HIS Registry of Religions

Tibetan Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas.

Mahayana Buddhism, the largest major tradition of Buddhism today.

folk Buddhism, a syncretistic blend of traditional Buddhist practices with elements of magic and superstition.

Theravada Buddhism, the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism.

Anglicanism, a tradition within Christianity comprising the Church of England and churches historically tied to it or holding similar beliefs, worship practices, and patterns of church administration.

folk Catholicism, characterized by local expressions of faith that combine Catholic traditions with local animistic rituals, resulting in syncretized forms of Catholicism that diverge from official church doctrine and practice.

Neo-Pentecostalism, a movement characterized by manifestations in non-Pentecostal churches of what have been traditionally categorized as Pentecostal experiences, frequently combined with prosperity gospel theology.

Orthodox Christianity, a branch of Christianity that includes Copts, the Assyrian Church of the East, Eastern Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Protestant Christianity, a tradition that emerged from the Protestant Reformation. Protestants reject the idea of papal supremacy, instead stressing the authority of scripture alone, justification by faith alone, and salvation through Christ alone.

Roman Catholicism, the largest branch of the Christian church and one of the oldest religious institutions in the world. Roman Catholicism teaches that it is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ and that its bishops are the successors of Christ.

African Traditional Religion, a collection of beliefs and practices unique to various African ethnic groups.

animism, a religious worldview that natural physical entities--including animals, plants, and even inanimate objects--possess a spiritual essence.

ancestor worship, based on the belief that the deceased have a continued existence and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living.

Chinese folk religion, a complex mix of beliefs and practices that includes elements of Buddhism, Taoism and ancestor veneration.

Confucianism, a Chinese ethical and philosophical system linked to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Daoism, one of three major religions with historical roots in China, regarded as part of Chinese folk religion.

Shinbutsu-shugo, a syncretized mixture of Shinto and Buddhism that forms a unique Japanese Folk Religion practiced by Japanese worldwide.

Native American religions, an umbrella term that encompasses widely varied spiritual practices unique to the culture and location of individual nations.

polytheism, a belief in multiple deities that are often arranged as pantheons of gods or goddeses.

Samaritanism, an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism.

shamanism, a practice that involves reaching an altered state of consciousness in order to interact with the spirit world.

Yazidism, a monotheistic, syncretic ethnic religion practiced by the Yazidi (Yezidi) people that fuses elements of Zoroastrianism, Sufism, and Nestorian Christianity. It teaches belief in one supreme God, Xwedê, who created the universe and entrusted its care to Seven Holy Beings (the Heptad).

folk Hinduism, characterized by local traditions and cults of local deities worshiped at the community level.

Ismailism, the second largest branch of Shia Islam.

folk Islam, a syncretistic belief system that blends traditional elements of Islam with superstitious practices such as warding off spirits with incantations and magic amulets, and reciting verses of the Qur'an to bring about miraculous healings.

Shia Islam, one of two major denominations of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called 'Shi'as' or 'Shiites'.

Sunni Islam, the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims follow the teachings of the Qur'an and consider the first four caliphs to be the rightful successors of Muhammad.

agnosticism, a philosophical view that humans can never be certain in matters of so-called religious knowledge as to whether God exists or not.

atheism, which is best described as the rejection of belief that any deities exist.

secularism, a non-theistic philosphy that elevates human reason above the supernatural.

Baha'I, a universalist religion that stresses the essential unity of all faiths.

Druze, a small Middle Eastern religious sect characterized by secret religious practices and close social cohesion. The Druze do not permit outsiders to convert to their religion.

Jainism, an Indian religion that promotes non-violence towards all living beings and emphasizes the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation.

Kirati, a form of Shamanism practiced primarily by the Kirat or Kiranti people of the Himilayas.

Mandaeism, a gnostic religion practiced primarily by the Mandaean people. Mandaeans settled in northern Mesopotamia and are still found in parts of Iraq and Iran.

Zoroastrianism, a religion and philosphy based on the teachings of the Persian prophet Zoroaster. Zoroastrians believe there is one universal and transcendent God, Ahura Mazda.