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Mahanaya Buddhism Mahanaya Buddhism
Related categories
GermanMandaeans The Mandaeans are a sect that has existed for over 1000 years and which revere John the Baptist. This category is for all
sites related to the Mandaeans, ancient or modern.
(less...) Provides an all-embracing optimistic world picture describing and analyzing the spiritual laws of life. Based on the works of Martinus Thomsen (1890-1981), after a spiritual revelation in 1921.
Interested persons are free to regard it as a theory of life that can be studied without restriction, without being bound by anything other than his own conviction.
(less...) This category is for sites or pages related to the events ending the siege of Masada in the Jewish Wars of 68-74 A.D. The historian Flavius Josephus tells how the besieged Jews agreed upon, and
implemented, a mass suicide pact. He was obviously not an eyewitness; modern historians and archaeologists have varying ideas about how accurate his account was.
(less...) Over the centuries, a number of distinctive expressions of Muslim faith and practice have emerged, within both the Sunni and Shia traditions. Some have grown to have a clear and separate identity,
others have remained more or less within the Sunni/Shia traditions. This category is for sites about these diverse groups.
(less...) New Age Meditation is a reflection or contemplation by turning inward toward the self or outward toward nature. It is a quiet time in which one may dwell upon particular thoughts. New Age meditation
is specifically about personal growth both spiritually and through holistic health. It is not Eastern meditation, it is not yoga, and it does not mandate following one specific path or belief.
(less...) Mennonites trace their beginnings to 1525, during the time of the Reformation in Northern Europe. Their name is derived from an early leader, a Dutch priest named Menno Simons. Mennonites opposed
state-sponsored religion and re-baptized those who had previously been baptized as infants, resulting in severe persecution. Today Mennonites are known as followers of Jesus who are largely pacifists, although there has been an increase in membership from those of other groups. Mennonites emphasize the importance of Scripture as the guide for living, a sense of community within the church, service and peacemaking. The Mennonite church has become more global in recent decades, but the denomination in the United States is aging, much like other denominations. There is a fairly wide social and theological variety among Mennonite churches, including quite conservative congregations and those that are more progressive.
(less...) The modern practice of the old Mesopotamian religions.
Message This category lists sites that support and/or oppose the teachings and ministry of William Marrion Branham.
Messianic Judaism Find sites within the Messianic Community that promote a Messianic Jewish form of doctrine, teachings, and worship. The overall Messianic Community is a Mishpochah (family) that includes: Messianic
Jewish, Messianic Israel, Messianic Yisrael, Messianic Hebrew, Messianic Sephardic, Nazarene Jewish, Nazarene Israel, Nazarene Yisraelite, and like believers. Rather than denominations there are associations or ministries that are generally affiliated with. What sets apart Messianic Judaism from Judaism is the new covenant belief in Jesus (Yeshua) as the Messiah and His final atonement made for remission of sin. A Messianic Jew retains their Jewish roots, culture, and lifestyle as compared to the counterpart of Christianity.
(less...) Methodism has at its roots one person whose vision, determination and faith inspired fellow seekers to re-assess their lives and renew their relationship with God. John Wesley (1703-1791) challenged
the religious assumptions of his day, urging those to whom he preached to 'trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation' for the assurance that we are all forgiven through Christ. When John Wesley was at Oxford University, he was part of a small group of students who met regularly and 'methodically' for prayer, Bible study and Holy Communion. This earned them the nickname 'The Holy Club' or 'Methodists'. Wesley became a priest in the Church of England, but in 1738 had a spiritual experience that he described as God working in his heart through faith in Christ. He launched a hugely influential preaching ministry and had a flair for organising people into small groups. These he named classes, with locally appointed preachers and leaders, which studied the gospels and prayed together. Wesley's new movement became a separate Church which grew rapidly throughout the 18th century and afterwards. One of the most important distinctions from Calvin and the doctrine of predestination was the doctrine of prevenient grace and its basis in the Arminian view of free will. The United Methodist Church in their book of discipline for 2004 said prevenient grace is "the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding concerning God's will, and our 'first slight transient conviction' of having sinned against God. God's grace also awakens in us an earnest longing for deliverance from sin and death and moves us toward repentance and faith." Wesley's theology often characterised by the four "alls" 1. All need to be saved. 2. All can be saved. 3. All can know they are saved. 4. All can be saved to the full, to the uttermost.
(less...) Metropolitan Community Churches is a denomination of Christian churches with a primary ministry to the
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.
(less...) WHO IS MICHAEL? By Dave Gregg - newagevillage.com The Michael teachings originate from a channeled entity, a collective of 1050 souls who have completed their incarnations on earth, and evolved
to a higher plane of existence. As with many other spiritual teachers, Michael's knowledge is conveyed to the earth plane through the use of a human channel. These channeled teachings were first published in a book by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, entitled,"Messages from Michael," and it paved the way for many publications to come. A fundamental aspect of Michael's wisdom is that the meaning of existence is in a nutshell -- life. There is nothing else. The experiences we gather from living day after day, lifetime after lifetime, constitute the essential components necessary to grow spiritually. There are no secret rituals, special meditations, or any other esoteric practices required. Life itself is the only lesson plan needed in order to move forward. From this continual dance, we eventual learn the following tenet: we are here to learn how to choose, and to choose how to learn. Unlike familiar information provided by Seth, or Lazaris, which largely focus on the principles of conscious creation, the Michael teachings bring a unique perspective to our physical plane explorations. Michael provides a revealing set of tools that help chart our spiritual progress as we journey from first incarnation to last. Diligent application of this system teaches us to validate our overall development in the reincarnational cycle, show where we are on the path, what lessons we will encounter, why we are here, and what is yet to come. It also helps us understand the unique qualities we bring to the world, and why people and societies are the way they are. Because these teachings are not based upon dogmatic principles, or a requirement to adopt rigid belief systems, the merits of the material can be self-validated, and that which doesn't resonate summarily tossed aside. The core of the teachings involves learning to develop self-acceptance and tolerance for others, and this is fostered through the use of a set of tools which Michael calls, Overleaves. The Overleaves describe the various attributes of our personality, showing us how we perceive and interact with, our world. By learning about these personality traits, we can better understand the inherent behavior patterns of ourselves, and the people around us. However, it is important to understand that it is not the intention of the Michael teachings to compartmentalize, pass judgement, or in the words of the occasional detractor, "place people in boxes." The teachings simply reveal the unconscious tendencies, or default settings that help color each personality with a unique stamp.
(less...) The Missionary Church was formed by the 1969 merger of the Missionary Church Association and the United Missionary Church. This evangelical church body is present in 28 countries, and has
a strong emphasis on missions and church planting.
(less...) The ancient Mithraic religion from textual and historically interpretative sources.
Molokan The Molokans are a "Biblically-centered" religious movement, among Russian peasants (serfs), who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1550s. Molokans denied the Czar's divine right to
rule and rejected icons, they also reject the Trinity as outlined by the Nicene Creed and the, Orthodox fasts, military service, the eating of unclean foods, and other practices, including water baptism.
(less...) The Moravian Church grew out of the small Herrnhut community in Germany, founded in 1722 by Protestant refugees from Bohemia and Moravia on the estate of the Pietist Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf. It
sent out its first missionaries in 1732 to the West Indies and came to North America in 1742. It is noted for its traditions of music, worship, and community life.
(less...) Christian denomination abbreviated as LDS and also known as the Mormons, founded in the eastern US by Joseph Smith, Jr. and now based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Known for emphasis on family and
genealogy, and for extensive missionary work worldwide. Topics for listed sites include history, religious texts, and resources for those considering conversion.
(less...) "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet" - the fundamental statement of belief of a Muslim. We welcome websites which express/develop/describe/analyse the faith and practice of Islam.
We aim for an inclusive representation of the community of Islam, with all its variety and cultural richness.
(less...)Neigbour categories
Advaita Vedanta Advaita Vedanta is a school of philosophy that argues that Truth, or Brahman, is the only thing that is real in this world. Since, mathematically speaking, there can be only one truth, and not
two, the adjective 'advaita', meaning 'not two' is used. Vedanta refers to the 'anta', or the end, or summary, of the Vedas, the highly regarded treasurehouse of spiritual knowledge emanating from India.
(less...) This category includes African religions and their derivatives: both traditional indigenous African
religions and the religions of the African diaspora.
(less...) Agnosticism is a term originally coined by Thomas H. Huxley in the 1840s to refer to an ideology which states, primarily, that the nature of the universe and of existence itself cannot be known.
Hence, it is foolish to pretend otherwise, and all attempts to the contrary must necessarily end in dogma lacking in all form of proof. From Huxley's "Agnosticism": "Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle ... Positively the principle may be expressed: In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable."
(less...) An atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of a god, i.e., in the existence of a supernatural being.
Baha'ism This category is for all materials relating to or commenting on those movements that recognise the writings of Baha'u'llah as divinely revealed Scripture. The Baha'i Faith traces its origins to the
declaration of the Bab in 1844, making it year one in the Baha'i calendar. The Bab was executed by Persian authorities in 1851, but His Dispensation lasted nineteen years, and ended with the the Declaration of Baha'u'llah in Baghdad in 1863.
(less...) Buddhism comes from the teachings of the Buddha. There are many schools or flavours of Buddhism, so it can be confusing at times, especially to anyone unfamiliar with the subject. This category is
about the religion Buddha founded, and includes information on the schools, people, practice, philosophy, and study of Buddhism. The fundamental ideas of Buddhism are: 1.) All human life is "dhukka" (impermanent unsatisfactoriness). 2.) All suffering is caused by human desire, particularly the desire that impermanent things be permanent. 3.) Human suffering can be ended by ending human desire. 4.) Desire can be ended by following the "Eightfold Noble Path": right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. From a metaphysical standpoint, these Noble Truths make up and derive from a single fundamental Truth (Dharma). The Buddhadharma is based on the idea that everything in the universe is causally linked. All things are composite things, that is, they are composed of several elements. Because all things are composite, they are all transitory, for the elements come together and then fall apart. It is this transience that causes human beings to sorrow and to suffer. We live in a body, which is a composite thing, but that body decays, sickens, and eventually dies, though we wish it to do otherwise. Since everything is transient, that means that there can be no eternal soul either in the self or in the universe.
(less...) CaoDai is an indigenous Vietnamese religion with a strong following in France and the United States. It is a religion of unity, combining teachings and beliefs of Taoism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, Islam, Christianity, Spritism, and Geniism.
(less...) This category includes sites that relate to Christianity, Christ, the Bible, Christian lifestyle and the Church.
CommunityComputersConferences and EventsDeism Category Description for Deism Deism has at minimum these attributes: 1. Belief in the existence of God, omnipotent Creator. 2. Belief that God can be understood and
followed by reason alone 3. Follows a moral code derived from reason 4. Denial of ceremony, ritual, mysticism, special revelation (like the Bible), miracles or any kind of interventions by God to affect outcomes in the material world. Christian Deism While Christianity and Deism are different belief systems, some called themselves "Christian Deists" to avoid the charge of heresy while believing as strict Deists, others adopted aspects of Christianity as it suited them (or vice versa).
(less...) Guides, portals, directories, and similar sites providing a general overview of multiple religious traditions.
DivinationEnlightenment Words cannot describe the Tao and the Tao cannot be named. That which is eternal is unnameable. Naming is the basis of things. -- Lao Tsu, Taoist sage Enlightenment is the complete awareness of life
without mental modifications. There's no thought, no self, no jiva, all of this goes away. But at the same time, it's within the world, within the form, the stillness and the substance are really the same thing. -- Frederick Lenz When we ask what Buddha nature is, it immediately vanishes. -- Shunryu Suzuki - Founder of the San Francisco Zen Center These descriptions point to something that is outside our daily experience. Sages have pointed to it for thousands of years. But their words are like the finger that points at the moon. If you focus on the finger then you will never see the moon. Enlightenment cannot be described in words because it is a state that is beyond words. It is touched in the momentary space between thoughts or the pause between two breaths. But these brief experiences are merely the beginning of a journey of personal exploration and transformation. This category is meant to provide the seeker with a starting place for their own personal journey of enlightenment. Sites submitted to this category should be non-denominational or multi-denominational. Sites that focus on a specific enlightenment tradition, such as Buddhism or Advaita Vedanta, should be submitted to the category for that tradition.
(less...) Esoteric and Occult is a broad category embracing religious and mystical traditions and practices throughout history which have served as alternatives to mainstream religions. Esoteric and Occult also
encompasses secret societies, underground groups and unusual activities that fall within occultism, meaning the study of hidden things, that is, the hidden structure of reality and of humanity. The esoteric movement in the West began with Græco-Roman traditions of magic and mystery, and has continued to the present day through such well-known traditions as Neo-Platonism, Alchemy, Kabala, and Theosophy. Egyptian and other ancient religions have long been of esoteric interest although they are not truly alternative; they were mainstream religions in their native cultures, and only became esoteric after they were revived centuries or millennia later. These revivals have sometimes embraced traditions of questionable historicity such as occult Templarism and medieval Witchcraft, as well as real traditions seen through a distorted historical lens. Since the 19th century many Western esotericists have cultivated interests in Eastern mysticism as well. Yoga is commonly practiced by esotericists today, and modern occult conceptions have been strongly influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, especially as interpreted by Theosophy and Thelema.
(less...) Ethical Culture is a humanistic religious and educational movement inspired by the ideal that the supreme aim of
human life is working to create a more humane society.
(less...) Falun Dafa is a high-level cultivation system, similar to qigong that offers stress relief and health improvement, etc. It has five sets of exercises that are smooth, natural, and easy to learn. It
also has principles guiding the cultivation of mind and body. Volunteers introduce the system to the public, free of charge and no donations accepted.
(less...) Works of Fiction dealing with Religion or Spirituality in any way the author sees fit; from the sarcastic to the sublime. We place a particularly high value on any original theological thoughts or
creative cosmological conceptions artistically developed in fictional form. In particular the category includes religions based on intentional fictions, or are parodies of one or more other religions. Whether the religion has adherents and the sincerity of those adherents is not a factor for classification into this category. Note that this category is significantly based on the concept of ha ha only serious.
(less...) The Fourth Way is a method of inner development for ordinary people in everyday life brought to the West in the early part of the 20th century by G. I. Gurdjieff, and placed into a form more readily
accessible to the Western mind by P. D. Ouspensky.
(less...) The term Gnosticism is derived from the Greek term "gnosis" which means "to know," and is the root of many English words (dia-gno-sis, kno-wledge, i-gno-re). Gnosticism refers to an exceptionally
wide variety of groups who seek "Gnosis," or direct, spiritual knowledge, as opposed to those groups who rely exclusively on belief. The term Gnosis or Gnosticism has been used in spiritual teachings for unknown centuries. It was used in early Greek philosophy and expressed the foundation of the Greek Mystery Schools, yet it is still debated today which came first: the Greek "Gnosis" or the Sanskrit "Jnana," a term commonly associated with Jnana Yoga, or the path of the knowledge of the divine, whose age and origin is unknown. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the ancient Greek and Hindu schools of divine knowledge learned from each other. Some say that Alexander the Great sought for Gnosis among the Indian yogis. It is commonly believed that Gnosticism refers exclusively to a handful of philosophical schools of the late Hellenistic and early Christian eras. Yet scholars have recognized that these groups were born from Jewish mysticism, Hellenistic mystery cults, Iranian religious dualism (see Zoroastrianism), and Babylonian and Egyptian mythology, thus the term "Gnostic" would describe a vast sea of religious knowledge. Scholars present Gnosticism as a collection of movements that opposed the "mainstream" of Christianity, such as those formed by Valentinus and Basilides. It is widely recognized that a large portion of early Christian doctrine (and therefore its descendents) were developed in reaction to these other ideas. But the actual knowledge and teachings of these "Gnostic" groups were known only from what their enemies wrote (writers such as St. Irenaeus, St. Hippolytus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria). In the twentieth-century, certain Manichaean and Coptic Gnostic papyri were discovered, providing the first extant Gnostic Gospels and writings. Important texts include The Gospel of Thomas and the Pistis Sophia. These texts opened a world thought lost, and presented to modern humanity the ideas and teachings that gave rise to the persecution of the "heretics" (Gnostics) and the long and troubled history of what has been established as Christianity. Alternatively, one modern writer described Gnosis as being present in every genuine school of mysticism: "This is the Religion of Wisdom of the ancient Sacerdotal Colleges, of the Gymnosophists, or solitary JINNS from Central Asia, of the Iohanes, Samoans, Egyptian Ascetics, ancient Pythagorians, medieval Rosacrucians, Templars, primeval Masons and other more or less known esoteric Brotherhoods whose list would occupy dozens of pages. This is the Secret Doctrine of the Knights of the Holy Grail. This is the Living Stone of Jacob Gnosis is the flame from which all the religions of the Universe come forth." In modern times, Gnosticism is a widely abused term, giving rise to many conflicting ideas as to what precisely is meant by it. There are hundreds of "Gnostic" churches, groups, teachings, writers and schools, each claiming to have the true Gnosis, the true knowledge of the divine. These modern groups range from small study groups analyzing the ancient gospels, to movements that claim millions of members. Truly, Gnosticism is not a collection of dead cults; it is a living tradition that has persisted under many faces, but which has never been extinguished, for it is the heart of the human experience: direct, intimate knowledge of higher truths.
(less...) Hinduism, also know as Sanatana Dharma is one of the oldest religions of the world. It originated without any single leader or personality and evolved with scripture expressing diverse thought.
By some account Hinduism has over 2000 Gods and Goddesses and yet incorporates beliefs of those who worship the Divine without form. While this religion originated in India, today there are over a billion people who call themselves Hindus and practice this religion in some form.
(less...) Humanist groups and other humanist sites. Most organizations listed are associated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). Humanist groups associated with the Humanist Movement
(Siloist) are listed in a subcategory of their own, and are not associated with the IHEU. Theistic and christian humanists have their own categories. Explicitly religious humanist and explicitly secular humanist sites should be put in the appropriate subcategory.
(less...) Humor with a religious theme.
Interfaith This category is for sites about relationships among various religious organizations and communities.
Jainism Jainism is one of world's oldest religions. Revitalized by Mahavira / Mahaveer 2500 years ago, Non violence or Ahimsa, Meditation and Yoga are inherent to Jain beliefs and
teachings. Its goal is to attain Moksha or Nirvana.
(less...) Religious culture of the Jews, one of the world's oldest religious traditions. Premodern Judaism constituted (and traditional Judaism today constitutes) an integrated cultural system of Jewish law,
custom, and practice encompassing the totality of individual and communal existence. It is a system of sanctification in which all is to be subsumed under G-d's rule.
(less...) Meditation is a practice with wide reaching roots in many religions as well as general health and stress reduction. Although meditation often has connections to faiths or belief systems, these are
not necessary and indeed can be misleading. Meditation does not require a teacher, guru or specific faith any more than it should be limited by having any of these things.
(less...) Modern movements are an organized attempt to found a religion or practice based on new ideas or a combination of more than one existing ideas. The movements listed in this category should be original
blends of thoughts and ideas and should not fall into the philosophy of other religious and spiritual paths categorized elsewhere in this directory.
(less...) Mysticism, immediate, direct, intuitive knowledge of God or of ultimate reality attained through personal religious experience. Wide variations are found in both the form and the intensity of mystical
experience. The authenticity of any such experience, however, does not depend on the form but solely on the quality of life that follows the experience. A mystical life is characterized by enhanced vitality, productivity, serenity, and joy as the inner and outward aspects harmonize in union with God.
(less...) Sites related to Native American worship practices and beliefs.
New Age The New Age movement is a holistic movement, a diverse collection of people who share not so much one set of beliefs, but rather an optimistic faith in the future, a belief in personal and spiritual
growth, and an open-mindedness towards non-traditional forms of spirituality. New Age beliefs are often described as a 'fusion' or 'blend' of some aspects of different established religions, however New Age is not simply anything which cannot be classified by more traditional theologies. It is very difficult to pin down what is, and what is not "New Age", particularly as the term is sometimes used in a derogatory sense by those opposed to this kind of spirituality. Common themes which underpin just about all New Age topics, are the belief in some kind of higher power and an emphasis on taking personal responsibility for one's own spirituality rather than relying upon set rituals or belief systems. As a general basis, some things that New Age is "NOT" include paranormal, psychic, extra-terrestrial, interested in the pursuit of one individual "god", prophetic, biblical, or separatist (among other things). Any sect (or cult) which deems itself as "the only way", or which assumes it's members to be "chosen" or special above all others is by definition - not - New Age.
(less...) New Thought is a spiritual movement descended from the work of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and others who, in the mid-19th century, sought to find the universal truths behind all religions. Most often
New Thought is confused with what is called "New Age" in the media, New Thought is actually an attempt to gather the common thread of truth that is woven through all the world's great spiritual traditions. The principles of New Thought are to be found in Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Zen, Hinduism, and many philosophical and theological works. It is mostly Christian in background, but has become allied to various religions.
(less...) Noahides are Gentiles (non-Jews) who follow what are called the Seven Noahide Laws. The laws are "Noahide" because the seventh was given to Noah. Thus these moral and religious laws are
universally binding on all men and women, of every nation.
(less...) No matter what the religion, there's always someone with something to say against it. Here is where you will find those people, and what they have to say. If you have an "Opposing Views" website you
wish to submit, please submit it to one of the subcategories listed if your site will fit under one of them. If your site is about a religion not listed, submit it to this category, and a subcategory will be made for that religion upon acceptance of your site.
(less...) Pagan is a label on a group of religions. It covers both the resurrection, recreation or revival of old pre-Christian religions (often defined from the perspective of the Roman empire) but also covers
new religions who have adopted the label. Some pagans are polytheistic and believe in a whole pantheon of gods, spirits and so on while others may believe in just two gods (usually a male and female) and some are monotheistic.
(less...) Pantheism holds that the cosmos, taken or conceived of as a whole, is synonymous with the theological principle of God. The universe is divine, and the earth sacred. Pantheists do not propose
belief in a deity; rather, they hold nature itself as holy. Pantheism reconciles science and religion through ecology leading to strong environmental awareness. Pantheists belive in Divine Immanence. To the Pantheist, divinity does not transcend reality; it surrounds, and is within. All share in divinity. This leads the pantheist to personal ethics of tolerance and understanding. See also the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy definition of Pantheism
(less...) Websites by or about individual people.
Prophecies This category contains sites dealing with religious prophecies - predictions of the future, that are in some way strongly connected to or part of specific faiths. Pages about prophecies that are not
connected to specific religions - those allegedly from psychics, alien visitors, or other forces not necessarily acting as intermediaries for the divine - are listed under /Society/Paranormal/Prophecies.
(less...) Reincarnation category deals with the belief in a soul that survives death of a body and is reborn in another. This belief is common to many cultures and listings engage
the reader in exploring and studying these beliefs.
(less...) The Religious Studies category contains academic sites, references on primary sources (such as texts from various religious traditions), and other resources for the study of religions from an
objective or comparative viewpoint. Sites that emphasize the study of a particular religion by adherents of that religion are classifed with that religion.
(less...) Most religions have particular writings that they regard as sacred or in some way inspirational. These texts may prescribe religious law, describe historical events, document prophecies, or record
words of praise. Some texts have an appeal outside of the religion that considers them sacred and are regarded more generally as important works of literature. This category provides links to religious texts by name, where there is a category specifically dealing with a named text, and by religious tradition. Sites listed here mostly provide links to online religious texts from multiple religious traditions.
(less...) Religious, adjective, having a strong belief in a god or gods, or any such system of belief and worship. Tolerance, noun, willingness to accept behavior and beliefs which are different from your own,
although you might not agree with or approve of them. It is very easy to see, from the definitions alone, why Religious Tolerance can be a difficult subject. Strong beliefs often make tolerance difficult at best. The sites listed here in Religious Tolerance are intended to provide information and understanding of differing beliefs in order to increase acceptance.
(less...) This category contains general information about Scientology, Ron L. Hubbard, and religions inspired by him. It includes
categories for the Church of Scientology and Free Zone.
(less...) The word 'shaman' comes from the Tungus language in Siberia. The term refers to the spiritual leaders of certain societies, usually small-scale societies without centralized political organizations
and occupational specialization. The shaman's primary function is to serve as an intermediary between his or her community and the spirit world. He has direct contact with the spirit world through trance states, uses the trance state for healing, bewitching and divining for his people, and uses his connections to spirits to achieve good or evil goals. Because of this perceived power, he is often the most feared person in the society. The techniques used in shamanic religions have been adopted by individuals and groups of non-shamanic societies seeking access to the spirit world. Modern versions of shamanism emphasize healing of self and others, but often lack the community foundation of traditional shamanic religions. In these contexts, shamanism is no longer a religion but rather a spiritual practice borrowed from traditional beliefs.
(less...) Shinto is Japan's indigenous religion; a complex of ancient folk belief and rituals; basically animistic religion that perceives the presence of gods or of the sacred in animals, in plants, and even
in things which have no life, such as stones and waterfalls. The roots go back to the distant past. A large number of items discovered amongst remains dating from the Jomon period (up to 200 B.C.) are thought to have had some magical significance.
(less...) Commercial sites selling "religious" books or items related to multiple religions. The focus of the site should be to allow the consumer to select and obtain goods and services and should include
prices. This includes: Integrated online shopping-cart systems that allow the user to order directly over the Web Online shopping-cart systems that allow the user to generate an order form to be sent to the merchant via fax or mail Simple directories of products and prices that the user can order via mail or phone. Sites which describe a business in a more general way, but which do not include actual prices, should be listed in a Business category.
(less...) Sikhism is an ethical monotheism fusing elements of Hinduism and Islam. It was founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), a mystic who believed that God transcends religious distinctions. Sikhism stresses the
unity, truth, and creativity of a personal God and urges union with him through meditation and surrender to his will. It rejects the Hindu caste system, priesthood, image worship, asceticism, and pilgrimage, although it retains the Hindu doctrines of transmigration and karma. The ultimate spiritual authority is the Adi Granth, a collection of hymns and devotional poetry. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the religious center.
(less...) A spiritual being is a non-corporeal entity found in many religions and belief systems throughout the world. In many belief systems, spirits are on the same plane of existence as "gods", though
these spirits are of a much lesser magnitude. For example, Thor was a god, and any given dwarf was likewise accounted as a spiritual being in Norse mythology. Historically, spiritual beings have been ascribed any number of powers, both over nature and over humans. Often their power is said to be linked with their purpose in creation. In some parts of the world, spiritual beings are believed to be able to possess humans and control their behavior.
(less...) Spiritualism in its modern incarnation started in the mid nineteenth century in the USA and essentially grew out of Christianity. It is still perceived as largely Christian in its broadest sense
(although no-one, least of all Spiritualists, would begin to claim that its beliefs were orthodox), but there are people from other traditions who happily take the title "Spiritualist" whose background is anything but Christian. It involves contact with the spirits of the dead, through a medium.
(less...) Tao can be roughly translated into English as path. It is generally used in a more metaphysical sense within popular Taoism, however. Tao (Dao) is often seen as an insentient and unseen force,
principle or system rather than a concrete or even metaphorical path. Taoists believe that the Tao is the source of all things, and thus Taoism is older than recorded history. The person usually attributed with having "reawakened" knowledge of the Tao is Lao Tzu (604?-531? BCE) a mysterious figure said to have been a librarian in the south of ancient China. Taoism is a philosophy but evolved into a religion about 140 CE and was later adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao Tzu became popularly venerated as a deity. See also FAQ list at the temple.
(less...) Congregations and resources in this category are Unitarian, Universalist, and/or Unitarian Universalist. Unitarianism historically developed from a critique of the Trinity as non-Biblical, and from
a critique of the doctrine of original sin. In the 16th century belief in a unity of God (not a Trinity) and a single, human nature (not dual or divine nature) of Jesus led to the creation of Unitarian churches in Transylvania (Romania and Hungary) and in Poland. In the US and Great Britain the Unitarian Associations were both founded in 1825. Universalism is a religious faith incorporating many tenets of Christianity, but not exclusively Christian. It believes in universal salvation, or, as it is now generally stated, in the eternal progress of all souls. In the United States the Universalist movement was organized in 1793. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) represents the interests of more than one thousand Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout North America. It was formed in 1961 by the merger of the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association.
(less...) A church started in 1959. The Universal Life Church is headquartered in Modesto, California. There are only two doctines,
"Do what is right" and "Support freedom of religion".
(less...) "Yoga" means Union, Union with Power of Divine Love. Yoga is one of the six classic systems of Hindu philosophy and holds that through the practice of certain disciplines you may achieve liberation
from the limitations of flesh, the delusions of sense, and the pitfalls of thought, thus attaining union with the object of knowledge. It is knowledge that is the goal of all Yoga practices. In fact, Yoga doctrine insists that physical and mental training is to be used only as a means to spiritual ends.
(less...) Zoroastrianism is the ancient religion of Persia. It was founded about 3500 years ago by the prophet Zarathushtra. Arising out of the polytheistic traditions of ancient India and Iran, he was one of
the first monotheists in human history. Zarathushtra preached that there was one God, whom he called Ahura Mazda. Ahura means "Lord," and Mazda means "Wise," so Zoroastrians call God the "Wise Lord." Zarathushtra has been known in the West as Zoroaster, from the Greek transliteration of his name; in Persia and India he is known as Zarthosht.
(less...)(This section is quite beta and buggy, have patience. Thanks)