Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and
differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions. Religion
can be defined as the human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous,
spiritual and divine.
In the field of comparative religion, the main world religions are generally classified as
Abrahamic, Indian or Taoic. Areas of study also include creation myths and Humanism.
Abrahamic religions
In the study of comparative religion, the category of Abrahamic religions consists of the
three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, which claim Abraham
(Hebrew Avraham אַבְרָהָם ; Arabic Ibrahim إبراهيم ) as a part of their sacred history. Other
religions (such as the Bahá'í Faith) that fit this description are sometimes included but are
often omitted.[2]
The original belief in the One God of Abraham eventually became present-day Judaism.
Christians believe that Christianity is the fulfillment and continuation of the Jewish Old
Testament, with Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ
as the messiah of Old Testament prophecy
and subsequent New Testament teachings and continued prophecy. Islam believes the
present Christian and Jewish scriptures have been modified over time and are no longer
the original divine revelations as given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. For Muslims
the Qur'an is the final revelation from God—Final Testament, with Muhammad as his
messenger for its transmission.
Indian and Indo-European religions
Main articles: Indian religions, Vedic Brahmanism, Proto-Indo-Iranian religion, and Proto-
Indo-European religion
The term "Indian religions" refers to a number of religions that have originated on the
Indian subcontinent tracing their origins through Proto-Indo-Iranian religion ultimately to
Proto-Indo-European religion. They encompass Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism.
Other largely extinct Indo-European religions closely allied to the Indian religions, sharing
a common history, include Zoroastrianism, ancient Greek, Celtic, Roman, Hittite, Slavic
and Norse mythology.
Taoic religions
A Taoic religion is a religion, or religious philosophy, that focuses on the East Asian
concept of Tao ("The Way"). This forms a large group of religions including Taoism,
Confucianism, Jeung San Do, Shinto, Yiguandao, Chondogyo, Chen Tao and Caodaism. In
large parts of East Asia, Buddhism has taken on some taoic features.
Tao can be roughly stated to be the flow of the universe, or the force behind the natural
order. It is believed to be the influence that keeps the universe balanced and ordered and
is associated with nature, due to a belief that nature demonstrates the Tao. The flow of
Ch'i, as the essential energy of action and existence, is compared to the universal order of
Tao. Following the Tao is also associated with a "proper" attitude, morality and lifestyle.
This is intimately tied to the complex concept of De, or literally "virtue" or "power." De is
the active expression of Tao.
Taoism and Ch'an Buddhism for centuries had a mutual influence on each other in China,
Korea and Vietnam. These influences were inherited by Zen Buddhism when Ch'an
Buddhism arrived in Japan and adapted as Zen Buddhism.
Link -->> Comparative religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION CHART:
The ReligionFacts "Big Religion Chart" is an attempt to summarize all the complexities of
religions and belief systems into tiny little boxes on a single, quick-reference comparison
chart. Yes, of course this is impossible. As we always warn with our comparison charts,
this is no substitute for reading about religions in greater detail, talking with religious
adherents, etc. But this religion comparison chart can (hopefully) be a useful and
accessible way to "get the gist" of some unfamiliar groups and compare basic beliefs and
practices of the world's religions and belief systems. Currently, 43 belief systems are
listed.
Despite the chart's simplistic title, we have been very inclusive with what is regarded as a
"religion" for purposes of this comparison chart. Basically, the grounds for a group's
inclusion are that it provides a set of teachings and/or rituals that deal with the
traditionally "religious" issues of ultimate reality, the meaning of life, and/or how to find
fulfillment, spiritual health or salvation. Also, all the groups listed below can be found in
dictionaries of religion.
Inclusion of a group on this list does not mean that the group is a "religion" per se (note
that atheism is listed) or a "true religion" or that one group is just as much a religion as
another group. Similarly, if a group does not appear on this chart it doesn't mean it's not a
religion or doesn't matter; the chart is not comprehensive and will continue to grow.
Finally, listing groups separately does not mean they are mutually exclusive, nor does
grouping them together mean that they are basically the same thing. This is not an
authoritative list of religions, simply a resource on some worldviews and ways of life that
hopefully some will find useful.
Link -->> The Big Religion Comparison Chart: Compare World Religions - ReligionFacts
COMPARATIVE DENOMINATIONS CHART:
The following chart compares the similarities and differences between the beliefs,
doctrine and theology of major Christian denominations. Please note that the brief
summaries and excerpts provided here do not reflect all individuals or churches in each
denomination, but they are believed to represent the majority view and taken from
official statements where available.
Link -->> Comparison Chart of Beliefs of Christian Denominations - ReligionFacts
General Reference Site with many links and several YouTube Videos:
Link -->> Comparative Religions Christianity Islam Muslim Tao Confuscious Lao Tse Pagan
Comparative Religion Scholar Karen Armstrong on the Roots of Religion [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyYh4XHkMw[/video]
Be Wary of, but also Aware of, Moral Relativism, Secular Humanism, and the move to One World Religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and
differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions. Religion
can be defined as the human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous,
spiritual and divine.
In the field of comparative religion, the main world religions are generally classified as
Abrahamic, Indian or Taoic. Areas of study also include creation myths and Humanism.
Abrahamic religions
In the study of comparative religion, the category of Abrahamic religions consists of the
three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, which claim Abraham
(Hebrew Avraham אַבְרָהָם ; Arabic Ibrahim إبراهيم ) as a part of their sacred history. Other
religions (such as the Bahá'í Faith) that fit this description are sometimes included but are
often omitted.[2]
The original belief in the One God of Abraham eventually became present-day Judaism.
Christians believe that Christianity is the fulfillment and continuation of the Jewish Old
Testament, with Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ
as the messiah of Old Testament prophecyand subsequent New Testament teachings and continued prophecy. Islam believes the
present Christian and Jewish scriptures have been modified over time and are no longer
the original divine revelations as given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. For Muslims
the Qur'an is the final revelation from God—Final Testament, with Muhammad as his
messenger for its transmission.
Indian and Indo-European religions
Main articles: Indian religions, Vedic Brahmanism, Proto-Indo-Iranian religion, and Proto-
Indo-European religion
The term "Indian religions" refers to a number of religions that have originated on the
Indian subcontinent tracing their origins through Proto-Indo-Iranian religion ultimately to
Proto-Indo-European religion. They encompass Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism.
Other largely extinct Indo-European religions closely allied to the Indian religions, sharing
a common history, include Zoroastrianism, ancient Greek, Celtic, Roman, Hittite, Slavic
and Norse mythology.
Taoic religions
A Taoic religion is a religion, or religious philosophy, that focuses on the East Asian
concept of Tao ("The Way"). This forms a large group of religions including Taoism,
Confucianism, Jeung San Do, Shinto, Yiguandao, Chondogyo, Chen Tao and Caodaism. In
large parts of East Asia, Buddhism has taken on some taoic features.
Tao can be roughly stated to be the flow of the universe, or the force behind the natural
order. It is believed to be the influence that keeps the universe balanced and ordered and
is associated with nature, due to a belief that nature demonstrates the Tao. The flow of
Ch'i, as the essential energy of action and existence, is compared to the universal order of
Tao. Following the Tao is also associated with a "proper" attitude, morality and lifestyle.
This is intimately tied to the complex concept of De, or literally "virtue" or "power." De is
the active expression of Tao.
Taoism and Ch'an Buddhism for centuries had a mutual influence on each other in China,
Korea and Vietnam. These influences were inherited by Zen Buddhism when Ch'an
Buddhism arrived in Japan and adapted as Zen Buddhism.
Link -->> Comparative religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION CHART:
The ReligionFacts "Big Religion Chart" is an attempt to summarize all the complexities of
religions and belief systems into tiny little boxes on a single, quick-reference comparison
chart. Yes, of course this is impossible. As we always warn with our comparison charts,
this is no substitute for reading about religions in greater detail, talking with religious
adherents, etc. But this religion comparison chart can (hopefully) be a useful and
accessible way to "get the gist" of some unfamiliar groups and compare basic beliefs and
practices of the world's religions and belief systems. Currently, 43 belief systems are
listed.
Despite the chart's simplistic title, we have been very inclusive with what is regarded as a
"religion" for purposes of this comparison chart. Basically, the grounds for a group's
inclusion are that it provides a set of teachings and/or rituals that deal with the
traditionally "religious" issues of ultimate reality, the meaning of life, and/or how to find
fulfillment, spiritual health or salvation. Also, all the groups listed below can be found in
dictionaries of religion.
Inclusion of a group on this list does not mean that the group is a "religion" per se (note
that atheism is listed) or a "true religion" or that one group is just as much a religion as
another group. Similarly, if a group does not appear on this chart it doesn't mean it's not a
religion or doesn't matter; the chart is not comprehensive and will continue to grow.
Finally, listing groups separately does not mean they are mutually exclusive, nor does
grouping them together mean that they are basically the same thing. This is not an
authoritative list of religions, simply a resource on some worldviews and ways of life that
hopefully some will find useful.
Link -->> The Big Religion Comparison Chart: Compare World Religions - ReligionFacts
COMPARATIVE DENOMINATIONS CHART:
The following chart compares the similarities and differences between the beliefs,
doctrine and theology of major Christian denominations. Please note that the brief
summaries and excerpts provided here do not reflect all individuals or churches in each
denomination, but they are believed to represent the majority view and taken from
official statements where available.
Link -->> Comparison Chart of Beliefs of Christian Denominations - ReligionFacts
General Reference Site with many links and several YouTube Videos:
Link -->> Comparative Religions Christianity Islam Muslim Tao Confuscious Lao Tse Pagan
Comparative Religion Scholar Karen Armstrong on the Roots of Religion [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyYh4XHkMw[/video]
Be Wary of, but also Aware of, Moral Relativism, Secular Humanism, and the move to One World Religion