Religion is a human characteristic, although it can be difficult to define or to quantify. Gods need not be present in order to have a religion as some religions deny the existence of gods. Belief in an afterlife is not required in a religion as there are some that deny an afterlife or don't define the present and future self in such a manner. Most societies and cultures include a common moral code but it isn't necessarily a product of religion. It can be difficult to distinguish the religious from the nonreligious ideology. But we will do the best we can. Coined in the 1800s, the term "world religions" originally included only Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. It was later expanded to include Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism and Shinto. Today, and for the purposes of categorization here, the term will be given more flexibility. Traditionally, the world's religions are often divided into Eastern and Western religions, but since we will be including some religions that don't fit neatly into either of these two categories. Four religions account for the vast majority of people who identify with a religion, over 75% of the world's population, and over 90% of the religious population of the world. These are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, Approximately 15% of the world's population are secular humanists, or atheists, which is slightly larger than Hinduism and much larger than Buddhism. This leaves about 10% belonging to all of the other religions combined. Although Christianity accounts for only about one-third of the world's religious population, it is more prominently featured here because this directly only lists sites that are in the English language, and Christianity is more greatly represented among web sites in the English language. Along the same lines, while esoteric religions make up a relatively small percentage of the religious population of the world, these religions are well represented in English-language sites.
Categories
Abrahamic ReligionsEastern ReligionsEsoteric Religions | Pagan ReligionsSecular Humanism |
Feature Article
Spirituality vs Religion
Being modern is usually defined as being accepting or being comfortable on some level with all the diverse options the world has to offer. Not being defined by any labels and having the freedom to move between any available trains of thoughts is a highly-valued option as well. Some trains of thought when it comes to a national identity, are often caught between two polar extremes, for example, the concept of being liberal or conservative.
These two options can be considered as broad-brushing, but in popular and repetitive culture around the globe, these two ideas are among the most popular. Persons deeply entrenched in both camps always would look to make the other side appear as the devil incarnate. The reality is usually quite shocking, no one person is 100% a liberal or 100% a conservative on all issues facing a nation.
The concept of freedom is an expression that is extended into the realm of the supernatural. As such, many persons will sign onto the idea of being spiritual but not religious. Spirituality is a belief in a higher power, it hinges on individuals having personal experiences. It takes issue with organized religion at least in its current form, as it is viewed as being given a set of rules and restrictions instead of daily improvement. A religious movement, on the other hand, has a declared moral barometer stemming from a faith system based on supernatural beings.
The Attraction of Being Spiritual
The issue the Church of today has with spirituality can be summed up in one passage:
Revelation 3 verse 16 "But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"
God is giving a charge to each person to pick a side and remain with that side until their end of days. Just as how most persons would be a proud citizen of their country until their death, so too must Christians have a grounded faith. The issue many persons have with attending church and participating is usually surrounding a man driven doctrine vs a biblical principle. A key example can be women wearing pants in some denominations and in other denominations; worshipers are barred from attending social events such as the movies and even dating. Given the high standard set by Christ, few persons of the world can stand the scrutiny that comes with being a Christian. Therefore, the application of faith must be shown in a way that celebrates God's plan of wanting good superimposed upon Him wanting to bless and expand our holdings while on earth.
Conceptually speaking, it must be made clear that God loves all, but it is the sin of our actions that he despises. It is okay
to think, and to be a scientist, and it is okay to ask God why, so long as the line of blaspheming and denying the Lord is not crossed.
Christian art can only reflect the beauty of a part of his Kingdom; the rest must be reflected in you.
Author bio: Rana Tarakji is an
entrepreneur and a contributing writer at
Stylerail, a lifestyle blog.
Recommended Resources
A Comparative Analysis of the Major World Religions from a Christian Perspective
According to the author, Ernest Valea, the goal of this site is to investigate whether or not there is enough evidence to prove that the world’s religions are complementary. Specific religions, such as Eastern Religions and Buddhism, are compared with Christianity, along with articles and conclusions about reincarnation. A synopsis and excerpts of books written by the author are featured. Salvation, the nature of evil, and the human condition are discussed.
http://www.comparativereligion.com/
Adherents is a collection of regularly updated statistics and citations on religious geography, mostly references to published membership and congregation statistics for religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, and movements throughout the world, in an effort to track the religions of the world. Articles on topics related to religion are presented. World religions are ordered by size, as are branches.
http://www.adherents.com/
As a society and professional association of teachers and research scholars from colleges, universities, seminaries and schools throughout North America, the AAR is focused on furthering knowledge of religion and religious institutions in all of their forms, meeting its goals through regional conferences and meetings, publications, programs and membership policies, benefits, and services, which are described here.
http://www.aarweb.org/
Covering a wide range of issues relating to inspiration, spirituality and faith, Beliefnet features news and articles on various faiths, prayer, inspiration, health, and holistic living, love and family, entertainment, love, family, and other topics, which include famous clues and unsolved mysteries of the Bible, five types of calling in the Bible, and what it means to be a Christian. Video is also available, and a newsletter may be subscribed to.
http://www.beliefnet.com/
Cross Currents, as well as its publications and associated programs, are sponsored by the Association for Religion and Intellectuall Life, a not-for-profit organization in New York City. It is an online religious magazine for spiritual people seeking to unravel the wisdom of the heart. View insight into religious differences and read the latest issues, including full text articles. The current issue may be sampled online.
http://www.aril.org/
The author of this site started it in 1995 and 1996, when he was a freshman in college, and has now graduated with majors in the Biological Basis of Behavior and Religious Studies. Although it includes an eclectic mix of topics, its main themes are the philosophy of religion, the problem of evil, personifications of evil, and Apocalypticism. Biblical studies, demons, hell and the End Times, myths, legends, witchcraft and magic are among the topics covered.
http://www.deliriumsrealm.com
Designed to assist people in making an informed decision about faith, the creators of the site strive to include research that is backed up with historically valid scriptures, resources and scientific evidence, offering resources for several major religions, as well as those who identify with atheism, Freemasonry, and those who consider themselves to be a good person. A discussion forum is also available. Registration is required in order to participate in forum discussions.
http://www.faithofchoice.com/
Presented by the Human Truth Foundation, which is committed to inspiring deep thought on issues, the site is a compendium of human religions, ancient and contemporary, albeit from a secular humanist perspective. The causes of religion are examined, and profiles of specific religions, denominations, and sects are included, generally with a critical, anti-religious viewpoint. Reader contributions are solicited.
http://www.humanreligions.info/
Not sponsored or affiliated with any religious group or organization, the site is an archive of electronic texts about religion, mythology, legends and folklore, and occult and esoteric topics, presented in the English language and, when possible, in the original language as well. Topics may be found by keyword search or by browsing subject categories. Content is also available on DVD or flash drive. ISTA Flash-Drive may be purchased preloaded.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/
Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory
Published by the Whitestone Foundation, the academic, peer-reviewed publication covers a variety of research on religious and cultural theory. Interview with noted philosophers and theologians can also be accessed through the site. Editors, consulting editors, and contributors are acknowledged, a call for papers is presented, with issue topics and deadlines, as well as submission and publication policies.
http://www.jcrt.org/
Covering topics relating to major religions and belief systems, including Christianity, Buddhism, Occultism, Gnosticism, Theosophy, Magick, Esotericism, Mysticism, Wicca and Paganism, as well as the paranormal, philosophy, science, astronomy, and linguistics, the site strives to show the range of human beliefs by cataloging a variety of articles on all the major religions as well as several esoteric beliefs. Attempts to combine various religions and scientific ideals into a "meta-religion.”
http://www.meta-religion.com/
Intended as a guide for students, teachers, journalists and religious professionals, Religion Facts seeks to be an objective and comprehensive guide to religions, both ancient and modern, as well as other ways of life, philosophies, teachings, and anti-religion systems. Resources available include a chart of the major religions of the world, an alphabetical directory, comparisons, religious symbols, and a glossary of terms.
http://www.religionfacts.com/
Maintained by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, the site serves to disseminate religious information about the several faith groups within the United States and Canada, informing readers of the range of beliefs and historical development, with a specific emphasis placed on exposing what its members might view as religious fraud, hatred and misinformation, particularly intolerance.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/
The Asian & Abrahamic Religions
The site promoted a documentary that explores the beliefs, practices and rituals of several Asian and Abrahamic religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, as well as the similarities and differences with the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Broadcast on public television stations, broadcast schedules are posted, and it can also be purchased on DVD or rented through streaming video.
http://www.asianandabrahamicreligions.com/
The site briefly defines religion as a belief system concerning one or more deities and incorporating rituals, ceremonies, ethical guidelines, and life philosophies, and offers information about several established religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Atheism, Shinto, Taoism, Candomble, Santeria, Paganism, Bahai, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Unitarianism, Rastafari, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Animism, Amish, Asatru, Aladura, and Greek mythology.
http://www.typesofreligion.com/
The VRI provides links to home pages as well as to major directories and documents within religious-based web sites. Topics include American and ancient Near Eastern studies, anthropology, archaeology and religious art, biblical studies, Buddhist studies, Christian traditions, a comparative study of religion, confessional agencies, East Asian studies, ethics and moral values, Greco-Roman, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish studies, philosophy and theology, and the psychology of religion.
http://virtualreligion.net/vri/
The WRD features statistics on religious affiliations for every country of the world, providing source materials, census data and surveys, as well as estimates for every religion, offering an international religious demography, at the current time as well as a historical data. Updates and citations are noted. Typical questions that can be answered are listed, along with unique selling points of the database. A free trial is available.
http://www.worldreligiondatabase.org/
Presenting an array of current news and commentary, opinion, and information relating to the beliefs and practices of the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Mormonism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. The major figures associated with each religion are highlighted, along with an overview of the particulars of each, and links to additional resources are included.
http://www.worldreligions.com/
World Religions and Spirituality
WRSP was created at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010, and seeks to present objective, reliable, and comprehensive information about spiritual groups and religions throughout the world, often prepared by scholars of record for the groups that they profile. A style guide and orienting information for authors is included, and an index of published authors and subjects is included. Its partnerships are acknowledged.
https://wrldrels.org/
Published and offered by JBE Online Books, the site specializes in the sale of digital books and textbooks on world religions, including bundled texts on Asian religions, East Asian religions, Western religions, and bundles for Penn State and the University of Nebraska world religions courses. Its guarantees, technical support services, and other questions are answered, and books may be purchased and downloaded online.
http://www.worldreligionsebooks.com/
Written and compiled from a Christian perspective, and intended to help Christians to understand other world faiths and religious philosophies, the Index features personal stories from people who have experienced a variety of other religious philosophies, articles and comparison studies on several religious groupings, and tables offering data on a wide variety of world religions, as well as links to further references on the subject.
http://wri.leaderu.com/
Beverlee Jill Carroll holds a PhD in religious studies, and has taught world religions at the university level for many years. On her site, she presents the basic tenets of various religions, including Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Scientology, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism and Wicca. She offers information on religion in general, and offers what she terms "silly religious gifts."
http://www.world-religions-professor.com/
A project of the National Council of Churches USA, in consultation with journalists, journalism school faculty, faith group news directors, and participating youth groups, the WFN site consists of a database of full-text news releases from various religious bodies, policy statements, and other documents. Although mostly Christian churches are represented, those from Judaism and some others are includes, also.
http://www.wfn.org/
