The Different Types of Religions That Exist in the World Today

Did you know that prayerful athletes experience higher endurance and greater athletic performance? Turning to prayer gives them the ability to push through more difficult circumstances, as they feel they have a higher power to help guide them. 

This is one of the reasons that religion has remained such a large part of the human experience. Whether there’s something divine at work or it’s just a placebo effect, turning to religion offers a way to overcome challenges. Today, there are so many types of religions you can scarcely count them on your fingers!

To give you a brief overview, we put together this guide to today’s religions. Read on to learn more! 

Christianity and Judaism 

It should come as no surprise that Christianity is one of the most dominant religions in history. It’s fueled wars, the rise and fall of many empires, and has shaped our world today. 

Judaism came before Christianity and used the Old Testament as its central text. Many of its beliefs are closely aligned with Christianity including that of a central God figure.

The split came when Jesus emerged. The Jewish faith does not recognize him as the son of God or even as a significant religious figure. Christians, however, do.

This led to the two religions splitting, and they have only grown further apart. Now there are several different sects of Christianity, each with differing beliefs.

Buddhism 

Buddhism is primarily found in Asia, although it’s making its way to other countries. It’s centered around the Buddha as its central religious person and usually features a few other gods as well.

However, much like the different sects of Christianity, there are several different kinds of Buddhism. The Buddhist beliefs of Thailand are very different from those of China, for instance! They have different gods, different ways to worship, and even depict Buddha differently.

The Chinese Buddha is fat and bald and is often shown laughing due to his lust for life. The Thai buddha is slim and wears a headdress. He is often depicted meditating or reclining to reflect his serious, studious nature. 

Spirituality vs. Religion

Religion is defined by its unified set of beliefs, traditions, and practices. On the other hand, spirituality is a very personal set of beliefs that is aimed at achieving peace. If you feel connected to the notion of religion but don’t ascribe to a specific set of beliefs, you could be considered a spiritual person. 

Leading a spiritual lifestyle is worth taking the time to explore. Because it lacks a traditional set of practices, spirituality retreats are a great way to learn from others and see what works for you. 

Our favorite retreats are at Sedona Sacred Journeys, where you can make great progress on your spiritual journey. Find them here: sedona-spiritual-vacations.com

The Different Types of Religions Demystified

Now that you are familiar with the different types of religions that exist today, you can consider if a religious lifestyle is right for you. If you find that you believe in some higher power but don’t ascribe to a specific religion, it’s worth exploring your spirituality to see what fits! 

For more lifestyle articles like this, check out our blog!