Non-Christian Religious Thread

[emprworm]

As a long time student of world religion, and one who is fascinated with the subject,  I would like to discuss some of the lesser known religions of the world.  I am keenly aware the difficulty that many of you have in discussing a religion without insterting anti-christian bantering.  Because every single religious thread in this forum inevitablly leads to christian/anti-christian ranting, I am pleading with you all to leave your anti-christian perspectives at the door (or pro-christian perspectives). 

There are 12 major religions in the world.  13 if you count Animism (which I do count, though some scholars do not)

janism and zoroastrianism are to me the most obscure of them all.

I honestly would like to know if anyone here knows anyone or have any friends that are janists, confuscianists, sihks, or zoroastrians?

Also, what are your perspectives on some of these other religions?  Buddhism is well known, but how many people really know about its origin?

[Digital Guerrilla]

Buddhism's origin is in India about 2,500 years ago, it was started by Shakyamuni Buddha. Janism and Buddhism were created by the Samanas due to their two philosophical thoughts.

[Wolf]

I have been told that zoroastrianism consists of a "heaven" and a "hell", but with many good and evil personalities that are ever at war with each other. My friend told me that a good approximation was the plot of Diablo II, the angels of Tyrial, Hadriel, and others vs. Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto. Is this accurate, or did he just talk out of his... hat?

[Caid Ivik]

Zoroastrism is a religion about war between evil and good gods, Ahriman and Ahura Mazda. Tradition, rather hit by hindu myths, gives seven Daevas (Aeshma, Akomayah, Indra, Nanghaithya, Saurva, Tawrich, Zarich), who personalize 7 main zoroastrical sins, to evil side, while there are 7 Amesha Spentas (Sraosa, Vohumanah, Asha Vanisha, Armaiti, Kshatra Vairyia, Havratat, Ameretat), personalizing good deeds, to the good side. As Heaven and Hell are going mostly from judeochristian tradition, I would say that plots between archangels and demons are typical more for manicheism, what is some kind of mix between Zoroaster's preach and christianity. While zoroastrism gives you at least your own choice to side one of the main gods, manicheism says you are simply driven by one or another, so you aren't free.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

how many members does a major religion have?

[Tio_Holtzmann]

in the UK, i think it's something like 10000 members to gain official recognition.

hence the reason why during the last UK census, one diehard Star Wars fan spent months attempting to persuade 10000 people to put "Jedi" down in the box entitled "religion."

Inspired.

[Caid Ivik]

Religion hasn't "members". It is an act, not an organization.

[nemafakei]

Well, Sikhs are, I think, significantly more common here than Buddhism, though I can't think of any particular acquaintance of mine who is Sikh.

[Emperor Harkonnen]

Religion hasn't "members". It is an act, not an organization.

I know, but in norwegian I would say tilhengerer, but I do not know the word for this in english. perhaps I should say followers or something like that. still english is not my first language

[emprworm]

how many members does a major religion have?

ive often wondered this as well.  Bah'ai is considered a major world religion, but it didn't start until somewhere around the 1950's.  It began as a simple Hindu-like movement.  Now, it is unanimously considered by scholars to be classified as an independent religion.

Now, look at the Moonies.  They also began as a small movement, and are now quite widespread.  Yet instead of calling it a religion, its classified as a cult.  I'm not sure what the "criteria" is for a movement to become known as a "religion" on a worldwide scale.

[Caid Ivik]

I know, but in norwegian I would say tilhengerer, but I do not know the word for this in english. perhaps I should say followers or something like that. still english is not my first language

Practicioners?

[TMA_1]

hmm zeroastrianism does not look at the "gods" the same way other religions do. In fact in one of their sacred texts they are called "vain, or servents of ahura mazda". Almost equated with angels or demons, not like gods.

[Caid Ivik]

Ahura Mazda and Ahriman are the gods. Well, there is also one father-god of time (Zulvan I think, but not sure), tough his cult faded in time. Only these three were worshipped as gods, or if you want, world-soul streams.

[Digital Guerrilla]

I think that comes from the Mazdaist traditions. Ahura Mazda and Ahriman are both spirits and were in the begining separated by a void. Ahura Mazda was thought to be characterized by goodness and was unlimited in time but not in space. He is free of all evil and he does not create or willingly tolerate evil. Ahriman was represented as evil and is limited by time and space.

[TMA_1]

hmm I disagree, because in the docterns I have read it says that ahura mazda is omnipotent and omnipresent, basically an all powerful God. Though it is true that they were created by diety longer before.

While ahriman was actually limited in his powers, so it is hard to call it a duelistic God. I have actually heard  religious experts call zeroastrianism a monotheistic religion, and I dont find that far from the truth at all.

and it is downright creepy to read the doctern because it is very very similar to judeo-christian beliefs. Especially about the creation, and how ahriman actually rebelled against ahura mazda and took a third of the angelic beings with him. It is almost exactly what the old testament and parts of what the new testament talked about. I have heard theories that zeroastrianism got a lot of influence from the jewish faith. I actually believe this a lot.

[EWS]

Now, look at the Moonies.  They also began as a small movement, and are now quite widespread.  Yet instead of calling it a religion, its classified as a cult.  I'm not sure what the "criteria" is for a movement to become known as a "religion" on a worldwide scale.

This is what stems my personally belifs on religion and why they shouldnt be trusted.  They are all really just cults, start with one of two people claiming to know a "god" or a "perfect world" or something as such, and then more and more people join and then it can be classed as a religion.  All religions are cults, all cults are religions.