage of Buddhists at 97.9%, followed by Thailand at 94.6% and Burma (Myanmar) at 87.9%. Countries with the highest percentage of Buddhists: Cambodia, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia, and Bhutan.

In some nations, traditional Chinese religions, including Confucianism and Taoism, are practiced. This is most frequently seen in the following nations: China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Ethic and indigenous religions are practiced in many countries. In Guinea-Bissau and Haiti, an estimated 50% of the population follows one of these religions. Other nations where ethnic and indigenous religions are practiced include Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Togo.
Unaffiliated or Atheist. See also the state of religion in China.

Finally, as mentioned, many people are non-religious or atheists. This is mostly seen in nations including Estonia, the Czech Republic, China, and Japan, where over three-quarters of the population declines to practice a religion. Countries with a high percentage of unaffiliated/atheist citizens: China, Estonia, Czech Republic, Japan, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Macau, Norway, Sweden, and Vietnam.
(from: https://www.pewresearch.org/)

Religions:

As a point of interest let us First, take a look at the religious groups in the USA. Here is a link to some religious answers from the 2020 Census: The American Religious Landscape in 2020 which reveals much about people in America.

Percentage of religious groups in the U.S. by tradition, family, and denomination

Christian 70.6%
Evangelical Protestants 25.4%
Mainline Protestant 14.7%
Historically Black Protestant 6.5%
Catholic 20.8%
Mormon 1.6%
Orthodox Christian 0.5%
Jehovah's Witness 0.8%
Other Christian 0.4%
Non-Christian Faiths 5.9%
Jewish 1.9%
Muslim 0.9%
Buddhist 0.7%
Hindu 0.7%
Other World Religions 0.3%
Other Faiths 1.5%
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") 22.8%
Atheist 3.1%
Agnostic 4.0%
Nothing in particular 15.8%
Don't know 0.6%

Second, consider a few major religions of the world. This list will serve as an 8-week study with one religion discussed each week.

Religion's total estimated population in the world for 2020:

Judaism - 14.6 million (0.2% of the world's population)
Other Religions - 61 million (0.8%) (Baha’i faith, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism)
Folk Religions - 430 million (5.9%) (African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions)
Buddhism - 507 million (7.1%)
Hinduism - 1.16 billion (15.0%)
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") - 1.19 billion (16.3%)
Islam - 1.91 billion (23.2%)
Christianity - 2.38 billion (31.5%)

See where these religious people live using this Interactive map.

Reference:

This study is not necessarily about evangelizing, but we are encouraged to "be prepared in season and out of season" 2 Timothy 4:2, So, these links discuss sharing your Christian faith.

Researching Religion, Christianity & Owensboro Churches

Religion in Owensboro, Kentucky, and the area

Disclaimer: This is research, not first-hand knowledge. No assumption is made to speak for a specific church or faith. An effort has been made to supply links to the source of this information. (Note: General comments about Christianity at bottom of page)

Consider what some say, one church denomination is as good or bad as another, the Scriptures teach there is only one true faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is good to read the Bible for yourself, reject man-made religious traditions, and live as a faithful Christian in fellowship with others who are trying to do the same.

"So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This person honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”(Matthew 15:6-9).

With all the confusion in the religious world, who should we trust? All men make mistakes, and if we trust in the wisdom of a human (even a scholar or a wise pastor), we are guaranteed religious disaster. We can depend on God and his word. Paul says, “Let God be true though every one were a liar” (Romans 3:4). We shouldn’t ask then, “what does my church say?,” but instead we should ask “what does the Bible say?” and study it for ourselves.

Imagine being devoted only to Christ and his word. Imagine religion without the confusion of sects or traditions of men. Imagine Christians given to praise, prayer, service, and good works, in ways prescribed in the New Testament. Imagine a people who strive to live righteous lives, who care for their poor and sick, who teach others and teach themselves. This describes simple Christianity. It is the religion desired by Christ & his word. It is possible to function within the confines of a denomination and have a mindset of personal devotion to Christ and always balance the discussion of tradition and church doctrine with biblical truth.

"But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice," Philippians 1:18

70.8% of the people in Owensboro are religious: Link

32.0% are Baptist
19.3% are Catholic
9.5% are another Christian faith
- Christian Church/Church of Christ
- Anglican
- Lutheran
- Unitarian
- Seventh-day Adventist
- Jehovah's Witnesses
5.5% are Methodist
1.7% are Pentecostal
1.2% are Presbyterian
0.6% are Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
0.4% are Episcopalian
0.3% affiliates with Islam
0.2% are Lutheran
0.0% are Judaism
29.2 respond by saying No Religion

Interesting links to demographic information of the Owensboro region:

Link to Places of Worship in or near Owensboro as listed by KWC

Guide to Christian Denominations:

Link: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/quick-guide-christian-denominations/

An overview of local churches including: Baptist, Catholic, Methodist

Christian Church, Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran, Unitarianism

Episcopalian, Pentecostal, Mormon, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist Church

Baptist:

Baptist is a word describing a tradition within Christianity and may also refer to individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The tradition takes its name from the belief that followers of Jesus Christ should be placed in water to show their faith. Baptists do not practice infant baptism.

In 1639, Roger Williams began a Baptist church in Providence, Rhode Island and John Clarke began a Baptist church in Newport, Rhode Island. It is not clear which church opened first. Records for both churches are missing information.

Baptists share so-called "orthodox" Christian beliefs with most other moderate or conservative Christian denominations. Some of them are beliefs about one God; Jesus' death, burial, and bodily resurrection; the Trinity (the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, together with God the Father); the need for salvation; grace; and evangelism and missions.

Membership

There are over 90 million Baptists in the world in nearly 300,000 churches. There are about 47 million members in the United States. Other large populations of Baptists also exist in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There are 2.4 million Baptists in India, 2.3 million in Nigeria, 1.9 million in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 1.5 million in Brazil.

In a poll in the 1990s, about 20% of Americans said they are Baptist.

Views

Many people outside the community see them as Protestant, but some Baptists do not. In their view, Baptists have existed separately since early church days. Those holding this view believe that Baptists have never been a part of the Roman Catholic Church and that Baptists are not "protesting" against Catholicism.

They also point out that Baptists have no connections with the Reformationists like Luther, Calvin, or Zwingli. Other Baptists accept the Protestant label as a category for churches who have similar religious views of sola scriptura, sola fide, the priesthood of all believers and other positions that Luther or Calvin had in contrast to the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s.

The tag: denomination, is rejected by some because of the autonomous system used by Baptist churches for control. Being a denomination is viewed by them as having a hierarchy instead of the Roman Catholic Church. Another reason for the rejection of the tag is the influence of the Restoration period on Baptist churches, which tore down denominational barriers. Other Baptists accept the tag. They feel that it does not lie or have any bad meanings. It is just used as a synonym for a Christian or religious group with common beliefs.

The tag: Evangelical, is rejected by some fundamentalist Baptists who think that the term is not 'fundamentalist' enough. It is also rejected by some liberal Baptists who think that the term is too conservative. It is accepted by moderate Baptists believing in the revival in the United States in the 1700s called the First Great Awakening. Some Evangelicals also reject the tag: fundamentalist, because they think that it is too extreme.

On the whole, Baptists have much in common with other Christian denominations. They believe there is one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They believe human beings are sinners in need of salvation; that the Father sent his Son, who is fully God and fully man, to die for sinners; and that by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone they become the children of God. Baptists believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today regenerating sinners and equipping believers. Finally, Baptists believe that God will, in his own time and in his own way, bring the world to an appropriate end; that he will judge the living and the dead; and all who are in Christ will worship him forever.

But there are beliefs that set Baptists apart from other denominations. It is important to note that Baptists are not distinguished by one particular belief, such as baptism; rather, an entire set of beliefs comprise what Baptists hold together as their denominational distinctives. This set of beliefs includes the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice, a regenerate church comprised of baptized believers, recognition of the autonomy of the local church, and religious liberty for all.

10 Things Everyone Should Know about Baptists,

Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/the-most-well-known-protestant-denomination-10-things-everyone-should-know-about-baptists.html

Reference:

Catholic:

It is the largest denomination of Christianity, with over 1 billion people in the Church. It is the world's second-largest religious group after Sunni Islam. It teaches that it is the same Church started by Jesus Christ and his followers about 2,000 years ago. The headquarters of the Catholic Church is based in the Vatican City.

The Catholic Church has members all over the world, but many Catholics live in Latin America, but also in United States, Canada, Western Europe, Southern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines, India, South Korea and Oceania.

The Catholic Church is led by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who lives in Vatican City. According to Catholics, the Church guided by the Holy Spirit, who also guides the Pope. The Church teaches that when the Pope speaks officially on the subject of Catholic faith and morals ('ex cathedra') he cannot be wrong. The Popes have used this infallibility throughout history; some examples include the Tome of St. Leo, the declaration of the Immaculate Conception, and various anathemas (religious condemnations issued by the Popes against certain heresies).

The Catholic Church teaches that the first Pope was Saint Peter, because in the Gospel it is written that Jesus Christ would make Peter the "rock" (foundation) of the Church (Gospel of Matthew 16:18, you are Peter ('rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church).

Faith and morals

Like other Christians, Catholics believe Jesus Christ is a divine person, the Son of God. They believe that because of his love for all people, he died so that all of us will live forever in heaven.

The Catholic Church also recognizes the Trinity, i.e. that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are together the only God.

Catholics should follow the example of love Jesus Christ both teaches and gives: to love each other so much that one is even willing to die for another.

The Pope

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church is called the Pope, which literally means "father". Catholics say Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church, and appointed the first Pope, a disciple of his named Saint Peter, to lead all Christians.

For centuries, Popes have not used their birth names, but instead use a regal name. This custom started in the sixth century when a man named Mercury was elected Pope, it was seen as inappropriate to have a Pope named after a pagan god so he named himself John II, in honor of his predecessor, John I; it became customary in the tenth century. Since the death of Marcellus II 1555, every Pope has taken a Papal name.

The Catholic Church is made of 23 particular churches, otherwise known as rites, as well as being head of the Latin Rite of the church (which is the largest with over 1 billion members), the Pope is ultimately the leader of 22 Eastern Catholic Churches, these churches are of the Orthodox tradition of Christianity and it is often the case that they have broken away from their Orthodox mother church to come into communion with (join) the Pope and submit to his authority as successor of St. Peter. The Eastern Catholic Churches are based all over the world, from the United States to the Middle East to India.

Catholics believe that some of the official statements that the Pope makes about faith and morals of their religion are true and cannot be proved incorrect, an idea called infallibility. Infallibility only occurs when the Pope speaks "Ex Cathedra" which is Latin for "from the chair".

Worship practices

Some of the traditional worship practices of Roman Catholics include making the sign of the cross, kneeling, bowing, and receiving the Eucharist during their worship ceremonies.

Their main form of worship is called the Mass. It is celebrated every day. Catholics are required to attend on Sunday and on a few Holy Days of obligation. In the United States, the Holy Days of Obligation are: Mary, Mother of God (January 1), The Assumption of Mary (August 15), The Immaculate Conception (of Mary) (December 8), The Ascension of Jesus (40 days after Easter), Christmas (December 25) and All Saints Day (November 1). These can be remembered by the following phrase: 3 for Mary, 2 for Jesus and 1 for all the saints.

While these are all practices of Roman Catholics, other Christian churches also use many or all of these same practices.

Catholics put more emphasis on the Virgin Mary (Jesus's mother) than many other Christians, calling her the "Mother of God," "The Queen of Heaven," and praying to her regularly, as "Mediatrix of graces" at a level higher than other saints.

Sacraments

The Catholic Church celebrates seven sacraments. A sacrament is "an outward sign instituted (started) by Christ to give grace" (a supernatural gift of God that someone did nothing to deserve).

The seven sacraments are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony (marriage). The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the sacraments, because Catholics believe that Jesus Christ becomes truly present in the form of bread and wine. This happens through transubstantiation which takes place in the Mass.

Catholics believe in the necessity of love, hope and faith in order to gain salvation, but that these all come from grace. This is different from the 16th century interpretation created by Luther.

Catholics interpret the Bible (God-given book) according to Tradition. Tradition is the transmission of the early church's life and teaching, as especially recorded in the writings of the Fathers of the Church who lived in the first centuries. At that time the holy books where accepted in the Bible, which is the collection of the books considered revealed.

A basic rule for Catholics is that "Truth cannot contradict truth". They translate the Bible with this in mind. No interpretation can be accepted if it contradicts another revealed truth.

Nicene Creed

Catholics, like many Christians, accept the Nicene Creed, a combination of the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) and the later Council of Constantinople (AD 382) as true:

"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfilment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Eastern Orthodox and Protestant people believe many of the same things. They sometimes disagree on the role of Mary (the mother of Jesus) and other saints, on what a priest can do, and on how exactly God should be worshipped, among other things.

Facts about the Catholic Church, Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/what-is-catholicism.html

Reference:

Interesting links to demographic information of the Owensboro region.

Methodism

Methodism, or the Methodist movement, is a group of Protestant denominations. The movement started in Britain in the 18th century and spread to the United States and the British Empire. Originally it was popular with workers, poor farmers, and enslaved people. The founder of Methodism was Mr. John Wesley who was a priest of the Church of England. His brother Charles Wesley was a famous writer of Church music.

Methodist churches do not adhere to a single definitive statement or "confession" of belief, unlike the Westminster Confession used by Reformed churches or the Augsburg Confession used by Lutheran churches. Many Methodist bodies, such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, base their doctrinal standards on Wesley's Articles of Religion, an abridgment of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England that excised its Calvinist features. Some Methodist denominations also publish catechisms, which concisely summarize Christian doctrine. Methodists generally accept the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed as declarations of shared Christian faith. Methodism also affirms the traditional Christian belief in the triune Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as well as the orthodox understanding of the consubstantial humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Methodism is evangelical in doctrine and is characterized by Wesleyan-Arminian theology. John Wesley is studied by Methodists for his interpretation of church practice and doctrine. At its heart, the theology of John Wesley stressed the life of Christian holiness: to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength and to love one's neighbor as oneself. One popular expression of Methodist doctrine is in the hymns of Charles Wesley. Since enthusiastic congregational singing was a part of the early evangelical movement, Wesleyan theology took root and spread through this channel.

Salvation

Methodists believe Jesus Christ died for all humanity, not a limited few: the doctrine of unlimited atonement.

Wesleyan Methodists identify with the Arminian conception of free will, as opposed to the theological determinism of absolute predestination. Methodism teaches that salvation is initiated when one chooses to respond to God, who draws the individual near to him (the Wesleyan doctrine of prevenient grace), thus teaching synergism. Methodists interpret Scripture as teaching that the saving work of Jesus Christ is for all people (unlimited atonement) but effective only to those who respond and believe, in accordance with the Reformation principles of sola gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone). John Wesley taught four key points fundamental to Methodism:

A person is free not only to reject salvation but also to accept it by an act of free will.

All people who are obedient to the gospel according to the measure of knowledge given them will be saved.

The Holy Spirit assures Christians of their salvation directly, through an inner "experience" (assurance of salvation).

Christians in this life are capable of Christian perfection and are commanded by God to pursue it.

After the first work of grace (the new birth), Methodist soteriology emphasizes the importance of the pursuit of holiness in salvation, a concept best summarized in a quote by Methodist evangelist Phoebe Palmer who stated that "justification would have ended with me had I refused to be holy." Thus, for Methodists, "true faith...cannot subsist without works". Methodism, inclusive of the holiness movement, thus teaches that "justification [is made] conditional on obedience and progress in sanctification", emphasizing "a deep reliance upon Christ not only in coming to faith but in remaining in the faith." John Wesley taught that the keeping of the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, as well as engaging in the works of piety and the works of mercy, were "indispensable for our sanctification".

Sacraments

Methodists hold that sacraments are sacred acts of divine institution. Methodism has inherited its liturgy from Anglicanism, although American Methodist theology tends to have a stronger "sacramental emphasis" than that held by Evangelical Anglicans.

In common with most Protestants, Methodists recognize two sacraments as being instituted by Christ: Baptism and Holy Communion (also called the "Lord's Supper", rarely the "Eucharist"). Most Methodist churches practice infant baptism, in anticipation of a response to be made later (confirmation), as well as believer's baptism. The Catechism for the use of the people called Methodists states that "[in Holy Communion] Jesus Christ is present with his worshipping people and gives himself to them as their Lord and Savior". The explanation of how Christ's presence is made manifest in the elements (bread and wine) is a "Holy Mystery".

Methodist churches generally recognize sacraments to be a means of grace. John Wesley held that God also imparted grace by other established means such as public and private prayer, Scripture reading, study and preaching, public worship, and fasting. These constitute the Works of Piety. Wesley considered means of grace to be "outward signs, words, or actions ... to be the ordinary channels whereby [God] might convey to men, preventing [i.e., preparing], justifying or sanctifying grace". Specifically Methodist means, such as the class meetings, provided his chief examples for these prudential means of grace.

Traditionally, Methodists declare the Bible (Old and New Testaments) to be the only divinely inspired Scripture and the primary source of authority for Christians. The historic Methodist understanding of Scripture is based on the superstructure of Wesleyan covenant theology. Methodists, stemming from John Wesley's own practices of theological reflection, also make use of tradition, drawing primarily from the teachings of the Church Fathers, as a source of authority. Though not infallible like holy Scripture, tradition may serve as a lens through which Scripture is interpreted. Theological discourse for Methodists almost always makes use of Scripture read inside the wider theological tradition of Christianity.

It is a historical position of the church that any disciplined theological work calls for the careful use of reason. By reason, it is said, one reads and is able to interpret the Bible coherently and consistently. By reason, one asks questions of faith and seeks to understand God's actions and will. Methodism insists that personal salvation always implies a Christian mission and service to the world. Scriptural holiness entails more than personal piety; love of God is always linked with love of neighbors and a passion for justice and renewal in the life of the world.

Worship and liturgy

Methodism was endowed by the Wesley brothers with worship characterized by a twofold practice: the ritual liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer on the one hand and the informal preaching service on the other.

This twofold practice became distinctive of Methodism because worship in the Church of England was based, by law, solely on the Book of Common Prayer, and worship in the Non-conformist churches was almost exclusively that of "services of the word", i.e. preaching services, with Holy Communion being observed infrequently. John Wesley's influence meant that, in Methodism, the two practices were combined, a situation which remains characteristic of the movement. The Lovefeast, traditionally practiced quarterly, was another practice that characterized early Methodism as John Wesley taught that it was an apostolic ordinance.

In America, the United Methodist Church and Free Methodist Church, as well as the Primitive Methodist Church and Wesleyan Methodist Church, have a wide variety of forms of worship, ranging from high church to low church in liturgical usage. When the Methodists in America were separated from the Church of England because of the American Revolution, John Wesley himself provided a revised version of the Book of Common Prayer called The Sunday Service of the Methodists; With Other Occasional Services (1784). Today, the primary liturgical books of the United Methodist Church are The United Methodist Hymnal and The United Methodist Book of Worship. Congregations employ their liturgy and rituals as optional resources, but their use is not mandatory. These books contain the liturgies of the church that are generally derived from Wesley's Sunday Service and from the 20th-century liturgical renewal movement.

The British Methodist Church is less ordered or liturgical in worship, but makes use of the Methodist Worship Book (similar to the Church of England's Common Worship), containing worship services (liturgies) and rubrics for the celebration of other rites, such as marriage. The Worship Book is also ultimately derived from Wesley's Sunday Service.

A unique feature of American Methodism has been the observance of the season of Kingdomtide, encompassing the last 13 weeks before Advent, thus dividing the long season after Pentecost into two distinct segments. During Kingdomtide, Methodist liturgy has traditionally emphasized charitable work and alleviating the suffering of the poor.

A second distinctive liturgical feature of Methodism is the use of Covenant Services. Although practice varies between different national churches, most Methodist churches annually follow the call of John Wesley for a renewal of their covenant with God. It is common, at least in British Methodism, for each congregation to normally hold an annual Covenant Service on the first convenient Sunday of the year, and Wesley's Covenant Prayer is still used, with minor modification, in the order of service:

Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, and others are difficult. Some bring honor, and others bring reproach. Some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both ... Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.

10 Things Everyone Should Know about the Methodist Church - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/what-is-methodism-10-things-to-know-about-methodists.html

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Independent Christian Church, Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ

There are three major groups (and many smaller ones) that have developed out of the Restorationist movement of the nineteenth century: the Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and independent Christian churches (many of which are members of the North American Christian Convention). These three groups have a common heritage and many similarities, and they are easy to confuse with each other.

The Restorationist movement began when Presbyterian ministers Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell taught that only what was specifically sanctioned in the New Testament should be included in Christian practice. (The term Restorationist refers to the Campbells’ teaching that church practice should be “restored” to what it was in the New Testament.) This restoration included what names Christian groups could be called. The Campbells preferred the name “Disciples of Christ.” They rejected denominational names such as “Baptist” or “Methodist,” as those labels are not found in the New Testament.

At the same time, a former Presbyterian minister, Barton Stone, was also promoting a form of Restorationism. His followers became known as the Christian Church. Eventually the two movements combined, forming the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This church continued on until it divided in 1906, when the Church of Christ was formed. This group rejected the use of musical instruments in church worship, because musical instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament in conjunction with worship.

Then in 1927 some became dissatisfied with the liberalism of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). They were also bothered by the fact that the organization had by then clearly become a denomination, which was seen to be unbiblical. These dissenters formed a separate group of completely independent churches, but kept the name “Christian Church.”

Independent Christian Churches carefully maintain their individual autonomy and are fiercely autonomous. As a result, there is some diversity in doctrine among individual churches. Generally speaking, there is an emphasis upon the necessity of water baptism by immersion for salvation. Independent Christian Churches also usually reject the doctrines of predestination and eternal security, and are usually amillennial and non-charismatic. Unlike the Churches of Christ, musical instruments are normally used in worship.

The Independent Christian Church is a loose body of churches arising from the Restoration Movement of the early 19th century. Its goal was to restore Biblical authority and New Testament Christianity while avoiding "extra-biblical creeds" including the scriptural interpretation and the emphasis on fellowship tests, according to the church's website. Early statements of the group were "no creed but Christ" and "where the bible speaks we speak, where the bible is silent, we are silent.

Churches of Christ - 10 Things to Know about their History and Beliefs - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/churches-of-christ-10-things-to-know-about-their-history-and-beliefs.html

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Presbyterian

The beliefs and practices set forth by the Presbyterian Church have their roots in the teachings of John Calvin, a 16th-century French reformer. Calvin's theology was similar to Martin Luther's. He agreed with the father of the Protestant Reformation on the doctrines of original sin, justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the sole authority of the Scriptures. Where Calvin distinguishes himself theologically is with his doctrines of predestination and eternal security.

Presbyterianism is a kind of Protestant Christianity. It is very conservative when compared to other kinds of Christianity. It was started off in Scotland by John Knox and became powerful in England during the Civil War. Today there are Presbyterian churches across the world.

Followers of Presbyterianism believe that the Bible is the most important thing in their church because it was given to humans by God and has no errors in it. They believe that God has control over everything and has chosen to make some people to follow Jesus Christ but not others, and that only followers of Jesus may get into heaven.

Presbyterian churches may be led Ministers, Rectors or Elders. Some Presbyterian churches have women as elders.

There is no overall leader and there are no bishops in the Presbyterian tradition. On Sunday the Bible, which they consider the 'Word of God', is read and a sermon preached by the minister is at the heart of a morning worship service, which can also include a choir singing worship songs.

The Presbyterian Constitution

The official creeds, confessions, and beliefs of the Presbyterian Church, including the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Westminster Confession of faith, are all contained within a document called The Book of Confessions. The end of this constitution is an article of faith, which outlines the major beliefs of this particular denomination, which is part of the Reformed tradition.

Beliefs

The Book of Confessions presents the following beliefs for the Presbyterian faithful to follow:

The Trinity - We trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.
Jesus Christ Is God - We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God.
The Authority of Scripture - Our knowledge of God and God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ.
Justification by Grace through Faith - Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments.
The Priesthood of All Believers - It is everyone's job—ministers and lay people alike—to share this Good News with the whole world. The Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike.
The Sovereignty of God - God is the supreme authority throughout the universe.
Sin - The reconciling act of God in Jesus Christ exposes the evil in men as sin in the sight of God. All people are helpless and subject to God's judgment without forgiveness. In love, God took on himself judgment and shameful death in Jesus Christ, to bring men to repentance and new life.
Baptism - For both adults and infants, Christian baptism marks the receiving of the same Spirit by all his people. Baptism with water represents not only cleansing from sin but also a dying with Christ and a joyful rising with him to new life.
The Mission of the Church - To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as his reconciling community. This community, the church universal, is entrusted with God’s message of reconciliation and shares his labor of healing the enmities which separate men from God and from each other. Baptism
Like most denominations, Presbyterians believe that baptism is a celebration of the renewal of the covenant with which God has bound his people to himself. One could say it is the first and most important of the Presbyterian practices.

Through baptism, individuals are publicly received into the church to share in its life and ministry, and the church becomes responsible for its training and support in Christian discipleship. When those baptized are infants, the parents and congregation both have a special obligation to nurture children in the Christian life, leading them to eventually make, by a public profession, a personal response to the love of God shown forth in their baptism.

Communion

Presbyterians gather in worship to praise God, to pray, to enjoy each other's fellowship, and to receive instruction through the teachings of God's Word. Like Catholics and Episcopalians, they also practice the act of communion. Church members consider communion a solemn but joyful act, symbolic of celebrating at the table of their Savior, and a reconciliation with God and with one another.

Presbyterians: 10 Things to Know about Their History & Beliefs - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/presbyterians-10-things-to-know-about-this-historic-denomination.html

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Anglican

Anglicanism is a denomination within Christianity. It is made up of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion (a group of Anglican churches from many other countries). The term Anglicanism includes those who have accepted the English Reformation as embodied in the Church of England or in the offshoot Churches in other countries that have followed closely to its doctrines and its organization.

In the English Reformation, the English Church kept the early Catholic ministry of bishops, priests, deacons, and most of the doctrine and liturgy. The event that led to the Anglican Church was the outright rejection of the Pope. This meant they also rejected the Catholic Church as an organization.

It is sometimes seen as being the middle way between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. That is why it is not always thought of as Protestantism.

The term Anglican comes from the phrase ecclesia anglicana. This is a Medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246. It means 'the English Church'. The noun Anglican is used to describe the people, institutions, churches, traditions, and ideas developed by the state-established Church of England and the Anglican Communion, a theologically broad and often divergent affiliation of thirty-eight provinces that are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Worship

Anglicans can have many different beliefs. For example, there are a range of beliefs about Holy Communion. Some Anglicans believe that the bread and wine becomes the actual Body and Blood of Christ. Other Anglicans think that Holy Communion is about remembering the life of Jesus Christ and his death on the Cross. The first ('High Church') is in the minority. It is similar to the belief of Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The second (the majority 'Low Church') is like the belief of most Protestants. It is fundamentally a Protestant church because the Bible is the source of authority, not the Pope.

Origin

The name Anglican for this Church comes from the Latin word for English because the Church started in England. In the British Isles, Anglicanism has been the official or State religion in all parts at one time or another. Anglican Church leaders, and the State, worked together in what is called the alliance of Throne and Altar or Church and State. Together, they tried to make the Anglican denomination as broad and welcoming as possible to a wide range of Christian believers.

They did this to try to get as many citizens as they could to worship in the official church.

Origin in Britain

When Henry VIII wanted to divorce from Catherine of Aragon, the Pope refused to divorce him. As a result, King Henry split from the Roman Catholic Church and started the Church of England. The English Parliament, through the Act of Supremacy, declared King Henry VIII to be the "Supreme Head of the Church of England" in order to fulfill the "English desire to be independent from continental Europe religiously and politically." This act said that the king, not the pope was the head of the Church of England. With this act, Henry VIII was not only free to divorce his wife and remarry, he also made England free from the interference of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

Although now separate from Rome, the English Church, at this point in history, continued to maintain the Roman Catholic theology on many things, such as the sacraments. Over time the Church of England was reformed even more, in what is known as the English Reformation, in which it gained a number of characteristics which has finally formed the modern-day Anglican Communion.

In the British Isles and early British colonies, this was done to try to defeat both the followers of the Roman Catholic Church and all the kinds of Protestants too by including their best ideas, traditions, and practices in the Anglican Church. Now, the only place in the United Kingdom where Anglicanism is still the official religion in England, where the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II is the Supreme Governor on Earth of the Church of England. The effective government of the Church is by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the legal Church Parliament known as the General Synod.

Spread of Influence

In the rest of the world, Anglicanism was spread by overseas colonization, settlement, and missionary work. It functions there as an ordinary denomination of Christianity without special status. Anglicans around the world join together in a group of national churches in countries where there are Anglican Churches to make the worldwide Anglican Communion. There are more than 80 million Anglicans in the world today. Most live in Africa and Asia and are not of British ethnic heritage anymore.

Issues

The Anglican Communion is struggling today with questions about the role of women and gay people in the Church. As the Anglican Communion deals with these serious issues, some have split into liberal and conservative groups. Already, there are Anglicans who have broken from the main Churches to form their own separate groups of believers. Some use the term Anglican combined with the word Catholic, Christian, Reformed, or Episcopal.

At the same time, leaders from the Anglican Communion hold talks with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches to try to work toward Christian unity. At times, there has been some progress. Also, the Anglican and Lutheran Churches have agreed to a high level of shared beliefs, leadership, and practices called intercommunion.

What Do I Need to Know about the Anglican Church? Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/the-anglican-church.html

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Lutheran

Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk, and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation. The reaction of the government and church authorities to the international spread of his writings, beginning with the Ninety-five Theses, divided Western Christianity. During the Reformation, Lutheranism became the state religion of numerous states of northern Europe, especially in northern Germany, Scandinavia, and the then-Livonian Order. Lutheran clergy became civil servants and the Lutheran churches became part of the state.

The split between the Lutherans and the Roman Catholics was made public and clear with the 1521 Edict of Worms: the edicts of the Diet condemned Luther and officially banned citizens of the Holy Roman Empire from defending or propagating his ideas, subjecting advocates of Lutheranism to forfeiture of all property, half of the seized property to be forfeited to the imperial government and the remaining half forfeit to the party who brought the accusation.

The divide centered primarily on two points: the proper source of authority in the church, often called the formal principle of the Reformation, and the doctrine of justification often called the material principle of Lutheran theology. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by Grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", the doctrine that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. This is in contrast to the belief of the Roman Catholic Church, defined at the Council of Trent, concerning authority coming from both the Scriptures and Tradition.

Unlike Calvinism, Lutheranism retains many of the liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-Reformation Western Church, with a particular emphasis on the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, though Eastern Lutheranism uses the Byzantine Rite. Lutheran theology differs from Reformed theology in Christology, divine grace, the purpose of God's Law, the concept of perseverance of the saints, and predestination.

The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, and Scripture alone.

Belief and Practice

The Lutheran Church teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God:

the Father, creator of all that exists;
Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and
the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments.

The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

15 Facts to know about the Lutheran Church, Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/lutheran-church-15-facts-to-know-about-martin-luther-history-and-belief.html

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Unitarianism

Unitarianism is a Christian belief that God is a single entity and not three forms as expressed in the Trinity. Unitarian Churches follow the doctrine of Unitarianism and are organized in the United States and the United Kingdom on a national and local level.

Meaning of Unitarianism

Unitarianism is a theological movement named for its view that the God in Christianity is one person, contrary to the Trinity which defines God as three forms in one being; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Unitarian Christians hold that Jesus was encouraged by God in his moral teachings, and he is a savior, yet he was not a divinity or God incarnate. Unitarianism does not compose one single Christian denomination but refers to a combination of both existing and defunct Christian groups which share a similar theological notion of the singular essence of God.

History of Unitarianism

Unitarianism, as a Christian denominational group of churches, was first established in Poland-Lithuania and Transylvania in the late 16th century. It was then more refined in England and America until the early 19th century, although canonical predecessors are to be found as far back as the beginning days of Christianity. It developed and arrived at its classical form in the mid-19th century. Later historical growth has been assorted in different countries.

Unitarians track their history back to the Apostolic Age and maintain this belief was popular during the pre-Nicene era, preceding the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Many Unitarians consider their Christology most similarly matches that of the "original Christians."

Origins of the Unitarian Church

The Unitarian Church in Transylvania was first acknowledged by the Edict of Torda, published by the Transylvanian Diet under Prince John II Sigismund Zápolya, and was first led by Ferenc Dávid. The phrase "Unitarian" first emerged as “unitaria religio” in a text of the Diet of Lécfalva, Transylvania, in October 1600, though it was not broadly adopted in Transylvania until 1638 when the formal recepta Unitaria Religio was printed.

The Unitarian movement achieved notoriety in England in the wake of the Enlightenment and started to become a formal denomination in 1774 when Theophilus Lindsey organized gatherings with Joseph Priestley. From those meetings, they established the initial publicly Unitarian congregation in the country. This happened at the Essex Street Church in London.

The first formal recognition of the Unitarian belief in a congregation in America was by King's Chapel in Boston, pastored by James Freeman. The church changed the Prayer Book into a tempered Unitarian liturgy in 1785. In 1800, Joseph Stevens Buckminster became pastor of the Brattle Street Church in Boston, where his gifted sermons, literary projects, and scholarly awareness of the German "New Criticism" helped develop the succeeding development of Unitarianism in New England.

Beliefs of the Unitarian Church

Unitarians contend that most of Christianity do not adhere to strict monotheism, but that Unitarians do by declaring that Jesus was a remarkable man and a prophet of God, possibly even a divine being, but not God himself. They conclude Jesus did not profess to be God and that his teachings did not infer the presence of a three-part God. Unitarians believe in the moralistic authority but not inevitably the divinity of Jesus. Their faith is therefore opposed to the trinitarian theology of other Christian denominations.

In the early 19th century, Unitarian Robert Wallace distinguished three distinct classes of Unitarian creeds in history:

Arian, which believed in a pre-existence of the Logos, but supported that Jesus was created and existed as human only
Socinian, which rejected his original divinity, but accepted that Christ should be worshipped
"Strict Unitarian", which, believing in an "incommunicable divinity of God", denied both the presence of the Holy Spirit and the reverence of "the man Christ."
Although there is no particular authority on beliefs of the Unitarian faith apart from the denial of the Trinity, the following beliefs are commonly affirmed:
One God and the oneness of God.
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ establish the ultimate model for living one's own life.
Reason, rational thought, science, and philosophy coincide with belief in God.
Humans have the capacity to exert free will in a responsible, constructive, and ethical manner with the aid of religion.
Human nature in its present condition is neither inherently corrupt nor wicked but able of both good and evil, as God intended.
No religion can assert a complete monopoly on the Holy Spirit or theological truth.
Though the writers of the Bible were inspired by God, they were humans and consequently subject to human error.
The common doctrines of predestination, eternal damnation, and the vicarious sacrifice and satisfaction theories of the Atonement are invalid because they misrepresent God's character and malign the true nature and calling of Jesus Christ.

What Is Unitarianism? Discover the History and Beliefs of the Unitarian Church - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/what-is-unitarianism-discover-the-history-and-beliefs-of-the-unitarian-church.html

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Episcopalian:

Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, they are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.

They believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.

They have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.

They believe that God loves you – no exceptions.

Episcopal Church Core Beliefs and Doctrines

Baptismal Covenant

“Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 292).

A mini catechism used at baptisms and on Easter and other special occasions, the Baptismal Covenant opens with a question-and-answer version of the statement of faith that is the Apostles’ Creed and adds five questions regarding how we, as Christians, are called to live out our faith.

The Bible

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

It is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible, and Episcopalians read more Holy Scripture in Sunday worship than almost any other denomination in Christianity.

Book of Common Prayer

“It is a most invaluable part of that blessed ‘liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,’ that in his worship different forms and usages may without offense be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 9).

The Book of Common Prayer is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.

The Catechism

“It is a commentary on the creeds, but is not meant to be a complete statement of belief and practices; rather, it is a point of departure for the teacher” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 844).

Offered in a question-and-answer format, the Catechism found in the back of the Book of Common Prayer (pp. 845-862) helps teach the foundational truths of the Christian faith.

The Creeds

“The Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 851).

We will always have questions, but in the two foundational statements of faith – the Apostles’ Creed used at baptism, and the Nicene Creed used at communion – we join Christians throughout the ages in affirming our faith in the one God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctifies us.

Holy Baptism

“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 298).

In the waters of baptism, we are reminded that we belong to God and nothing can separate us from the love of God. We also find ourselves part of an extended family, one with Christians throughout the ages and across the world, what we call the “one, holy, catholic [meaning ‘universal’], and apostolic Church.”

The Rite of Holy Baptism can be found on pp. 297-308 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Holy Communion

“We thank you … for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 366).

It goes by several names: Holy Communion, the Eucharist (which literally means “thanksgiving”), mass. But whatever it’s called, this is the family meal for Christians and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. As such, all persons who have been baptized, and are therefore part of the extended family that is the Church, are welcome to receive the bread and wine and be in communion with God and each other.

The Sacraments

“Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 857).

Besides baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the church recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith. These include: Confirmation (the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows), pp. 413-419, Book of Common Prayer Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession), pp. 447-452, Book of Common Prayer Matrimony (Christian marriage), pp. 422-438, Book of Common Prayer

10 Things Christians Should Know About The Episcopal Church: History and Beliefs, Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/10-things-christians-should-know-about-the-episcopal-church-history-and-beliefs.html

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Church of God/Pentecostal

Pentecostalism is a faith within Evangelical Christianity. It believes in a personal experience with God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38); the same as in the Biblical account on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic groups, but it came about earlier and separated from the main church branches. Charismatic Christians, at least in the beginning, tended to stay in their denominations and did not divide away.

Beliefs

There are three types of Pentecostal churches. Most believe that one must be saved by believing in Jesus as their Savior; to be forgiven for their sins and to be pleasing to God. Pentecostals also believe, like most other evangelicals, that the Bible is true and must be obeyed in decisions of faith. In this majority group, speaking in tongues is the sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and is not required for salvation. To this group, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a supernatural gift for ministry that one receives after they have become a Christian.

The other two groups believe in an "Acts 2:38" based salvation. This means a person needs to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. They then receive the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost). In this belief, the Holy Spirit is required for salvation; which includes speaking in tongues. In this group, some Pentecostal churches baptize in the name of Jesus only, and some baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Pentecostal churches believe that Jesus still heals the sick, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Assemblies of God USA (AG), officially the General Council of the Assemblies of God, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in the United States founded in 1914 during a meeting of white Pentecostal ministers at Hot Springs, Arkansas (with the exception of CH Mason), separating from the historically black Church of God in Christ. The Assemblies of God is a Finished Work Pentecostal denomination and is the U.S. branch of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the world's largest Pentecostal body. With a constituency of over 3 million, the Assemblies of God was the ninth-largest Christian denomination and the second-largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States in 2011.

The Assemblies of God holds to a conservative, evangelical and Arminian theology as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Truths and position papers, which emphasize such core Pentecostal doctrines as the baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, divine healing, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It defines for itself a fourfold mission to evangelize others, worship God, disciple believers, and show compassion.

The fellowship's polity is a hybrid of presbyterian and congregational models. This tension between local independence and national authority is seen in the AG's historical reluctance to refer to itself as a denomination, preferring the terms fellowship and movement. The national headquarters are in Springfield, Missouri, where the administrative and executive offices and Gospel Publishing House are located.

It maintains relationships with other Pentecostal groups at both regional and national levels through the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America and the Pentecostal World Fellowship. It is also a member of the Wesleyan Holiness Consortium and the National Association of Evangelicals.

The Assemblies of God is a United States-based Christian denomination; a large group of Pentecostal churches. There are over 64 million members in over 200 countries.

The AG is Trinitarian. They view the Bible as divinely inspired. The Bible provides the rules of faith and conduct. Baptism by immersion is practiced. Baptism is understood as an outward sign of an inward change. The change is from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. Communion is also practiced. The Assemblies of God also places a strong emphasis on the fulfillment of the Great Commission and believes that this is the main calling of the church.

10 Things You Should Know About The Pentecostal Church - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/10-things-christians-should-know-about-pentecostalism.html

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Mormon

Mormonism is a religious movement that was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830. The people that belong to this religion are called Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. Their teachings are similar to many Christian churches, and they consider themselves to be Christian. A 2007 survey showed that 31% of the people polled do not agree that Mormons are Christians. Mormons have beliefs that are different from the beliefs of other Christian churches. The Mormon Church considers itself a restoration church. This means that members of the Church believe that it is the original Christian Church started by Jesus Christ and brought back ("restored") by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830. At first it was called The Church of Christ. Mormonism and Bahaism are sometimes called the "fourth Abrahamic religion".

Today there are about 70 groups who call themselves Mormon or Latter day Saint, with the largest and most known of them being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name "Mormons" is simply a nickname. They believe in baptism by the person being completely underwater, such as explained in the Articles of Faith that was written in a letter by Joseph Smith. Most Mormons do not practice polygamy any more, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 1 (but some small groups, called "Mormon Fundamentalists", do).

First vision

Joseph Smith, Jr. said that he had visits from God the Father, Jesus Christ, and many angels. The first visit is called the First Vision. It happened when Joseph was a teenager. He had decided to pray about which religion to join. He said that he went to the woods behind his family's house in New York, prayed, felt evil powers fighting him, and was rescued when a bright light appeared above him. In the bright light, he said that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. They told him not to join any church, because none of the churches had all of the truth. They also told him that they had work for him to do.

The Book of Mormon

Part of the work that Joseph did was translating the Book of Mormon. Joseph said that an angel named Moroni visited him and showed him where a very old book was buried. This book was written on pages of gold (sometimes called the Gold Plates). It was buried in a stone box in a hill near Joseph's home. Moroni visited Joseph once a year for four years until he told Joseph to take the Gold Plates. Since the book was written in a very old language, Joseph translated the book into English. He did this with help from God and by the tools called the "Urim" and "Thummim". The book was published as The Book of Mormon in 1830. It tells the story of two main groups of people who lived in North and South America hundreds of years ago (the Nephites and Lamanites), as well as a story of a group of people who came to the Americas thousands of years ago upon leaving the Tower of Babel (the Jaredites). It also teaches many things about Jesus. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Book of Mormon is a special book from God just like the Bible. Mormons believe that by reading The Book of Mormon and the Bible, people can learn how to get closer to God and how to find happiness in life. This book is also the reason Church members are sometimes called "Mormons".

Mormon beliefs and practices

Today the center of the church is in Utah, but there are more than 14 million Mormons living all over the world. The leader of the church is called the president, and Mormons call him a prophet. They believe that God guides the prophet, just like he guided Joseph Smith and the prophets in the Bible. Mormons believe that it is important for families to spend a lot of time together, and that after they die, they can live together forever. Mormons do not drink alcohol, coffee, or tea, or smoke tobacco. They meet once a week on Sunday for church, where they have the sacrament and listen to short talks or sermons. They also have Sunday School to learn more. The church also has activities during the week. Mormons also have buildings called temples. These are the most holy buildings in their religion. After a temple has been dedicated, only Mormons that are living good lives can go in the temple.

Big movements in Mormonism

Today, there are three main movements in Mormonism, although one is by far the largest. They are represented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Community of Christ and the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message. When people talk about Mormons, they usually mean the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the largest Mormon movement. This movement also says that the term Mormon is a nickname given to members early in the church's history, and would prefer to be referred to as Latter-day Saints or "LDS".

Different groups' beliefs

Some people who call themselves Mormons are not part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These people belong to other Mormon churches. Some of their beliefs are different.

When Brigham Young became the second president of the Church after Joseph Smith was killed, some people did not think he was the rightful president. When Brigham Young led most of the Mormons to Utah, these people stayed in Illinois. They believed that Joseph Smith's son should be the next president. Today, this church is called the Community of Christ. It is the second largest church to call themselves Mormons. They have more than 250,000 people in their church.

Other splits in the Church happened later. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) teaches that a man should only marry one woman. This is called monogamy. In the beginning of the church, this was different. A man could be married to more than one woman at the same time (called polygamy). When the Church changed its position in 1890, some people left the official Church and continued with polygamy. These groups are very small compared to the LDS. The groups that did not want to abandon polygamy are sometimes still called Mormon, even though in the official church, polygamy has been forbidden since 1890. Most of these smaller groups stay away from other people, since polygamy is illegal in the United States. The LDS tells people not to use the word Mormon or pictures of Church leaders and temples when talking about these groups, since it makes it seem like they are still connected to the LDS even though they are not.

Mormonism and Christianity

There are many practices in Mormonism that are very similar to those used in Christian movements. There are some practices, however, where the Mormon movement is noticeably different from orthodox Christian movements, such as Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant faiths. People who define Christianity as belonging to one of those denominations have to say that Mormonism is not a Christian movement.

In English, the LDS Church accepts the King James Version of the Bible as a part of its official scripture.

In the beginning, the Mormon movement said that it restored the Christian faith and that the other movements at the time held beliefs that were wrong. In the 1830s, the movement quickly gained members that had come from Christian movements. Many Christians of the time saw some of the practices and beliefs the Mormon movement held at that time as politically and culturally subversive. The most controversial of these included the idea that slavery was wrong, men being able to have more than one wife, and the church's wanting to run a government with laws based on Mormonism. Some of these beliefs are no longer held by most Mormon movements today. Such disagreements led to violent conflicts between Mormons and other Christian groups. Even though there is not really violence anymore, the movement's unique doctrinal views are still criticized.

Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as the literal firstborn Son of God and Messiah, his crucifixion as a conclusion of a sin offering, and resurrection. However, Latter-day Saints (LDS) reject the ecumenical creeds and definition of the Trinity taught by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Trinitarian Protestantism. In their view, the New Testament prophesied that people would turn away from Christian teachings, and that there would be a restoration to the situation before the second coming of Christ.

Some important differences with mainstream Christianity include: A belief that Jesus began his atonement from sin in the garden of Gethsemane and continued it until he was crucified, rather than the orthodox belief that the crucifixion alone was the physical atonement. In their view, heaven is divided into three degrees of glory, and hell (often called outer darkness). Additionally, Mormons do not believe in creation ex nihilo, they believe that matter is eternal, and that God organizes existing matter.

Much of the Mormon belief system is oriented geographically around the North and South American continents. Mormons believe the people of the Book of Mormon lived in the western hemisphere, that Christ appeared in the western hemisphere after his death and resurrection, that the true faith was restored in upstate New York by Joseph Smith, and that the Garden of Eden and location of Christ's second coming were and will be in the state of Missouri. For this and other reasons, including a belief by many Mormons in American exceptionalism, Molly Worthen speculates that this may be why Leo Tolstoy described Mormonism as the "quintessential 'American religion'".

The 8 Beliefs You Should Know about Mormons When They Knock at the Door - Link: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-8-beliefs-you-should-know-about-mormons-when-they-knock-at-the-door/

Reference:

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members throughout the world. They believe God will end the present system of things, which belongs to Satan, with its crime, violence, sickness and death; they believe it will be replaced with his Kingdom which will restore his original purpose for the Earth, bringing about peace for all humans who live by the Bible's standards.

Most of the religion's beliefs are based on the Bible. These beliefs were taught by Charles Taze Russell, a preacher who started a Bible study group in Pennsylvania in 1876, and later started publishing a religious magazine called The Watchtower.

Many of those beliefs, especially about who God is and what his plans are for humans and the earth, are different to what is taught in mainstream Christian churches. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven and that the remaining people who obey God will live forever on a paradise Earth. They do not believe that God is a Trinity. They teach that when people die, they remain in their graves until Jesus Christ resurrects them after God's Kingdom, or government, is ruling over earth.

Witnesses are best known for preaching their beliefs from door-to-door and in other public places, and offering their magazines, The Watchtower and Awake! They are also well known for refusing to join armies and refusing blood transfusions.

History

Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916)

In 1870 a young clothing shop owner named Charles Taze Russell heard an Adventist preacher speak. The preacher said the Bible contained clues that showed God was about to set up a kingdom, or government, over earth. He said the kingdom, which is mentioned many times in the New Testament of the Bible, would be based in heaven, and it would completely change the way of life for everyone in the world. Russell studied that preacher's teachings, then arrived with a set of beliefs after looking through the Bible for answers.

Using a combination of Bible verses and historical dates, Russell decided that God would very soon call to heaven a group of "saints" who would become the kings of that Kingdom. There would also be other "saints", who were faithful Christians of the past who had since died, who would also make up a total of 144,000 kings in heaven.

Churches at the time were teaching that humans were still waiting for Jesus to return to earth in his Second Coming, but Russell believed all those Bible clues proved Jesus had actually returned in 1874 for what he called his parousia, or "presence". Russell believed part of God's plan was also to start Armageddon. Russell thought this Armageddon be a complete breakdown of law and order on earth, when governments and classes of people would fight among themselves. But after that, he believed, God would end sickness and death and allow humble and obedient Christians to live forever in perfect health.

Russell believed it was very important that all Christians, including those who were attending churches, should learn those "truths." He believed these "truths" had been carefully hidden in the Bible for thousands of years. He, therefore, established a publishing group called the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. He wrote several books, set up some Bible study classes where people could study his teachings, and began publishing a magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, which announced that Christ was already present. He wrote about his belief that God would bring about all those events by 1914.

A new president

Joseph F. Rutherford (1869–1942)

By the time Russell died in 1916, the articles, books, pamphlets and sermons he had written totaled 50,000 printed pages, with almost 20 million copies of his books printed and distributed around the world. Joseph Franklin Rutherford, one of his followers, took Russell's position as president of the Watch Tower Society.

Rutherford began writing and publishing many books as well. He made some changes to Russell's teachings and also required all the study groups, or congregations, around the world to agree to a united set of teachings and rules issued by the Watch Tower Society in New York.

He told all members of the religion that they should start to go door to door preaching about God's Kingdom and also sell Watch Tower Society publications so more people would hear the message. In 1931 Rutherford introduced the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" for the religion, partly to highlight what the religion believed was God's holy name. By the time Rutherford died in 1942, the religion had a worldwide membership of 115,000.

Nathan H. Knorr (1905-1977)

Nathan Knorr was appointed as third president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1942. Knorr commissioned a new translation of the Bible, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the full version of which was released in 1961. He organized large international assemblies, instituted new training programs for members, and expanded missionary activity and branch offices throughout the world. Knorr's presidency was also marked by an increasing use of explicit instructions guiding Witnesses in their lifestyle and conduct, and a greater use of congregational judicial procedures to enforce a strict moral code.

Some of the new teachings, however, resulted in suffering for many Jehovah's Witnesses. Thousands were sent to prison or beaten or killed in several countries during World War II because they refused to fight. Later, in the United States, many children were expelled from schools because they refused to salute the flag, because they thought that God would not approve.

Some countries still have laws against members practicing that religion. But Jehovah's Witnesses continued to grow rapidly, partly because they were becoming more skilled at teaching the public in their door-to-door preaching, and by 1977 they had more than two million members around the world and many properties at their New York headquarters.

Armageddon expected in 1975

From 1966, the religion encouraged members to believe that God would bring Armageddon in 1975, and that the Kingdom would be set up very soon after. Some Witnesses sold businesses and homes, gave up jobs, delayed medical operations and decided against starting a family because they expected Armageddon to arrive. The religion's leaders later apologized for those statements, which they said were made because they were so keen for the Kingdom to come. Many members left at the time, because they were disappointed nothing had happened, but membership later climbed even higher.

Door-to-door work

Jehovah's Witnesses are best known for their door-to-door ministry work. They believe Jesus Christ ordered them in Matthew 28:19 to "go make disciples of all the nations" warning people that the day of God's judgement, or Armageddon, will happen soon.

All Witnesses are encouraged to spend time regularly in public preaching work, which usually involves offering The Watchtower or other Watch Tower Society publications. Since the Internet, Jehovah's Witnesses also preach online with some bible studies taking place over communication networks such as Skype. They teach people Witness doctrine about Jehovah and his plans for the earth.

Meetings

The buildings where Jehovah's Witnesses meet to worship are called Kingdom Halls. Unlike many other churches, these halls do not have altars, statues, symbols such as the Cross, or candles. Each congregation has two meetings a week, which members can also attend by phone, by listening in via a call-in number. They also attend big conventions and assemblies several times a year (some of them at hired sports arenas), where often thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses gather.

Most meetings consist of talks or study sessions based on articles in Watchtower Society books and magazines about the Bible or Christian life. At the congregation, people in the audience, including children, are often invited to make comments and respond to questions asked by the speaker. The religion has elders and ministerial servants (who are called bishops and deacons in some other Christian churches), but they have no paid clergy. Most elders support themselves by having other jobs. Also, they do not consider themselves to be superior to other members of the congregation and do not set themselves apart in any way (like by dressing in a certain way).

Rules

Members of the religion are expected to live up to high moral standards. They are told they should always be honest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to:

Smoke tobacco or take illegal drugs (they are allowed to drink alcohol if they do not get drunk)
Vote in elections
Salute flags or sing national anthems
Join armies or fight in wars
Celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter, or other common religious holidays

They also refuse to have blood transfusions. They believe that in the Bible, God said blood should not be taken into the body. They are warned not to make close friends with people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, because of the danger that those people could make their faith in God weaker. However, they are allowed to be around non-Witnesses..

YOUNG CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Traditionally, where young children are concerned, the power to give or withhold consent to medical treatment on their behalf lies with those with parental responsibility. Legally, except in an emergency, parental consent is necessary to perform any medical procedure on a child. Two commonly used arguments when parents refuse treatment are parental rights to raise children as they see fit and religious freedom. JW parents have expressed both these arguments when defending their right to refuse blood on behalf of their children.

Courts throughout the western world recognize parental rights, but these rights are not absolute. Parental rights to raise children are qualified by a duty to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Parents cannot make decisions that may permanently harm or otherwise impair their healthy development.

10 Things Everyone Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses and Their Beliefs - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-jehovah-s-witnesses-and-their-beliefs.html

References:

On a different subject, an article this week on ‘Tainted’ Blood: Covid Skeptics Request Blood Transfusions From Unvaccinated Donors - link: https://khn.org/news/article/tainted-blood-covid-skeptics-request-blood-transfusions-from-unvaccinated-donors/

Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian group. It is different from other Protestant groups because the followers believe that Saturday is the day we should worship God. The Bible calls this day the "Sabbath". The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week (Gen 2:1-3) in Judaism and in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Saturday is the sixth day of the week in the major Christian denominations. That is why they are called "Seventh-day Adventists". Although the abbreviation "SDA" is commonly used, "Adventist" is the church's preferred shortening of "Seventh-day Adventist".

The Seventh-day Adventist Church came from the Millerite movement in the United States. This included people from many denominations. The Millerites started in the middle part of the 19th century. The Millerites were people who followed the teachings of William_Miller_. Miller preached that Jesus is coming very soon, in the Second Coming or Second Advent. The church name "Adventist" came from the word "Advent." The Seventh-Day Adventist Church started in 1863.

Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist church is the same as evangelical teachings such as the Trinity and Biblical inerrancy. Teachings that are different include the unconscious state of the dead (which means that when people die, they do not wake back up until Judgment Day) and the doctrine of an investigative judgment. The Bible says so in Ecclesiastes 12:7.

The church is also known because it thinks a healthy diet is very important they believe that they should not eat unclean foods like pig, certain fish, and animals that the Bible names as unclean. They practice healthy eating, vegetarianism (not eating meat), and staying away from things they think are immoral such as smoking, drinking or doing anything to harm what they consider the Temple Of God or their bodies.It also promotes religious liberty. When it comes to culture, it is more conservative. All of this is written in the Adventist Health message.

Among the founders of the Church was Ellen G. White. She wrote many texts that are still thought to be very important in the church today. She was a dedicated Christian who believed she got visions from God about the end of the world and what heaven will be like.

The world church is governed by a General Conference. Smaller regions are administered by divisions, union conferences and local conferences. It is present in over 200 countries and territories and is ethnically and culturally diverse. The church runs many schools, hospitals and publishing houses worldwide, as well as a prominent humanitarian aid organization known as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). There are about 18.5 million people in the Seventh-day adventist church worldwide.

Organization

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is organized with a representative form of church government and the world-wide Church has 13 Divisions.

The Seventh-day Adventist World Church Statistics shows a growing church with 15,660,347 members as of December 31, 2007.

The Adventist News Network reported in June 2010 (during the 59th quinquennial General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.) that Seventh-day Adventists reached a membership of 16,300,000, according to the church's Office of Archives and Statistics. The world church Secretary stated that when counting unbaptized children and family members who attend services, the church numbers between 25 and 30 million.

Seventh-day Adventist believe in the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. This statement of beliefs was adopted by the General Conference in 1980, with an extra belief (number 11) being added in 2005.

7. Nature of humanity

8. The Great Controversy

9. The Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ

10. The Experience of Salvation

11. Growing in Christ

12. The Church

13. The Remnant and its Mission

14. Unity in the Body of Christ

15. Baptism

16. The Lord’s supper

17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries

18. The Gift of Prophecy

19. The Law of God

20. The Sabbath

21. Stewardship

22. Christian Behavior

23. Marriage and the Family

24. Christ’s ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

25. The Second Coming of Christ

26. Death and Resurrection

27. The Millennium and the End of Sin

28. The New Earth

10 Things Everyone Should Know about Seventh-Day Adventists and Their Beliefs - Link: https://www.christianity.com/church/denominations/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-seventh-day-adventists-and-their-beliefs.html

Reference:

General information about Christianity

Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers. The Christian faith centers on beliefs regarding the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While it started with a small group of adherents, many historians regard the spread and adoption of Christianity throughout the world as one of the most successful spiritual missions in human history.

Some basic Christian concepts include:

Christians are monotheistic, i.e., they believe there’s only one God, and he created the heavens and the earth. This divine Godhead consists of three parts: the father (God himself), the son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.
The essence of Christianity revolves around the life, death and Christian beliefs on the resurrection of Jesus. Christians believe God sent his son Jesus, the messiah, to save the world. They believe Jesus was crucified on a cross to offer the forgiveness of sins and was resurrected three days after his death before ascending to heaven.
Christians contend that Jesus will return to earth again in what’s known as the Second Coming.
The Holy Bible includes important scriptures that outline Jesus’s teachings, the lives and teachings of major prophets and disciples, and offer instructions for how Christians should live.
Both Christians and Jews follow the Old Testament of the Bible, but Christians also embrace the New Testament.
The cross is a symbol of Christianity.
The most important Christian holidays are Christmas (which celebrates the birth of Jesus) and Easter (which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus).
WATCH Jesus: His Life on HISTORY Vault

Who Was Jesus?

Most historians believe that Jesus was a real person who was born between 2 B.C. and 7 B.C. Much of what scholars know about Jesus comes from the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

According to the text, Jesus was born to a young Jewish virgin named Mary in the town of Bethlehem in the West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Christians believe the conception was a supernatural event, with God impregnating Mary via the Holy Spirit.

Very little is known about Jesus’s childhood. Scriptures reveal that he grew up in Nazareth, he and his family fled persecution from King Herod and moved to Egypt, and his “earthly” father, Joseph, was a carpenter.

Jesus was raised Jewish, and according to most scholars, he aimed to reform Judaism—not create a new religion.

When he was around 30 years old, Jesus started his public ministry after being baptized in the Jordan River by the prophet known as John the Baptist.

For about three years, Jesus traveled with 12 appointed disciples (also known as the 12 apostles), teaching large groups of people and performing what witnesses described as miracles. Some of the most well-known miraculous events included raising a dead man named Lazarus from the grave, walking on water, and curing the blind.

Jesus’s Teachings

Jesus used parables—short stories with hidden messages—in his teachings.

Some of the main themes that Jesus taught, which Christians later embraced, include:

Love God.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Forgive others who have wronged you.
Love your enemies.
Ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others.
Repentance of sins is essential.
Don’t be hypocritical.
Don’t judge others.
The Kingdom of God is near. It’s not the rich and powerful—but the weak and poor—who will inherit this kingdom.

In one of Jesus’s most famous speeches, which became known as the Sermon on the Mount, he summarized many of his moral instructions for his followers.

Jesus’s Death and Resurrection

Many scholars believe Jesus died between 30 A.D. and 33 A.D., although the exact date is debated among theologians.

According to the Bible, Jesus was arrested, tried, and condemned to death. Roman governor Pontius Pilate issued the order to kill Jesus after being pressured by Jewish leaders who alleged that Jesus was guilty of a variety of crimes, including blasphemy.

Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers in Jerusalem, and his body was laid in a tomb. According to scripture, three days after his crucifixion, Jesus’s body was missing.

In the days after Jesus’s death, some people reported sightings and encounters with him. Authors in the Bible say the resurrected Jesus ascended into Heaven.

The Christian Bible

The Christian Bible is a collection of 66 books written by various authors. It’s divided into two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament, which is also recognized by followers of Judaism, describes the history of the Jewish people, outlines specific laws to follow, details the lives of many prophets, and predicts the coming of the Messiah.

The New Testament was written after Jesus’s death. The first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are known as the “Gospels,” which means “good news.” These texts, composed sometime between 70 A.D. and 100 A.D., provide accounts of the life and death of Jesus.

Letters written by early Christian leaders, which are known as “epistles,” make up a large part of the New Testament. These letters offer instructions for how the church should operate.

The Acts of the Apostles is a book in the New Testament that gives an account of the apostles’ ministry after Jesus’s death. The author of Acts is the same author as one of the Gospels—it is effectively “part two” to the Gospels, what happened after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

The final book in the New Testament, Revelation, describes a vision and prophecies that will occur at the end of the world, as well as metaphors to describe the state of the world.

According to the Bible, the first church organized itself 50 days after Jesus’s death on the Day of Pentecost—when the Holy Spirit was said to descend onto Jesus’s followers.

Most of the first Christians were Jewish converts, and the church was centered in Jerusalem. Shortly after the creation of the church, many Gentiles (non-Jews) embraced Christianity.

Early Christians considered it their calling to spread and teach the gospel. One of the most important missionaries was the apostle Paul, a former persecutor of Christians.

Paul’s conversion to Christianity after he had a supernatural encounter with Jesus is described in Acts of the Apostles. Paul preached the gospel and established churches throughout the Roman Empire, Europe, and Africa.

Many historians believe Christianity wouldn’t be as widespread without the work of Paul. In addition to preaching, Paul is thought to have written 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

Persecution of Christians

Early Christians were persecuted for their faith by both Jewish and Roman leaders.

In 64 A.D., Emperor Nero blamed Christians for a fire that broke out in Rome. Many were brutally tortured and killed during this time.

Under Emperor Domitian, Christianity was illegal. If a person confessed to being a Christian, he or she was executed.

Starting in 303 A.D., Christians faced the most severe persecutions to date under the co-emperors Diocletian and Galerius. This became known as the Great Persecution.

Constantine Embraces Christianity

When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, religious tolerance shifted in the Roman Empire.

During this time, there were several groups of Christians with different ideas about how to interpret scripture and the role of the church.

In 313 A.D., Constantine lifted the ban on Christianity with the Edict of Milan. He later tried to unify Christianity and resolve issues that divided the church by establishing the Nicene Creed.

Many scholars believe Constantine’s conversion was a turning point in Christian history.

The Catholic Church

In 380 A.D., Emperor Theodosius I declared Catholicism the state religion of the Roman Empire. The Pope, or Bishop of Rome, operated as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholics expressed a deep devotion for the Virgin Mary, recognized the seven sacraments, and honored relics and sacred sites.

When the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 A.D., differences emerged among Eastern and Western Christians.

In 1054 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church split into two groups.

The Crusades

Between about 1095 A.D. and 1230 A.D., the Crusades, a series of holy wars, took place. In these battles, Christians fought against Islamic rulers and their Muslim soldiers to reclaim the holy land in the city of Jerusalem.

The Christians were successful in occupying Jerusalem during some of the Crusades, but they were ultimately defeated.

After the Crusades, the Catholic Church’s power and wealth increased.

The Reformation

In 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther published 95 Theses—a text that criticized certain acts of the Pope and protested some of the practices and priorities of the Roman Catholic church.

Later, Luther publicly said that the Bible didn’t give the Pope the sole right to read and interpret scripture.

Luther’s ideas triggered the Reformation—a movement that aimed to reform the Catholic church. As a result, Protestantism was created, and different denominations of Christianity eventually began to form.

Types of Christianity

Christianity is broadly split into three branches: Catholic, Protestant, and (Eastern) Orthodox.

The Catholic branch is governed by the Pope and Catholic bishops around the world. The Orthodox (or Eastern Orthodox) is split into independent units each governed by a Holy Synod; there is no central governing structure akin to the Pope.

There are numerous denominations within Protestant Christianity, many of which differ in their interpretation of the Bible and understanding of the church.

Some of the many denominations that fall under the category of Protestant Christianity include:

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/christianity-fast-facts

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/history_1.shtml.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/

https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/pluralism/files/life_and_teachings_of_jesus_0.pdf

https://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/christians.html

Judaism - Researching Religions

Encouragement:

What is your initial response to this image? On the "COEXIST" bumper sticker every letter/symbol representing a religious system or spiritual ideology: "C" for the crescent and star (representing Islam); "O" being dotted with the Karma Wheel (Buddhism); "E" as energy in the relativity equation (Science); "X" illustrating the star of David (Judaism); the "I" dotted with the peace symbol; "S" for the Tao symbol; and "T" for the cross for Christianity.

Notice what the Bible says about the subject of Foreigners and Aliens: "And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:19 "The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord" Numbers 15:15 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5 "so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:12

Note: (we are starting with the religion that has the fewest followers and moving to the group with the most adherents)

How did Judaism begin?

Judaism began about 4000 years ago with the Hebrew people in the Middle East. Abraham, a Hebrew man, is considered the father of the Jewish faith because he promoted the central idea of the Jewish faith: that there is one God. At the time many people in the Middle East worshipped many gods. It is said that Abraham and his wife Sarah, who were old and childless, were told by God that their children would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky and that they would live in a land of their own -- the Promised Land. This gradually came true.

Abraham's son, Isaac had a son, Jacob, also called Israel. In this way, the descendants of Abraham came to be known as the Israelites. God promised the Israelites he would care for them as long as they obeyed God's laws. While still traveling, the Hebrews lived in Egypt where they were enslaved. Moses, a Hebrew, was chosen by God to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt. Moses led the Hebrew people out of the Sinai Desert toward the promised land. At Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses the Law which would guide the Israelites to today. The laws were called the Ten Commandments and form the basis of the Torah, the book of Jewish law.

It took many years for the Israelites to finally get to what they thought was the Promised Land - Canaan. After some fighting, the Jews established the Israelite kingdom. After many years, Canaan was conquered by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and then eventually the Romans. The Israelites once again found themselves enslaved, this time by Babylonians. The Israelites were then taken over by Romans who destroyed much of what had been built in Jerusalem by the Israelites. Most of the Jews were scattered all over the region and eventually moved from place to place to avoid persecution which continues to this day. The dispersion of the Jews is called the Diaspora.

The worst persecution of the Jews was during World War II by the Nazis who murdered more than six million Jews or a third of the world's Jewish population. This was called the Holocaust. Beginning in the 1880's Jews began returning to their homeland in growing numbers, this time to avoid persecution where they lived. After World War II, many Jews believed that for the Jewish people and culture to survive, Jews needed to live in their own country where all Jews from anywhere in the world would have the right to live and be citizens. In 1948, Palestine was divided up and a Jewish state of Israel was formed in the land that was once called Canaan, surrounded by countries with predominantly Muslim populations. Since Muslims also claimed rights to the land where the Jews were living, there was conflict, which continues to this day in the Middle East.

Today nearly fourteen million Jewish people live all over the world. Approximately half of them live in the United States, one quarter lives in Israel, and a quarter is still scattered around the world in countries in Europe, Russia, South America, Africa, Asia, and other North American and Middle Eastern countries. Anyone born to a Jewish mother is considered a Jew.

What do Jewish people believe?

Jewish people believe in the Torah, which was the whole of the laws given to the Israelites at Sinai. They believe they must follow God's laws which govern daily life. Later legal books, written by rabbis, determine the law as it applies to life in each new place and time.

The Ten Commandments, as written in the Torah, are:

Worship no other God but Me.
Do not make images to worship.
Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day (Saturday).
Keep it Holy.
Honor and respect your father and mother.
Do not murder.
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal.
Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.
Do not envy others' possessions.

There are three basic groups of Jewish people who have a different understandings of the interpretation of the Torah. 1. Orthodox Jews believe that all of the practices in the Torah that it is practical to obey must be obeyed without question. 2. Conservative and Reform Jews believe that the ancient laws and practices have to be interpreted for modern life with the inclusion of contemporary sources and with more concern with community practices than with ritual practices. 3. Reform Jews also allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both Hebrew and the local language are spoken in services.

Judaism has no dogma, no formal set of beliefs that one must hold to be a Jew. In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is certainly a place for belief within Judaism.

13 Principles of Faith

The closest that anyone has ever come to creating a widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs is Rambam's thirteen principles of faith. These principles, which Rambam thought were the minimum requirements of Jewish belief, are: (The words "God" and "Lord" are written by some Jews as "G-d" and "L-rd")

G-d exists
G-d is one and unique
G-d is incorporeal
G-d is eternal
Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
The words of the prophets are true
Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
There will be no other Torah
G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
The Messiah will come
The dead will be resurrected

As you can see, these are very basic and general principles. Yet as basic as these principles are, the necessity of believing each one of these has been disputed at one time or another, and the liberal movements of Judaism dispute many of these principles.

Unlike many other religions, Judaism does not focus much on abstract cosmological concepts. Although Jews have certainly considered the nature of G-d, man, the universe, life, and the afterlife at great length, there is no mandated, official, definitive belief on these subjects, outside of the very general concepts discussed above. There is substantial room for personal opinion on all of these matters.

Judaism focuses on relationships: the relationship between G-d and mankind, between G-d and the Jewish people, between the Jewish people and the land of Israel, and between human beings. Scriptures tell the story of the development of these relationships, from the time of creation, through the creation of the relationship between G-d and Abraham, to the creation of the relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, and forward. The scriptures also specify the mutual obligations created by these relationships, although various movements of Judaism disagree about the nature of these obligations. Some say they are absolute, unchanging laws from G-d (Orthodox); some say they are laws from G-d that change and evolve over time (Conservative); some say that they are guidelines that you can choose whether or not to follow (Reform, Reconstructionist). For more on these distinctions, see Movements of Judaism.

So, what are these actions that Judaism is so concerned about? According to Orthodox Judaism, these actions include 613 commandments given by G-d in the Torah as well as laws instituted by the rabbis and long-standing customs.

What are the sacred texts of the Jewish people?

The Tenakh is an ancient collection of writings that are sacred to the Jews. They were written over almost a thousand years from 1000 to 100 BCE. The word Tenakh comes from the three first letters of the three books included in this text: the Torah, plus the Nev'im (prophets) and the Ki'tuvim (writings, which include histories, prophecies, poems, hymns, and sayings).

The Torah is written on scrolls and kept in a special cabinet called the aron hakodish, the holy ark, in synagogues. The Torah is read with a pointer called a yad (hand) to keep it from being spoiled. Each week, one section is read until the entire Torah is completed and the reading begins again.

The Talmud is also an important collection of Jewish writings. Written about 2000 years ago, it is a recording of the rabbis' discussion of the way to follow the Torah at that time. Later texts, the Mishnah Torah and the Shulhan Aruch are recordings of rabbinic discussions from later periods.

https://www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/jewish-beliefs

Celebrations and Festivals are centered around important events in the history of the Jews.

2022 Jewish Holiday List:
---Tu B’shevat - January 17 - This holiday, the New Year of the Trees, marks the coming of spring. It is celebrated by having picnics, planting trees, and eating fruit.

---Purim — March 17 - The Festival of Lots recalls the rescue of the Jews of ancient Persia from annihilation at the hands of Haman, who cast lots to choose this day for his plot to kill the Jews. Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordechai, foiled his plan.

On Purim, the Megillah of Esther is read, and the holiday is celebrated with festivity, costumes, and noisemakers. Hamantashen are the traditional food, mishloach manot (gift packages) are exchanged, and money is given to the poor.

Each year, the Women’s Philanthropy program hosts a “Pack a Bag of Love” event to pack and deliver care packages to community members who are homebound or living in care facilities.

---Pesach / Passover — April 16-23 - The Exodus of the Jews from Egypt is celebrated with the eight-day festival of Passover. Ridding the home of chametz (leavened food) and eating only unleavened items commemorate the haste in which the former slaves fled Egypt, leaving them too little time for their bread dough to rise. Jews retell the story of the Exodus during their Passover Seders.

In 2021, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis celebrated by passing out Passover Kits to families with young children, attending a virtual Passover cooking class, and other virtual activities

---Yom Hashoah - April 28 - Also known as “Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Yom HaShoah is marked by memorials and dedications to those who perished in the Holocaust.

Each year, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum hosts a commemoration to honor survivors and remember the victims of the Holocaust. St. Louis survivors share eyewitness accounts of the Shoah, followed by music, liturgical readings, and prayers.

---Yom Hazikaron - May 4 - Israel’s National Memorial Day honors veterans, fallen military personnel, and victims of terror.

---Yom Ha’atzmaut - May 5 - Israel Independence Day is celebrated festively by Jews around the world, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

---Yom Yerushalayim - May 29 - Jerusalem Day commemorates the liberation of the city of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War.

---Shavuot — June 5-6 - This holiday marks the end of the Counting of the Omer. It recalls Moses’ receiving of the Torah. The Megillah of Ruth is read, and all-night Torah study is customary. Dairy food, honey, and floral decorations are traditional.

Find recipes for Shavuot dishes, desserts, and cocktails.

---Tisha B’av - August 7 - This solemn day is a reminder of the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred on the same Hebrew calendar date. It is traditional to fast.

---Rosh Hashanah — September 26-27 - Literally meaning “Head of the Year,” Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar. It begins a 10-day period of repentance and prayer which ends on Yom Kippur. We celebrate the holiday with services and apples dipped in honey to symbolize the hope for a sweet year to come. During this two-day observance, Jews examine their lives, repent for wrongs committed during the previous year, and make amends. To remind people of the importance of reflection, the shofar (an instrument often made of a ram's horn) is blown one hundred times on each of the two days. Some also participate in a tashlich ceremony, where people symbolically cast off the sins of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread or another food into a body of flowing water.

---Yom Kippur — October 5 - The Day of Atonement is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, marking the end of the 10 days of repentance. It is spent in fasting and fervent prayer. Sounding the shofar signals the holiday’s end. The day’s purpose is bringing about reconciliation between individuals and God. The day is marked by fasting and attending worship services at synagogues. In the 10 days leading up to the holiday, Jews engage in a process of repentance (teshuvah), where they ask forgiveness from—and reconcile with—anyone whom they may have offended.
---Sukkot — October 10-11 - This harvest festival is named for the temporary dwellings, called Sukkot, decorated with fruit and vegetables, set up to recall the booths in which the Jews lived during their journey from Egypt. The holiday is marked by processions with the lulav (palm branch with myrtle and willow) and etrog (citron).

---Shemini Atzeret — October 17 - The day after Sukkot is Shemini Atzeret, which is combined in Israel with Simchat Torah, nominally a separate holiday; thus, there is no partaking of meals in the sukkah, nor use of the lulav and etrog. The special prayer for rain is recited during the musaf service.
---Simchat Torah — October 18 - Outside of Israel, the day after Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah marks the end of the annual Torah reading and the beginning of the cycle for the coming year. It is celebrated with singing, dancing, and merry processions of people carrying Torahs and children waving flags

---Chanukah / Hanukkah — December 19-26 - In 167 BCE, the Maccabees led a band of Jews in a successful battle against the occupying Syrian-Greeks, who had desecrated the Second Temple’s eternal light. Miraculously, one day’s supply of oil lasted eight days, until more could be found. The Chanukah menorah is lit for eight nights to celebrate that miracle. Among the many Hanukkah traditions, children play dreidel, and foods fried in oil are customary.

Sacred Spaces and Places

Israel itself is a very sacred place to Jewish people. Jews who do not live there try to visit at some point in their lives. In particular, Jerusalem is important because it is the ancient capital of Israel and the site of the original temple.

The Western Wall of the ancient temple remains. This is where the tablets that Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments were stored in a golden box called the Ark of the Covenant. Jewish people make pilgrimages to this wall. It is also called the Wailing Wall because people grieve the destruction of the temple and other persecution of the Jews.

Jewish people worship in synagogues. A synagogue is a center for Jewish life - not just worshipping, but education and community.

Synagogues, of course, vary in style around the world, but all contain certain features:

The Holy Ark with one or more Torah scrolls, covered by curtains.
A six-pointed star, the Star of David, is often found both inside and outside synagogues.
An eternal light in front of the ark, which represents the light that led the Hebrew people through the Sinai and was in the original temple, is kept lit at all times.
A reading table, at the front or in the middle of the sanctuary, sometimes on a stage, or bimah.
A replica of the Ten Commandments.
A special seat for the rabbi.
No images of God, since images are forbidden in the commandments.

Synagogue services are led by a rabbi and usually a cantor, who sings traditional and contemporary melodies. There are prayers, songs, chants, and readings, as well as a sermon or discussion by the rabbi or members of the community.

Some Jewish people go to the synagogue daily, some weekly on Shabbat, and some periodically on Shabbat and on special holy days. Some rituals, like the blessing, said at the Shabbat meal and the observance of Passover, take place in Jewish homes.

Reference:

Witnessing:

While some would like to ignore or deny the reality of the Holocaust, it would be a big mistake if we did not include it here. Leonard Pitts, in a recent article, wrote: "The Nazis systematically murdered 11 million people — 6 million of them Jews, the rest homosexuals, communists, labor unionists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the disabled — for the “crime” of worshiping, thinking or being, different. That’s a September 11 attack every day for 10 years. And for What

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum - https://www.ushmm.org/learn

History channel content on the Holocaust - https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaus

Just for fun info:

Twelve Healthy Habits - https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2022/quick-healthy-habits.html?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-WBLTR-1309502-1598302-6873315-NA-120222-Webletter-HT1-NA-NA-TM60-Health&encparam=y6ZKIHfwosSbv6RyZTghHnfWopIC%2fEMmGZCaSEXNhcg%3d
Sixteen Benefits of Yoga - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

Researching Religions - Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism

As you look at these, remember we are attempting to fight the good fight and to be always ready to give an account.

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there". Acts 17:16,17

This study is offered as an effort to become familiar with other religions so that we might be able to "reason" with people we may encounter and to open our minds to become more tolerant of others and their beliefs.

Islam - 1.91 billion (23.2%)

Video link to Stranger at the Gate a 3 1/2 minute clip on what can happen to hate.

Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions. Islam started in Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia, during the time of the prophet Muhammad’s life. Today, it is spreading rapidly throughout the world.

(Note: Tom provided a handout from a bible study on the subject of "Islam or Christianity?" This document/study can be found online at: https://gospelway.com/religiousgroups/islam.php)

Islam Facts

The word “Islam” means “submission to the will of God.”
Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah.
Followers of Islam aim to live a life of complete submission to Allah. They believe that nothing can happen without Allah’s permission, but humans have free will.
Islam teaches that Allah’s word was revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
Muslims believe several prophets were sent to teach Allah’s law. They respect some of the same prophets as Jews and Christians, including Abraham, Moses, Noah and Jesus. Muslims contend that Muhammad was the final prophet.
Mosques are places where Muslims worship.
Some important Islamic holy places include the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.
The Quran (or Koran) is the major holy text of Islam. The Hadith is another important book. Muslims also revere some material found in the Judeo-Christian Bible.
Followers worship Allah by praying and reciting the Quran. They believe there will be a day of judgment, and life after death.
A central idea in Islam is “jihad,” which means “struggle.” While the term has been used negatively in mainstream culture, Muslims believe it refers to internal and external efforts to defend their faith. Although rare, this can include military jihad if a “just war” is needed.

Muhammad

The prophet Muhammad, sometimes spelled Mohammed or Mohammad, was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 570 A.D. Muslims believe he was the final prophet sent by God to reveal their faith to mankind.

According to Islamic texts and tradition, an angel named Gabriel visited Muhammad in 610 A.D. while he was meditating in a cave. The angel ordered Muhammad to recite the words of Allah.

Muslims believe that Muhammad continued to receive revelations from Allah throughout the rest of his life.

Starting in about 613, Muhammad began preaching throughout Mecca the messages he received. He taught that there was no other God but Allah and that Muslims should devote their lives to this God.

Hijra

In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina with his supporters. This journey became known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah), and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Some seven years later, Muhammad and his many followers returned to Mecca and conquered the region. He continued to preach until his death in 632.

Abu Bakr

After Muhammad’s passing, Islam began to spread rapidly. A series of leaders, known as caliphs, became successors to Muhammad. This system of leadership, which was run by a Muslim ruler, became known as a caliphate.

The first caliph was Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law and close friend.

Abu Bakr died about two years after he was elected and was succeeded in 634 by Caliph Umar, another father-in-law of Muhammad.

Caliphate System

When Umar was assassinated six years after being named caliph, Uthman, Muhammad’s son-in-law, took the role.

Uthman was also killed, and Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, was selected as the next caliph.

During the reign of the first four caliphs, Arab Muslims conquered large regions in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine, Iran and Iraq. Islam also spread throughout areas in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The caliphate system lasted for centuries and eventually evolved into the Ottoman Empire, which controlled large regions in the Middle East from about 1517 until 1917, when World War I ended the Ottoman reign.

Sunnis and Shiites

When Muhammad died, there was debate over who should replace him as leader. This led to a schism in Islam, and two major sects emerged: the Sunnis and the Shiites.

Sunnis make up nearly 90 percent of Muslims worldwide. They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad.

Shiite Muslims believe that only the caliph Ali and his descendants are the real successors to Muhammad. They deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs. Today, Shiite Muslims have a considerable presence in Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Other Types of Islam

Other, smaller Muslim denominations within the Sunni and Shiite groups exist. Some of these include:

Wahhabi: This Sunni sect, made up of members of the Tameem tribe in Saudi Arabia, was founded in the 18th century. Followers observe an extremely strict interpretation of Islam that was taught by Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab.
Alawite: This Shiite form of Islam is prevalent in Syria. Followers hold similar beliefs about the caliph Ali but also observe some Christian and Zoroastrian holidays.
Nation of Islam: This mostly African-American, Sunni sect was founded in the 1930s in Detroit, Michigan.
Kharijites: This sect broke from the Shiites after disagreeing over how to select a new leader. They are known for radical fundamentalism, and today are called Ibadis.

The Quran (sometimes spelled Qur’an or Koran) is considered the most important holy book among Muslims.

It contains some basic information that is found in the Hebrew Bible as well as revelations that were given to Muhammad. The text is considered the sacred word of God and supersedes any previous writings.

Most Muslims believe that Muhammad’s scribes wrote down his words, which became the Quran. (Muhammad himself was never taught to read or write.)

Scholars believe the Quran was compiled shortly after Muhammad’s death, under the guidance of Caliph Abu Bakr.

Islamic Calendar

The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijra calendar, is a lunar calendar used in Islamic religious worship. The calendar began in the year 622 A.D., celebrating the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

The Islamic calendar indicates the proper days of Islamic holidays and celebrations, including the period of fasting and prayer known as Ramadan, which occurs during the ninth month of the calendar.

Islam Symbols

As in many religions, there is no single image or symbol of Islam that is universally accepted by all Muslims worldwide.

The crescent moon and star has been adopted in some predominantly Muslim countries as a symbol of Islam, though the crescent moon and star image is believed to pre-date Islam and was originally a symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

In some other applications, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian aid movement, a red crescent indicates that followers of Islam are respected and treated accordingly.

The color green is also sometimes associated with Islam, as it was reportedly a favorite color of Muhammad's and is often featured prominently in the flags of predominantly Muslim countries.

Five Pillars of Islam

Muslims follow five basic pillars that are essential to their faith. These include:

Shahada: to declare one’s faith in God and belief in Muhammad
Salat: to pray five times a day (at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening)
Zakat: to give to those in need
Sawm: to fast during Ramadan
Hajj: to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during a person’s lifetime if the person is able

Sharia Law

Islam’s legal system is known as Sharia Law. This faith-based code of conduct directs Muslims on how they should live in nearly every aspect of their lives.

Sharia law requires men and women to dress modestly. It also outlines marriage guidelines and other moral principles for Muslims.

If crimes are committed, Sharia law is known for its harsh punishments. For example, the punishment for theft is amputating a person’s hand. Adultery can carry the penalty of death by stoning. However, many Muslims do not support such extreme measures.

Muslim Prayer

The prophet Muhammad is credited with building the first mosque in the courtyard of his house in Medina. Mosques today follow some of the same principles he established in 622 A.D.

Muslim prayer is often conducted in a mosque's large open space or outdoor courtyard. A mihrab is a decorative feature or niche in the mosque that indicates the direction to Mecca, and therefore the direction to face during prayer.

Men and women pray separately, and Muslims may visit a mosque five times a day for each of the prayer sessions. In addition to hosting prayers, mosques often function as public gathering places and social centers.

Muslim Holidays

The two major Muslim holidays are:

Eid al-Adha: celebrates the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.
Eid al-Fitr: marks the end of Ramadan—the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Muslims also celebrate other holidays, such as the Islamic New Year and the birth of Muhammad.

Islam Today

In recent years, Islam’s supposed association with terrorism and mass murder has sparked a political debate in many countries. The controversial term “radical Islam” has become a well-known label to describe the religion’s connection to acts of violence.

Recent surveys have found that in countries with high Muslim populations, the majority of Muslims have overwhelmingly negative views of terrorist groups like ISIS.

While Muslims aim to clear up misconceptions about their faith, the religion continues to spread rapidly. Today, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. Experts predict Islam will surpass Christianity as the largest religion by the end of the century.

10 Things You Should Know about Islam by: A. S. Ibrahim

Thinking Critically about Islam

I always teach my students to distinguish between Islam and Muslims. Islam is a world religion with adherents composing about 20% of the entire population on earth. They are called Muslims. As Christians, we are called to love everyone and preach the good news of Jesus Christ to every human being, including Muslims. We are not called to accept, follow, or love any ideology, but rather, in discernment and wisdom and based on biblical fidelity, we should test every thought and claim. Distinguishing Islam from Muslims is important, as we are called to love Muslims as Christ does, but it is important to think critically and biblically about the claims of Islam and subject them to the word of God and what it teaches. Here I offer you ten things you should know about Islam.

1. Islam means submission and surrender.

In many circles in the West, I hear people say that the term islam means peace. This is incorrect and either ignorant or misleading. The word means surrender and submission. Muslims understand it to reflect total devotion to the deity and the commands of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad. As a religion, Islam is built on laws and rules that require total submission (thus, islam). During Muhammad’s time, he was known in the latter part of his life as a commander who launched raids against his enemies. When they submitted to him and to his rule, the Muslim sources described the action as entering Islam or converting to Islam. This notion reflects the core meaning of the term—it is giving oneself to a set of religious commands, presumably revealed by the deity through his messenger to humankind.

2. Islam has two major foundations.

As a faith system, Islam is built on two foundations: Allah’s word and Allah’s messenger, i.e., the Quran and Muhammad. These are two important foundations, without which Islam collapses. The Quran is Islam’s scripture. It is believed by Muslims to be inerrant and infallible. It does not follow chronological order nor does it provide clear context, at times, to certain passages. This is why it is relatively difficult even for Muslims to comprehend. They rely on later commentaries, without which they do not understand the text. The second foundation is Muhammad, known in Islam as the final and best prophet sent by Allah. For Muslims, Muhammad is the best man who ever lived. His life is the precedent which reflects the best application of the Quran. This is why Muslims try to imitate the stories of Muhammad’s life as they seek to apply the Quran.

3. Islam’s deity is Allah.

The name of Islam’s deity is Allah. He was known before Islam as one of the deities in Muhammad’s birthplace, Mecca. Some Arabs thought that Allah had three daughters who acted as mediators and intercessors, taking requests to him. The characteristics and adjectives about Allah have many similarities to the God of the Bible, although Allah has specific distinctions explicitly given to him in Islam. One of the most important distinctions is that he is not a personal deity. While Christians always emphasize a personal relationship with God, this notion is significantly foreign in Islam. Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use the name Allah to refer to the God of the Bible, although arguably what they understand about him deviates in many ways from Allah’s character and attributes.

4. Islam is more than a religious system.

If you think of Islam as a religious system with many rituals, rules, and laws, you wouldn’t be mistaken, but you wouldn’t be totally correct either. While Islam is indeed a religion, it goes beyond that. For Muslims, it is a social identity and a nationalism as well. Muslims feel proud to follow Islam even though they often say they do not understand or know its basics. It is part of their cultural identity. It encompasses all aspects of their lives, which makes abandoning it very difficult on the family structure. Muslims fear abandoning Islam will bring shame to their families, so they may abandon the idea. Moreover, it is not only a cultural identity but a nationalism. Muslims feel pride for thinking of themselves as the umma (community) of Muhammad. They pride themselves on this, claiming no other religion connects its people as Islam does. This rosy picture is not always factual, especially if you see how Muslims deal with each other in majority-Muslim lands, where social castes play a major role in daily life.

5. Islam has two major sects or denominations.

The major two sects of Islam are Sunni and Shiite (or Shia). Sunnis make up about 85% of Islam and Shiites 13%. The disagreements between the two sects are often diluted in media outlets, but the reality is that the disputes are deep theologically and politically. It is even a well-known fact that most adherents of each sect believe the other sect is not true Muslims.

6. Islam is a works-based system.

In Islam, acceptance before the deity relies on good works with good intentions. If Muslims want to please Allah, they should intend well and do good works, precisely following the prescribed duties given by Allah through his messenger, Muhammad. For the vast majority of Muslims, the prescribed duties are many, but the most important are labeled the Five Pillars of Islam. They are the confession of faith (shahada), the daily ritual prayer (salat), almsgiving (zakat), fasting during Ramadan (sawm), and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. These deeds bring man closer to Allah, but there is no guarantee in Islam for eternal bliss, except for martyrs who gave their lives in the path of Allah.

7. Islam is a strong worldview with precise anti-Christian claims.

The Islamic worldview is built on the Quran and Muhammad’s sayings. The worldview controls how Muslims view the world and respond to humans. There are various elements in the Islamic worldview, but we should note that the view that stems from Islamic texts has strong anti-Christian elements in it, such as (1) Jesus is not God, (2) God is not triune, (3) the Bible is altered and corrupted. When we talk with Muslims, we need to recognize these elements of the worldview so that we can explain our biblical worldview and refute misconceptions.

It is a marvelous time to proclaim the gospel to Muslims around us.

8. Islam preaches a different Jesus.

Islam has a specific view of the Jesus of Christians, calling him Isa. Muslims always declare that they believe in “Jesus” and they complain to Christians, If we believe in your Jesus, why don’t you believe in our Muhammad? The Islamic Isa is very different from the biblical Jesus. Isa in Islam is not God, nor the Son of God. Isa is merely one of the prophets sent by Allah to humankind. The portrayal of Isa in the Quran and Muslim sources demonstrates a distorted picture of what Christians actually believe about the Lord and Savior.

9. Islam does not permit apostasy.

One of the gravest sins in Islam is associating partners with the deity, i.e., polytheism. However, abandoning Islam is also one of the major sins. All classical Muslim schools of law insist that the penalty of abandoning Islam is a death sentence. This is why many Muslims avoid declaring their apostasy. Some progressive Muslims argue that the claims of classical Muslims are not suitable for today, and we should adhere to human reasoning and allow every person to follow the religion of his or her choice.

10. Islam is not the fastest-growing religion.

Many are under the misconception that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. This assumption often relies on the fact that the number of Muslims is growing worldwide, according to some statistics. However, this does not mean Islam is growing, nor does it mean that truly the number of Muslims is growing. In many circles, Muslims have been growing in number in past generations, because first, Muslim families tend to have more children, and second, Muslim women often stay at home which results in more children. This does not mean “Islam” is growing, nor does it mean that these trends are still continuing today. In fact, some statistics show that the rapid growth in Muslim families is now fading and most Muslims—due to economic pressures—are beginning to have fewer children. No, Islam as a religion is not growing in attracting adherents—it is actually the exact opposite. Many recent statistics show that Muslims are abandoning Islam in droves, especially as the Internet has given access to Muslims to read for themselves what the primary sources of Islam reveal. Many Muslims have begun to question the Quran and Muhammad—the two elements which used to be the untouchables of Islam. More Muslims are abandoning Islam today, we can argue, than in past centuries altogether. It is a marvelous time to proclaim the gospel to Muslims around us.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Buddhism - 507 million (7.1%)

Motivation:

You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here. You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold. Deuteronomy 29:17-18

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:21-23

It is important for Christians to keep our focus on the One true God as we look at what others view as worship.

Introduction:

Buddhism is a major global religion with a complex history and system of beliefs. The following is intended only to introduce Buddhism's history and fundamental tenets, and by no means covers the religion exhaustively. To learn more about Buddhism, please look through our Web Resources section for other in-depth, online sources of information.

Historians estimate that the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, lived from 566(?) to 480(?) B.C. The son of an Indian warrior-king, Gautama led an extravagant life through early adulthood, reveling in the privileges of his social caste. But when he bored of the indulgences of royal life, Gautama wandered into the world in search of understanding. After encountering an old man, an ill man, a corpse and an ascetic, Gautama was convinced that suffering lay at the end of all existence. He renounced his princely title and became a monk, depriving himself of worldly possessions in the hope of comprehending the truth of the world around him. The culmination of his search came while meditating beneath a tree, where he finally understood how to be free from suffering, and ultimately, to achieve salvation. Following this epiphany, Gautama was known as the Buddha, meaning the "Enlightened One." The Buddha spent the remainder of his life journeying about India, teaching others what he had come to understand.

KarmaKarma

Contrary to what is accepted in contemporary society, the Buddhist interpretation of karma does not refer to preordained fate. Karma refers to good or bad actions a person takes during her lifetime. Good actions, which involve either the absence of bad actions, or actual positive acts, such as generosity, righteousness, and meditation, bring about happiness in the long run. Bad actions, such as lying, stealing or killing, bring about unhappiness in the long run. The weight that actions carry is determined by five conditions: frequent, repetitive action; determined, intentional action; action performed without regret; action against extraordinary persons; and action toward those who have helped one in the past. Finally, there is also neutral karma, which derives from acts such as breathing, eating or sleeping. Neutral karma has no benefits or costs.

The Cycle of Rebirth

Karma plays out in the Buddhism cycle of rebirth. There are six separate planes into which any living being can be reborn -- three fortunate realms, and three unfortunate realms. Those with favorable, positive karma are reborn into one of the fortunate realms: the realm of demigods, the realm of gods, and the realm of men. While the demigods and gods enjoy gratification unknown to men, they also suffer unceasing jealousy and envy. The realm of man is considered the highest realm of rebirth. Humanity lacks some of the extravagances of the demigods and gods, but is also free from their relentless conflict. Similarly, while inhabitants of the three unfortunate realms -- of animals, ghosts and hell -- suffer untold suffering, the suffering of the realm of man is far less.

The realm of man also offers one other aspect lacking in the other five planes, an opportunity to achieve enlightenment, or Nirvana. Given the sheer number of living things, to be born human is to Buddhists a precious chance at spiritual bliss, a rarity that one should not forsake.

Beliefs -

Buddhists are taught to show the same tolerance, forbearance, and brotherly love to all men, without distinction; and an unswerving kindness toward the members of the animal kingdom.

The Universe was evolved, not created. It functions according to law, not according to the caprice of any God.

The truths upon which Buddhism is founded are natural. They have, we believe, been taught in successive kalpas, or world-periods, by certain illuminated beings called Buddhas, the name Buddha meaning "Enlightened."

The fourth Teacher in the present Kalpa was Shakyamuni, or Gautama-Buddha, who was born in a royal family in India about 2,500 years ago. He is a historical personage and his name was Siddhartha Gautama.

Shakyamuni taught that ignorance produces desire, unsatisfied desire is the cause of rebirth, and rebirth, the cause of sorrow. To get rid of sorrow, therefore, it is necessary to escape rebirth; to escape rebirth, it is necessary to extinguish desire; and to extinguish desire, it is necessary to destroy ignorance.

Ignorance fosters the belief that rebirth is a necessary thing. When ignorance is destroyed the worthlessness of every such rebirth, considered as an end in itself, is perceived, as well as the paramount need of adopting a course of life by which the necessity for such repeated rebirths can be abolished. Ignorance also begets the illusive and illogical idea that there is only one existence for man, and the other illusion that this one life is followed by states of unchangeable pleasure or torment.

The dispersion of all this ignorance can be attained by the persevering practice of an all-embracing altruism in conduct, development of intelligence, wisdom in thought, and destruction of desire for the lower personal pleasures.

The desire to live being the cause of rebirth, when that is extinguished rebirths cease and the perfected individual attains by meditation that highest state of peace called Nirvana.

Shakyamuni taught that ignorance can be dispelled and sorrow removed by the knowledge of the four Noble Truths, namely: (1) The miseries of existence; (2) The cause productive of misery, which is the desire ever renewed of satisfying oneself without being able ever to secure that end; (3) The destruction of that desire, or the estranging of oneself from it; (4) The means of obtaining this destruction of desire. The means which he pointed out is called the Noble Eightfold Path, viz., Right Belief; Right Thought; Right Speech; Right Action; Right Means of Livelihood; Right Exertion; Right Remembrance; Right Meditation.

Right Meditation leads to spiritual enlightenment, or the development of that Buddha-like faculty which is latent in every man.

The essence of Buddhism, as summed up by the Tathagatha (Buddha) himself, is: "To cease from all sin, To get virtue, To purify the heart."

The universe is subject to a natural causation known as "karma." The merits and demerits of a being in past existences determine his condition in the present one. Each man, therefore, has prepared the causes of the effects which he now experiences.

The obstacles to the attainment of good karma may be removed by the observance of the following precepts, are embraced in the moral code of Buddhism, namely: (1) Kill not; (2) Steal not; (3) Indulge in no forbidden sexual pleasure; (4) Lie not; (5) Take no intoxicating or stupefying drug or liquor. Five other precepts which need not be here enumerated should be observed by those who would attain, more quickly than the average layman, the release from misery and rebirth.

Buddhism discourages superstitious credulity. Gautama-Buddha taught it to be the duty of a parent to have his child educated in science and literature. He also taught that no one should believe what is spoken by any sage, written in any book, or affirmed by tradition unless it accords with reason.

The three trainings or practices:

Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles: The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal. The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in Christianity - to do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you. It is found in all major religions.
Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which, in turn, leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our minds; this helps us maintain good conduct.
Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm. The first two paths listed in the Eightfold Path, described below, refer to discernment; the last three belong to concentration; the middle three are related to virtue.

Four Noble Truths explore human suffering:

1. Dukkha: Suffering exists: Life is suffering. Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering

has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, and the impermanence of pleasure.

2. Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering. Suffering is due to attachment. It is the desire to

have and control things. It can take many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for

fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.

3. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. Attachment can be overcome. Suffering ceases with

the final liberation of Nirvana (Nibbana). The mind experiences complete freedom,

liberation, and non-attachment. It lets go of any desire or craving.

4. Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path. There is a path for accomplishing this.

The five precepts; rules to live by:

(They are somewhat analogous to the second half of the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity -- that part of the Decalogue which describes behaviors to avoid. However, they are recommendations, not commandments. Believers are expected to use their own intelligence in deciding exactly how to apply these rules.)

Do not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence.
Do not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation.
Do not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name-calling, gossip, etc.
Do not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage. The Buddha did not discuss consensual premarital sex within a committed relationship, thus, Buddhist traditions differ on this. Most Buddhists, probably influenced by their local cultures, condemn same-sex sexual activity regardless of the nature of the relationship between the people involved.
Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind. Some have included as a drug other methods of divorcing ourselves from reality -- e.g. movies, television, and the Internet.

Those preparing for monastic life or who are not within a family are expected to avoid an additional five activities:

Taking untimely meals.
Dancing, singing, music, watching grotesque mime.
Use of garlands, perfumes and personal adornment.
Use of high seats.
Accepting gold or silver.

The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of: (Ordained Theravada monks promise to follow 227 precepts!)

Panna: Discernment, wisdom:

Samma ditthi: Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths. Right View is the true understanding of the four noble truths.
Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life. Right Aspiration is the true desire to free oneself from attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness.

Sila: Virtue, morality:

Samma vaca: Right speech: No lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language. Right Speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or hurtful talk.
Samma kammanta Right conduct or Right Action involves abstaining from hurtful behaviors, such as killing, stealing, and careless sex. These are called the Five Precepts.
Samma ajiva: Right livelihood: Support yourself without harming others. Right Livelihood means making your living in such a way as to avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals.

Samadhi: Concentration, meditation:

Samma vayama: Right Effort: Promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts. Right Effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and prevented from arising again. Good qualities should be enacted and nurtured.
Samma sati: Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings. Right Mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on one's body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance.
Samma samadhi: Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness. Right Concentration is meditating in such a way as to progressively realize a true understanding of imperfection, impermanence, and non-separateness

There are, however, many sects of Buddhism and there are different kinds of Buddhist monks all over the world. The life and customs of Buddhist monks are not only different and unique but consist of a spiritual meaning. Their daily life follows a strict schedule that revolves around meditation, study of scriptures, and taking part in ceremonies. There are Buddhist shrines, Buddhist monasteries, where monks live, Gompas and Buddhist Stupas all over the world.

Though it originated in northern India, the Emperor Ashoka helped to spread Buddhism into South East Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Indo-China, from where it moved on to influence people in the Himalayan kingdoms of Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, Central Asia as well as China, Korea, Viet Nam and Japan. Around 95 per cent of the population in Thailand is Buddhist, the highest concentration in the world, with Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Viet Nam, Japan, Macao (China) and Taiwan Province of China following close behind.

Devotees reaffirm their faith in the five principles called Panchsheel:

1. Do not to take life;

2. Do not to steal;

3. Do not to commit adultery;

4. Do not lie;

5. Do not to consume liquor or other intoxicants.

Reference:

Witnessing:

The following is from the Gospel Coalition-

Here are nine things you should know about this Eastern-oriented global religion:

1. Buddhism (like Hinduism) is often treated as a single religion when it is more accurate to describe it as a family of religions, or spiritual traditions that share common beliefs and characteristics. The religion originated in India about 2,500 years ago based on the teachings of a man called Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, which means “the awakened one” or “the enlightened one.” Buddhism spread across Asia and became the dominant religious faith in such countries as Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tibet. Prior to the rise of Islam, it was one of the most widely practiced religions in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

2. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy family in present-day Nepal. Although he is often described as having been a prince, it is more likely that his status was that of a regional leader, similar to a tribe’s chief. During his late 20s he had a personal crisis driven by the reality of human suffering. He initially became a wandering ascetic but gave it didn’t help him achieve his objective. He purportedly attained Nirvana (perfect enlightenment) while sitting under a fig tree. Thereafter, he became known as the Buddha and dedicated his life to spreading his teachings. Scholars agrees that the Buddha died at some point between 410 and 370 BC.

3. For Buddhists, the most important of Buddha’s teachings is the “Four Noble Truths,” which is shared, with some variations, by all Buddhist sects. The four truths are dukkha (the truth of suffering); the arising of dukkha (the causes of suffering); the stopping of dukkha (the end of suffering); and the path leading to the stopping of dukkha (the path to freedom from suffering). As Charley Linden Thorp explains, the Four Truths are often best understood using a medical framework: Truth 1 is the diagnosis of an illness or condition; Truth 2 is identifying the underlying causes of it; Truth 3 is its prognosis or outcome; and Trust 4 is its treatment.

4. In Buddhist teaching, the fourth truth (the stopping of dukkha) contains the Eightfold Path leading out of samsara (i.e., the cycle of repeated birth, mundane existence and dying again) to nirvana (release from release from rebirths in saṃsara and cessation of dukkha). It consists of:

Right View – an accurate understanding of the nature of things, specifically the Four Noble Truths
Right Resolve – avoiding thoughts of attachment, hatred, and harmful intent
Right Speech – correct speech, refraining from verbal misdeeds such as lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, and senseless speech
Right Action – refraining from physical misdeeds such as killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct
Right Livelihood – avoiding trades that directly or indirectly harm others, such as selling slaves, weapons, animals for slaughter, intoxicants, or poisons
Right Effort – abandoning negative states of mind that have already arisen, preventing negative states that have yet to arise, and sustaining positive states that have already arisen
Right Mindfulness – awareness of body, feelings, thought, and phenomena (the constituents of the existing world)
Right Meditation – single-mindedness; focusing attention in order to enter meditational states.
These eight aspects of the path are often divided into three groups or skandhas: three to five relate to morality; six to eight to meditation; and one to two to insight. As Thorp points out, this eightfold path is “not linear, passing from one stage to the next, but cumulative so that ideally all eight factors are practiced simultaneously.

5. Buddhism does not require faith or belief and does not include the concept of a god. As a non-theistic faith, the existence of god is considered irrelevant, neither affirmed nor denied. Buddhists also have no concept of sin, but instead consider the cause of cause of human suffering to be “ignorance.” A fundamental doctrine of Buddhism is karma, which is a law of moral causation. Any kind of intentional, volitional action— thought, word, or deed—is regarded as karma. It is karma that leads to saṃsara and necessitates the need for nirvana.

6. The four major Buddhist branches are Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana, and Zen Buddhism. Mahayana is an umbrella term given to a group of Buddhist schools that have doctrinal diversity, but a moral unity centered on compassion and insight or wisdom. Theravada (which means “the doctrine of the elders”) emphasizes attaining self-liberation through one’s own efforts, such as through meditation. Vajrayana (which means “the Vehicle of the Thunderbolt”) believes that that nirvana and samsara are not different, and teach that anything—including desire—can profitably be used as a means to liberation, which can be achieved within a single lifetime. Zen Buddhism teaches that everyone has the potential to become enlightened and that the way to achieve such a goal is through meditation.

7. The most recognized religious figure in Buddhism is the Dalai Lama, the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug (“Yellow Hat”) school of Tibetan Buddhism (a form of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism). The Dalai Lamas are believed to be reincarnated manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. (Bodhisattvas are “realized beings inspired by a wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help humanity.”) The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 and considered by many Buddhists to be the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.

8. According to estimates by Pew Research, about half the world’s Buddhists live in China, where they make up only 18 percent of the country’s population. Most of the rest of the world’s Buddhists live in East and South Asia, including 13 percent in Thailand (where 93 percent of the population is Buddhist) and 9 percent in Japan (where 35 percent are Buddhist). Only about 1.4 percent of the world’s Buddhists live in countries outside of Asia. Buddhists make up roughly 1 percent of the adult population in the United States, and about two-thirds of U.S. Buddhists are Asian Americans. In total, Buddhists made up roughly 7 percent of the world’s population in 2015. Because of low fertility rates and a low rate of conversions, though, they are expected to drop to 5 percent by 2060.

9. The spiritual context of Buddhism makes is especially challenging to share the gospel with Buddhists. Many Christian apologists recommend finding a shared context and common assumptions. For example, as Alex Kocman says, “The Four Noble Truths can give Christians four useful conversational diving boards to communicate the Bible’s views of life, death, and salvation.” Justin Caudill also highlights the importance of testimonies and genuine relationship. “Our testimonies work when other methods fail with Buddhists, and we believe this is true for several reasons,” Caudill says. “Testimonies are effective because they are stories, and story is the true heart language of Buddhists.” Sam Chan adds that Buddhist long for two things: power and control in their lives, and peace and shalom. “Jesus is the only one who can give us power over say, evil spirits, the power to be healed,” Chan says. “And Jesus gives us peace. He doesn’t take away suffering, but he lets us know there is a wisdom, there’s a plan, a purpose, a direction to this universe. And because of that, we can enjoy a peace, our shalom that no one else can enjoy.”

Hinduism - 1.16 billion (15.0%)

Motivation:

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. 2 Chronicles 2:5

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! Joshua 24:16

Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 2 Chronicles 34:25

Nine Beliefs of Hinduism

"Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our actions. By our actions, we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters–God, soul and cosmos–are essential to one’s approach to life". Hindu statement

Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few bedrock concepts on which most Hindus concur. The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple summary of Hindu spirituality.

Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.
Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world’s most ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.
Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.
Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.
Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.
Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation and surrender in God.
Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word and deed.
Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God’s Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.

Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, has no beginning–it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion, leading the devotee to personally experience the Truth within, finally reaching the pinnacle of consciousness where man and God are one. Hinduism has four main denominations–Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

How did Hinduism begin?

Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma ("eternal spiritual path") began about 4000 years ago in India. It was the religion of an ancient people known as the Aryans ("noble people") whose philosophy, religion, and customs are recorded in their sacred texts known as the Vedas. These texts were initially handed down by word of mouth from teacher to student. It was not until much later that they were actually written down. Archeological evidence from the Indus Valley civilization of northwestern India helps to establish Hinduism as the world's oldest living religion. Today, worldwide, there are almost one billion people professing some aspect of Hinduism. The fundamental teachings of Hinduism, which form the foundation of all its different sects, are contained in the concluding portion of the Vedas, and are therefore known as the Vedanta (the "end or concluding portion of the Vedas"). This part of the Vedas is also known as the Upanishads.

What do Hindus believe and practice?

The fundamental teaching of Hinduism, or Vedanta, is that a human being's basic nature is not confined to the body or the mind. Beyond both of these is the spirit or the spark of God within the soul. This spirit is within us and also within everything we see. All beings and all things are really, in their deepest essence, this pure or divine spirit, full of peace, full of joy and wisdom, ever united with God. This is not just theory, but it can actually be experienced. Anyone who takes the trouble to undergo the necessary training to purify and refine the mind and senses can begin to feel the truth of this. This training can take various forms and is known as yoga ("union"- union of the individual self with this inner spirit).

There are four main types of yoga, meant for the four main types of human temperaments:

Karma Yoga or the discipline of right actions is for those of active temperament, striving to eliminate selfishness, and to cultivate universal sympathy by seeing the divine reality in all.

Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion to God whose presence can be felt in all things. God can be worshipped as present in an image in a Temple. God can be worshipped also as present in suffering humanity by service.

Jnana Yoga, preferred by those of analytical bent of mind, is the discipline of trying to see the divine reality within all things directly, by mentally brushing aside all the obstructing physical and mental coverings that hide it.

Raja Yoga is the process of mental control, purity, and meditation to make the mind very calm and quiet. In that profound quiet, the inner divine light reveals itself.

What are the manifestation(s) God in Hinduism?

What are the different sects of Hinduism? The general name for God in Hinduism is Brahman. The name of the divine essence within us is Atman. They are one and the same, infinite and eternal. However, God is also present in all creation. God's manifestation in creation goes by many names. It is the one infinite, eternal, Divine Being that is manifesting in countless ways. It is like a person at the same time being called "father" by his son, "friend" by his friend, "son" by his own father, "husband" by his wife, etc. A special relationship goes with each name. So the same Divine Lord has been addressed as Shiva, Vishnu, etc and as Divine Mother, Kali, Durga, etc. God can also manifest as an extraordinary being in human form, who is then known as an incarnation of God, such as Krishna, Rama, etc. Since it is the one infinite God alone that is being looked at in different ways, all these manifestations can be prayed to for help and protection. This is the underlying principle behind all the different sects of Hinduism. Those who prefer a particular manifestation of the divinity will form a sect devoted to the contemplation and worship of that manifestation. All the sects, however, will accept the ancient teachings of the Vedas and the Vedanta as the foundation of their practice.

What is reincarnation?

In this world every cause must have its effect. We are responsible for the results of our actions. Long ages ago, human beings first asked themselves, why are some people born in happy circumstances, whereas others are born to suffer all their lives? The events of this present life are not enough to account for such suffering. To reasonably explain an excess of suffering or of enjoyment in this life, it was assumed that we all have had previous existences, and that we are now reaping the results of those previous actions. It must also be true then that we can take charge of our destiny right now. We can create a better tomorrow by resolving do better actions today. However, as long as desires remain in the mind, the tendency toward rebirth will exist.

What is Maya?

In this life we do not see things very clearly. We are constantly faced with contradictions. Though we know what is right, we have trouble doing it. Our thoughts soar high, but our actions cannot rise to the level of our thoughts. The world is full of misery and injustice; as quickly as we remove some, more seems to rush in to take its place. We are told by the saints, and we also feel, that a loving God is at work in this creation, but we cannot reconcile this with what we see around us. This complex situation in which we find ourselves is called Maya.

The way out of this, according to Hinduism or Vedanta, is that we are not really seeing the world properly. If we saw it properly, we would see that it is God alone before us. Instead, we superimpose all this complex world on that divine reality.

The illustration given is that of a rope, mistaken in semi-darkness for a snake. The snake of this world frightens us. What is the solution? Bring a light and you will see its real nature. It is only a rope. Likewise, the real nature or essence of this world is divinity alone. Bring the light of spiritual wisdom through yoga, and you will see God alone everywhere. This is what constitutes spiritual freedom or liberation, Moksha. When this knowledge dawns, there is complete satisfaction; no desire remains in the mind, and no further impulse for rebirth remains.

What code of behavior do Hindus follow?

The code of behavior is one's dharma. This is determined by the place in society and the duties associated with it. There are four main social positions or varna; Brahmins (priests and teachers) Kshatriyas (rulers and soldiers), Vaishyas (merchants) and Shudras (workers).

There are four ideal stages of life described in Hindu scriptures: the student, the family man, the recluse, and the wandering holy man. For most Hindu people these represent a metaphorical path, not an actual path.

What are the Hindu sacred texts?

Hindu ancient, sacred texts were written in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India. The Vedas are the oldest - about 3000 years old. They are a collection of hymns, prayers, and magic spells. The Upanishads are stories and parables told by gurus (teachers) to their students The Mahabharata is a story of a war between two royal families. The Bhagavad Gita is a very popular part of this text. The Ramayana is a story of the god Rama and the rescue of his wife Sita from Ravana, the evil demon king.

The specific principles and disciplines of Hinduism vary with different sects: but there are commonalities which represent the bedrock of the religion, expressed and reflected in the ancient writings of the Vedas. Below are brief descriptions of these common principles and disciplines.

The Five Principles

The principles of Sanatana Dharma were made to create and maintain the proper working of a society and its members and governors. Regardless of the circumstances, the principles and philosophy of Hinduism remain the same: the ultimate aim of human life is to realize its true form.
God Exists. According to the Hindu religion, there is only one Absolute Divine, a singular force that joins all facets of existence together known as the Absolute OM (sometimes spelled AUM). This divine is the Lord of All Creation and a universal sound that is heard within every living human being. There are several divine manifestations of the OM, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara (Shiva).
All Human Beings Are Divine. Ethical and moral behavior is considered the most prized pursuit of human life. The soul of an individual (jivatma) is already part of the divine soul (the Paramatma) although it remains in a dormant and deluded condition. It is the sacred mission of all humans to awaken their soul and make it realize its true divine nature.
Unity of Existence. The seekers aim to be at-oneness with God, not as separate individuals (oneness of self), but rather a closer connection (at-one-ness) with God.
Religious Harmony. The most basic natural law is to remain in harmony with its fellow creatures and the universal.

Knowledge of 3 Gs. The three Gs are the Ganges (the sacred river in India where the cleansing of sins occurs), the Gita (the sacred script of the Bhagavad-Gita), and the Gayatri (a revered, sacred mantra found in the Rig Veda, and also a poem/intonement in the same specific meter).

The 5 Great Vows (Yamas) are shared by many Indian philosophies. The Yamas are political goals, in that they are broad-based social and universal virtues in the form of moral restraints or social obligations.

Satya (Truth) is the principle that equates God with soul. It is the mainstay of the basic moral law of Hinduism: people are rooted in Satya, the greatest truth, unity of all life. One should be truthful; not act fraudulently, be dishonest or a liar in life. Further, a true person does not regret or brood over losses caused by speaking truth.
Ahimsa (Non-violence) is a positive and dynamic force, that means benevolence or love or goodwill or tolerance (or all of the above) of all living creatures, including the objects of knowledge and various perspectives.
Brahmacharya (Celibacy, non-adultery) is one of the four great ashrams of Hinduism. The beginning student is to spend the first 25 years of one's life practicing abstinence from the sensual pleasures of life, and instead concentrate on selfless work and study to prepare for life beyond. Brahmacharya means stringent respect of personal boundaries, and the preservation of vital life force; abstinence from wine, sexual congress, meat-eating, consumption of tobacco, drugs, and narcotics. The student instead applies the mind to studies, avoids things that ignite passions, practice silence,
Asteya (No desire to steal) refers not just to the theft of objects but to refrain from exploitation. Do not deprive others of what is theirs, whether it is things, rights, or perspectives. An upright person earns his or her own way, by dint of hard work, honesty, and fair means.
Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness) warns the student to live simply, keep only those material things that are required to sustain the demands of daily life.

The five Niyamas provide the Hindu practitioner with rules to develop the personal discipline essential to follow the spiritual path

Shaucha or Shuddhata (Cleanliness) refers to the internal and external purification of both body and mind.
Santosh (Contentment) is the conscious reduction of desires, the limiting of attainments and possessions, narrowing down the area and scope of one's desire.
Swadhyaya (Reading of scriptures) refers not just to the reading of the scriptures but the use them to create a neutral, unbiased and pure mind ready to conduct the self-introspection required to create a balance sheet of one's omissions and commissions, overt and covert deeds, successes and failures.
Tapas/Tapah (Austerity, perseverance, penance) is the performance of physical and mental discipline throughout a life of asceticism. Ascetic practices include observing silence for long periods of time, begging for food, remaining awake at night, sleeping on the ground, being isolated in the forest, standing for a prolonged time, practicing chastity. The practice generates heat, a natural power built into the structure of reality, the essential link between the structure of reality, and the force behind creation.
Ishwar pradihan (Regular prayers) requires the student to surrender to the will of God, perform every act in a selfless, dispassionate and natural way, accept the good or bad results, and leave the result of one's deeds (one's karma) to God.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Folk Religions - 430 million (5.9%)

Group of non-believers:

Unaffiliated (religious "nones") - 1.19 billion (16.3%)

Atheist 3.1%

Agnostic 4.0%

Nothing in particular 15.8%

Don't know 0.6%

Encouragement:

This is a tough one, we are looking at religions and philosophies that follow "other gods," or no god. So, we should consider what the Bible says about other gods:

Exodus 23:13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
Deuteronomy 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Jeremiah 25:6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Overview:

Catholic, born-again, Reformed, Jew, Muslim, Shiite, Sunni, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist...religions give people labels. The downside can be tribalism, an assumption that insiders are better than outsiders, that they merit more compassion, integrity and generosity or even that violence toward “infidels” is acceptable. But the upside is that religious or spiritual labels offer a way of defining who we are. They remind adherents that our moral sense and quest for meaning are core parts of what it means to be human. They make it easier to convey a subset of our deepest values to other people, and even to ourselves.

For those who have lost their religion or never had one, finding a label can feel important. It can be part of a healing process or, alternately, a way of declaring resistance to a dominant and oppressive paradigm. Finding the right combination of words can be a challenge though. For a label to fit it needs to resonate personally and also communicate what you want to say to the world. Words have definitions, connotations and history, and how people respond to your label will be affected by all three. What does it mean? What emotions does it evoke? Who are you identifying as your intellectual and spiritual forebears and your community? The differences may be subtle but they are important.

If, one way or another, you’ve left religion behind, and if you’ve been unsure what to call yourself, you might try on one of these:

1. Atheist. The term atheist can be defined literally as lacking a humanoid god concept, but historically it means one of two things. Positive atheism asserts that a personal supreme being does not exist. Negative atheism simply asserts a lack of belief in such a deity. It is possible be a positive atheist about the Christian God, for example, while maintaining a stance of negative atheism or even uncertainty on the question of a more abstract deity like a “prime mover.” In the United States, it is important to know that atheist may be the most reviled label for a godless person. Devout believers use it as a slur and many assume an atheist has no moral core. Until recently calling oneself an atheist was an act of defiance. That appears to be changing. With the rise of the “New Atheists” and the recent atheist visibility movement, the term is losing its edge.

2. Anti-theist. When atheists consistently evoked images of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, hostility toward religion was assumed. Now that it may evoke a white-haired grandmother at the Unitarian church or the gay kid on Glee, some people want a term that more clearly conveys their opposition to the whole religious enterprise. The term anti-theist says, “I think religion is harmful.” It also implies some form of activism that goes beyond merely advocating church-state separation or science education. Anti-theism challenges the legitimacy of faith as a moral authority or way of knowing. Anti-theists often work to expose harms caused in the name of God like stonings, gay-baiting, religious child maltreatment, genital mutilation, unwanted childbearing or black-collar crime. The New Atheist writers including Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins might better be described as anti-theists.

3. Agnostic. Some atheists think of agnostic as a weenie term, because it gets used by people who lack a god-concept but don’t want to offend family members or colleagues. Agnostic doesn’t convey the same sense of confrontation or defiance that atheist can, and so it gets used as a bridge. But in reality, the term agnostic represents a range of intellectual positions that have important substance in their own right and can be independent of atheism. Strong agnosticism views God’s existence as unknowable, permanently and to all people. Weak agnosticism can mean simply “I don’t know if there is a God,” or “We collectively don’t know if there is a God but we might find out in the future.” Alternately, the term agnosticism can be used to describe an approach to knowledge, somewhat like skepticism (which comes next in this list). Philosopher Thomas Huxley illustrates this position:

Agnosticism is not a creed but a method, the essence of which lies in the vigorous application of a single principle... Positively the principle may be expressed as ‘in matters of intellect, do not pretend conclusions are certain that are not demonstrated or demonstrable.’

These three definitions of agnosticism, though different, all focus on what we do or can know, rather than on whether God exists. This means it is possible to be both atheist and agnostic. Author Phillip Pullman has described himself as both.

The question of what term to use is a difficult one, in strict terms I suppose I'm an agnostic because of course the circle of the things I do know is vastly smaller than the things I don't know about out there in the darkness somewhere maybe there is a God. But among all the things I do know in this world I see no evidence of a God whatsoever and everybody who claims to know there is a God seems to use that as an excuse for exercising power over other people, and historically as we know from looking at the history in Europe alone that's involved persecution, massacre, slaughter on an industrial scale, it's a shocking prospect.

4. Skeptic. Traditionally, skeptic has been used to describe a person who doubts received religious dogmas. However, while agnostic focuses on God questions in particular, the term skeptic expresses a broader life approach. Someone who calls him- or herself a skeptic has put critical thinking at the heart of the matter. Well-known skeptics, like Michael Shermer, Penn and Teller, or James Randi devote a majority of their effort to debunking pseudoscience, alternative medicine, astrology and so forth. They broadly challenge the human tendency to believe things on insufficient evidence. Australian comic Tim Minchen is an outspoken atheist who earns a living in part by poking fun at religion. But his most beloved and hilarious beat poem, Storm, smacks down homeopathy and hippy woo.

5. Freethinker. Free-thinker is a term that dates to the end of the 17th century, when it was first used in England to describe those who opposed the Church and literal belief in the Bible. Freethought is an intellectual stance that says that opinions should be based on logic and evidence rather than authorities and traditions. Well known philosophers including John Locke and Voltaire were called freethinkers in their own time, and a magazine, The Freethinker, has been published in Britain continuously from 1881 to the present. The term has gotten popular recently in part because it is affirmative. Unlike atheism, which defines itself in contrast to religion, freethought identifies with a proactive process for deciding what is real and important.

6. Humanist. While terms like atheist or anti-theist focus on a lack of god-belief and agnostic, skeptic and freethinker all focus on ways of knowing—humanist centers in on a set of ethical values. Humanism seeks to promote broad wellbeing by advancing compassion, equality, self-determination, and other values that allow individuals to flourish and to live in community with each other. These values drive not from revelation, but from human experience. As can be seen in two manifestos published in 1933 and 1973 respectively, humanist leaders don’t shy away from concepts like joy and inner peace that have spiritual connotations. In fact, some think that religion itself should be reclaimed by those who have moved beyond supernaturalism but recognize the benefits of spiritual community and ritual. Harvard Chaplain Greg Epstein dreams of incubating a thriving network of secular congregations.

7. Pantheist. As self-described humanists seek to reclaim the ethical and communitarian aspects of religion, pantheists center in on the spiritual heart of faith--the experience of humility, wonder, and transcendence. They see human beings as one small part of a vast natural order, with the Cosmos itself made conscious in us. Pantheists reject the idea of a person- god, but believe that the holy is made manifest in all that exists. Consequently, they often have a strong commitment to protecting the sacred web of life in which and from which we have our existence. The writings of Carl Sagan reflect this sentiment and often are quoted by pantheists, for example in a “Symphony of Science” video series which mixes evocative natural world images, atonal music, and the voices of leading scientists, and has received 30 million views.

If none of these fit...Keep looking. Many of the American founding fathers were deists who didn’t believe in miracles or special revelation through sacred texts but thought that the natural world itself revealed a designer who could be discovered through reason and inquiry. Naturalists assume a philosophical position that the laws operating within the natural realm are the only laws governing the universe and no supernatural realm lies beyond. Secularists argue that moral standards and laws should be based on whether they do good or harm in this world and that religion should be kept out of government. Pastafarians playfully claim to worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and their religion is a good-humored spoof on Abrahamic beliefs and rituals.

Atheist:

Many people are non-religious or atheists. This is mostly seen in nations including Estonia, the Czech Republic, China, and Japan, where over three-quarters of the population declines to practice a religion. Countries with a high percentage of unaffiliated/atheist citizens: China, Estonia, Czech Republic, Japan, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Macau, Norway, Sweden, and Vietnam.

In recent surveys, the Pew Research Center has grouped atheists, agnostics, and the “unaffiliated” into one category. The so-called “Nones” are the fastest-growing “religious” demographic in the United States. Pew separates out atheists from agnostics and the non-religious, but that is primarily a function of self-identification. Only about 5% of people call themselves atheists, but if you ask about belief in gods, 11% say they do not believe in gods. Those people are atheists, whether they choose to use the word or not.

A recent survey from University of Kentucky psychologists Will Gervais and Maxine Najle found that as many as 26% of Americans may be atheists.

Even more people say that their definition of “god” is simply a unifying force between all people. Or that they aren’t sure what they believe. If you lack an active belief in gods, you are an atheist.

Being an atheist doesn’t mean you’re sure about every theological question, have answers to the way the world was created, or how evolution works. It just means that the assertion that gods exist has left you unconvinced.

Wishing that there was an afterlife, or a creator god, or a specific god doesn’t mean you’re not an atheist. Being an atheist is about what you believe and don’t believe, not about what you wish to be true or would find comforting.

All atheists are different

The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods. Some of the best debates we have ever had have been with fellow atheists. This is because atheists do not have a common belief system, sacred scripture or atheist Pope. This means atheists often disagree on many issues and ideas. Atheists come in a variety of shapes, colors, beliefs, convictions, and backgrounds. We are as unique as our fingerprints.

Atheists exist across the political spectrum. Their members of every race. They are members of the LGBTQ* community. There are atheists in urban, suburban, and rural communities and in every state of the nation.

10 facts about atheists

Measuring atheism is complicated. Some people who describe themselves as atheists also say they believe in some kind of higher power or spiritual force. At the same time, some of those who identify with a religion (for example, say they are Catholic or Jewish) say they do not believe in God.

One thing is for sure: Along with the rise of religiously unaffiliated Americans – many of whom believe in God – there has been a corresponding increase in the number of atheists. Here are some key facts about atheists in the United States and around the world:

1. The share of Americans who identify as atheists have increased modestly but significantly in the past decade. Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019 show that 4% of American adults say they are atheists when asked about their religious identity, up from 2% in 2009. An additional 5% of Americans call themselves agnostics, up from 3% a decade ago.

2. The literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods,” according to Merriam-Webster. And the vast majority of U.S. atheists fit this description: 81% say they do not believe in God or a higher power or in a spiritual force of any kind. (Overall, 10% of American adults share this view.) At the same time, roughly one-in-five self-described atheists (18%) say they do believe in some kind of higher power. None of the atheists we surveyed, however, say they believe in “God as described in the Bible.”

3. Atheists make up a larger share of the population in many European countries than they do in the U.S. In Western Europe, where Pew Research Center surveyed 15 countries in 2017, nearly one-in-five Belgians (19%) identify as atheists, as do 16% in Denmark, 15% in France and 14% in the Netherlands and Sweden. But the European country with perhaps the biggest share of atheists is the Czech Republic, where a quarter of adults identify that way. In neighboring Slovakia, 15% identify as atheists, although in the rest of Central and Eastern Europe, atheists have a smaller presence, despite the historical influence of the officially atheist Soviet Union. Like Americans, Europeans in many countries are more likely to say they do not believe in God than they are to identify as atheists, including two-thirds of Czechs and at least half of Swedish (60%), Belgian (54%) and Dutch adults (53%) who say they do not believe in God. In other regions surveyed by the Center, including Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, atheists generally are much rarer.

4. In the U.S., atheists are mostly men and are relatively young, according to the 2014 Religious Landscape Study. About seven-in-ten U.S. atheists are men (68%). The median age for atheists is 34, compared with 46 for all U.S. adults. Atheists also are more likely to be white (78% vs. 66% of the general public) and highly educated: About four-in-ten atheists (43%) have a college degree, compared with 27% of the general public. Self-identified atheists also tend to be aligned with the Democratic Party and with political liberalism.

5. The vast majority of U.S. atheists say religion is not too or not at all important in their lives (93%) and that they seldom or never pray (97%). At the same time, many do not see a contradiction between atheism and pondering their place in the world. About a third of American atheists say they think about the meaning and purpose of life at least weekly (35%), and that they often feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being (31%). In fact, the Religious Landscape Study shows that atheists are more likely than U.S. Christians to say they often feel a sense of wonder about the universe (54% vs. 45%).

6. Where do atheists find meaning in life? Like a majority of Americans, most atheists mentioned “family” as a source of meaning when Pew Research Center asked an open-ended question about this in a 2017 survey. But atheists were far more likely than Christians to describe hobbies as meaningful or satisfying (26% vs. 10%). Atheists also were more likely than Americans overall to describe finances and money, creative pursuits, travel, and leisure activities as meaningful. Not surprisingly, very few U.S. atheists (4%) said they found life’s meaning in spirituality.

7. In many cases, being an atheist isn’t just about personally rejecting religious labels and beliefs – most atheists also express negative views when asked about the role of religion in society. For example, seven-in-ten U.S. atheists say religion’s influence is declining in American public life, and that this is a good thing (71%), according to a 2019 survey. Fewer than one-in-five U.S. adults overall (17%) share this view. A majority of atheists (70%) also say churches and other religious organizations do more harm than good in society, and an even larger share (93%) say religious institutions have too much influence in U.S. politics.

8. Atheists may not believe religious teachings, but they are quite informed about religion. In Pew Research Center’s 2019 religious knowledge survey, atheists were among the best-performing groups, answering an average of about 18 out of 32 fact-based questions correctly, while U.S. adults overall got an average of roughly 14 questions right. Atheists were at least as knowledgeable as Christians on Christianity-related questions – roughly eight-in-ten in both groups, for example, know that Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus – and they were also twice as likely as Americans overall to know that the U.S. Constitution says “no religious test” shall be necessary to hold public office.

9. Most Americans (56%) say it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral, while 42% say belief in God is necessary to have good values, according to a 2017 survey. In other wealthy countries, smaller shares tend to say that belief in God is essential for good morals, including just 15% in France. But in many other parts of the world, nearly everyone says that a person must believe in God to be moral, including 99% in Indonesia and Ghana and 98% in Pakistan, according to a 2013 Pew Research Center international survey.

10. Americans feel less warmly toward atheists than they do toward members of most major religious groups. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey asked Americans to rate groups on a “feeling thermometer” from 0 (as cold and negative as possible) to 100 (the warmest, most positive possible rating). U.S. adults gave atheists an average rating of 49, identical to the rating they gave Muslims (49) and colder than the average given to Jews (63), Catholics (60) and evangelical Christians (56). from: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/06/10-facts-about-atheists/

Comment from an atheist: 6 things I wish people understood about atheism in America

The first time I remember openly identifying as an atheist was when I announced to my high school freshman English class that I didn’t believe in God. Later that day in gym, I broke my collarbone playing dodgeball. Was it God’s revenge for my blasphemy? I didn’t think so, but for a while there, I kept my atheism on the down low just in case.

Not anymore. Although I have an affinity for Asian religions like Buddhism and Taoism and even have a master’s degree in religious studies from a divinity school, I’ve been an unabashed atheist for my entire adult life. I’ve taught First Amendment law at Boston University for nearly 20 years, am a strong supporter of the separation of church and state, and have recently published a book called Our Non-Christian Nation, which is about how atheists and other minority groups are demanding their equal place in public life alongside the Christian majority.

As part of my research, I traveled around the country and talked to leaders of minority groups to find out how they felt about the Christian dominance of our nation’s public life. I watched an atheist give an invocation before a town board she had previously sued for violating the First Amendment, attended a Veterans Day ceremony held by a pagan priestess who successfully sued the federal government to approve the Wiccan pentacle for placement on national cemetery headstones, and sat on a 9-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a goat-headed occult figure that the Satanic Temple wants to put up on government property someday.

The number of people who do not believe in any god has been on the rise in recent decades. According to the Pew Research Center, close to a quarter of the population identifies as a so-called “none,” up 7 percent from 2007 to 2014. About 10 percent of all Americans say they are atheists, although this estimate may be on the low side. Given our growing numbers, it’s important for non-atheists to understand what it means for someone to not believe in any god. Here are just a few things I would like people to know about atheism and being an atheist in the United States.

1) There are lots of different types of atheists, and we don’t all feel the same way about religion

Atheists all believe there is no god that governs the universe, but other than that, nothing necessarily unites us. I’ve met and talked to a lot of atheists, and I can testify that we are a diverse bunch. For some of us, our atheism is central to our self-identity and drives what we do. For others, it’s just one fact about us among many and really isn’t particularly important.

Atheists come in all political stripes. Some are Republicans; others are Democrats. Probably some voted for Jill Stein last time around. I voted for Bernie Sanders. Some atheists think religion is ridiculous or generally awful, while others don’t think about religion at all, and still others think religion is fine, or even a force for good. Personally, I’m fascinated by religion and am a strong believer in religious freedom, although I don’t like how most religious beliefs these days tend to push people in a politically rightward direction.

It is definitely true that some atheists are angry — at religion, at religious people, at the government — but not all of us are. Some are fabulously happy, but not all of us are. I’m neither angry nor happy. I think of myself as a “sad atheist.” I would like nothing better than to believe that some omniscient and all-powerful being created the world for some purpose. That sure would be nice! It would certainly relieve some of that “the world is meaningless and I am just standing on a giant rock swirling pointlessly through the universe” angst that I sometimes feel. Unfortunately for me, I just don’t believe there’s a God or lots of gods or a Tao or anything else that makes sense of the world. There’s just us. And maybe some space aliens, I guess, but they don’t really help.

2) Atheist organizations are starting to do better at helping people and promoting social justice

Say what you want about religious institutions like churches and temples, but they do tend to help a lot of people — at least those people who believe the “right” things — and are good at creating a sense of community among like-minded believers. Although of course individual atheists do plenty to help others, we usually don’t think about atheist groups or communities coming together to provide services for those in need, at least not in a self-consciously atheist way. But that is changing.

This is something I learned as I researched my Our Non-Christian Nation book. For one thing, I got to know a lot about the Satanic Temple, a nontheistic religion that venerates Satan as a symbol of rebellion against oppressive authority. TST, as it’s often known, counts its followers in the tens of thousands, was just recognized as an official religion by the IRS, and is active throughout the country, with a particularly strong presence in New York City, Arizona, and Seattle. Its chapters organize all sorts of campaigns to help people, from collecting menstrual products for people in need (“Menstruatin’ With Satan”) to providing socks for the homeless (“Socks for Satan”) to donating diapers to families who need them (“Diapers for the Lil’ Devils”).

Similarly, when I attended the annual conference of an organization formed to help nonbelieving high school and college students called the Secular Student Association in July 2016, I learned that getting out and helping people is a key concern for young secularists. Speaker after speaker urged the atheists in the audience to go out into the world and actively serve their communities. For instance, in his opening talk, Fernando Alcántar, a former religious youth leader turned self-described “gaytheist,” told the audience that atheists can’t just be “busy reading papers and making discoveries,” leaving the business of saving people to churches and religion. The theme for the group’s 2019 conference, by the way, is “Better Together: Creating Meaningful Community.”

3) Seemingly little things that religious people might not even notice can really drive us atheists bananas, and for good reason

If you’re a religious person, a monotheist perhaps, do you ever wonder why atheists get so bent out of shape by the fact that “In God We Trust” appears on our money and “under God” is in the Pledge of Allegiance? I mean, what’s the big deal, right? Shouldn’t we just chillax?

Well, how would you feel if the dollar bill said “There Is No God” and the Pledge of Allegiance proclaimed that we are “one nation under no God whatsoever, yay”? How would you like it if your kids were forced to say that every day before class?

I have a very clear memory of leaving out the “under God” part of the pledge when I was forced to recite it in elementary school, and I’ve talked to countless other atheists who have similar memories. When the government forces you as a kid to affirm something about the nature of the universe that you think is fundamentally incorrect, it tends to stick with you.

4) There’s a big difference between private individuals promoting their religious beliefs and the government doing the same. But this doesn’t mean the government cannot promote facts and ideas that are inconsistent with some religious beliefs.

Everybody in the United States has the right to practice their religion and to talk about how great it is and even to try to get other people to believe it too. Atheists recognize this (and of course we can do the same), but as minorities, we also understand that the government is in a different position than the people it governs. In the United States, the government represents all its citizens, which means that it should not and (if the Constitution is interpreted correctly) cannot promote one religion over others or religion over non-religion. That’s why no matter what the Supreme Court decides in the next few weeks, it is not okay for the state of Maryland to sponsor a 40-foot-tall cross on government property, even if that cross also happens to be a World War I monument.

Perhaps you’re wondering: If the government can’t promote religion over non-religion, doesn’t that mean that it also can’t promote non-religion over religion, and doesn’t that in turn mean that public schools can’t do things like teach evolution or give out condoms? As someone who has taught and written about church-state law for nearly 20 years, I’ve heard and read this kind of argument more times than I can remember.

The answer to this two-part question is yes and no. The government cannot promote atheism over religion, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean the government cannot do things in public schools and elsewhere that happen to be inconsistent with what some religious people believe. Teaching evolution and giving out condoms might be at odds with what some religious people believe, but they’re not the same as saying that there’s no god.

As an atheist, it frustrates me when people say that public schools promote a secular worldview because they’re not allowed to sponsor prayers or do other things that some religious people would like them to do. If this is unclear, try this thought experiment that I often raise when I’m teaching students about the First Amendment: What would a school (private, of course) truly dedicated to promoting atheism look like?

It wouldn’t be subtle. It wouldn’t just teach evolution; it would teach explicitly that the Bible’s creation story is flat-out wrong. It wouldn’t just not lead kids in prayer; it would lead kids in a “there’s no god, there’s no god” chant. Now, that’s a school I’d really like to teach at, but the fact that such a thing is almost unimaginable in today’s society (while of course private schools that explicitly promote the divinity of Jesus Christ are everywhere) just goes to show how marginalized atheism really is in the United States.

5) Atheists and other secularists are getting pretty good at participating in public life

In Our Non-Christian Nation, I discuss the many ways that atheists have started to demand their rightful place in American public life. The growth of the aforementioned Secular Student Association is one such example. Atheists have also succeeded in putting up symbols and displays on government property celebrating the absence of god, including an atheist monument in Bradford County, Florida, and all sorts of godless displays around the holiday season.

Atheists have also begun offering invocations before town boards all around the nation. Many of these have been quite good. I mentioned earlier that I watched an atheist give an invocation before a town board she had previously sued. Her name is Linda Stephens, and her speech was inclusive and inspiring. “It is important to remember that we are all linked by our common humanity and our shared origin,” Stephens said. “When we work together to move our town forward in a spirit of mutual respect and common decency, we showcase what is best about our community, our state, and our nation.”

6) Atheists are not going away anytime soon

While the Christian majority has occasionally welcomed atheism into the public square, often our presence has been met with ridicule, anger, and derision. Displays have been torn down, school groups have faced hostility by teachers and administrators, and board members have occasionally left a meeting room rather than listen to an atheist invocation. Incurring that kind of disrespect is a risk of standing up for what you believe in, or, in our case, standing up for what you don’t believe in. But that’s okay; we atheists tend to have thick skin. We have been putting up with this kind of treatment for a long time, and our numbers are still rising. In the future, I may still be a little sad, but atheism as a whole will likely become a loud, mainstream, and inescapable force in American public life.

From: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/6/7/18652423/atheism-america-facts

While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. To put it in a more humorous way: If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Despite the fact that atheism is not a religion, atheism is protected by many of the same Constitutional rights that protect religion. That, however, does not mean that atheism is itself a religion, only that our sincerely held (lack of) beliefs are protected in the same way as the religious beliefs of others. Similarly, many “interfaith” groups will include atheists. This, again, does not mean that atheism is a religious belief.

Some groups use words like Agnostic, Humanist, Secular, Bright, Freethinker, or any number of other terms to self-identify.

Agnosticism:

Agnostic isn’t just a “weaker” version of being an atheist. It answers a different question. Atheism is about what you believe. Agnosticism is about what you know.

Agnosticism is not exactly a religion, but more like a set of beliefs surrounding the absolute knowledge that a god or supreme being actually exists. The premise of agnosticism is that humans do not have enough knowledge of the world, the universe, or the supernatural to claim the definite existence or non-existence of a supreme being. Agnosticism deals primarily with knowledge and evidence, rather than with beliefs.

Agnostic beliefs date as far back as the 5th century BC, when philosophers from both Greece and India began to question the human origin story, the existence of gods, and the idea of a life after death. Despite this long history, the term agnostic was not created until the late 19th century. This word, in its literal definition, means “without knowledge”. This ideology is rooted in the scientific belief that evidence is required for true knowledge to be obtained.

Agnosticism And The Scientific Method

The agnostic approach to understanding life, death, and what happens after is very scientific in nature. It first begins with basic doubt. In other words, all claims must first be questioned rather than believed. This step is followed by establishing a solid understanding of the language being used to describe the situation in question. In other words, a proper definition of specific terms must be established. Next, the situation must be analyzed in a non-biased manner, meaning that all possibilities must be considered with no preference given to a particular outcome. The situation in question must be examined from all points of view in order to gather as many truths as possible. An educated decision or claim can only be reached once all possible information has been gathered.

To an agnostic, suggesting the existence of a higher power or an afterlife is like having a hypothesis without a method to test the theory. This lack of evidence means that the scientific method cannot be used to prove or disprove the hypothesis. The truth behind the hypothesis that god exists will remain unresolved. Some philosophers have thus referred to agnosticism as a manner of making skeptical inquiries into human knowledge of spiritual topics. Still, other philosophers have suggested that the imperfect nature of humans means that no claim may be made with the absolute certainty that religions make of god and the afterlife.

Agnostics, Believing in the Unknown (from: Christianity.com)

Agnostics are different from atheists. It is all too common that people mix up agnostics with atheists. Atheists do not believe in God; however, depending on who you talk with, some agnostics believe there is a “God” while others are not quite sure if they believe God exists or if he does not exist.

In other words, agnostics as a whole are not quite sure if they believe there is a god or not. An agnostic can be defined as “anyone who doesn't claim to know whether any gods exist or not.” As stated by writer, Elizabeth Enochs, “Being agnostic means you can question everything, question nothing, or do both.”

It is common that you will hear the term “agnostic atheist,” which is actually an oxymoron. A person cannot truly be an agnostic atheist because atheists do not believe in God at all; however, agnostics believe there could be a god.

Therefore, agnostics do have a faith system, although it is based in uncertainty. Unlike theists, agnostics cannot be certain that a “God” exists. An agnostic strongly questions the existence of God, salvation, and life after death.

Some agnostics believe there is a “God,” but they believe this “God” has distanced himself from us and no longer communicates with his creation. It is an understatement to say that agnostics do not have a correct understanding of God.

God has revealed Himself in general revelation and special revelation; therefore, mankind is without excuse for failing to place faith in Him (Romans 1:20).

According to the Pew Research Lab, 39% of Americans between the ages of 18-29 years old are agnostics. Within America, there are more men who are agnostics rather than women. Agnostics are very passionate about retaining their religious beliefs and are proud of their skepticism of the supernatural.

As stated by Elizabeth Enochs, “Please don't waste your time trying to convince us to change our minds. It won't work, and it will just make things awkward between us” (Ibid.). Despite not being certain of God’s existence, they are surprisingly comfortable in their uncertainty concerning God, salvation, and life after death.

Concerning the afterlife, agnostics believe we cannot truly know if there is life after death. Since agnostics are skeptical about God’s existence, they are skeptical if there is a heaven. The major theme among agnostics is that we cannot be certain whether God or life after death exists.

Most agnostics are still respectful of other religions that believe in God, including Christianity; however, they are not eager to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Agnostics are open to the possibility of God, yet they approach God with increased skepticism.

Many agnostics have grown up in Christian households and were pushed away from Christianity due to legalism or other reasons (Ibid.). Even though many agnostics are opposed to the gospel, Christians can still share the message of Jesus with them.

Sharing the Gospel with Agnostics

Since agnostics are open to the idea of God being true, Christians have a common ground to start with them. Despite not believing in the reality of God, Christians can help agnostics understand the truth of the Bible and what it teaches about the Person of God. It is not surprising that agnostics do not believe Jesus is God.

Agnostics either believe Jesus was just a mere man or that He was not a historical person. While many agnostics claim to be respectful of Christianity, there are agnostics who negatively refer to Jesus as the “Jesus myth” or “Jebus.” “Jebus” carries only negative connotations with it, and it is normally a “sarcastic reference to Christ.”

As Christians share the gospel with agnostics, the individual needs to be mindful of these facts. The Bible tells us Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to save humanity from our sins (John 1:1, 3:16-17). Apart from placing faith in Jesus, there is no salvation (Acts 4:12).

Agnostics do not see a need for salvation from personal sin or inherited sin. Furthermore, they do not believe that one needs salvation in order to abstain from going to hell (Ibid.). Since agnostics are skeptical about spiritual matters, they are not dogmatic about the reality of heaven or hell.

Due to an agnostic not believing in the need for salvation from sin or hell, it can be quite difficult to share the gospel; however, nothing is impossible when God is involved (Luke 1:37). In addition to not believing in Jesus and not believing in sin or hell, agnostics believe the Bible is a collection of myths, folklore, and lies (Ibid.).

Agnostics do not believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. Rather than viewing the Bible as it truly is — the Word of God, agnostics believe it is myths crafted by religious leaders in order to control people by the masses (Ibid). It goes without saying that agnostics do not have an accurate understanding of God, the Bible, or Christianity.

All Christians need to be aware of these different beliefs found within agnosticism. Many people believe agnostics do not believe in anything; however, they do believe in things — it is just erroneous beliefs that do not align with the truth of the Bible.

If you have a friend, family member, or someone you know who is agnostic, you can still help them to know Christ. It will be difficult, yet it is still possible to help your agnostic friend to accept Jesus as their Savior. Agnostics are opposed to Christian presenting “proofs” to them as they believe they have already heard our “proofs” and still do not believe in God.

Share the observable aspects of God, such as creation. The created universe attests to the reality of an Intelligent Designer, who is the Lord God. If the earth was slightly closer to the sun, we would burn up; however, if the earth was slightly further away from the sun, we would freeze.

This argues for the existence of God as the Big Bang Theory simply believes everything came into existence by chance. Another way to share the truth of God with agnostics is by challenging them with Pascal’s Wager, which is a philosophical argument that wagers God’s existence.

In other words, Pascal’s Wager challenges the agnostic with the idea that if God does exist and they fail to accept Him, they would spend eternity in hell; however, if God was not real, they would have nothing to lose because there is no afterlife (Ibid.).

What Does This Mean?

As Christians, we know there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible and that there is no salvation outside of placing faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Even with sharing these truths with an agnostic, he or she may still refuse to believe in God.

You can continue to share the truth of God in your words and actions. Agnostics will try to argue with you concerning God’s existence; however, they cannot argue with your own personal testimony.

You can share how God has changed your life since you placed faith in Christ and how He continues to give you peace each day. Nobody can argue with your own personal testimony. Thus, agnostics do believe in things; however, they are erroneous beliefs.

Nones:

The World's Newest Major Religion: No Religion (from: National Geographic)

You don’t usually think of churches as going out of business, but it happens. In March, driven by parishioner deaths and lack of interest, the U.K. Mennonites held their last collective service.

It might seem easy to predict that plain-dressing Anabaptists—who follow a faith related to the Amish—would become irrelevant in the age of smartphones, but this is part of a larger trend. Around the world, when asked about their feelings on religion, more and more people are responding with a meh.

The religiously unaffiliated, called "nones," are growing significantly. They’re the second largest religious group in North America and most of Europe. In the United States, nones make up almost a quarter of the population. In the past decade, U.S. nones have overtaken Catholics, mainline protestants, and all followers of non-Christian faiths.

A lack of religious affiliation has profound effects on how people think about death, how they teach their kids, and even how they vote.

There have long been predictions that religion would fade from relevancy as the world modernizes, but all the recent surveys are finding that it’s happening startlingly fast. France will have a majority secular population soon. So will the Netherlands and New Zealand. The United Kingdom and Australia will soon lose Christian majorities. Religion is rapidly becoming less important than it’s ever been, even to people who live in countries where faith has affected everything from rulers to borders to architecture.

But nones aren’t inheriting the Earth just yet. In many parts of the world—sub-Saharan Africa in particular—religion is growing so fast that nones’ share of the global population will actually shrink in 25 years as the world turns into what one researcher has described as “the secularizing West and the rapidly growing rest.” (The other highly secular part of the world is China, where the Cultural Revolution tamped down religion for decades, while in some former Communist countries, religion is on the increase.)

And even in the secularizing West, the rash of “religious freedom bills”—which essentially decriminalize discrimination—are the latest front in a faith-tinged culture war in the United States that shows no signs of abetting anytime soon.

Within the ranks of the unaffiliated, divisions run deep. Some are avowed atheists. Others are agnostic. And many more simply don’t care to state a preference. Organized around skepticism toward organizations and united by a common belief that they do not believe, nones as a group are just as internally complex as many religions. And as with religions, these internal contradictions could keep new followers away.

Millennials to God: No Thanks

If the world is at a religious precipice, then we’ve been moving slowly toward it for decades. Fifty years ago, Time asked in a famous headline, “Is God Dead?” The magazine wondered whether religion was relevant to modern life in the post-atomic age when communism was spreading and science was explaining more about our natural world than ever before.

We’re still asking the same question. But the response isn’t limited to yes or no. A chunk of the population born after the article was printed may respond to the provocative question with, “God who?” In Europe and North America, the unaffiliated tend to be several years younger than the population average. And 11 percent of Americans born after 1970 were raised in secular homes.

Scientific advancement isn’t just making people question God, it’s also connecting those who question. It’s easy to find atheist and agnostic discussion groups online, even if you come from a religious family or community. And anyone who wants the companionship that might otherwise come from church can attend a secular Sunday Assembly or one of a plethora of Meetups for humanists, atheists, agnostics, or skeptics.

The groups behind the web forums and meetings do more than give skeptics witty rejoinders for religious relatives who pressure them to go to church—they let budding agnostics know they aren’t alone.

But it’s not easy to unite people around not believing in something. “Organizing atheists is like herding cats,” says Stephanie Guttormson, the operations director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation, which is merging with the Center for Inquiry. “But lots of cats have found their way into the 'meowry.'”

Guttormson says the goal of her group is to organize itself out of existence. They want to normalize atheism to a point where it’s so common that atheists no longer need a group to tell them it’s okay not to believe, or to defend their morals in the face of religious lawmakers.

Research:

https://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/about-atheism/#:~:text=Atheism%20is%20one%20thing%3A%20A%20lack%20of%20belief%20in%20gods.&text=It%20is%20simply%20a%20rejection,lack%20of%20belief%20in%20gods.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/160422-atheism-agnostic-secular-nones-rising-religion

https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/6/7/18652423/atheism-america-facts

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/do-agnostics-believe-in-anything.html

https://www.salon.com/2014/09/25/7_different_types_of_non_believers/

https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/a-christian-perspective-on-pagan-and-secular-belief-systems

Motivation and a little History:

Is it ever right to push religion on others?

In the 1850s trains were leaving Washington for the West twice daily. Expansion westward seemed perfectly natural to many Americans in the mid-nineteenth century. Like the Massachusetts Puritans who hoped to build a "city upon a hill, "courageous pioneers believed that America had a divine obligation to stretch the boundaries of their noble republic to the Pacific Ocean. Independence had been won in the Revolution and reaffirmed in the War of 1812. The spirit of nationalism that swept the nation in the next two decades demanded more territory. The "every man is equal" mentality of the Jacksonian Era fueled this optimism. Now, with territory up to the Mississippi River claimed and settled and the Louisiana Purchase explored, Americans headed west in droves. Newspaper editor JOHN O'SULLIVAN coined the term "MANIFEST DESTINY" in 1845 to describe the essence of this mindset.

The religious fervor spawned by the Second Great Awakening created another incentive for the drive west. Indeed, many settlers believed that God himself blessed the growth of the American nation. The Native Americans were considered heathens. By Christianizing the tribes, American missionaries believed they could save souls and they became among the first to cross the Mississippi River.

At the heart of manifest destiny was the pervasive belief in American cultural and racial superiority. Native Americans had long been perceived as inferior, and efforts to "civilize" them had been widespread since the days of John Smith and MILES STANDISH. The Hispanics who ruled Texas and the lucrative ports of California were also seen as "backward." Expanding the boundaries of the United States was in many ways a cultural war. The desire of southerners to find more lands suitable for cotton cultivation would eventually spread slavery to these regions. North of the Mason-Dixon line, many citizens were deeply concerned about adding any more slave states. Manifest destiny touched on issues of religion, money, race, patriotism, and morality. These clashed in the 1840s as a truly great drama of regional conflict began to unfold.

While the westward expansion was great for developing the United States, it was devastating to other groups of non-whites.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Introduction:

For our discussion, this section consists of a diverse group: African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions

African traditional religion

1. African traditional religion refers to the indigenous or autochthonous religions of the African people. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, society, and so on. Because religion is a way of life, it relates to culture and society as they affect the worldview of the African people.

2. Traditional African religions are not stagnant but highly dynamic and constantly reacting to various shifting influences such as old age, modernity, and technological advances.

3. Traditional African religions are less of faith traditions and more of lived traditions. They are less concerned with doctrines and much more so with rituals, ceremonies, and lived practices.

4. When addressing religion in Africa, scholars often speak of a “triple heritage,” that is the triple legacy of indigenous religion, Islam, and Christianity that are often found side by side in many African societies.

5. While those who identify as practitioners of traditional African religions are often in the minority, many who identify as Muslims or Christians are involved in traditional religions to one degree or another.

6. Though many Africans have converted to Islam and Christianity, these religions still inform the social, economic, and political life in African societies.

7. Traditional African religions have gone global! The Trans-Atlantic slave trade led to the growth of African-inspired traditions in the Americas such as Candomblé in Brazil, Santería in Cuba, or Vodun in Haïti. Furthermore, many in places like the US and the UK have converted to various traditional African religions, and the importance of the diaspora for these religions is growing rapidly. African religions have also become a major attraction for those in the diaspora who travel to Africa on pilgrimages because of the global reach of these traditions.

Religion_distribution_Africa_crop

8. There are quite a number of revival groups and movements whose main aim is to ensure that the tenants and practices of African indigenous religions that is threatened survive. These can be found all over the Americas and Europe.

9. The concerns for health, wealth, and procreation are very central to the core of African religions. That is why they have developed institutions for healing, for commerce, and for the general well-being of their own practitioners and adherents of other religions as well.

10. Indigenous African religions are not based on conversions like Islam and Christianity. They tend to propagate peaceful coexistence, and they promote good relations with members of other religious traditions that surround them.

11. Today as a minority tradition, it has suffered immensely from human rights abuses. This is based on misconceptions that these religions are antithetical to modernity. Indeed indigenous African religions have provided the blueprint for robust conversations and thinking about community relations, interfaith dialogue, civil society, and civil religion.

12. Women play a key role in the practice of these traditions, and the internal gender relations and dynamics are very profound. There are many female goddesses along with their male counterparts. There are female priestesses, diviners, and other figures, and many feminist scholars have drawn from these traditions to advocate for women’s rights and the place of the feminine in African societies. The traditional approach of indigenous African religions to gender is one of complementarity in which a confluence of male and female forces must operate in harmony.

13. Indigenous African religions contain a great deal of wisdom and insight on how human beings can best live within and interact with the environment. Given our current impending ecological crisis, indigenous African religions have a great deal to offer both African countries and the world at large.

14. African indigenous religions provide strong linkages between the life of humans and the world of the ancestors. Humans are thus able to maintain constant and symbiotic relations with their ancestors who are understood to be intimately concerned and involved in their descendants' everyday affairs.

15. Unlike other world religions that have written scriptures, oral sources form the core of indigenous African religions. These oral sources are intricately interwoven into arts, political and social structure, and material culture. The oral nature of these traditions allows for a great deal of adaptability and variation within and between indigenous African religions. At the same time, forms of orature – such as the Ifa tradition amongst the Yoruba can form important sources for understanding the tenants and worldview of these religions that can serve as analogs to scriptures such as the Bible or the Qur’an.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Chinese folk religions

Folk religion is alive in various forms of magic and sorcery, the worship of personal household gods, personalized spirits, and ancestral ghosts, and the rituals of antler-headed shaman and local holy men. Shamanism and animism have persisted, especially in the countryside. For many Chinese, Confucianism is unsatisfying because it doesn't supply answers to the questions of the afterlife. Taoism has many elements found in Chinese folk religions.

Animist and shamanist groups and cults have had large following throughout China's history. The Quietists were famous for incorporating trance and ecstacy techniques in their religious rituals. The "Yellow Turbans" roused the peasant masses in A.D. 184 into believing that world was going to end and "blue heaven" was going to be replaced by "yellow heaven."

According to Columbia University’s Asia for Educators: “Throughout Chinese history there have been heterodox traditions of popular religion that could at times come under attack from the government. Drawing on inspiration from local tradition, or from the mythologies of Buddhism, Daoism, and (in the Taiping Rebellion of the 1860s) Christianity, these religious groups sometimes broke into waves of violence and provoked government sanctions. [Source: Asia for Educators, Columbia University afe.easia.columbia.edu/cosmos ]“Any religious movement that claimed inspiration from a source beyond the traditional Chinese cosmos or that had a social structure (monkhood, parish organization) that claimed independence from the Chinese state risked being labeled by the state as a licentious cult or a heterodoxy. Once that happened, government response and suppression occurred swiftly. The Chinese government today keeps careful watch over any organized group, religious or otherwise, not under state control. The Falun Gong movement, which began as a traditional form of mental and physical training and faith healing, was identified by the government in 1999 as an unlicensed religious group. It therefore became subject to government control and was ultimately outlawed, as were many sects in the history of Chinese popular religion.

Chinese folk religion, also called Chinese popular religion or Shenism or Shénism, is the most widespread form of religion in China, and among Chinese people worldwide. It is the religious tradition of the Han Chinese, and involves veneration of forces of nature and ancestors, exorcism of harmful forces, and a belief in the rational order of nature which can be influenced by human beings and their rulers as well as spirits and gods. Worship is devoted to a multiplicity of gods and immortals, who can be deities of phenomena, of human behaviour, or progenitors of lineages. Stories regarding some of these gods are collected into the body of Chinese mythology. By the 11th century (Song period), these practices had been blended with Buddhist ideas of karma (one’s own doing) and rebirth, and Taoist teachings about hierarchies of gods, to form the popular religious system which has lasted in many ways until the present day.

Chinese religions have a variety of sources, local forms, founder backgrounds, and ritual and philosophical traditions. Despite this diversity, there is a common core that can be summarised as four theological, cosmological, and moral concepts: Heaven, the transcendent source of moral meaning; qi, the breath or energy that animates the universe; jingzu, the veneration of ancestors; and bao ying, moral reciprocity; together with two traditional concepts of fate and meaning: ming yun , the personal destiny or burgeoning; and yuan fen, “fateful coincidence“, good and bad chances and potential relationships.

Yin and yang is the polarity that describes the order of the universe, held in balance by the interaction of principles of growth (shen) and principles of waning (gui), with yang (“act”) usually preferred over yin (“receptiveness”) in common religion. Ling , “numen” or “sacred“, is the “medium” of the two states and the inchoate order of creation.

Both the present day government of China and the imperial dynasties of the Ming and Qing tolerated village popular religious cults if they bolstered social stability but suppressed or persecuted those that they feared would undermine it. After the fall of the empire in 1911, governments and elites opposed or attempted to eradicate folk religion in order to promote “modern” values, and many condemned “feudal superstition”. These conceptions of folk religion began to change in Taiwan in the late 20th century and in mainland China in the 21st. Many scholars now view folk religion in a positive light. In recent times Chinese folk religions are experiencing a revival in both mainland China and Taiwan. Some forms have received official understanding or recognition as a preservation of traditional Chinese culture, such as Mazuism and the Sanyi teaching in Fujian, Huangdi worship, and other forms of local worship, for example the Longwang, Pangu or Caishen worship.

Witnessing:

Native American Religions

Native Americans is a generic reference to people groups who lived in North and South America prior to the arrival of European explorers. Given the size of those two continents and their diverse landscapes, it is no surprise that Native American cultures varied drastically from group to group and from tribe to tribe. This means “Native American Religion” is an extremely broad category. The religious beliefs of modern Americans—and Asians, Europeans, and Africans—span a wide range, and so do the spiritual traditions of Native Americans.

That being said, most Native American religions share a set of common features. Most important among these is a lack of distinction between the spiritual world and the natural world, the existence of some type of creative deity, and a general lack of objective, fixed principles. Few Native American religious ideas were considered absolutely unchangeable, and even fewer were codified in writing. As a result, historic spiritual beliefs in the Americas were diverse and extremely fluid.

One common feature of many Native American spiritual traditions is a uniform view of reality. Christianity often speaks of a physical world and a spiritual world. At least for the sake of comparison, such a distinction does not exist in most Native American religions. The “world” of spirits and deities is the same “world” as that of nature and man, and whatever differences or separations may exist are frequently bridged.

Most Native American religions include some kind of divine Creator. In many cases, this is a single deity, often referred to as the Great Spirit. In some cases, this is a group of gods or a collection of spirits. And, in others, this spirit is more of an impersonal force than an actual, personal being.

Native American religions are also typically devoid of objective rules or laws. This is not to suggest there are no moral principles in these spiritual traditions. However, such concepts are typically treated as guidelines or foundations and not as hard-and-fast regulations. Traditions vary from group to group, but Native American spirituality is typically much less rigid than systems such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

Written texts comparable to works such as the Bible, the Qur'an, or the Vedas do not exist in Native American religious history. Instead, oral tradition and personal teaching are strongly emphasized in Native American religious practice. The motivation for this is extremely practical. From the Native American perspective, the only way to learn traditions is to participate in them; there is little use for written texts.

The combination of fluid tenets, a lack of written scriptures, and a wide variety of beliefs caused European explorers to badly misunderstand the spiritual traditions of Native Americans. The assumption of most colonizers was that native religion was shallow, simple, and unimportant. While Native Americans are, by comparison, far more comfortable combining their spiritual beliefs with those of other religions, their traditions are as deeply held and are considered just as meaningful as those of any other culture.

A particularly interesting feature of Native American religion is the recurrence of myths regarding a catastrophic, worldwide flood. As is the case with spiritual traditions around the world, several versions of a flood story can be found in Native American myths:

• Hopi folk tales speak of Tawa, the Sun Spirit, destroying the existing world (called the Third World) in a flood; a few good people survived by riding in reed boats (compare Genesis 6:6–8).

• An Ottawa story claims that a man angered the sea god, triggering a flood that covered the world. This man was saved by a goddess riding in a boat with pairs of surviving animals (compare Genesis 6:20).

• According to the Chippewa, a particularly powerful man killed the evil Great Serpent, triggering a mountain-covering flood (compare Genesis 7:19). People survived by boarding rafts and floating until the waters had subsided (compare Genesis 8:1).

• Cheyenne legends say a medicine man stretched a white buffalo skin between mountains to protect the people from a wrathful divine rain. When the primary god saw this and stopped the rain, the skin shrank and became the rainbow (compare Genesis 9:12–13).

• Salish myths feature many people having nightmares of a massive flood (compare Genesis 6:13). Those who believed the dreams banded together to build a huge raft made of canoes (compare Genesis 6:14), and only they survived the flood. Those who ignored the dreams drowned (compare Genesis 7:22–23). Afterward, these survivors began to quarrel and scattered across the earth into different tribes (compare Genesis 11:1–9).

These stories each echo aspects of the Bible’s description of the flood that destroyed the world of Noah’s time. The preservation of the basic story—seen in cultures across the world—is a point often brought up in discussions of mankind’s origins. If every human culture shares a common story, with several common details, there are good reasons to think that story has some basis in actual history.

Attempting to define Native American religion in any detail is futile. As with any other large collection of people groups, there are literally thousands of individual approaches to spirituality in Native American cultures. The concepts of fluidity, a unified spiritual and natural world, and a lack of written scriptures are shared across many of these traditions, but each is a completely independent worldview in and of itself.

Native American culture and religion are still prominent in the United States today, having been passed down through generations. List of Federal and State Recognized Tribes

The Native American Church (NAC), or the practice of Peyotism, is one of the most influential religious practices among tribes in the United States today. Officially chartered in the early 20th Century, it integrates Christian principles with ancient tribal traditions and rituals.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Australian aboriginal religions

Introduction

The Aborigines of Australia make up 3% of the population, largely in the northern territories. Recent studies suggest that these people migrated from Europe and Africa via South Asia into Australasia around 50,000 years ago.

As such, they are one of the longest surviving races and have by far the longest claim to the land of Australia. The British did not land on the shores of the country until 1788, just over 200 years ago! Their ancient religious beliefs also span a huge era, probably well before many of the dominant religions in the world emerged. The arrival of European settlers almost led to the extinction of the Aborigines.

Their route to Australia may have taken them through India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Having arrived in Australia, the Aborigines dispersed into different regions, eventually forming 400 distinct groups with their own language and culture who remained largely isolated from each other for long periods, and yet there are many common threads across them.

Aboriginal Faiths

The Aboriginal people are very spiritual, and have a close affinity with nature and the creations around them, just as the Native Americans did. Aboriginal faith is preserved as oral traditions handed down through the generations and is now considered as mythology. There is truth in the myths, but the modern interpretation might make the stories seem absurd.

They revere many beings depicted as animals, plants, or other natural features. For them, their tribes and communities are aligned not just to the land they inhabit, but also groups of stars, specific plants and animals, and even specific rocks and geographical.

Ancestors of the aborigines from Dreamtime taught the original people to survive, hunt, and how to live. In many ways, these ancestral beings would be seen as Prophets in Abrahamic faiths, and many of them may well have been Prophets of God for the Aboriginal peoples.

Dreamtime represents the period of active creation of the universe. Aboriginals recognize an eternal Creator God (‘High Gods’) who initiated creation, but then retreated to a ‘distant realm of heaven where human beings cannot reach him. It is interesting that for so many unique Aboriginal tribes that had remained isolated from each other, to all hold the concept of a single eternal creator for many millennia provides strong proof for the existence of God rather than the concept of God as being a figment of human imagination.

According to beliefs, the second creation which included life on earth was managed by a number of celestial creation beings who then severed the link between the sky and earth. These beings can travel between the earth and sky using a ladder or tree, and aboriginals feel their presence in sacred caves, rocks, or trees. At this time, mountain ranges and lakes were created, and plant forms emerged. For aborigines, dreams are often interpreted as memories from that period or a transformation back to that creation period, hence it is called Dreamtime.

Dialogue with Aboriginal elders suggests that they also view dreams as a true dialogue with their Creator, the true meaning of which is only known to a few elders in the community.

Life and death

Many aboriginals such as the Tiwi people believe in two sky worlds, the earth and also an underworld called Ilaria. Life is sacred for aboriginal people. Some believe that death is the result of magic, and after death, the person travels to heaven but without the use of their physical body.8 The term magic here might mean forces or actions that are not understood by man, or sins that take the man away from a pure state.9 Most communities accept that after death, there is still a ghost or soul that persists, and the need to send this soul back to its ancestral Dreaming site, or to the Island of the Dead from which the soul ascends to the sky world.10 This is not too dissimilar to Abrahamic concepts of the passage of the soul to heaven or hell. At the time of death, aboriginal people paint themselves white as a sign of remorse for the loss and perform rituals and prayers to help the soul reach its destination.

There is a story of the moon helping to revive the dead on their journey, a story shared with some Hindu customs. For the ancient people, watching the phases of the moon every month drew parallels with death and rebirth, so it is not surprising that they equated the moon to the revival of the soul after death.

Uluru, more commonly known as Ayer’s Rock, is a large rocky outcrop in central Australia and is the most sacred place for Aboriginal people to which they travel for pilgrimage. People go there to contemplate in the many caves and pools. Just as with other pilgrimage sites, Uluru is preserved for future pilgrims by the custodians from the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples.11

The Aboriginal people of Australia have a rich and ancient culture, deeply engrained in spirituality and a recognition of their position in nature. They have a belief in a single eternal Creator and life after death which can be understood by monotheists. They have respect for elders, society, and nature. For millennia, their society was stable based upon generations of existence in the same lands and a stable culture, yet the last 200 years since colonization have been ruinous for them. Although they have started to absorb more recent influences, it is their ancient traditional faith that underpins their psyche.

Reference:

American Genocide of the Native Americans: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202203/t20220302_10647120.html

Witnessing:

Researching Religions: Baha’i, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism

Encouragement:

It is important to remember why we are in this study. 1. We hope to become familiar with other religions so that we might be able to "reason with them". 2. We hope to open our minds to become more tolerant of others.

This week is a tough one, we are looking at religions that follow "other gods." So, we should consider what the Bible says about other gods:

Exodus 23:13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
Deuteronomy 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Jeremiah 25:6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Introduction:

The “other religions” category is diverse and comprises groups not classified elsewhere. This category includes followers of religions that often are not measured separately in censuses and surveys: the Baha’i faith, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism, and many other religions. We will take them one by one in the session. (61 million (0.8%)

Baha’i Faith

The Baha’i Faith, the world’s newest independent global belief system, teaches the oneness of God, the unity of humanity, and the essential harmony of religion. It is the world’s second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it.

The Baha’i teachings promote the agreement of science and religion, gender equality, and the elimination of all prejudice and racism. Baha’is believe in each person’s capacity to find the truth for themselves, and there is no clergy — Baha’is gather together in democratically-led communities and welcome everyone.

Baha’is accept the validity of each of the founders and prophets of the major world religions and believe in progressive revelation. This unique Baha’i principle views every great Faith as a link in a single, spiritual, system, progressively revealed, similar to how chapters in a book tell an evolving story — by God to humanity.

The Main Baha’i Teachings

The Baha’i teachings focus on the soul’s relationship with the eternal, unknowable essence of God, and recommend daily prayer and meditation to everyone. Baha’is believe that the human spirit lives eternally, and so endeavor to illumine their souls with spiritual attributes — kindness, generosity, integrity, truthfulness, humility, and selfless service to others.

The Baha’i Faith provides the means for peace and tranquility through a progressive set of social teachings:

These fundamental Baha’i principles call for a complete restructuring of humanity’s priorities — from material to spiritual, from exclusive to inclusive, and from divisiveness to unity.

Who Is Baha’u’llah?

Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. These Manifestations include Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, the Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha‘u’llah.

In English, Baha’u’llah means “The Glory of God,” and Baha’is believe that His coming is foretold in many of the world religions. The Baha’i writings say:

“To Israel, He was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the “Everlasting Father”, the “Lord of Hosts” come down “with ten thousands of saints”; to Christendom, Christ returned “in the glory of the Father”; to Shí’ah Islám the return of the Imám Ḥusayn; to Sunní Islám the descent of the “Spirit of God” (Jesus Christ); to the Zoroastrians the promised Sháh-Bahrám; to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists the fifth Buddha.”

Baha’is view Baha’u’llah as the latest divine messenger to found a major world religion and usher in a new age of human development. Born Mirza Husayn Ali in Tehran, Persia in 1817, Baha’u’llah was known early in his adult life as “the father of the poor” for his selfless work assisting the destitute and homeless. In 1863, he began openly teaching the Baha’i Faith, with its revolutionary messages of the oneness of humanity, the oneness of religion, the equality of men and women, the agreement of science and religion, and the establishment of a global system of governance.

Baha’u’llah suffered 40 years of exile, torture, and imprisonment — all for announcing that a new revelation had been born. Baha’u’llah called the entire world to collective action and unity, and that call, Baha’is believe, has inaugurated a new age of spirituality, harmony, and human maturation.

Unlike many religions of the past, Baha’is have the original writings of Baha’u’llah, his son and successor, Abdu’l-Baha — as well as the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and, since 1963, the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member democratically-elected global governing body of the Baha’i Faith. Baha’is rely on and revere those inspiring writings and see them as the source of humanity’s continual guidance. They have been translated into hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make them available to everyone.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Jainism

Jainism is one of the world’s oldest religions, originating in India at least 2,500 years ago. The spiritual goal of Jainism is to become liberated from the endless cycle of rebirth and to achieve an all-knowing state called moksha. This can be attained by living a non-violent life, or ahimsa, with as little negative impact on other life forms as possible.

The traditions of Jainism were largely carried forward by a succession of 24 Tirthankaras, or teachers, most notably Vardhamana Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras and likely a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Both Mahavira and Buddha emphasized the importance of self-discipline, meditation, and ascetic life as the key to salvation. Their teachings often stood in contrast to those of Vedic priests of the time who emphasized ritual practices and their own role as intermediaries between humanity and the gods.

Today, a sliver of India’s population (0.4%) identifies as Jain, making it the smallest of the country’s six major religious groups after Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Indians overall know very little about this ancient religion and its practices, according to a June 2021 Pew Research Center report based on a survey of nearly 30,000 Indians.

Jains are concentrated in India’s West, largely in Maharashtra. Despite Jainism’s historic origins in India’s Eastern region, few Jains remain in the East. The changes in the regional concentration of Jains are believed to have started around 300 B.C.E. when Jains began migrating to the West, possibly in search of more favorable kingdoms. Today, 4% of the population of Mumbai – the capital of Maharashtra and the commercial and business center of India – identifies as Jain.

Jains are more highly educated and wealthier than Indians overall, and few identify as lower caste. Roughly a third (34%) of Jain adults have at least a college degree, compared with 9% of the general public, according to India’s 2011 census. Moreover, the vast majority of Jains fall into India’s top wealth quintiles, according to India’s National Family and Health Survey.

Wealth and education in India are inextricably linked with caste. Jains are the only religious group in India where a majority say they are members of a higher General Category caste. Most Indians (68%) are members of lower castes (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backwards Classes), compared with 20% of Jains who identify with these communities.

Almost all Jains are vegetarian, in line with guidance to pursue ahimsa (not harming other life). Roughly nine-in-ten Indian Jains (92%) identify as vegetarian, and two-thirds of Jains (67%) go further by abstaining from root vegetables such as garlic and onion. Eating root vegetables is seen as a form of violence in Jain teachings because consuming the root of a plant destroys the plant in its entirety. These dietary practices extend outside the home; more than eight-in-ten Jain vegetarians also say they would not eat food in the home of a friend or neighbor who was non-vegetarian (84%) or in a restaurant that served non-vegetarian food (91%).

Jains feel they have a lot in common with Indian Hindus. Despite theological differences between Jain and Hindu teachings – for instance, Hinduism teaches that the universe was created, but Jainism does not – the two religions share many similarities in their teachings and practices. For example, both religions teach about karma, and roughly three-quarters of both Jains (75%) and Hindus (77%) say they believe in karma. (Karma is often understood as the idea that humans will eventually reap the benefits of their good deeds and pay the price for their bad deeds, often in their next life, though survey respondents were not offered a definition.)

Moreover, when asked whether Jains and Hindus in India have a lot in common or are very different, about two-thirds of Jains (66%) say that the two communities have a lot in common.

However, that feeling is not fully reciprocated. Just 19% of Hindus see a lot of commonality with Jains. One reason for this mismatch may be that Jains tend to know more about Hindus – who make up 81% of the Indian population – than vice versa. Three-in-ten Jains say they know “a great deal” about the Hindu religion and its practices, while just 3% of Hindus say they know a lot about Jainism.

Like many Indians, Jains tend to prefer living separately from other religious and caste groups. While nearly all Jains (92%) say they would be willing to accept a Hindu neighbor, significantly fewer say they would be willing to accept a Muslim (38%), Christian (46%), Sikh (55%) or Buddhist (58%) in the area where they live. Moreover, large majorities of Indian Jains say it is important to stop both women (82%) and men (81%) from marrying into other religious groups. And despite making up a small share of the national population, nearly three-quarters of Jains say that all or most of their close friends are also Jain (72%).

These attitudes are not uncommon in India – majorities of Hindus also oppose religious intermarriage – and may in part be tied to Jains’ particular demographic makeup. For example, while a majority of Jains identify as members of the higher General Category castes, Buddhists in India overwhelmingly identify as Dalits, or members of the lower Scheduled Castes. In fact, Jains are much more likely than other Indians to say that they would not accept a member of a Scheduled Caste as a neighbor (41% vs. 21% nationally). Moreover, large majorities of Jains say it is important to stop both women (79%) and men (74%) in their community from marrying into other castes.

Dietary preferences may also play a role in Jain attitudes about other groups; unlike Jains, most Muslims and Christians in India, for example, say they are not vegetarian.

Politically, Jains lean toward the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Seven-in-ten Jains say they feel closest to the BJP, while just 8% say they feel closest to the Indian National Congress (INC), the main opposition party. In fact, Jains are more likely than other religious communities in India, including Hindus, to feel a political affinity with the BJP: Fewer than half of Hindus (44%) say they feel closest to the BJP, a party that some say promotes a Hindu nationalist agenda.

Jains’ political preference for the BJP may in part be tied to their views on religion and national identity, which in some ways reflect Hindu nationalist sentiments more akin to their Hindu compatriots than other minority communities in India. A significant share of Jains (44%) say being Hindu is very important to truly being Indian, as do a majority of Hindus (64%). Among other religious groups, far fewer people share this view, including just 21% of Sikhs. A slim majority of Jains (54%) also tie authentic Indian identity with speaking the Hindi language, one of the dozens of languages spoken in India. Among Hindus, these sentiments are closely associated with support for the BJP.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Shintoism

Shintoism is a belief system that originated in Japan and is followed by 104 million people worldwide. While Shinto is a distinct religion, Japanese people don’t tend to classify it as so; it is more a way of life than it is about explaining the world. Its followers often view it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a religion of nature. The word Shinto comes from the written Chinese kanji of "Shen", meaning "divine spirit", and "Tao", meaning "way”, to form the meaning of “Way of the Spirits”.

Kami

The main belief in Shinto is the worship of kami, which are spirits that inhabit the natural world. Kami is a difficult concept to explain. According to Shintoists, this is because human beings have no way of truly understanding the nature of kami. Kami are often described as divine beings, gods or spirits to make the concept easier to understand. But kami are quite dissimilar to gods from other religions.

From landscapes and forces of nature to people and animals (both living and dead), all objects are believed to have kami. Kami are close to humans and respond to their prayers. They have the power to influence the events of the natural world and the human world.

Kami, unlike the western concept of gods, are not omnipotent nor perfect. They, like humans, sometimes make mistakes and misbehave. The goal is for humanity to strive towards exemplifying qualities of good kami.

Shinto history

Shinto is the oldest surviving and widely practiced Japanese religion, but unlike a lot of religions, Shinto doesn’t have a clear origin story. It appears to have evolved out of different cultural practices from ancient Japan, with limited historical records. Early adoptions of Shinto beliefs are believed to have emerged in the period of the Yayoi culture (c. 300 BCE - 300 CE), and the earliest written record that describes Shinto is the “Kojiki” (“Record of Ancient Matters”), dating 712 CE.

Like many prehistoric societies, Ancient Japanese people held animistic beliefs (that objects, places, and creatures possess a spirit), and this has withstood with the belief in kami.

Rituals and beliefs

The overriding belief in Shinto is to promote harmony and purity in all aspects of life. Humans are thought of as being fundamentally good, and evil is caused by evil spirits. The purpose of Shinto, therefore, is to pray and offer to the kami to keep away evil spirits.

Shinto followers can worship in shared public shrines, however, many choose to do so in their own homes and set up their own shrines. These shrines are called “kami-dana” and are a shelf on which people place offerings to the kami.

As mentioned earlier, in Ancient Japan, Shinto and Buddhism became closely intertwined and coexist to this day. Because of this, some Buddhist figures (the botatsu or “enlightened beings”) have become prominent kami with believers of Shinto.

Three of these figures include Amida (ruler of the Pure Land, i.e. heaven), Kannon (protector of children, women in childbirth, and dead souls), and Jizo (protector of people suffering pain and the souls of dead children). Another popular figure who is worshipped in both faiths is Hachiman, a god of archery and war.

The majority of Japanese people identify as both Shinto and Buddhist, and many Japanese people have a Shinto wedding ceremony but a Buddhist funeral. Because Shinto and Buddhism have been so ingrained in everyday Japanese culture for centuries, many Japanese people observe them even if they do not identify as being religious at all.

Core values of Shinto

Purity. The idea of purity in Shinto is closest to the western notion of evil and pollution, which is called “Kegare” in Japanese. This does not just refer to physical uncleanliness, but energy too, and these are addressed through rituals of purification.
Makoto (sincerity). Makoto refers to the sincerity of the heart. If goodness and sincerity are not in your heart, all acts are pointless.
Harmony with nature. Since kami can possess anything, it is nature itself. As you can find kami everywhere, it is important to keep places clean and be aware of the environment.
Matsuri (festivals). Matsuri, and Shinto festivals, bind a community together and bring good fortune to it.
Focus on here, now. Shinto is strictly focused on the present and is a celebration of what we know and have right now.
Amaterasu
Amaterasu, also known as Amaterasu Ōmikami which translates to “Great Divinity (that which) illuminates Heaven”, is the celestial sun goddess. She is perhaps the most important Shinto deity.

Shinto places of worship

Shinto shrines, known as “jinja”, are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami. Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are kept in the innermost chambers of the jinjas and cannot be viewed by anyone.

Newborn babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few weeks after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies at shrines.

There are around 80,000 shrines dotted all over Japan! Each shrine has an annual festival where people gather to pay their respects to the kami and celebrate with food, music, dancing and sake.

Every village, town, or district in Japan will have its own Shinto shrine, dedicated to the local kami.

Not all shrines are buildings - they can also be rocks, trees, and mountains if they are considered special to kami.

A large shrine can contain several smaller sub-shrines. Shinto shrines can cover several thousand acres or a few square feet. They are often located in the landscape in such a way as to emphasize their connection to the natural world.

Japanese people visit shrines as and when they want to, and will often visit the local shrine when they want the local kami to bless them with good fortunes, such as good exam results.

Festivals

Shinto festivals are called “matsuri” (“to entertain” or “to serve”) and center on a particular kami who are treated as guests of honor at the ceremony.

The festivals tend to be very active events, with processions, dramatic performances, dancing, sumo wrestling, and feasts. The processions often feature a “mikoshi” (a “divine palanquin”) which is used to carry a kami or an image of a kami. The mikoshi is transported around the local community to purify it and bless its future well-being.

Along with the annual local matsuri festival, two other important annual festivals include the three-day Shogatsu Matsuri or Japanese New Year festival, and the Obon Buddhist celebration of the dead returning to the ancestral home (which includes many Shinto rituals).

Because Shinto originates in the agricultural prehistory of Japan, many of its festivals surround the farming seasons.

Shogatsu Matsuri - Japanese New Year

Japanese New Year is the most important holiday in Japan, and it is celebrated for three days across January the 1st to January the 3rd. During this period, most businesses close, and families spend the holiday together.

Each year marks a fresh start, and you are supposed to complete all duties before the end of the year. “Bonenkai” parties (“year forgetting” parties) are thrown and symbolize leaving the old year’s worries and troubles behind.

A selection of dishes is prepared during the New Year celebrations called “osechi-ryōri”, typically shortened to osechi. Many of these dishes are sweet, sour, or dried. Ozoni is another popular dish served, which is a soup that includes mochi rice cake and other ingredients that vary depending on which region of Japan you’re in. It is also common to eat “toshikoshi soba” (buckwheat noodles) on New Year's Eve.

Many Japanese people visit a shrine or temple during this period, and Japan’s most popular shrines such as Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine attract several million people!

Shintoism Facts

There are millions of “gods” in Shintoism, and a Japanese phrase that encapsulates this is "Yaoyorozu no kami", which means 8 million kami.
Some of the oldest shrines in Japan include Izumo Taisha, Fushimi Inari, and Tsubaki Grand Shrine.
When a child is born in Japan, their name is added to a list at their local shrine which makes them a “family child”. When they come to pass at the end of their life, they will become a family spirit.
Worship consists of hand-clapping, silent prayer, and offerings made at the shrine
The most important Jinja (shrine) in Japan is at Ise. This shrine is devoted to the sun goddess, Amaterasu.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Sikhism

Sikhs at a Glance:

99 percent of people wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs from India
Sikhs have been in the U.S. for over 100 years
There are roughly 700,000 Sikhs in the U.S. today
Sikhism is the world’s fifth-largest religion with 25 million adherents worldwide
Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban
The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam

Sikhism - The word Sikh (pronounced "sickh") means 'disciple' or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.

Turbans are worn to cover our long hair and with respect to God. Sikhs have unshorn hair, beards, and mustaches. The Sikh faith teaches humanitarian principles of freedom, equality, and justice. There are about 25 million Sikhs in the world. Sikhs have been in the United States for over 100 years. Sikhism recognizes the universal truths that underlie all human endeavors, religions, and belief systems. The universal nature of the Sikh way of life reaches out to people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, encouraging us to see beyond our differences and to work together for world peace and harmony.

History and Beliefs

The almost 25 million Sikhs worldwide constitute the fifth largest religion in the world. Despite almost a million Sikhs living in North America (USA and Canada), Sikhs are often confused with Arabs or Muslims. Sikhs arrived in North America in 1897 and played a pivotal role in the opening of the West and the construction of the Panama Canal in 1904. In 1906, Sikhs established their first gurdwara, or place of worship, in the United States. 700,000 Americans and Canadians are Sikh and nearly every major city has a Sikh place of worship and community center.

The Sikh faith is five hundred years old. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, taught a message of love. He spoke of a universal God, common to all mankind, not limited to any religion, nation, race, creed, color, or gender. The Sikh religion is strictly monotheistic, believing in one supreme Creator, free of gender, absolute, all-pervading, and eternal. Sikhism views life not as a fall from grace, but as a unique opportunity to discover and develop the divinity in each of us. Human rights and justice form a cornerstone of Sikh belief, and Sikh history features countless examples of Sikh Gurus and their followers making tremendous sacrifices for the cause of religious freedom and justice. More recently, Sikhs have been some of the most highly decorated soldiers of the British armed services during both World Wars. They played a significant role in the memorable battles of El Alamein in the Burma-China front and also in the allied assault in Italy. In India’s struggle for independence from the British, over two-thirds of all the Indians who were sentenced to life imprisonment or death were Sikh. This is in spite of the fact that Sikhs form less than two percent of India’s population

The Sikh Identity

In 1699, the tenth and last living Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, summoned his followers to the town of Anandpur in Punjab; over 80,000 came. According to history, Guru Gobind Singh appeared before his people, flashed a naked sword, and demanded a head. He repeated his call until five Sikhs volunteered. These five individuals came from different parts of India and from different castes. To these five, and subsequently, too many others on that historic day, Guru Gobind Singh bestowed a new discipline, a creed to his Sikhs. The Guru initiated these five in the new order of the Khalsa and then, in a dramatic and historic gesture, they in turn initiated him. On that day, he gave the Sikhs a unique identity which includes five articles of faith:

unshorn hair as a gift of God and Guru and a mark of Sikh identity
a small comb for the hair
a steel bracelet that signifies a reality with no beginning and no end, and is also symbolic of a Sikh’s commitment to the ideals of his faith, much as a wedding ring might indicate fealty and identity
a sword indicative of resolve and commitment to justice, and
knee-length breeches in keeping with the disciplined lifestyle of a Sikh

For the past 300 years, male Sikhs have been easily recognized by their long unshorn hair covered with a turban. Notably, in traditional Indian society only males of high caste or the elite, ruling class wore turbans. In requiring all Sikhs to don turbans, Guru Gobind Singh envisioned all individuals as noble. Sikh women adhere to the same lifestyle, symbols, rules, and conduct, but relatively few choose to wear turbans. Young Sikh boys, instead of wearing a turban, often cover their uncut hair, which is tied in a top-knot, with a simple piece of fabric.

Along with the aforementioned physical identifiers, Guru Gobind Singh went further in distinguishing Sikhs. In Indian society, an individual’s name reveals one’s caste and social status. Guru Gobind Singh freed Sikhs from the rigid caste system by ordering all Sikh males to adopt the surname “Singh,” meaning a lion, and women use the surname “Kaur” meaning princess, thus shedding their caste identity. Each year, Sikhs worldwide commemorate and celebrate the historic events of Vaisakhi 1699 as a milestone in Sikh history when Guru Gobind Singh decreed the formation of the Khalsa and fashioned the nation of Sikhs.

The Sikh Scripture

Guru Gobind Singh also decreed an end to the line of Gurus in human form. The writings of the earlier Gurus were collated along with those of Hindu and Muslim spiritual figures whose teachings strongly resonated with Sikh beliefs. This collection of writings is known as Guru Granth Sahib, a uniquely ecumenical and eclectic collection of spiritual writings. For Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is the repository of all spiritual knowledge and authority. In temporal matters, all authority rests with the Sikh community worldwide acting democratically and in mindful prayer with an awareness of the spiritual heritage which is embodied in the Guru Granth. Sikhs revere the ten Gurus, Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh because they delivered the divine word of the one, timeless God. The word “Guru” acquires, therefore, a very special meaning for Sikhs. It is reserved only for the ten Gurus who gave the divine message and to this message is contained in the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Gurdwara

The Sikh place of worship, or Gurdwara, is more than a place of worship. It has historically served as a refuge for the homeless and the destitute. Gurdwaras usually display the Nishan Sahib, a saffron-colored triangular flag bearing the khanda, the symbol of the Sikh faith. Visitors, irrespective of their religion, are offered shelter, comfort, and food. The prerequisites for entering a Gurdwara are removing shoes and covering one’s head with a handkerchief, scarf, or other cloth.

In a Gurdwara, no special place or seat may be reserved or set aside for any dignitary, as all are considered equals. The service consists of singing the liturgy, as well as the exposition of Sikh history, tradition, and theology. Non-Sikhs are always welcome. Sikh gurdwaras all over the world usually run free community kitchens, which provide meals to all. These kitchens are run and funded by volunteers. In traditional Indian society, people of high and low caste were rigidly segregated. To combat this social problem, the Sikh community kitchen, or langar, requires everyone to sit side by side and eat together, thereby teaching the concept of equality by shattering all barriers of caste and class. Every major city in the United States and Canada has Sikh gurdwaras and they are open to all.

The Sikh Way of Life

Sikhism is a practical religion and Sikhs are a pragmatic people. The emphasis is on leading a worldly, successful life as a householder and a contributing member of society, but with the mind attuned to an awareness of God. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin. For Sikhs, God is not found in isolation or by renouncing the world but is attained as an active family member and member of one’s community. The word “Sikh” means student. Therefore, a Sikh is and remains a student of the meaning of life. The core values of Sikhism are derived from three equally important tenets: an honest living and an honest day’s work, sharing with others what God and life have given, and living life fully with an awareness of the divine within each of us. Sikhism enunciates a philosophical concept termed Miri-Piri, which means living a life with an active, strong sense of commitment to the world and humanity, governed and directed by a strong foundation and underpinning of spirituality. Thus, the Sikh ideal is to strike a perfect balance and integration of these two states of existence.

In matters that affect the Sikh community, Sikhs have throughout history followed a simple but effective mechanism whereby individual voices are heard and decisions reflect the current state of knowledge, information, and technology. In all such matters, and in honor of the first five Sikhs who heeded the call of Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, the voice of the community is channeled through five initiated Sikhs selected and authorized to resolve issues and speak as the voice of the community. Sikhs believe that God and Guru pervade the congregation when five Sikhs act in mindful prayer. Decision-making, thus, becomes a collective process. Sikhs do not have a priestly hierarchy with its associated ecclesiastical authority.

Women

The Sikh faith is committed to the equality of women, and necessarily so, as it defines God as gender-neutral, perhaps one of the few major world religions to do so. There is no activity in a gurdwara or within the community that is permitted to a man but not to a woman. There is no religious function from which women are barred at any time of their lives.

Dietary Restrictions

Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which we shun all that harms the body or the mind. Animal sacrifice is forbidden and so is the consumption of animals killed in such a manner. This also means that all intoxicants – tobacco, alcohol, or any mind-altering “recreational” drugs – are forbidden.

Dealing with Other Religions

Sikhism recognizes the universal truths that underlie all human endeavors, religions, and belief systems, though people differ in how they institutionalize those beliefs into a code of conduct and a way of life. Much as Sikhs love their religion, Sikhism is equally respectful and accepting of other ways of life and beliefs. Sikhism asks a non-Sikh to discover and live the essential message and meaning of his or her own religion so that a Christian can become a better Christian, a Jew a better Jew, a Hindu a better Hindu, and a Sikh becomes a better Sikh.

Reference:

https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/who-are-sikhs-what-is-sikhism

https://www.commisceo-global.com/blog/a-brief-introduction-to-sikhism

https://www.wearesikhs.org/10_big_questions?

Witnessing:

https://lausanne.org/content/lga/2020-03/leading-sikhs-ultimate-guru

https://thinkdivinely.com/sikhism-to-seeking-jesus/

https://evangelicalsnow.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/reaching-the-sikh-with-the-gospel/

Taoism also called Daoism

What is Taoism?

Taoism, also called Daoism, is a religious faith based upon the teachings of Laozi or Lao Tzu (Lao-tzu). His philosophy on life was that there was a central way of the universe, also called the Tao or Dao. Characteristics of this way of nature include conservation, honesty, and a commitment to letting nature take its course.

History of Taoism

The history of Taoism stems from the teachings of Laozi or Lao-tzu. Laozi was a respected Chinese philosopher in the sixth century B.C.E. Some state that he also influenced the Confucian religion by giving Confucius information about Zhou rituals. As he was leaving the capital city of ancient China, he was approached by a guard at the gate. The guard was one of Laozi's greatest disciples. He requested that before he leave, Laozi recount to him his philosophy on life. In an effort to fulfill this request, Laozi wrote down the words which he lived by. These teachings were included in a small book known as the Tao Te Ching or Daodejing.

It is difficult to ascertain how much of this history is true and how much is simply legend. Some state that there is no real Laozi. They claim that he was only a mythical figure with no basis in history. Others state that he was historical but that he could not have possibly done all of the things attributed to him.

In some religious groups of Taoism, Laozi is honored for his significant contribution to the faith by being revered as a deity. For example, in the Tang dynasty, Laozi was worshipped and venerated as a divine ancestor. This is the main reason why Taoist groups are occasionally referred to as ''sects.'' A sect is a religious group that has differing religious beliefs from the majority of believers in a larger group. As there is no majority in the Taoist religion, all groups under the Taoist umbrella can be referred to as sects.

Taoism Beliefs

There is no such thing as Taoist orthodoxy or a set of beliefs. However, there is the Tao Te Ching. Taoist groups typically adhere to scriptures or manuals of rituals and practices.

Laozi was, according to legend, one of the most knowledgeable scholars and religious experts in the Zhao Dynasty. He served in the court as an advisor for religious rituals. Thus, ritual is an extremely important aspect of Taoism. Some of the most common

Loosely based on the writings of a mythical figure named Laozi who lived some 2,500 years ago — calls for an adherence to "the way", which practitioners have long interpreted as a return to the natural world. The core of the basic belief and doctrine of Taoism is that "Tao" is the origin and law of all things in the universe. Taoists believe that people can become deities or live forever through practicing certain rituals and austerities. They also practice a philosophy of wu wei, or inaction.

The focus of Taoism is the individual in nature rather than the individual in society. It holds that the goal of life for each individual is to find one's own personal adjustment to the rhythm of the natural (and supernatural) world and to follow the Way (dao) of the universe. In many ways the opposite of rigid Confucian moralism, Taoism served many of its adherents as a complement to their ordered daily lives. A scholar on duty as an official would usually follow Confucian teachings but at leisure or in retirement might seek harmony with nature as a Taoist recluse. [Source: The Library of Congress]

Taoism is more mystical and less pragmatic than Confucianism. The tao focuses on ideals of balance and order and often uses nature as a metaphor. It also includes elements of animism. Taoism, unlike Confucianism, rejects rank and class. Taoists shun aggression, competition, and ambition. [Source: Eleanor Stanford, Countries and Their Cultures, Gale Group Inc., 2001]

Taoists stress the importance of harmonizing with nature by balancing yin and yang, and developing chi through meditation and disengagement. The human body is regarded as a source of chi-derived energy, which some people have the power to concentrate and congeal into an essence. Chi (also spelled ch'i or qi) is variously known as the "breath of heaven," “mystical breath," the "breath of nature" and the "quality of spirit"

In classic Taoist cosmology, matter and energy are thought to be governed by five basic movements. The strength and influence of these movements wax and wane over the course of a year; with wood peaking during spring, fire during summer, metal in autumn and water in winter. The remaining movement, earth, asserts its presence most powerfully during the periods before the start of each season

Taoist rituals include:

Rituals imposed by the Tang Dynasty, which utilized Taoism as its official state religion
Taoist prayer
Taoist meditation
Taoist sacrificial offerings
Reciting of sacred scriptures

The last three of these rituals are mostly performed by Taoist monks in sacred places. Many laypeople in the Taoist tradition are not required or accustomed to performing religious rituals.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Tenrikyo

Tenrikyo is a Japanese religion with about two million followers today, most of whom live in Japan. It is a newer religion, having been founded in the 19th century by a woman, Miki Nakayama. It is a monotheistic religion which believes that God, or Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, revealed wisdom through Nakayama and certain other people. Although reincarnation is part of Tenrikyo, its practitioners focus on cultivating worldly happiness, known as the Joyous Life, through charitable acts and kindness towards others.

History

Miki Nakayama founded Tenrikyo in 1838 when she felt the presence of Tenri-O-no-Mikoto while assisting in a Buddhist exorcism meant to cure her husband of illness. Nakayama began to teach Tenrikyo to others, including another person, Izo Iburi, who also received revelatory messages from Tenri-O-no-Mikoto and did much to spread Tenrikyo, as well as compile his and Nakayama's messages into formal texts. Government pressure forced Tenrikyo to become absorbed as a Buddhist sect for a while, but was later recognized by the Japanese government as a sect of Shinto, despite having a different theological nature than the polytheistic Shinto faith. Tenrikyo distinguished itself at this time due to its followers' humanitarian acts, such as founding orphanages and schools for the blind. After World War II, Tenrikyo practitioners asked the government to remove it from its status as Shinto sect, and Tenrikyo then got rid of much of its Buddhist and Shinto influence, although it still has retained some aspects of traditional Japanese worship practices. Today, a lack of political restrictions on Tenrikyo has allowed it to flourish in conventional society.

Spirituality

Followers of Tenrikyo hold God to be an entirely benevolent creator, who allows reincarnation but encourages the happiness of mankind during their mortal lives. To this end, Tenrikyo practitioners attempt to follow the path of the Joyous Life, which involves charity and mercy to others, and rejection of negative actions that would come out of greed, anger, or arrogance. Practitioners believe in the continual construction of a better world through small acts of daily kindness. To this end, many Tenrikyo followers have founded or participated in disaster relief programs, orphanages, hospitals, and schools. Music is important in Tenrikyo, and instruments are played in both daily and monthly services, although the prayers said during these services can be performed on one's own, if one cannot attend a temple at that time. Many followers of Tenrikyo also hold tenets of Christian or Buddhist beliefs.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Wicca

Wicca is the largest of the modern Pagan, or Neo-Pagan, religions. Its followers, who are called Wiccans, typically identify as witches and draw inspiration largely from the pre-Christian religions of Europe. Having publicly emerged in England during the 1950s, Wicca is now found primarily in Western countries, and the number of Wiccans is probably in the low hundreds of thousands. Followers often use the pentagram, or five-pointed star, as the main symbol of their religion.

Beliefs and practices

Wicca is a broad movement with much internal diversity in its beliefs and practices, in large part because of the absence of any single leader or centralized governing body. Within Wiccan groups, it is often considered more important for all members to follow the same ritual procedures than to believe the same thing.

Wicca emerged as a modern Pagan religious movement in the 1st half of the 20th century in England. Gerald Gardner is credited with introducing it to the general public in 1954. The movement is based on various ancient pagan rites and 20th-century hermetic motifs. The religion is decentralized, and its beliefs and practices were initially penned in the 1940s and 1950s by both Gardner and Doreen Valiente. The pioneers of the religion published books and passed down oral teachings and secretly written stipulations to their initiates.

Theology

Theological views within the movement differ, and it accommodates atheists, agnostics, pantheists, polytheists, duotheists, monotheists, and theists. A section of the adherents regards the movement's deities as entities having a literal existence while others consider them as symbols. Nearly all of the early Wiccan communities observed the worship of a Horned God of fertility in addition to a Mother Goddess. These early adherents believed that these deities had been worshipped by the hunter-gatherers who lived in the Old Stone Age and that the veneration of the deities had been secretly passed down. This theology was based on witch-cult claims proposed by Margaret Murray where although the cult had worshipped a Horned God in the recordings of the Early Modern witch trials, it has venerated Mother Goddess centuries before. Gardner also approved of the Horned God/Mother Goddess theology, and it is still the fundamental theological basis of the Gardnerian tradition. The Horned God assumes various names in different traditions which include Atho, Cernunnos, and Karnayna. The Horned God is commonly associated with nature, animals, hunting, wilderness, and the afterlife. The Mother Goddess is seen as representing fertility and life and has been proposed as a perfect role model for women. Some Wiccans have adopted other deity forms such as portraying the Goddess as a Triple Goddess consisting of Maiden, Mother, and Crone Goddesses representing virginity, fertility, and wisdom. Still, other conceptualizations have venerated the Goddess as a Menstruating Goddess and as a Moon Goddess.

Afterlife

There is no universal afterlife belief among Wicca's adherents as it varies between traditions. Wiccans believe that humans possess a spirit which survives death. The Feri Wicca believe a human has three souls. Gardner subscribed to the notion of incarnation which is observed by many Wiccans. A section of the adherents believes that a human's soul can incarnate into another life form while others believe that a person's soul can only incarnate into the bodies of humans. Gardner suggested that any Witches will be reincarnated as Future Witches. Gardner further taught that a human soul rested for an amount of time from bodily death to incarnation. This resting place is named the Summerland. Many Wiccans believe in the ability of mediums to communicate with the spirits of the dead, and Spiritualism influences this belief system.

Magic

Most Wiccans subscribe to the belief in magic, a concept described as a manipulative force undertaken via the practice of sorcery. Many Wiccans accept the idea that magic is a law of nature even as it continues to be disregarded by modern science and, therefore, do not consider it to be supernatural. Some Wiccans consider magic to be the use of all the five senses with the end goal of achieving surprising results while others do not claim to be aware of how magic works and they believe it works because they have witnessed it to be so. Ritual practices among Wiccans are mostly performed in a sacred circle. The adherents cast spells with the intention of invoking real and physical change in the world. These spells include those invoked for protection, healing, and fertility. Such early Wiccans as Alex Winfield, Alex Sanders, and Sybil Leek referred to the magic they practiced as "white magic" to differentiate it with "black magic" which they linked to Satanism. Sander also used the "right-hand path" term to describe magic invoked with good intentions in contrast with "left-hand path" magic to denote evil magic. The use of this terminology is credited to Helena Blavatsky, an occultist who used it in the 19th century. Some modern Wiccans have however discarded the terminology.

Morality

Wiccans do not adhere to a universal ethical code. Most of the adherents observe the Wiccan Rede which simply states that "an it harm none, do what ye will." The code's interpretation has been a cause for debate, and most Wiccans believe that the code's spirit is in doing good not only for other people but oneself as well. Various Wiccan traditions interpret "none" differently, and it can include plants and animals. The Rede instructs a believer to follow their true will and in doing so ensure that the act of following one's will does not harm another person or thing. The Rede encourages Wiccans to assume personal responsibility for one's undertakings. The Law of Threefold Return is another element directing the morality of Wiccans. This law stipulates that whatever good or malicious actions one does will return to him/her with triple power or with equal force on the person's mind, spirit, and body. This law exhibits similarities with the eastern concept of karma, and it was first suggested by Monique Wilson and developed and popularized by Raymond Buckland. Most Wiccans seek to embody the eight virtues noted in charge of the Goddess by Doreen Valiente. The virtues are compassion, mirth, beauty, humility, power, reverence, strength, and honor. Homosexuality is embraced in Wicca's traditions, and some like the Minoan Brotherhood have based their philosophy on the teachings.

Five Elements

Most Wiccan traditions observe the five classical elements which are regarded as symbols representing the phases of elements. The elements are the spirit, air, water, fire, and earth, and they are invoked during numerous magic rituals. The spirit, also called aether, unites the rest. Some analogies have been formulated to explain the idea of the elements. Ann-Marie Gallagher, a Wicca adherent, used that of a tree which is made up of air through oxygen creation from Co2; water in the form of moisture and sap; fire through photosynthesis; and earth through soil and plant matter, and all of them are thought to be united through the spirit. The Gardnerian tradition associates the elements with a cardinal point in the compass such that air is east, water is west, fire is south, the spirit is the center, and earth is north. A section of Wiccans has criticized this analogy claiming that the set cardinal points only apply to southern England's geography which is the cradle of the Wicca movement and that Wiccans should establish which directions are suitable for the elements in their region. The five elements are represented by the five-point Wicca's pentagram.

Reference:

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/wicca
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-wiccan-beliefs.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wicca
https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/a-christian-perspective-on-pagan-and-secular-belief-systems

Witnessing:

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is one of the most ancient religions of the world. At one time it was the dominant religion of Iran and adjoining regions. Its popularity declined when the Islamic invaders occupied Iran and introduced Islam. A handful few who fled from Iran, after the fall of the Sassanid Empire, to escape persecution in the hands of the new rules took shelter in India. They are known today in India as Parsis, a small community that has been persistently striving ever since to keep the tenets of the religion alive, despite hardships and lack of following.

Apart from them, a few people in Iran continue to practice Zoroastrianism. They enjoy a minority status in Iran, an Islamic nation, with a limited degree of freedom to practice their religion. The total number of people practicing Zoroastrianism in the world today would be around 250000 of whom 80% live in India and the rest in various parts of the world including the USA. Although Zoroastrianism lost its status as a popular world religion, its study and knowledge are very useful for our understanding of the development of religious thought in the ancient world and how its important beliefs and practices have parallels in other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The following are some of the important beliefs of Zoroastrianism.

1. Belief in Supreme and Universal God. Ahuramazda is the supreme, omniscient and omnipotent God, who symbolizes truth, radiance, purity, order, justice, courage, strength, and patience. He is the creator as well as sustainer. He also protects the good from the evil and maintains order by keeping the chaotic evil at bay.

2. Belief in the duality of existence. Zoroastrians believe that the world is battleground between good and evil forces. Although the good will ultimately triumph and the evil forces would be destroyed, Zoroastrians believe that every human has a role and responsibility in enhancing and marinating the sanctity and purity of our existence by staying away from evil, avoiding all possible contact and communication with it and by enhancing the good amidst us through religious practices and observances and adherence to the teachings of Zoroaster.

3. Belief in the divinity of creation. Zoroastrians believe that God created both the invisible and invisible worlds from Himself using His astral body and His own light. His creation is therefore very sacred and divine. It is everyone's responsibility to keep it pure and maintain the order or asha established by Him.

4. Belief in the spiritual nature of the world and human beings. Zoroastrians believe God created the spiritual entities and beings before manifesting their counterparts in the material plane. The material world consisting of fire, water, air, earth, plants, animals, and humans is very much like the body of God, while His spirit rules supreme and pervades the whole creation in various aspects and entities. The fravashis or guardian spirits were created in the material plane as human beings from the primeval man, from whose seed were born Mashye and Mashyane, the first man and first woman. All the races of humanity descended from these two in due course of time.

3. Belief in polytheism. While Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda as the highest and supreme God, they also believe in the existence of a number of divinities who represent His good qualities and who assist Him in containing the evil in the material world. Highest among these are the six Immortal Beings or Amesha Spentas who personify His good qualities individually, followed by angels, lords or ahuras and other divinities. Sacrificial rituals called Yasnas, rituals, and prayers are used to invoke these divinities on different occasions to sanctify the world and help the faithful in their lives.

4. Belief in the basic goodness of the humanity. Zoroastrians believe that human beings are essentially divine in nature and share the spiritual nature of God. So they are not born as sinners nor there is a compulsion to be a sinful. Human beings are born pure and have a choice either to follow the teachings of God and remain righteous or follow the ways of the evil and be damned. Depending upon their choices and their actions, God decides their fate in the spiritual realm. God offers knowledge of righteous conduct and provides instructions for the expiation of sin. But He does not make a promise to take upon Himself the sins of his worshippers.

5. Belief in the sanctity of the elements. Zoroastrians believe that God created the spiritual world before he began His material creation. The spiritual world is beyond the power of evil to infiltrate it and corrupt it. However, the material creation of God does not enjoy the same immunity. It is prone to attacks from evil, who had already entered the world during the second time period and established his presence. Human beings should therefore be aware of the dangers that lurk in the material world and do their part to stay away from evil. They should neither do nor encourage any actions that would result in the tainting of the material things and the elements. Fire, water, earth, and air should be kept pure by not allowing the evil entities to pollute them. They should do this by leading righteous lives and avoiding physical and mental contact with evil things such as dead and putrid matter and other impurities. The dead bodies should neither be cremated, nor thrown into water, nor buried in the earth. They should be allowed to disintegrate or consumed by vultures and other birds who have been created by God for the specific purpose.

6. Belief in the tradition of prophets. Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of Zoroaster or Zarathushtra, the first prophet. According to legend God manifested Himself to him in a vision and revealed him the secrets of creation and the religious instructions to be followed by people on earth to pursue the path of righteousness. The teachings of Zoroaster are available to us in the Zend Avesta, the main scripture of Zoroastrians. Followers of Ahura Mazda believe the birth of Zoroaster heralded the beginning the current cycle of creation, which would last for 3000 years. During this period a prophet would appear on earth at the end of each millennium to preserve the teachings and guide the humanity. The third prophet, will be a future son of Zoroaster, whose name would be Shoshyant, who would herald the Judgment Day and the eventual destruction of evil powers in the material world.

7. Belief in the afterlife. According to Zoroastrian beliefs death is as a result of the spirit leaving the body. The sanctity and purity of the body is lost once the spirit leaves it. Having left the body the soul would remain on earth for three days and nights, hovering near the body. Then it would depart to the spiritual realm, led by Daena, the guardian spirit, where it would be greeted with a vision of the thoughts, words, and actions it performed when it was inside the human body upon earth. It would then be led to the Chinawad bridge, where an angel would assess its actions and decide whether it should go to the heaven or hell for a temporary residence till the Last Judgment Day. Zoroastrianism believe in the final judgment day, on which God would resurrect all the dead and subject to a second scrutiny. All the good souls would be given a permanent place in heaven and the rest will be condemned into a purgatory till eternity. Some Zoroastrians also believe that the souls are born in the material world as per the decree of God to overcome their defects and achieve perfection. Life upon the earth is therefore a great opportunity for the souls to refine their character and become perfect beings of light. Zoroastrian texts describer heaven as a place of pure joy and happiness inundated with the light of God and hell as a cold and dark place where the evil spirits subject the sinners to gruesome punishments.

8. Belief in sin and expiation of sin. Zoroastrians believe that life upon earth is fraught with dangers because of the presence of evil. People can commit sin by not following the religious instructions of God, by not practicing the three commandments declared by Zoroaster, namely good thoughts, good words and good deeds, by indulging in sinful activities such as adultery, sodomy, theft, pollution of elements, practicing other faiths, not disposing of the dead according to the prescribed method, touching the dead matter, not offering prayers and rituals to God, performing sacrificial rituals for the daevas or evil spirits, not wearing kusti, the sacred thread and kadre, the upper garment in the prescribed manner, doing business with malicious intention or evil thoughts, not marrying according to the instructions given in the scriptures and so on. The scriptures also prescribe procedures to be followed for the expiation of certain sins, while for certain mortal sins death is recommended penalty. Heinous sins are listed in some Zoroastrian texts such as the Menog-i Khrad (Ch. 36)

9. Belief in the Judgment day. Zoroastrians believe that at the end of current cycle of 3000 years, God will destroy the evil forces in a final conflagration and herald the Judgment Day . On that day He would resurrect the dead and subject their lives to another scrutiny. Those who prove to be pious and obedient to his instructions would be suitably rewarded with an eternal life in heaven and the rest will be condemned to an eternal suffering in a purgatory.

10. Belief in the efficacy of sacrificial rituals. Zoroastrians believe in the performance of sacrificial rituals called Yasnas as an important part of their religious observance and the best means to communicate with God and His entities. The rituals constitute an important aspect of righteous conduct. The rituals are meant to purify the world and also the people involved in it. They are usually performed by qualified priests, to the accompaniment of chants from the Avesta, inside a fire temple. Zoroastrian scriptures emphasize the importance of maintaining ritual purity while performing the rituals for obtaining best results. Zoroastrians also offer five prayers every day, during different times. In addition to these they also perform an initiation ceremony called Naujote for both boys and girls before induct them into the Zoroastrian path. They also celebrate some popular festivals in honor of God and His entities.

11. Belief in the efficacy of sacred chants. Zoroastrians believe in the ritual chanting as the means to establish order and purity in the world and in the lives of the worshippers. Manthras or sacred verses from the religious texts, usually in Avestan, a sister language of Sanskrii, are chanted in a particular manner to please God and the spiritual entities. Chanting mantras is considered to be a form of practicing the three commandments, namely good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

12. Belief in the importance of righteousness. In the Zoroastrian world view, the material word is a battle ground between the good and evil forces. Human beings have a sacred responsibility to remain on the side of the good and assist God in getting rid of evil from creation permanently. Men should therefore practice righteousness, aim to cultivate the qualities of God as represented by the six Immortal Beings and promote Asha or order, Truth and righteous conduct everywhere.

Reference:

Witnessing:

https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/world-religions-and-cults-zoroastrianism/

https://www.trail.org/zoroastrianism-and-christianity/

Researching Religions - World Religions, smaller groups

Other Religions

Baha’i, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism

Encouragement:

This week is a tough one, we are looking at religions that follow "other gods." So, we should consider what the Bible says about other gods:

Exodus 23:13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
Deuteronomy 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Jeremiah 25:6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Introduction:

Baha’i Faith

The Baha’i teachings promote the agreement of science and religion, gender equality, and the elimination of all prejudice and racism. Baha’is believe in each person’s capacity to find the truth for themselves, and there is no clergy — Baha’is gather together in democratically-led communities and welcome everyone.

Baha’is accept the validity of each of the founders and prophets of the major world religions and believe in progressive revelation. This unique Baha’i principle views every great Faith as a link in a single, spiritual, system, progressively revealed, similar to how chapters in a book tell an evolving story — by God to humanity.

The Main Baha’i Teachings

The Baha’i Faith provides the means for peace and tranquility through a progressive set of social teachings:

These fundamental Baha’i principles call for a complete restructuring of humanity’s priorities — from material to spiritual, from exclusive to inclusive, and from divisiveness to unity.

Who Is Baha’u’llah?

In English, Baha’u’llah means “The Glory of God,” and Baha’is believe that His coming is foretold in many of the world religions. The Baha’i writings say:

“To Israel, He was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the “Everlasting Father”, the “Lord of Hosts” come down “with ten thousands of saints”; to Christendom, Christ returned “in the glory of the Father”; to Shí’ah Islám the return of the Imám Ḥusayn; to Sunní Islám the descent of the “Spirit of God” (Jesus Christ); to the Zoroastrians the promised Sháh-Bahrám; to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists the fifth Buddha.”

Baha’is view Baha’u’llah as the latest divine messenger to found a major world religion and usher in a new age of human development. Born Mirza Husayn Ali in Tehran, Persia in 1817, Baha’u’llah was known early in his adult life as “the father of the poor” for his selfless work assisting the destitute and homeless. In 1863, he began openly teaching the Baha’i Faith, with its revolutionary messages of the oneness of humanity, the oneness of religion, the equality of men and women, the agreement of science and religion, and the establishment of a global system of governance.

Baha’u’llah suffered 40 years of exile, torture, and imprisonment — all for announcing that a new revelation had been born. Baha’u’llah called the entire world to collective action and unity, and that call, Baha’is believe, has inaugurated a new age of spirituality, harmony, and human maturation.

Unlike many religions of the past, Baha’is have the original writings of Baha’u’llah, his son and successor, Abdu’l-Baha — as well as the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and, since 1963, the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member democratically-elected global governing body of the Baha’i Faith. Baha’is rely on and revere those inspiring writings and see them as the source of humanity’s continual guidance. They have been translated into hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make them available to everyone.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Jainism

The traditions of Jainism were largely carried forward by a succession of 24 Tirthankaras, or teachers, most notably Vardhamana Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras and likely a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Both Mahavira and Buddha emphasized the importance of self-discipline, meditation, and ascetic life as the key to salvation. Their teachings often stood in contrast to those of Vedic priests of the time who emphasized ritual practices and their own role as intermediaries between humanity and the gods.

Today, a sliver of India’s population (0.4%) identifies as Jain, making it the smallest of the country’s six major religious groups after Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Indians overall know very little about this ancient religion and its practices, according to a June 2021 Pew Research Center report based on a survey of nearly 30,000 Indians.

Jains are more highly educated and wealthier than Indians overall, and few identify as lower caste. Roughly a third (34%) of Jain adults have at least a college degree, compared with 9% of the general public, according to India’s 2011 census. Moreover, the vast majority of Jains fall into India’s top wealth quintiles, according to India’s National Family and Health Survey.

Wealth and education in India are inextricably linked with caste. Jains are the only religious group in India where a majority say they are members of a higher General Category caste. Most Indians (68%) are members of lower castes (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backwards Classes), compared with 20% of Jains who identify with these communities.

Almost all Jains are vegetarian, in line with guidance to pursue ahimsa (not harming other life). Roughly nine-in-ten Indian Jains (92%) identify as vegetarian, and two-thirds of Jains (67%) go further by abstaining from root vegetables such as garlic and onion. Eating root vegetables is seen as a form of violence in Jain teachings because consuming the root of a plant destroys the plant in its entirety. These dietary practices extend outside the home; more than eight-in-ten Jain vegetarians also say they would not eat food in the home of a friend or neighbor who was non-vegetarian (84%) or in a restaurant that served non-vegetarian food (91%).

Jains feel they have a lot in common with Indian Hindus. Despite theological differences between Jain and Hindu teachings – for instance, Hinduism teaches that the universe was created, but Jainism does not – the two religions share many similarities in their teachings and practices. For example, both religions teach about karma, and roughly three-quarters of both Jains (75%) and Hindus (77%) say they believe in karma. (Karma is often understood as the idea that humans will eventually reap the benefits of their good deeds and pay the price for their bad deeds, often in their next life, though survey respondents were not offered a definition.)

Moreover, when asked whether Jains and Hindus in India have a lot in common or are very different, about two-thirds of Jains (66%) say that the two communities have a lot in common.

However, that feeling is not fully reciprocated. Just 19% of Hindus see a lot of commonality with Jains. One reason for this mismatch may be that Jains tend to know more about Hindus – who make up 81% of the Indian population – than vice versa. Three-in-ten Jains say they know “a great deal” about the Hindu religion and its practices, while just 3% of Hindus say they know a lot about Jainism.

ike many Indians, Jains tend to prefer living separately from other religious and caste groups. While nearly all Jains (92%) say they would be willing to accept a Hindu neighbor, significantly fewer say they would be willing to accept a Muslim (38%), Christian (46%), Sikh (55%) or Buddhist (58%) in the area where they live. Moreover, large majorities of Indian Jains say it is important to stop both women (82%) and men (81%) from marrying into other religious groups. And despite making up a small share of the national population, nearly three-quarters of Jains say that all or most of their close friends are also Jain (72%).

These attitudes are not uncommon in India – majorities of Hindus also oppose religious intermarriage – and may in part be tied to Jains’ particular demographic makeup. For example, while a majority of Jains identify as members of the higher General Category castes, Buddhists in India overwhelmingly identify as Dalits, or members of the lower Scheduled Castes. In fact, Jains are much more likely than other Indians to say that they would not accept a member of a Scheduled Caste as a neighbor (41% vs. 21% nationally). Moreover, large majorities of Jains say it is important to stop both women (79%) and men (74%) in their community from marrying into other castes.

Dietary preferences may also play a role in Jain attitudes about other groups; unlike Jains, most Muslims and Christians in India, for example, say they are not vegetarian.

Politically, Jains lean toward the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Seven-in-ten Jains say they feel closest to the BJP, while just 8% say they feel closest to the Indian National Congress (INC), the main opposition party. In fact, Jains are more likely than other religious communities in India, including Hindus, to feel a political affinity with the BJP: Fewer than half of Hindus (44%) say they feel closest to the BJP, a party that some say promotes a Hindu nationalist agenda.

Jains’ political preference for the BJP may in part be tied to their views on religion and national identity, which in some ways reflect Hindu nationalist sentiments more akin to their Hindu compatriots than other minority communities in India. A significant share of Jains (44%) say being Hindu is very important to truly being Indian, as do a majority of Hindus (64%). Among other religious groups, far fewer people share this view, including just 21% of Sikhs. A slim majority of Jains (54%) also tie authentic Indian identity with speaking the Hindi language, one of the dozens of languages spoken in India. Among Hindus, these sentiments are closely associated with support for the BJP.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Shintoism

Kami

Shinto history

Like many prehistoric societies, Ancient Japanese people held animistic beliefs (that objects, places, and creatures possess a spirit), and this has withstood with the belief in kami.

Rituals and beliefs

Core values of Shinto

Purity. The idea of purity in Shinto is closest to the western notion of evil and pollution, which is called “Kegare” in Japanese. This does not just refer to physical uncleanliness, but energy too, and these are addressed through rituals of purification.
Makoto (sincerity). Makoto refers to the sincerity of the heart. If goodness and sincerity are not in your heart, all acts are pointless.
Harmony with nature. Since kami can possess anything, it is nature itself. As you can find kami everywhere, it is important to keep places clean and be aware of the environment.
Matsuri (festivals). Matsuri, and Shinto festivals, bind a community together and bring good fortune to it.
Focus on here, now. Shinto is strictly focused on the present and is a celebration of what we know and have right now.
Amaterasu
Amaterasu, also known as Amaterasu Ōmikami which translates to “Great Divinity (that which) illuminates Heaven”, is the celestial sun goddess. She is perhaps the most important Shinto deity.

Shinto places of worship

Newborn babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few weeks after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies at shrines.

There are around 80,000 shrines dotted all over Japan! Each shrine has an annual festival where people gather to pay their respects to the kami and celebrate with food, music, dancing and sake.

Every village, town, or district in Japan will have its own Shinto shrine, dedicated to the local kami.

Not all shrines are buildings - they can also be rocks, trees, and mountains if they are considered special to kami.

Japanese people visit shrines as and when they want to, and will often visit the local shrine when they want the local kami to bless them with good fortunes, such as good exam results.

Festivals

Shinto festivals are called “matsuri” (“to entertain” or “to serve”) and center on a particular kami who are treated as guests of honor at the ceremony.

Because Shinto originates in the agricultural prehistory of Japan, many of its festivals surround the farming seasons.

Shogatsu Matsuri - Japanese New Year

Many Japanese people visit a shrine or temple during this period, and Japan’s most popular shrines such as Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine attract several million people!

Shintoism Facts

There are millions of “gods” in Shintoism, and a Japanese phrase that encapsulates this is "Yaoyorozu no kami", which means 8 million kami.
Some of the oldest shrines in Japan include Izumo Taisha, Fushimi Inari, and Tsubaki Grand Shrine.
When a child is born in Japan, their name is added to a list at their local shrine which makes them a “family child”. When they come to pass at the end of their life, they will become a family spirit.
Worship consists of hand-clapping, silent prayer, and offerings made at the shrine
The most important Jinja (shrine) in Japan is at Ise. This shrine is devoted to the sun goddess, Amaterasu.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Sikhism

Sikhs at a Glance:

99 percent of people wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs from India
Sikhs have been in the U.S. for over 100 years
There are roughly 700,000 Sikhs in the U.S. today
Sikhism is the world’s fifth-largest religion with 25 million adherents worldwide
Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban
The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam

History and Beliefs

The Sikh Identity

unshorn hair as a gift of God and Guru and a mark of Sikh identity
a small comb for the hair
a steel bracelet that signifies a reality with no beginning and no end, and is also symbolic of a Sikh’s commitment to the ideals of his faith, much as a wedding ring might indicate fealty and identity
a sword indicative of resolve and commitment to justice, and
knee-length breeches in keeping with the disciplined lifestyle of a Sikh

The Sikh Scripture

The Gurdwara

The Sikh Way of Life

Women

Dietary Restrictions

Dealing with Other Religions

Reference:

https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/who-are-sikhs-what-is-sikhism

https://www.commisceo-global.com/blog/a-brief-introduction-to-sikhism

https://www.wearesikhs.org/10_big_questions?

Witnessing:

https://lausanne.org/content/lga/2020-03/leading-sikhs-ultimate-guru

https://thinkdivinely.com/sikhism-to-seeking-jesus/

https://evangelicalsnow.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/reaching-the-sikh-with-the-gospel/

Taoism also called Daoism

What is Taoism?

History of Taoism

It is difficult to ascertain how much of this history is true and how much is simply legend. Some state that there is no real Laozi. They claim that he was only a mythical figure with no basis in history. Others state that he was historical but that he could not have possibly done all of the things attributed to him.

In some religious groups of Taoism, Laozi is honored for his significant contribution to the faith by being revered as a deity. For example, in the Tang dynasty, Laozi was worshipped and venerated as a divine ancestor. This is the main reason why Taoist groups are occasionally referred to as ''sects.'' A sect is a religious group that has differing religious beliefs from the majority of believers in a larger group. As there is no majority in the Taoist religion, all groups under the Taoist umbrella can be referred to as sects.

Taoism Beliefs

There is no such thing as Taoist orthodoxy or a set of beliefs. However, there is the Tao Te Ching. Taoist groups typically adhere to scriptures or manuals of rituals and practices.

Laozi was, according to legend, one of the most knowledgeable scholars and religious experts in the Zhao Dynasty. He served in the court as an advisor for religious rituals. Thus, ritual is an extremely important aspect of Taoism. Some of the most common

The focus of Taoism is the individual in nature rather than the individual in society. It holds that the goal of life for each individual is to find one's own personal adjustment to the rhythm of the natural (and supernatural) world and to follow the Way (dao) of the universe. In many ways the opposite of rigid Confucian moralism, Taoism served many of its adherents as a complement to their ordered daily lives. A scholar on duty as an official would usually follow Confucian teachings but at leisure or in retirement might seek harmony with nature as a Taoist recluse. [Source: The Library of Congress]

Taoism is more mystical and less pragmatic than Confucianism. The tao focuses on ideals of balance and order and often uses nature as a metaphor. It also includes elements of animism. Taoism, unlike Confucianism, rejects rank and class. Taoists shun aggression, competition, and ambition. [Source: Eleanor Stanford, Countries and Their Cultures, Gale Group Inc., 2001]

Taoists stress the importance of harmonizing with nature by balancing yin and yang, and developing chi through meditation and disengagement. The human body is regarded as a source of chi-derived energy, which some people have the power to concentrate and congeal into an essence. Chi (also spelled ch'i or qi) is variously known as the "breath of heaven," “mystical breath," the "breath of nature" and the "quality of spirit"

In classic Taoist cosmology, matter and energy are thought to be governed by five basic movements. The strength and influence of these movements wax and wane over the course of a year; with wood peaking during spring, fire during summer, metal in autumn and water in winter. The remaining movement, earth, asserts its presence most powerfully during the periods before the start of each season

Taoist rituals include:

Rituals imposed by the Tang Dynasty, which utilized Taoism as its official state religion
Taoist prayer
Taoist meditation
Taoist sacrificial offerings
Reciting of sacred scriptures

The last three of these rituals are mostly performed by Taoist monks in sacred places. Many laypeople in the Taoist tradition are not required or accustomed to performing religious rituals.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Tenrikyo

History

Spirituality

Reference:

Witnessing:

Wicca

Beliefs and practices

Wicca emerged as a modern Pagan religious movement in the 1st half of the 20th century in England. Gerald Gardner is credited with introducing it to the general public in 1954. The movement is based on various ancient pagan rites and 20th-century hermetic motifs. The religion is decentralized, and its beliefs and practices were initially penned in the 1940s and 1950s by both Gardner and Doreen Valiente. The pioneers of the religion published books and passed down oral teachings and secretly written stipulations to their initiates.

Theology

Afterlife

Magic

Morality

Five Elements

Reference:

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/wicca
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-wiccan-beliefs.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wicca
https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/a-christian-perspective-on-pagan-and-secular-belief-systems

Witnessing:

Zoroastrianism

Apart from them, a few people in Iran continue to practice Zoroastrianism. They enjoy a minority status in Iran, an Islamic nation, with a limited degree of freedom to practice their religion. The total number of people practicing Zoroastrianism in the world today would be around 250000 of whom 80% live in India and the rest in various parts of the world including the USA. Although Zoroastrianism lost its status as a popular world religion, its study and knowledge are very useful for our understanding of the development of religious thought in the ancient world and how its important beliefs and practices have parallels in other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The following are some of the important beliefs of Zoroastrianism.

1. Belief in Supreme and Universal God. Ahuramazda is the supreme, omniscient and omnipotent God, who symbolizes truth, radiance, purity, order, justice, courage, strength, and patience. He is the creator as well as sustainer. He also protects the good from the evil and maintains order by keeping the chaotic evil at bay.

2. Belief in the duality of existence. Zoroastrians believe that the world is battleground between good and evil forces. Although the good will ultimately triumph and the evil forces would be destroyed, Zoroastrians believe that every human has a role and responsibility in enhancing and marinating the sanctity and purity of our existence by staying away from evil, avoiding all possible contact and communication with it and by enhancing the good amidst us through religious practices and observances and adherence to the teachings of Zoroaster.

3. Belief in the divinity of creation. Zoroastrians believe that God created both the invisible and invisible worlds from Himself using His astral body and His own light. His creation is therefore very sacred and divine. It is everyone's responsibility to keep it pure and maintain the order or asha established by Him.

4. Belief in the spiritual nature of the world and human beings. Zoroastrians believe God created the spiritual entities and beings before manifesting their counterparts in the material plane. The material world consisting of fire, water, air, earth, plants, animals, and humans is very much like the body of God, while His spirit rules supreme and pervades the whole creation in various aspects and entities. The fravashis or guardian spirits were created in the material plane as human beings from the primeval man, from whose seed were born Mashye and Mashyane, the first man and first woman. All the races of humanity descended from these two in due course of time.

3. Belief in polytheism. While Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda as the highest and supreme God, they also believe in the existence of a number of divinities who represent His good qualities and who assist Him in containing the evil in the material world. Highest among these are the six Immortal Beings or Amesha Spentas who personify His good qualities individually, followed by angels, lords or ahuras and other divinities. Sacrificial rituals called Yasnas, rituals, and prayers are used to invoke these divinities on different occasions to sanctify the world and help the faithful in their lives.

4. Belief in the basic goodness of the humanity. Zoroastrians believe that human beings are essentially divine in nature and share the spiritual nature of God. So they are not born as sinners nor there is a compulsion to be a sinful. Human beings are born pure and have a choice either to follow the teachings of God and remain righteous or follow the ways of the evil and be damned. Depending upon their choices and their actions, God decides their fate in the spiritual realm. God offers knowledge of righteous conduct and provides instructions for the expiation of sin. But He does not make a promise to take upon Himself the sins of his worshippers.

5. Belief in the sanctity of the elements. Zoroastrians believe that God created the spiritual world before he began His material creation. The spiritual world is beyond the power of evil to infiltrate it and corrupt it. However, the material creation of God does not enjoy the same immunity. It is prone to attacks from evil, who had already entered the world during the second time period and established his presence. Human beings should therefore be aware of the dangers that lurk in the material world and do their part to stay away from evil. They should neither do nor encourage any actions that would result in the tainting of the material things and the elements. Fire, water, earth, and air should be kept pure by not allowing the evil entities to pollute them. They should do this by leading righteous lives and avoiding physical and mental contact with evil things such as dead and putrid matter and other impurities. The dead bodies should neither be cremated, nor thrown into water, nor buried in the earth. They should be allowed to disintegrate or consumed by vultures and other birds who have been created by God for the specific purpose.

6. Belief in the tradition of prophets. Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of Zoroaster or Zarathushtra, the first prophet. According to legend God manifested Himself to him in a vision and revealed him the secrets of creation and the religious instructions to be followed by people on earth to pursue the path of righteousness. The teachings of Zoroaster are available to us in the Zend Avesta, the main scripture of Zoroastrians. Followers of Ahura Mazda believe the birth of Zoroaster heralded the beginning the current cycle of creation, which would last for 3000 years. During this period a prophet would appear on earth at the end of each millennium to preserve the teachings and guide the humanity. The third prophet, will be a future son of Zoroaster, whose name would be Shoshyant, who would herald the Judgment Day and the eventual destruction of evil powers in the material world.

7. Belief in the afterlife. According to Zoroastrian beliefs death is as a result of the spirit leaving the body. The sanctity and purity of the body is lost once the spirit leaves it. Having left the body the soul would remain on earth for three days and nights, hovering near the body. Then it would depart to the spiritual realm, led by Daena, the guardian spirit, where it would be greeted with a vision of the thoughts, words, and actions it performed when it was inside the human body upon earth. It would then be led to the Chinawad bridge, where an angel would assess its actions and decide whether it should go to the heaven or hell for a temporary residence till the Last Judgment Day. Zoroastrianism believe in the final judgment day, on which God would resurrect all the dead and subject to a second scrutiny. All the good souls would be given a permanent place in heaven and the rest will be condemned into a purgatory till eternity. Some Zoroastrians also believe that the souls are born in the material world as per the decree of God to overcome their defects and achieve perfection. Life upon the earth is therefore a great opportunity for the souls to refine their character and become perfect beings of light. Zoroastrian texts describer heaven as a place of pure joy and happiness inundated with the light of God and hell as a cold and dark place where the evil spirits subject the sinners to gruesome punishments.

8. Belief in sin and expiation of sin. Zoroastrians believe that life upon earth is fraught with dangers because of the presence of evil. People can commit sin by not following the religious instructions of God, by not practicing the three commandments declared by Zoroaster, namely good thoughts, good words and good deeds, by indulging in sinful activities such as adultery, sodomy, theft, pollution of elements, practicing other faiths, not disposing of the dead according to the prescribed method, touching the dead matter, not offering prayers and rituals to God, performing sacrificial rituals for the daevas or evil spirits, not wearing kusti, the sacred thread and kadre, the upper garment in the prescribed manner, doing business with malicious intention or evil thoughts, not marrying according to the instructions given in the scriptures and so on. The scriptures also prescribe procedures to be followed for the expiation of certain sins, while for certain mortal sins death is recommended penalty. Heinous sins are listed in some Zoroastrian texts such as the Menog-i Khrad (Ch. 36)

9. Belief in the Judgment day. Zoroastrians believe that at the end of current cycle of 3000 years, God will destroy the evil forces in a final conflagration and herald the Judgment Day . On that day He would resurrect the dead and subject their lives to another scrutiny. Those who prove to be pious and obedient to his instructions would be suitably rewarded with an eternal life in heaven and the rest will be condemned to an eternal suffering in a purgatory.

10. Belief in the efficacy of sacrificial rituals. Zoroastrians believe in the performance of sacrificial rituals called Yasnas as an important part of their religious observance and the best means to communicate with God and His entities. The rituals constitute an important aspect of righteous conduct. The rituals are meant to purify the world and also the people involved in it. They are usually performed by qualified priests, to the accompaniment of chants from the Avesta, inside a fire temple. Zoroastrian scriptures emphasize the importance of maintaining ritual purity while performing the rituals for obtaining best results. Zoroastrians also offer five prayers every day, during different times. In addition to these they also perform an initiation ceremony called Naujote for both boys and girls before induct them into the Zoroastrian path. They also celebrate some popular festivals in honor of God and His entities.

11. Belief in the efficacy of sacred chants. Zoroastrians believe in the ritual chanting as the means to establish order and purity in the world and in the lives of the worshippers. Manthras or sacred verses from the religious texts, usually in Avestan, a sister language of Sanskrii, are chanted in a particular manner to please God and the spiritual entities. Chanting mantras is considered to be a form of practicing the three commandments, namely good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

12. Belief in the importance of righteousness. In the Zoroastrian world view, the material word is a battle ground between the good and evil forces. Human beings have a sacred responsibility to remain on the side of the good and assist God in getting rid of evil from creation permanently. Men should therefore practice righteousness, aim to cultivate the qualities of God as represented by the six Immortal Beings and promote Asha or order, Truth and righteous conduct everywhere.

Reference:

Witnessing:

Group of non-believers:

Unaffiliated (religious "nones") - 1.19 billion (16.3%)

Atheist 3.1%

Agnostic 4.0%

Nothing in particular 15.8%

Don't know 0.6%

Encouragement:

This is a tough one, we are looking at religions and philosophies that follow "other gods," or no god. So, we should consider what the Bible says about other gods:

Exodus 23:13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
Deuteronomy 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Jeremiah 25:6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Overview:

If, one way or another, you’ve left religion behind, and if you’ve been unsure what to call yourself, you might try on one of these:

2. Anti-theist. When atheist consistently evoked images of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, hostility toward religion was assumed. Now that it may evoke a white-haired grandmother at the Unitarian church or the gay kid on Glee, some people want a term that more clearly conveys their opposition to the whole religious enterprise. The term anti-theist says, “I think religion is harmful.” It also implies some form of activism that goes beyond merely advocating church-state separation or science education. Anti-theism challenges the legitimacy of faith as a moral authority or way of knowing. Anti-theists often work to expose harms caused in the name of God like stonings, gay baiting, religious child maltreatment, genital mutilation, unwanted childbearing or black-collar crime. The New Atheist writers including Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins might better be described as anti-theists.

Atheist:

A recent survey from University of Kentucky psychologists Will Gervais and Maxine Najle found that as many as 26% of Americans may be atheists.

All atheists are different

10 facts about atheists

Comment from an atheist: 6 things I wish people understood about atheism in America

1) There are lots of different types of atheists, and we don’t all feel the same way about religion

2) Atheist organizations are starting to do better at helping people and promoting social justice

3) Seemingly little things that religious people might not even notice can really drive us atheists bananas, and for good reason

5) Atheists and other secularists are getting pretty good at participating in public life

6) Atheists are not going away anytime soon

From: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/6/7/18652423/atheism-america-facts

Some groups use words like Agnostic, Humanist, Secular, Bright, Freethinker, or any number of other terms to self-identify.

Agnosticism:

Agnostic isn’t just a “weaker” version of being an atheist. It answers a different question. Atheism is about what you believe. Agnosticism is about what you know.

Agnosticism And The Scientific Method

Agnostics, Believing in the Unknown (from: Christianity.com)

God has revealed Himself in general revelation and special revelation; therefore, mankind is without excuse for failing to place faith in Him (Romans 1:20).

Sharing the Gospel with Agnostics

What Does This Mean?

You can continue to share the truth of God in your words and actions. Agnostics will try to argue with you concerning God’s existence; however, they cannot argue with your own personal testimony.

Nones:

The World's Newest Major Religion: No Religion (from: National Geographic)

You don’t usually think of churches as going out of business, but it happens. In March, driven by parishioner deaths and lack of interest, the U.K. Mennonites held their last collective service.

A lack of religious affiliation has profound effects on how people think about death, how they teach their kids, and even how they vote.

Millennials to God: No Thanks

Research:

https://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/about-atheism/#:~:text=Atheism%20is%20one%20thing%3A%20A%20lack%20of%20belief%20in%20gods.&text=It%20is%20simply%20a%20rejection,lack%20of%20belief%20in%20gods.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/160422-atheism-agnostic-secular-nones-rising-religion
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/6/7/18652423/atheism-america-facts
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/do-agnostics-believe-in-anything.html
https://www.salon.com/2014/09/25/7_different_types_of_non_believers/
https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/a-christian-perspective-on-pagan-and-secular-belief-systems

Folk Religions - 430 million (5.9%)

Motivation and a little History:

Is it ever right to push religion on others?

While the westward expansion was great for developing the United States, it was devastating to other groups of non-whites.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Introduction:

For our discussion, this section consists of a diverse group: African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions

African traditional religion

2. Traditional African religions are not stagnant but highly dynamic and constantly reacting to various shifting influences such as old age, modernity, and technological advances.

3. Traditional African religions are less of faith traditions and more of lived traditions. They are less concerned with doctrines and much more so with rituals, ceremonies, and lived practices.

6. Though many Africans have converted to Islam and Christianity, these religions still inform the social, economic, and political life in African societies.

Religion_distribution_Africa_crop

Reference:

Witnessing:

Chinese folk religions

Reference:

Witnessing:

Native American Religions

• Hopi folk tales speak of Tawa, the Sun Spirit, destroying the existing world (called the Third World) in a flood; a few good people survived by riding in reed boats (compare Genesis 6:6–8).

Native American culture and religion are still prominent in the United States today, having been passed down through generations. List of Federal and State Recognized Tribes

Reference:

Witnessing:

Australian aboriginal religions

Introduction

Aboriginal Faiths

Dialogue with Aboriginal elders suggests that they also view dreams as a true dialogue with their Creator, the true meaning of which is only known to a few elders in the community.

Life and death

Reference:

American Genocide of the Native Americans: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202203/t20220302_10647120.html

Witnessing:

Researching religions of the world

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there". Acts 17:16,17

This study is offered as an effort to become familiar with other religions so that we might be able to "reason" with people we may encounter and to open our minds to become more tolerant of others and their beliefs.

As Christians, we should ask, what is the difference between faith, belief, and religion. First thought; faith is complete trust and confidence whereas religion is a specific system of belief. We should also ask how much impact culture has on a child as they grow up.

Disclaimer:

Introduction:

Religion or a spiritual tradition is:

a way of explaining the mysteries of life

how the world was created

why it was created

why there is life and death

what happens when people die

why there is suffering

a way of explaining a supreme power or absolute power, whether impersonal or personal, nameable or not

a way of explaining who or what created the world and all the living beings

a way of describing a dimension beyond the physical world -- the spiritual world

a way of explaining how to lead a good life on Earth and in an afterlife

these codes of behavior are often written in sacred documents or passed down through oral tradition

a way of worshiping the creator(s) or spiritual beings who are believed to have power over the world and people's lives and/or a way of paying respects and drawing inspiration from spiritual leaders

worship often includes prayers of thanks, prayers of hopes, prayers of supplication

people often worship a god or gods worship often happens in sacred places and spaces

worship often includes ceremonies and rituals conducted by spiritual guides

worship often involves sacred objects and images

A way of joining with others as a spiritual community

religions and other spiritual traditions often celebrate festivals or holy days and have special calendars that mark the important historical events in the evolution of the religion

religions and spiritual traditions include both private and public worship and practice

some spiritual practices do not involve worshipping a god or gods but are introspective and draw on the practitioner's own ability to be responsible for his/her spiritual path

How Many Religions Exist in the World

World Population by Religion

See this Interactive map.

General information:

Religions:

As a point of interest let us First, take a look at the religious groups in the USA. Here is a link to some religious answers from the 2020 Census: The American Religious Landscape in 2020 which reveals much about people in America.

Percentage of religious groups in the U.S. by tradition, family, and denomination

Christian 70.6%

Evangelical Protestants 25.4%

Mainline Protestant 14.7%

Historically Black Protestant 6.5%

Catholic 20.8%

Mormon 1.6%

Orthodox Christian 0.5%

Jehovah's Witness 0.8%

Other Christian 0.4%

Non-Christian Faiths 5.9%

Jewish 1.9%

Muslim 0.9%

Buddhist 0.7%

Hindu 0.7%

Other World Religions 0.3%

Other Faiths 1.5%

Unaffiliated (religious "nones") 22.8%

Atheist 3.1%

Agnostic 4.0%

Nothing in particular 15.8%

Don't know 0.6%

Second, consider a few major religions of the world. This list will serve as an 8-week study with one religion discussed each week.

Religion's total estimated population in the world for 2020:

Judaism - 14.6 million (0.2% of the world's population)

Other Religions - 61 million (0.8%) (Baha’i faith, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism)

Folk Religions - 430 million (5.9%) (African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions, and Australian aboriginal religions)

Buddhism - 507 million (7.1%)

Hinduism - 1.16 billion (15.0%)

Unaffiliated (religious "nones") - 1.19 billion (16.3%)

Islam - 1.91 billion (23.2%)

Christianity - 2.38 billion (31.5%)

See where these religious people live using this Interactive map.

Reference:

This study is not necessarily about evangelizing, but we are encouraged to "be prepared in season and out of season" 2 Timothy 4:2, So, these links discuss sharing your Christian faith.

Researching Religion, Christianity & Owensboro Churches

Baptist:

Membership

Views

Catholic:

Methodism

Sacraments

Worship and liturgy

Independent Christian Church, Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ

Presbyterian

Beliefs

Communion