1 S.O.U.L. | History of Major World Religions

1 S.O.U.L. does NOT endorse, promote or support any one particular religion. We believe that people of various faiths can practice their beliefs without infringing upon another's faith. In fact, we encourage people from different walks of life to engage in stimulating discussion through respectful debate to share ideas and hopefully strengthen one's spiritual relationship.

With that said, there are those who find fault with ALL religions. Our position again is not to judge. While we agree that no religion is perfect, we also believe that a sincere seeker or devotee can find truth through whichever path they may choose. Every sincere religion may capture a portion of that Truth to a greater or lesser degree. Most manipulations of society through religion have not been at the fault of the religion but through the ignorance of individuals who twist doctrine to suit their own selfish needs.

Hence, this is why we encourage discussion and study so that the practioner may come to strengthen their own knowledge with the ultimate gain of being direct experience of a Truth that cannot be expressed through words...

History of Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism

FOUNDED: Zoroastrianism began 2,600 years ago in ancient Iran.

FOUNDER: Spenta Zarathustra (Zoroaster).

MAJOR SCRIPTURE: Portions of the Zend Avesta (Persian).

ADHERENTS: 125,000, mostly near Mumbai, where they are called Parsis.

SECTS: The present-day sects are three: Shahenshai, Kadmi and Fassali.

Mind - Religions

History of Taoism

Taoism

FOUNDED: Taoism began about 2,500 years ago in China.

FOUNDER: Lao-tzu, whom Confucius described as a dragon riding the wind and clouds.

MAJOR SCRIPTURE: The Tao te Ching, or "Book of Reason and Virtue," is among the shortest of all scriptures, containing only 5,000 words. Also central are the sacred writings of Chuang-tsu.

ADHERENTS: Estimated at 50 million, mostly in China and and other parts of Asia.

SECTS: Taoism is a potently mystical tradition, so interpretations have been diverse and its sects are many.

Mind - Religions

History of Sikhism

Sikhism

FOUNDED: Sikhism began about 500 years ago in the Lahore area of India's Punjab region which is now in Pakistan.

FOUNDER: Guru Nanak.

MAJOR SCRIPTURE: The Adi Granth, revered as the present guru of the faith.

ADHERENTS: Estimated at nine million, mostly in India's state of Punjab.

SECTS: Besides the Khalsa, there are the Ram Raiyas in Uttar Pradesh and two groups that have living gurus -- Mandharis and Nirankaris.

Mind - Religions

History of Shintoism

Shintoism

FOUNDED: Shintoism began around 2,500 -- 3,000 years ago in Japan.

FOUNDER: Each of the thirteen ancient sects has its own founder.

MAJOR SCRIPTURES: Kojiki (Record of Ancient Things), Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan), a later work, Yengishiki (Institutes of the period of Yengi), and the Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves are the primary works, but they are not regarded as revealed scripture.

ADHERENTS: Estimated at 30 million, mostly in Japan. Most are also Buddhists.

Mind - Religions

1 S.O.U.L. | History of Major World Religions

History of Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism

History of Taoism

Taoism

History of Sikhism

Sikhism

History of Shintoism

Shintoism

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