Library Of World Religions And Faith Traditions

<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="https://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en" xmlns:og="https://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:fb="https://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml" class="patheos-library-main" data-content-type="patheos-library-main" data-keyword="spiritual" data-channel="" data-channel-slug="" data-topics="" data-faiths=""> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">  <script type="text/javascript"> // Check that service workers are supported if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) { // Use the window load event to keep the page load performant window.addEventListener('load', () => { navigator.serviceWorker.register('/pt-cache-sw.min.js'); }); } </script>  <script src="https://cdn.p-n.io/pushly-sdk.min.js?domain_key=wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W" async=""></script> <script> window.PushlySDK = window.PushlySDK || []; function pushly() { window.PushlySDK.push(arguments) } pushly('load', { domainKey: 'wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W', sw: '/assets/pushly/pushly-sdk-worker.js', }); // include channel data in profile let html = document.querySelector('html'); if (html.hasAttribute('data-channel-slug')) { let channel = html.getAttribute('data-channel-slug'); pushly('profile_append', { 'channel': [channel] }); } //include faith data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-faiths') && html.getAttribute('data-faiths')) { let faiths = html.getAttribute('data-faiths'); pushly('profile_append', { 'faiths': faiths.split(',') }); } //include topic data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-topics') && html.getAttribute('data-topics')) { let topics = html.getAttribute('data-topics'); pushly('profile_append', { 'topics': topics.split(',') }); } </script>  <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com/" crossorigin="anonymous">    <link rel="preload" as="image" href="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-adventist-m.jpg?h=400&la=en&w=750"> <link rel="preload" href="https://enviousshape.com/v2/0/wgwWCDdb2NiW1gz9y7pvfYreSsK5spr2b4pkfdg26e6IIxv4lclET_lRg68kIm2kwgg" as="script"> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/app.9919b64a.js"> <link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:100,300,400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" as="style" crossorigin="">  <title>Library Of World Religions And Faith Traditions | Patheos</title> <meta property="og:title" content="Library Of World Religions And Faith Traditions"> <meta name="news_keywords" content="Spiritual,religion,Faith,world"> <meta property="og:description" content="Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web.p pIn the column below, 50 major religious traditions are listed. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Click on the name of a religion to read in-depth articles."> <meta name="description" content="Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web.p pIn the column below, 50 major religious traditions are listed. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Click on the name of a religion to read in-depth articles."> <meta name="robots" content="INDEX, FOLLOW, noydir, noodp"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta http-equiv="content-language" content="en"> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="last-modified" content="2023-01-26@00:00:00 Z"> <meta http-equiv="X-Served-By" content="A4WEB012"> <link href="https://www.patheos.com/library" rel="canonical"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.patheos.com/library"> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.patheos.com/library">  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/android-chrome-192x192.png" sizes="192x192"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets" color="#5bbad5"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#00aba9"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/Areas/Patheos/assets/mstile-150x150.png?v=00rbb46rd6"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@Patheos"> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@Patheos"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Library Of World Religions And Faith Traditions | Patheos"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web.p pIn the column below, 50 major religious traditions are listed. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Click on the name of a religion to read in-depth articles.">  <meta property="fb:pages" content="94319190752">  <meta property="fb:pages" content="110176385723423"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="185230108170664"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="181539958548011"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="317806761569705"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="172552106115265"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="160984940665858"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="353226444742625"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="290163294432756"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="1761881787368191"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="208407099520739"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="1108139422538318">  <script> (function (w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-W3V8F2');</script>   <script> (function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) { i['GoogleAnalyticsObject'] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () { (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments) }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o), m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m) })(window, document, 'script', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js', 'ga'); ga('create', 'UA-6605286-6', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script>  <style type="text/css"> @font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff1GhDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff0GmDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}body,input{background-color:#fff}a,a:visited,body,h1{color:#000}@font-face{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed";font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff1GhDuXMQg.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed";font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff0GmDuXMQg.ttf) format("truetype")}@-ms-viewport{width:device-width}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span,#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{padding:13px}input{color:inherit;font:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}.tag-decorated a{letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;text-align:center}@media (max-width:1299px){h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}}h1,ul{margin-bottom:9.5px}a,h1{font-weight:700}body{line-height:1.2}h1{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";line-height:1.1;margin-top:19px;letter-spacing:-1px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel,.patheos-search-bar .search_input,.tag-decorated a,body,html{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.col-md-6,div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.DFPAdSlot,.tag-decorated a{display:inline-block}.tag-decorated a{background-color:#7cb4a6}@media (max-width:767px){.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar,#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel,#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{height:20px;width:23px;background-size:20px 23px;margin:1px 13px 0 0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0;border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}}input{color:inherit;font:inherit;margin:0}input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}h1{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";font-weight:700;line-height:1.1;color:#000}h1{margin-top:19px;margin-bottom:9.5px}.col-md-6{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}h1{font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-1px}h1{color:#000}@media (max-width:1299px){h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}}@media (max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}}input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}@media (max-width:999px) and (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{text-align:center}}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{padding:13px}@media (max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}}body,input,select{background-color:#fff}a,a:visited,body,h1,h2{color:#000}a,body,html{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%}.btn,img{vertical-align:middle}.stripe,svg:not(:root){overflow:hidden}input,select{color:inherit;font:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}@media (max-width:767px){.btn{letter-spacing:normal}.btn.xs-wide{width:100%;margin:10px auto}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}.add-padding{padding:8px}.decorated-divider.lg{width:20%}}.btn,.tag-decorated a{letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;text-align:center}@media (max-width:999px){.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar,#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel,#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}.wide-heading{padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}.btn,.stripe h2{margin-bottom:0}.btn-prime-1,.over-dark{color:#fff!important}html{font-family:sans-serif}.collapse,template{display:none}h1{margin:.67em 0}h1,h2,ul{margin-bottom:9.5px}.list-unstyled li,input{line-height:normal}.btn,a,h1,h2{font-weight:700}.btn,body{line-height:1.2}*,:after,:before{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}body{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;position:relative;height:100%!important;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;width:100%!important}h1,h2{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";line-height:1.1;margin-top:19px;letter-spacing:-1px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel,.btn,.patheos-search-bar .search_input,.tag-decorated a,body,html{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}#patheos-channel-mega-nav,.text-center{text-align:center}ul{margin-top:0}.clearfix:after,.clearfix:before,.container:after,.container:before,.row:after,.row:before,div[class^=score-column]:after,div[class^=score-column]:before{content:" ";display:table}.clearfix:after,.container:after,.row:after,div[class^=score-column]:after{clear:both}@media (min-width:768px){.container{width:750px}.col-sm-1,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-3{float:left}.col-sm-1{width:8.33333%}.col-sm-3{width:25%}.col-sm-10{width:83.33333%}.col-sm-offset-1{margin-left:8.33333%}.col-sm-offset-2{margin-left:16.66667%}}@media (min-width:1000px){.container{width:1030px}.col-md-6{float:left;width:50%}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{float:left;width:100%}}.row,div[class^=score-column]{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}.col-md-6,.col-sm-1,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-3,.col-xs-12,div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.col-xs-12{float:left;width:100%}.hidden,.hide{display:none!important}@media (min-width:1300px){.container{width:1330px}.hidden-lg{display:none!important}}.DFPAdSlot,.btn,.tag-decorated a{display:inline-block}.btn{touch-action:manipulation;touch-action:manipulation;background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;white-space:nowrap;padding:6px 20px;border-radius:5px;font-size:14px}.btn-prime-1{border-width:2px;background-color:#000;border-color:#000}.stripe.stripe-prime-2,.tag-decorated a{background-color:#7cb4a6}body,html{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.stripe{position:relative;margin:0;padding:30px 0}.stripe h2{margin-top:0}@media (max-width:1299px){.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h2{font-size:32px;line-height:34px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}.btn{white-space:normal}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:24px}.add-padding{padding:12px}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h2{font-size:30px;line-height:32px}}@media (max-width:767px){.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}.btn{letter-spacing:normal}.btn.xs-wide{width:100%;margin:10px auto}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}.add-padding{padding:8px}.decorated-divider.lg{width:20%}}a{background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none}.list-unstyled li{margin-bottom:10px}.tag-decorated a{border-radius:4px;color:#fff;font-size:11px;margin:auto;padding:1px 11px;font-weight:700}@media (max-width:999px){.wide-heading{padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}}.DFPAdSlot{overflow-y:hidden}@media (max-width:767px){.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}}img{-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic;border:0;height:auto;line-height:100%;outline:0;text-decoration:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{z-index:999;background-color:#000;width:100%;padding:15px!important;position:absolute}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{color:#d4d4d4!important;margin-left:5px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{content:"|";color:#7ea198;margin-left:10px}@media (max-width:1299px){.tag-decorated{margin:-11px auto 12px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{padding:0 4px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{background:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-menu-icon.svg) center center/16px 12px no-repeat;width:16px;height:12px;border:0;margin:4px 13px 0 0;display:inline-block;float:left}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons img.icon,#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{float:none;margin:auto!important;width:80%;max-width:300px;position:relative}.patheos-search-bar .searchbar{margin-bottom:auto;margin-top:auto;border-radius:30px;padding:10px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;top:1px;background-color:#fff}.patheos-search-bar .search_input{color:#383838;border:0;outline:0;background:0 0;line-height:18px;position:relative;top:-7px;left:10px;font-size:15px;font-weight:400;opacity:1;width:100%}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar,#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel,#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{height:20px;width:23px;background-size:20px 23px;margin:1px 13px 0 0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0;border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}.sticky-ad{position:fixed;bottom:10px;width:768px;height:90px;left:50%;transform:translateX(-50%);z-index:999}.sticky-ad-close{position:absolute;left:687px;top:-16px;background:rgba(0,0,0,.4);padding:2px 5px;border-radius:10px 10px 0 0;color:#fff;font-family:serif;font-size:.7em;z-index:1}@media screen and (max-width:600px){.sticky-ad{visibility:hidden}}.cls-1{fill-rule:evenodd}html{font-family:sans-serif;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}body{margin:0}nav{display:block}template{display:none}a{background-color:transparent}h1{font-size:2em;margin:.67em 0}img{border:0}svg:not(:root){overflow:hidden}input,select{color:inherit;font:inherit;margin:0}select{text-transform:none}input[type=submit]{-webkit-appearance:button}input::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0}input{line-height:normal}*{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}:after,:before{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}html{font-size:10px}body{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.2;color:#000;background-color:#fff}input,select{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none}img{vertical-align:middle}h1,h2{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";font-weight:700;line-height:1.1;color:#000}h1,h2{margin-top:19px;margin-bottom:9.5px}h1{font-size:48px}h2{font-size:34px}.text-center{text-align:center}ul{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:9.5px}.list-unstyled{padding-left:0;list-style:none}.container{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.container:after,.container:before{content:" ";display:table}.container:after{clear:both}@media (min-width:768px){.container{width:750px}}@media (min-width:1000px){.container{width:1030px}}@media (min-width:1300px){.container{width:1330px}}.row{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}.row:after,.row:before{content:" ";display:table}.row:after{clear:both}.col-md-6,.col-sm-1,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-3,.col-xs-12{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.col-xs-12{float:left}.col-xs-12{width:100%}@media (min-width:768px){.col-sm-1,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-3{float:left}.col-sm-1{width:8.33333%}.col-sm-3{width:25%}.col-sm-10{width:83.33333%}.col-sm-offset-1{margin-left:8.33333%}.col-sm-offset-2{margin-left:16.66667%}}.btn{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:0;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;touch-action:manipulation;background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;white-space:nowrap;padding:6px 20px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:5px}.collapse{display:none}.clearfix:after,.clearfix:before{content:" ";display:table}.clearfix:after{clear:both}.hide{display:none!important}.hidden{display:none!important}@media (max-width:767px){.hidden-xs{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:768px) and (max-width:999px){.hidden-sm{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:1000px) and (max-width:1299px){.hidden-md{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:1300px){.hidden-lg{display:none!important}}div[class^=score-column]{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}div[class^=score-column]:after,div[class^=score-column]:before{content:" ";display:table}div[class^=score-column]:after{clear:both}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}@media (min-width:1000px){.col-md-6{float:left}.col-md-6{width:50%}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{float:left;width:100%}}.page-wrapper{width:100%}.container.full-width{width:100%;padding:0}body{position:relative}.btn{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:0;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;touch-action:manipulation;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;white-space:nowrap;padding:6px 20px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:5px}.btn-prime-1{border-width:2px;color:#fff!important;background-color:#000;border-color:#000}.btn{font-size:14px}a img{-moz-transform:scale(1);-webkit-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);opacity:1}body,html{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.stripe{position:relative;overflow:hidden;margin:0;padding:30px 0}.stripe h2{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}.stripe.stripe-prime-2{background-color:#7cb4a6}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:50px}@media (max-width:1299px){.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h2{font-size:32px;line-height:34px}}.add-padding{padding:14px;box-sizing:border-box}@media (max-width:999px){.btn{white-space:normal}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:24px}.add-padding{padding:12px}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h2{font-size:30px;line-height:32px}}@media (max-width:767px){.btn{letter-spacing:normal}.btn.xs-wide{width:100%;margin:10px auto}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}.add-padding{padding:8px}.remove-padding-mobile{padding:0!important}}.add-top-margin{margin-top:20px}.add-bottom-margin{margin-bottom:20px}.less-spacing{padding-left:7px;padding-right:7px}.decorated-divider{padding-top:10px;border-bottom:1px solid #7cb4a6;margin:0 auto 10px;width:20%}.decorated-divider.lg{padding-top:20px;margin:0 auto 20px;width:14%}.decorated-divider.white{border-color:#fff}h1,h2{font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-1px}h1,h2{color:#000}.over-dark{color:#fff!important}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700}a:visited{color:#000}.list-unstyled li{margin-bottom:10px;line-height:normal}.tag-decorated{margin:0 auto 12px;position:relative;z-index:50}@media (max-width:1299px){.tag-decorated{margin:-11px auto 12px}}.tag-decorated a{border-radius:4px;background-color:#7cb4a6;color:#fff;font-size:11px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";text-align:center;margin:auto;padding:1px 11px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;display:inline-block}.wide-heading{padding:0 0 30px}.related-content-library-cards{background-color:#000;min-height:950px}@media (max-width:999px){.wide-heading{padding:0 0 20px}.related-content-library-cards{min-height:4292px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}}.DFPAdSlot{display:inline-block;overflow-y:hidden}@media (max-width:767px){.decorated-divider.lg{width:20%}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -15px}}.DFPAdSlot::after{clear:both;content:"";display:block}.ad{padding:10px 0}.ad-container{width:100%;position:relative;text-align:center}@media (max-width:767px){.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}}input,select{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}input{border-radius:4px}a,body{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%}img{-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic}img{border:0;height:auto;line-height:100%;outline:0;text-decoration:none}body{height:100%!important;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;width:100%!important}@media screen and (max-width:525px){.wrapper{width:100%!important;max-width:100%!important}.ad-container{padding:30px 0!important}}.episode-thumb-block .episode-bar .select select,.episode-thumb-block .episode-bar .select::after{grid-area:select}.editorial-series-episode-list .select select,.editorial-series-episode-list .select::after{background-color:#000;grid-area:select}#patheos-page-content{width:100%;position:relative;top:0;right:0}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{width:100%;height:72px;position:relative;z-index:1000;background-color:#000;background:-webkit-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:-o-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:linear-gradient(#000,#262626)}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{margin:auto;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;padding-top:17px;width:127px}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav{text-align:center}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{position:relative;z-index:999;background-color:#000;width:100%;padding:15px!important;position:absolute}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{margin:auto!important;text-align:center;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none;position:relative;z-index:1001;top:4px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container a{font-weight:400}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{color:#d4d4d4!important;margin-left:5px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{content:'|';color:#7ea198;margin-left:10px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{position:relative;z-index:998;padding:0 6px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:600}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{padding:0 4px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{background:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-menu-icon.svg) center center no-repeat;width:16px;height:12px;background-size:16px 12px;border:0;margin:4px 13px 0 0;display:inline-block;float:left}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{height:20px;width:23px;background-size:20px 23px;margin:1px 13px 0 0}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{width:100%;z-index:998;background:#000;color:#fff;text-align:left;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"!important;font-size:14px;border-bottom:5px solid #88b2a6;margin:auto!important;position:absolute}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{padding:20px 0;margin:auto;position:relative;top:12px;z-index:999;display:flex}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:20px 0 0;margin-bottom:20px}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{text-align:left;font-size:15px;flex-basis:25%;padding-right:20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:40%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .remove-indent{margin-left:-15px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:10px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li a{text-decoration:none;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-weight:600;margin:15px auto;border-bottom:0;text-align:left;font-size:17px;display:block}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:36px 0 50px;display:block;top:0;margin-top:40px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right{float:right}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{display:inline-block;position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:absolute;bottom:-24px;left:0;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-left{float:left}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:20px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{padding:13px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}}.patheos-search-bar{border-radius:100px;height:36px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header{position:relative;float:right;min-width:42px;top:18px;right:23px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header .searchbar{height:36px;width:260px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{float:none;margin:auto!important;position:inherit;width:80%;max-width:300px;position:relative}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown .searchbar{text-align:center;height:36px;width:100%;right:0}.patheos-search-bar .searchbar{margin-bottom:auto;margin-top:auto;background-color:transparent;border-radius:30px;padding:10px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;top:1px;background-color:#fff}.patheos-search-bar .search_input{color:#383838;border:0;outline:0;background:0 0;line-height:18px;position:relative;top:-7px;left:10px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";font-size:15px;font-weight:400;opacity:1;width:100%}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon{position:absolute;top:10px;left:12px;opacity:1}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon svg{width:16px}.trending-topics{border-bottom:1px solid #cfcece;font-size:15px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";margin-top:10px}.trending-topics ul{list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline-block;padding:6px 10px}.trending-topics li:nth-child(1){background-color:#7cb4a6;color:#fff;font-weight:700}.trending-topics a{font-weight:400}.trending-topics .list-divider{color:#7cb4a6;padding:6px 0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{float:right;margin-top:36px;position:relative}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:none;float:none;text-align:center}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile .footer-social-icons{border-left:0;padding-left:0;margin:auto;display:block;text-align:center}@media (max-width:999px){.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}.trending-topics{margin-top:0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile a.subscription-support{bottom:32px;left:auto;display:block}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:-38px;left:281px;color:#cbcbcb}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:30px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media (max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}#site-footer-2022 a{color:#fff;font-weight:400}#site-footer-2022 a:visited{color:#fff} </style> <style type="text/css"> component { display: none } .lazyblur { -webkit-filter: blur(5px); /* Safari 6.0 - 9.0 */ filter: blur(5px); } .lazyblur.lazyloaded { -webkit-filter: none; /* Safari 6.0 - 9.0 */ filter: none; transition: filter 200ms; } .sticky-ad { position: fixed; bottom: 10px; width: 768px; height: 90px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); z-index: 999; } .sticky-ad-close { position: absolute; cursor: pointer; left: 687px; top: -16px; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); padding: 2px 5px 2px 5px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0 0; color: #ffffff; font-family: serif; font-size: 0.7em; z-index: 1; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .sticky-ad { visibility: hidden; } } </style>   <link rel="preconnect" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/"> <script src="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.js?template=patheos_library_main" async="true"></script> <link href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.css" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" rel="stylesheet">   <script src="https://cookie-cdn.cookiepro.com/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { } </script>   <script type="text/javascript"> window.admiral = window.admiral || function () { (admiral.q = admiral.q || []).push(arguments); }; window.admiral('targeting', 'pause', 5e3); (function () { console.info('checking premium post'); if (document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-page-type') == 'post') { console.info('page type is post, checking premium post'); var premiumBlog = document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-premium-blog'); // if front end runs first, use this selector var tagList = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.tagged-with-include-rss li')).map(tag => tag.innerText.toLowerCase()); // if nothing found, try running this selector which would work if front end hasn't run yet if (tagList.length == 0) { tagList = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('rad-tagged-with li')).map(tag => tag.innerText.toLowerCase()); } if ((premiumBlog || tagList.includes("premium")) && !tagList.includes("free")) { console.debug('Calling Admiral to set premium flag'); window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'premium', 'true'); // check if user is logged in and subscribed with an offer id. if so, add to targeting var cookies = document.cookie.split(';'); for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) { var keyvalues = cookies[i].split('='); var key = keyvalues[0].trim(); if ('offerID' === key) { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'offerId', keyvalues[1].trim()); // Unhide content document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('blur'); document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('fade-out'); } } console.debug('premium flag set'); } else { console.info('not a premium post.'); } } else { console.info('not a premium post'); } console.debug('checking metered content'); if (document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-is-metered') == '1') { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'metered', 'true'); console.debug('metered content flag set'); } })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">!(function (o, n, t) { t = o.createElement(n), o = o.getElementsByTagName(n)[0], t.async = 1, t.src = "https://enviousshape.com/v2/0/wgwWCDdb2NiW1gz9y7pvfYreSsK5spr2b4pkfdg26e6IIxv4lclET_lRg68kIm2kwgg", o.parentNode.insertBefore(t, o) })(document, "script"), (function (o, n) { o[n] = o[n] || function () { (o[n].q = o[n].q || []).push(arguments) } })(window, "admiral"); !(function (n, e, r, t) { function o() { if ((function o(t) { try { return (t = localStorage.getItem("v4ac1eiZr0")) && 0 < t.split(",")[4] } catch (n) { } return !1 })()) { var t = n[e].pubads(); typeof t.setTargeting === r && t.setTargeting("admiral-engaged", "true") } } (t = n[e] = n[e] || {}).cmd = t.cmd || [], typeof t.pubads === r ? o() : typeof t.cmd.unshift === r ? t.cmd.unshift(o) : t.cmd.push(o) })(window, "googletag", "function");;;;;</script>   <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Patheos","url":"https://www.patheos.com","logo":"https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png","contactPoint":{"contactType":"Customer Service","@type":"ContactPoint","url":"https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos","availableLanguage":["English"]},"sameAs":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patheos","https://www.instagram.com/patheosofficial/","https://www.tiktok.com/@patheospodcasts","https://twitter.com/patheos","https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"]}</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","articleBody":" LIBRARY OF World Religions and Faith Traditions Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web. In this section, you’ll find a list of the top 50 Major Religious traditions, arranged by origin. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Select an origin then click the name of a religion to read in-depth articles. ","articleSection":[],"dateModified":"2024-04-09T04:13:10Z","description":"Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web.</p> <p>In the column below, 50 major religious traditions are listed. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Click on the name of a religion to read in-depth articles.","headline":"Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions | Patheos","thumbnailUrl":null,"inLanguage":"en","datePublished":"2017-06-28T17:58:12Z","author":null,"image":[],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","url":"https://www.patheos.com/library","dateModified":"2024-04-09T04:13:10Z","inLanguage":"en","name":"Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions | Patheos","headline":"Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions | Patheos","description":"Written by the world's leading authorities on religion and spirituality, the Patheos Library offers the most accurate and balanced information available on the web.</p> <p>In the column below, 50 major religious traditions are listed. For each, Patheos offers thorough, peer-reviewed, encyclopedic information that helps readers understand its origins, history, beliefs, rituals, ethics, and community structures. Click on the name of a religion to read in-depth articles.","datePublished":"2017-06-28T17:58:12Z"}}</script> <script type='text/javascript'> (function () { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = 21057; // UID IS SAME FOR ALL SITES ON YOUR ACCOUNT _sf_async_config.domain = 'patheos.com'; // DON'T INCLUDE HTTP(S) OR WWW _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.useCanonicalDomain = true; _sf_async_config.flickerControl = false; _sf_async_config.sections = ''; //SET PAGE-LEVEL SECTION(S) _sf_async_config.authors = ''; //SET PAGE-LEVEL AUTHOR(S) /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> <script async="" src="//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_mab.js"></script> </head> <body>  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W3V8F2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript>   <div> <div class="wrapper">  <div id="patheos-page-content">  <div id="patheos-header-bar-mega-nav"> <div class="patheos-logo-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="127" height="38"></a> </div> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action desktop">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-header hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)"></path> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="patheos-channel-mega-nav"> <div class="subnav-bar"></div> <div class="subnav-channels-container container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist" class="channel">Buddhist</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic" class="channel">Catholic</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative" class="channel">Contemplative</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical" class="channel">Evangelical</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian" class="channel">General Christian</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu" class="channel">Hindu</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish" class="channel">Jewish</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint" class="channel">Latter-day Saint</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim" class="channel">Muslim</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions" class="channel">New Visions</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian" class="channel">Progressive Christian</a> <rad-toggle-button target-div="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" toggle-div="megamenuCollapse" toggle-message="close menu"> <div id="megamenuCollapse" class="megamenuCollapse-container"> <div class="megamenuCollapse-icon"></div> </div> </rad-toggle-button> </div> </div>  <nav id="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" class="collapse"> <div class="container menu-content first"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordione888c00f-2d2a-4682-aa6b-8a2d0665073c" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Beliefs</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordione888c00f-2d2a-4682-aa6b-8a2d0665073c" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist">Buddhist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic">Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative">Contemplative</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical">Evangelical</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian">General Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu">Hindu</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish">Jewish</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint">Latter-day Saint</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices">More Voices</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim">Muslim</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions">New Visions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan">Pagan</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian">Progressive Christian</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordionb00195ea-88e2-4292-83da-60f4c33b6624" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Topics</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordionb00195ea-88e2-4292-83da-60f4c33b6624" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religion-news">Religion News</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/food-and-religion">Food and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/sports-and-religion">Sports and Religion</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-art">Religious Art</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-music-and-entertainment">Religious Music and Entertainment</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-events">Religious Events</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/history-and-religion">History and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/style-and-religion">Style and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/politics-and-religion">Politics and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/women-in-religion">Women in Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/recreation-outdoors-and-religion">Recreation Outdoors and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/business-finance-and-religion">Business Finance and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/careers-workplace-and-religion">Careers Workplace and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/education-and-religion">Education and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/family-parenting-and-religion">Family Parenting and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/health-fitness-and-religion">Health Fitness and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/home-and-religion">Home and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/relationships-and-religion">Relationships and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/technology-and-religion">Technology and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/travel-and-religion">Travel and Religion</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion42d59f4d-6a6d-450d-ba19-9fc158fcc138" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Columnists</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion42d59f4d-6a6d-450d-ba19-9fc158fcc138" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist-blogs">Buddhist Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/business-finance-and-religion-blogs">Business Finance and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/careers-workplace-and-religion-blogs">Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic-blogs">Catholic Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative-blogs">Contemplative Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/education-and-religion-blogs">Education and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical-blogs">Evangelists Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/family-parenting-and-religion-blogs">Family Parenting and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian-blogs">General Christian Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/health-fitness-and-religion-blogs">Health Fitness and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu-blogs">Hindu Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/history-and-religion-blogs">History and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/home-and-religion-blogs">Home and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish-blogs">Jewish Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices-blogs">More Voices Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint-blogs">Latter Day Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim-blogs">Muslim Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions-blogs">New Visions Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/nonreligious-blogs">Nonreligious Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan-blogs">Pagan Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/politics-and-religion-blogs">Politics and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian-blogs">Progressive Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/recreation-outdoors-and-religion-blogs">Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/relationships-and-religion-blogs">Relationships and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-news-blogs">Religion News Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-art-blogs">Religious Art Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-events-blogs">Religious Events Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-music-and-entertainment-blogs">Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sports-and-religion-blogs">Sports and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/style-and-religion-blogs">Style and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/technology-and-religion-blogs">Technology and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/travel-and-religion-blogs">Travel and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/women-in-religion-blogs">Women in Religion Columnists</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion540f3d1d-4edc-4f6c-a6d5-e7a7ad0c776c" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Resource Library</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion540f3d1d-4edc-4f6c-a6d5-e7a7ad0c776c" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/interfaith-calendar/2025?utm_source=footer&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=link&utm_id=nav">2025 Calendar</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sacred-spaces/overview">The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers">Patheos Answers</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos/answers">Videos</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/faith-figures-database">Faith Leaders Database</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/anglican">Anglican Episcopalian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai">Bahai</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/baptist">Baptist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/buddhism">Buddhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/christianity">Christianity</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/confucianism">Confucianism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/eastern-orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/hinduism">Hinduism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pentecostal">Holiness and Pentecostal</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/iskcon-hare-krishna">ISKCON</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/islam">Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/judaism">Judaism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lutheran">Lutheran</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/methodist">Methodist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/mormonism">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a></li> </ul> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/new-age">New Age</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pagan">Paganism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/presbyterian">Presbytarian and Reformed</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/protestantism">Protestantism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-behind-the-scenes" class="tier-2">Religion Behind the Scenes</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/roman-catholicism">Roman Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/scientology">Scientology</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/shia-islam">Shia Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sikhism">Sikhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sufism">Sufism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sunni-islam">Sunni Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/taoism">Taoism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/zen">Zen</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">See all religions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="container menu-content"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion4d50e485-f5c2-4c18-a6c9-e9c32d0d7f48" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Research Tools</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion4d50e485-f5c2-4c18-a6c9-e9c32d0d7f48" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lenses/side-by-side">Comparison Lens</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/preachers">Preacher Resources</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/teachers">Teacher Resources</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Video</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/articles-and-essays">Thought Readers</a></div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion29914f6c-840a-4588-954e-50608a9cb5b2" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">E-Books and Other Special Offers</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion29914f6c-840a-4588-954e-50608a9cb5b2" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-gods-cheat-sheet-to-finance">God's Cheat Sheet to Finances</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-books-of-bible-signup?track1=HouseNav_BooksBible_P">Books of the Bible Study series</a></li> <li> <a href="https://l.patheos.com/excavating-the-history-of-the-bible-la/">History of the Bible</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-marriage-prayer-challenge-signup?track1=HouseNav_Marriage_P">7 Day Prayer Challenge for Spouses</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-different-christian-signup/?sourceid=101&track1=HouseNav_DKoC_P">A Different Kind of Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-jesusislove-signup/?sourceid=97&track1=HouseNav_JIL_P">Jesus is Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-devotional-signup?track1=HouseNav_Dev_P&sourceid=176">Prayer Devotional</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-catholic-coloringbook-signup?track1=HouseNav_CCB_P&sourceid=111">The Saints We Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-conversation-cards?track1=HouseNav_Convo_P">FaithChatter Conversation Cards</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/newsletters">Newsletters</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action mobile">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-dropdown hidden-md hidden-lg"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)"></path> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> <div class="ad-free-container hidden-md hidden-lg"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9be8eeebebf4e9efdbfcfeeffafff6f2e9faf7b5f8f4f6a4e8eef9f1fef8efa6cbfaeff3fef4e8bbc8eef9e8f8e9f2ebeff2f4f5bbc8eeebebf4e9ef" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="container menu-content menu-footer"> <div class="items-left hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="130" height="39"></a> </div> <div class="items-right"> <div class="foot-item hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83f0f6f3f3ecf1f7c3e4e6f7e2e7eeeaf1e2efade0eceebcf0f6e1e9e6e0f7bed3e2f7ebe6ecf0a3d0f6e1f0e0f1eaf3f7eaeceda3d0f6f3f3ecf1f7" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="foot-item"> <div class="social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav>  </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="row "> <div class="container full-width remove-padding-mobile"> <div class="trending-topics"> <ul> <li>Trending:</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/f/forgiveness">Forgiveness</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/r/resurrection">Resurrection</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/v/valentines-day">Valentine's Day</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/t/trump">Trump</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/m/mary">Mary</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/s/social-justice">Social Justice</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page-wrapper "> <link href="https://www.patheos.com/library"> <div class="container full-width"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="container"> <br> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/">Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions | Patheos</a> </div> <div class="wide-heading"> <h1 itemprop="name">Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions</h1> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-library-cards"> <rad-library-cards> <template v-slot:navslots=""> <rad-library-cards-nav nav-name="All Religions"></rad-library-cards-nav> <rad-library-cards-nav nav-name="Near Eastern Origins"></rad-library-cards-nav> <rad-library-cards-nav nav-name="New Religions"></rad-library-cards-nav> <rad-library-cards-nav nav-name="Indian Origins"></rad-library-cards-nav> <rad-library-cards-nav nav-name="East Asian Origins"></rad-library-cards-nav> </template> <template v-slot:squareslots=""> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/adventist" origin="United States" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Adventist" adherents="15,500,000" formed="1850" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-adventist-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Adventist%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/african-independent-churches" origin="Africa" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="African Independent Churches" adherents="110,000,000" formed="1870" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-african-christian-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22African%20Christian%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/anabaptist" origin="Switzerland" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Anabaptist" adherents="4,500,000" formed="1525" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-anabaptist-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Anabaptist%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/anglican" origin="England" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Anglican/Episcopalian" adherents="70,000,000" formed="1534" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-anglican-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Anglican%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai" origin="Iran (Persia)" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Baha'i" adherents="5,000,000" formed="1863" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-bahai-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Bahai%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/baptist" origin="Holland, England, and United States" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Baptist" adherents="100,000,000" formed="1609" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-baptist-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Baptist%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/buddhism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Buddhism" adherents="500,000" formed="600 B.C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-buddhism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Buddhism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/chinese-religion" origin="China" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Chinese Religion" adherents="400,000,000" formed="-4000" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-chinese-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Chinese%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/christianity" origin="Palestine" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Christianity" adherents="2,100,000,000" formed="33" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-christianity-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Christianity%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/christian-science" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Christian Science" adherents="400,000" formed="1879" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-christian-science-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Christian%20Science%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/confucianism" origin="China" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Confucianism" adherents="5,000,000" formed="c. 500 B.C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-confucianism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Christianity%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/conservative-judaism" origin="Europe" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Conservative Judaism" adherents="4,500,000" formed="1886" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-conservative-judaism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Conservative%20Judaism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/disciples-of-christ" origin="United States" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Disciples of Christ" adherents="700,000" formed="1832" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-disciples-of-christ-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Disciples%20of%20Christ%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/eastern-orthodoxy" origin="Roman-Byzantine Empire" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Eastern Orthodoxy" adherents="200,000,000" formed="c. 1st - 5th centuries C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-eastern-orthodox-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Eastern%20Orthodox%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/hinduism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Hinduism" adherents="1,000,000,000" formed="c. 2000 B.C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-hinduism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Hinduism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/iskcon-hare-krishna" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="ISKCON (Hare Krishna)" adherents="250,000" formed="1966" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-iskcon-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22ISKCON%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/islam" origin="Arabian peninsula" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Islam" adherents="1,500,000,000" formed="622" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-islam-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Islam%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/jainism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Jainism" adherents="6,000,000" formed="-550" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-jainism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Jainism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/japanese-religion" origin="Japan" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Japanese Religion" adherents="1,000,000" formed="-400" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-japanese-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Japanese%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/jehovahs-witnesses" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Jehovah's Witnesses" adherents="7,000,000" formed="1931" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-jehovahs-witness-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Jehovahs%20Witness%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/judaism" origin="Canaan" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Judaism" adherents="14,000,000" formed="c. 2000 B.C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-judaism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Judaism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/lutheran" origin="Germany" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Lutheran" adherents="64,000,000" formed="1517" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-lutheran-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Lutheran%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/mahayana-buddhism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Mahayana Buddhism" adherents="185,000,000" formed="100" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-mahayana-buddhism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Mahayana%20Buddhism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/methodist" origin="England" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Methodist" adherents="70,000,000" formed="1744" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-methodist-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Methodist%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/mormonism" origin="Fayette, NY, U.S.A." origin-class="New_Religions" title="The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" adherents="17,002,461" formed="1830" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-mormonism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Mormonism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/new-age" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="New Age" adherents="3,500,000" formed="1960" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-new-age-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22New%20Age%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/oriental-orthodoxy" origin="Middle East " origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Oriental Orthodoxy" adherents="27,000,000" formed="451" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-oriental-orthodoxy-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Oriental%20Orthodoxy%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/orthodox-judaism" origin="Europe" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Orthodox Judaism" adherents="2,000,000" formed="1851" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-orthodox-judaism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Orthodox%20Judaism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/pagan" origin="Multiple sources" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Paganism" adherents="1,000,000" formed="Early 20th Century" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-paganism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Paganism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/pentecostal" origin="Los Angeles, CA, USA" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Pentecostal" adherents="280,000,000" formed="1906" thumbnail=""> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/presbyterian" origin="Switzerland" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Presbyterian and Reformed" adherents="75,000,000" formed="1529" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-presbyterian-reformed-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Presbyterian%20Reformed%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/protestantism" origin="Germany" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Protestantism" adherents="500,000,000" formed="early 16th century" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-protestant-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Protestant%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/reform-judaism" origin="Europe" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Reform Judaism" adherents="4,000,000" formed="1810" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-reform-judaism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Reform%20Judaism%20Background%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/roman-catholicism" origin="Roman-Latin Empire" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Roman Catholicism" adherents="1,170,000,000" formed="1st - 5th centuries C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-roman-catholicism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/scientology" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Scientology" adherents="500,000" formed="1954" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-scientology-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/shaivite-hinduism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Shaivite Hinduism" adherents="200,000,000" formed="-150" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-shaivite-hinduism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/shakta-hinduism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Shakta Hinduism" adherents="25,000,000" formed="300" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-shakta-hinduism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/shia-islam" origin="Middle East" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Shia Islam" adherents="150,000,000" formed="632" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligionlibraryshiaislamm.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/shinto" origin="Japan" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Shinto" adherents="3,000,000" formed="-500" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-shinto-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/sikhism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Sikhism" adherents="23,000,000" formed="1450" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-sikhism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/societyoffriendsquaker" origin="England" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Society of Friends (Quaker)" adherents="300,000" formed="1654" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-society-of-friends-quaker-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/sufism" origin="Middle East" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Sufism" adherents="9,000,000" formed="675" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-sufism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/sunni-islam" origin="Middle East" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="Sunni Islam" adherents="940,000,000" formed="632" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-sunni-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/taoism" origin="China" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Taoism" adherents="20,000,000" formed="c. 550 B.C.E." thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-taoism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/theravada-buddhism" origin="India / Sri Lanka" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Theravada Buddhism" adherents="124,000,000" formed="-100" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-theravada-buddhism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/unitarian-universalism" origin="United States" origin-class="New_Religions" title="Unitarian-Universalism" adherents="250,000" formed="1825" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-unitarian-universalism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/united-church-of-christcongregationalism" origin="United States / England" origin-class="Near_Eastern_Origins" title="United Church of Christ/Congregationalism" adherents="1,200,000" formed="1957" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-united-church-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/vaishnavite-hinduism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Vaishnavite Hinduism" adherents="350,000,000" formed="300" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-vaishnavite-hinduism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/vajrayana-buddhism" origin="India" origin-class="Indian_Origins" title="Vajrayana Buddhism" adherents="6,000,000" formed="500" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-vajrayana-buddhism-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> <rad-library-cards-square url="https://www.patheos.com/library/zen" origin="China / Japan" origin-class="East_Asian_Origins" title="Zen" adherents="10,000,000" formed="650" thumbnail="%3Cimg%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.patheos.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fpatheos-images%2Fsite-headers%2Freligion-library%2Freligion-library-zen-m.jpg%3Fh%3D400%26amp%3Bla%3Den%26amp%3Bw%3D750%22%20alt%3D%22Header%20Image%22%20width%3D%22750%22%20height%3D%22400%22%20%2F%3E"> </rad-library-cards-square> </template> </rad-library-cards> </div> <div class="clearfix stripe stripe-prime-2 text-center buffer-bottom"> <div class="container"> <h2 class="over-dark">Compare Religions</h2> <div class="decorated-divider lg white"></div> <div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 over-dark">Use the Patheos Side-by-Side Lens to create an easy-to-read comparison chart for differing religious traditions. Choose up to three traditions from the scrollable lists below and then click go!</div> <div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-2 add-top-margin add-bottom-margin"> <form action="https://www.patheos.com/library/lenses/side-by-side" method="get"> <div class="col-sm-3 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <select name="religion1" class="col-xs-12"> <option value="Adventist">Adventist <option value="African Independent Churches">African Independent Churches <option value="Anabaptist">Anabaptist <option value="Anglican/Episcopalian">Anglican/Episcopalian <option value="Baha'i">Baha'i <option value="Baptist">Baptist <option value="Chinese Religion">Chinese Religion <option value="Christianity">Christianity <option value="Christian Science">Christian Science <option value="Confucianism">Confucianism <option value="Conservative Judaism">Conservative Judaism <option value="Disciples of Christ">Disciples of Christ <option value="Eastern Orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy <option value="Hinduism">Hinduism <option value="ISKCON (Hare Krishna)">ISKCON (Hare Krishna) <option value="Islam">Islam <option value="Jainism">Jainism <option value="Japanese Religion">Japanese Religion <option value="Jehovah's Witnesses">Jehovah's Witnesses <option value="Judaism">Judaism <option value="Lutheran">Lutheran <option value="Mahayana Buddhism">Mahayana Buddhism <option value="Methodist">Methodist <option value="New Age">New Age <option value="Oriental Orthodoxy">Oriental Orthodoxy <option value="Orthodox Judaism">Orthodox Judaism <option value="Paganism">Paganism <option value="Presbyterian and Reformed">Presbyterian and Reformed <option value="Protestantism">Protestantism <option value="Reform Judaism">Reform Judaism <option value="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism <option value="Scientology">Scientology <option value="Shaivite Hinduism">Shaivite Hinduism <option value="Shakta Hinduism">Shakta Hinduism <option value="Shia Islam">Shia Islam <option value="Shinto">Shinto <option value="Sikhism">Sikhism <option value="Society of Friends (Quaker)">Society of Friends (Quaker) <option value="Sufism">Sufism <option value="Sunni Islam">Sunni Islam <option selected="selected" value="Taoism">Taoism <option value="Theravada Buddhism">Theravada Buddhism <option value="Unitarian-Universalism">Unitarian-Universalism <option value="United Church of Christ/Congregationalism">United Church of Christ/Congregationalism <option value="Vaishnavite Hinduism">Vaishnavite Hinduism <option value="Vajrayana Buddhism">Vajrayana Buddhism <option value="Zen">Zen </select> </div> <div class="col-sm-3 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <select name="religion2" class="col-xs-12"> <option value="Adventist">Adventist <option value="African Independent Churches">African Independent Churches <option value="Anabaptist">Anabaptist <option value="Anglican/Episcopalian">Anglican/Episcopalian <option value="Baha'i">Baha'i <option value="Baptist">Baptist <option value="Chinese Religion">Chinese Religion <option value="Christianity">Christianity <option value="Christian Science">Christian Science <option value="Confucianism">Confucianism <option value="Conservative Judaism">Conservative Judaism <option value="Disciples of Christ">Disciples of Christ <option value="Eastern Orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy <option selected="selected" value="Hinduism">Hinduism <option value="ISKCON (Hare Krishna)">ISKCON (Hare Krishna) <option value="Islam">Islam <option value="Jainism">Jainism <option value="Japanese Religion">Japanese Religion <option value="Jehovah's Witnesses">Jehovah's Witnesses <option value="Judaism">Judaism <option value="Lutheran">Lutheran <option value="Mahayana Buddhism">Mahayana Buddhism <option value="Methodist">Methodist <option value="New Age">New Age <option value="Oriental Orthodoxy">Oriental Orthodoxy <option value="Orthodox Judaism">Orthodox Judaism <option value="Paganism">Paganism <option value="Presbyterian and Reformed">Presbyterian and Reformed <option value="Protestantism">Protestantism <option value="Reform Judaism">Reform Judaism <option value="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism <option value="Scientology">Scientology <option value="Shaivite Hinduism">Shaivite Hinduism <option value="Shakta Hinduism">Shakta Hinduism <option value="Shia Islam">Shia Islam <option value="Shinto">Shinto <option value="Sikhism">Sikhism <option value="Society of Friends (Quaker)">Society of Friends (Quaker) <option value="Sufism">Sufism <option value="Sunni Islam">Sunni Islam <option value="Taoism">Taoism <option value="Theravada Buddhism">Theravada Buddhism <option value="Unitarian-Universalism">Unitarian-Universalism <option value="United Church of Christ/Congregationalism">United Church of Christ/Congregationalism <option value="Vaishnavite Hinduism">Vaishnavite Hinduism <option value="Vajrayana Buddhism">Vajrayana Buddhism <option value="Zen">Zen </select> </div> <div class="col-sm-3 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <select name="religion3" class="col-xs-12"> <option value="Adventist">Adventist <option value="African Independent Churches">African Independent Churches <option value="Anabaptist">Anabaptist <option value="Anglican/Episcopalian">Anglican/Episcopalian <option value="Baha'i">Baha'i <option value="Baptist">Baptist <option value="Chinese Religion">Chinese Religion <option value="Christianity">Christianity <option value="Christian Science">Christian Science <option value="Confucianism">Confucianism <option value="Conservative Judaism">Conservative Judaism <option value="Disciples of Christ">Disciples of Christ <option value="Eastern Orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy <option value="Hinduism">Hinduism <option value="ISKCON (Hare Krishna)">ISKCON (Hare Krishna) <option value="Islam">Islam <option value="Jainism">Jainism <option value="Japanese Religion">Japanese Religion <option value="Jehovah's Witnesses">Jehovah's Witnesses <option value="Judaism">Judaism <option value="Lutheran">Lutheran <option value="Mahayana Buddhism">Mahayana Buddhism <option value="Methodist">Methodist <option value="New Age">New Age <option value="Oriental Orthodoxy">Oriental Orthodoxy <option value="Orthodox Judaism">Orthodox Judaism <option value="Paganism">Paganism <option value="Presbyterian and Reformed">Presbyterian and Reformed <option value="Protestantism">Protestantism <option value="Reform Judaism">Reform Judaism <option value="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism <option value="Scientology">Scientology <option value="Shaivite Hinduism">Shaivite Hinduism <option value="Shakta Hinduism">Shakta Hinduism <option value="Shia Islam">Shia Islam <option value="Shinto">Shinto <option value="Sikhism">Sikhism <option value="Society of Friends (Quaker)">Society of Friends (Quaker) <option value="Sufism">Sufism <option value="Sunni Islam">Sunni Islam <option value="Taoism">Taoism <option value="Theravada Buddhism">Theravada Buddhism <option value="Unitarian-Universalism">Unitarian-Universalism <option value="United Church of Christ/Congregationalism">United Church of Christ/Congregationalism <option value="Vaishnavite Hinduism">Vaishnavite Hinduism <option value="Vajrayana Buddhism">Vajrayana Buddhism <option value="Zen">Zen </select> </div> <div class="col-sm-1 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <input type="submit" class="btn btn-prime-1 xs-wide" value="go"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="related-content related-content-md clearfix"> <div class="row"> <div class="section-title decorated clearfix">more traditions</div> </div> <p>Here are some important Traditions that help fill in the big picture — ancient religions, indigenous religions, non-religious "systems," and some additional traditions related to the Major Traditions in the main Patheos Library.</p> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/more-traditions" class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-2">see all traditions</a> </div> <section class="decorated "> <div class="related-content related-content-md clearfix"> <rad-country-selector-index title="country profiles" blurb="Our country profiles offer detailed information about the religious demographics of every country in the world — nearly 300 countries in all."> <option value="africa"> Africa <option value="asia"> Asia <option value="central-america"> Central America <option value="east-southeast-asia"> East Southeast Asia <option value="europe"> Europe <option value="middle-east"> Middle East <option value="north-america"> North America <option value="oceania"> Oceania <option value="south-america"> South America <option value="south-asia"> South Asia </rad-country-selector-index> </div> </section> <section class="decorated "> <div class="related-content related-content-md clearfix"> <div class="row"> <div class="section-title decorated clearfix">topics</div> </div> <p>Patheos regularly features topical surveys and series. Open the list below to review covered topics and related blogs, columns, and articles.</p> <div class="clearfix"> <form onsubmit="if(this.elements['topicselect'].value) { window.location.href=this.elements['topicselect'].value; }; return false;">> <div class="col-sm-3 clearfix less-spacing"> <select id="selector" name="topicselect" class="col-xs-12"> <option value="" selected='selected'>Select Topic <option value="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices/topics/remembering-ancestors">Remembering Ancestors... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events">Life Events <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/easter-eggs">Easter Eggs? <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/election-2012/key-faith-issues-in-this-election">Election Month at... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/2016-election-coverage">2016 Election Coverage <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/remembering-marcus-borg">Remembering Marcus Borg <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/patheos-at-five-reflections">Patheos @ 5 <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/spiritual-disciplines-for-work">Making it Through the... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/science-and-technology">Science and Technology <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/happify">Happify <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/black-history-month">Black History Month <option value="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/topics/proggod">#progGOD <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/humanism">Future of Humanism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/future-of-religion">Future of Religion <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/yuletide">Yuletide <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-is-progressive-christianity-06-13-2011">Progressive... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/lgbtq-rights-and-religious-freedom">LGBTQ Rights and... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/history-of-easter">The History of Easter <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/election-2012/for-whom-will-you-vote">Election Month at... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/patheos-at-five">Patheos @ 5 <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/faith-of-the-candidates">Faith of the Candidates <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/olympic-games">Olympic Games <option value="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/topics/proggod/why-an-incarnation">Why an Incarnation? <option value="https://www.patheos.com/test/aoswald/about-us---tall/topics/going-deeper">Going Deeper <option value="https://www.patheos.com/test/aoswald/life-topic-page2">Family <option value="https://www.patheos.com/test/aoswald/life-topic-page">Family <option value="https://www.patheos.com/catholic/topics/year-of-faith">The Year of Faith --... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint/topics/mormon-moment">The "Mormon Moment":... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/midterm-elections">2018 Midterm Elections <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/finances">Finances <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/birth">Birth <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/islam">Future of Islam <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/does-prayer-really-make-a-difference">Does Prayer Really Make... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/is-there-really-a-devil">Is There Really a... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/pagan-holidays">Pagan Holidays: Modern... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/keystone-pipeline">Keystone Pipeline <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/journey-of-lent">The Journey of Lent:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/valentines-day">Valentine's Day <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/devotional-reflections-of-easter">Devotional Reflections... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/arts-culture-entertainment">The Arts Culture &... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/roe-v-wade">Remembering Roe v. Wade <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/passing-on-the-faith">Passing on the Faith <option value="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/topics/proggod/who-what-is-god">Who/What is God? <option value="https://www.patheos.com/muslim/topics/2012-election">#MuslimVOTE <option value="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions/topics/why-i-am-a">Why I am a ..... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions/topics/stepping-stones-on-your-spiritual-journey">Stepping Stones on your... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/entertainment/topics/our-defining-moments">A Patheos Series: Our... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-seminary-education">Future of Seminary... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions">Future of Religion <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/mainline-protestantism">Future of Mainline... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/mormonism">Future of Mormonism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/hinduism">Future of Hinduism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/what-really-happens-when-we-die">What Really Happens... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/non-traditional-church">Non-traditional Church:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/state-of-the-union">State of the Union <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/entertainment-awards">Entertainment Awards <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/great-easter-art">Great Easter Art <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/christmas-at-patheos">Christmas at Patheos <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/in-memoriam">In Memoriam:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religious-freedom-legislation">Religious Freedom... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-in-america">Religion in America:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/ramadan">Ramadan: Awaiting the... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/politics-in-the-pulpit">Politics in the Pulpit <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/patheos-head-to-head">Patheos Head to Head <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/patheos-at-five-history">Patheos @ 5 <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/thanksgiving">Thanksgiving <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/good-news">Good News: What Good Is... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/best-of-patheos">The Best of Patheos <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe">What do I Really... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter">Engaging Easter <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/election-2012/does-a-candidates-faith-matter">Election Month at... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/denial">Denial <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/israel-palestine">Israel Palestine... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-and-the-environment">Religion and the... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/prayer-practices">Prayer Beyond Words <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/health-and-wellness">The Health and Wellness... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-lost-and-found">‘Religion Lost and... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/god-in-america">God In America <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/end-of-life">End of Life <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/aging">Aging <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/judaism">Future of Judaism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/pagan-rites-of-passage">Pagan Rites of Passage:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/my-faith-and-my-calling">My Faith and My Calling <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/explainers">Explainers <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/theology-of-easter">Theology of Easter <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/saint-josephs-college-online">Explore Saint Joseph's... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-and-violence">Religion and Violence:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-and-education">Religion and Education:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/religion-and-abuse">Religion and Abuse:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/jesuischarlie">JeSuisCharlie <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/heroes-of-2014">Heroes of 2014 <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/genius">Genius <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/one">ONE: Wisdom for World... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/catholic/topics/catholicism-the-new-evangelization">CATHOLICISM: The New... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/2020-election-coverage">2020 Election Coverage <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/family">Family <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/paganism">Future of Paganism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/what-does-god-really-look-like">What Does God Really... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/sports">The Sports Section <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/election-2012">Election Month at... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/election-2012/role-of-faith-in-politics-in-america">Election Month at... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/homeschooling">Back to School:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/jewish-holidays-and-festivals">Jewish Holidays and... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/interfaith-dialogue">Interfaith Dialogue:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/blacklivesmatter">#BlackLivesMatter:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/topics/proggod/why-a-crucifixion">Why A Crucifixion? <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/life-events/marriage">Marriage <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/evangelicalism">Future of... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/buddhism">Future of Buddhism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/future-of-world-religions/catholicism">Future of Catholicism <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/does-free-will-really-exist">Does Free Will Really... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/what-do-i-really-believe/does-god-really-talk-to-us">Does God Really Talk to... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/easter-in-the-home">Easter in the Home <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/engaging-easter/rituals-and-liturgy-of-easter">Rituals and Liturgy of... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/cia-torture-report">CIA Torture Report:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/capital-punishment">Capital Punishment:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/sexual-ethics">Sexual Ethics <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/remembering-911">Remembering 9/11 <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/pursue-the-passion">Pursue The Passion <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/politics-and-the-globe">Politics and the Globe <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/pilgrimage-and-travel">Pilgrimage and Travel:... <option value="https://www.patheos.com/topics/free-speech-and-religious-conflict">Free Speech and... </select> </div> <div class="col-sm-1 clearfix less-spacing"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-1 xs-wide">go</button> </div> </form> </div> </div> </section> <section class="decorated "> <div class="related-content related-content-md clearfix"> <div class="row"> <div class="section-title decorated clearfix">for students</div> </div> <p>You have come to the right place for extensive, user-friendly information for your research projects and your studies. Whether you are a student or just someone studying the religions of the world, Patheos provides a solid foundation of religious knowledge.</p> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/students" class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-2">see all resources</a> </div> </section> <section class="decorated "> <div class="related-content related-content-md clearfix"> <div class="row"> <div class="section-title decorated clearfix">for teachers</div> </div> <p>Patheos offers a free and expansive library of easy-to-read information on the world’s religious traditions. The Library also includes a variety of lenses and summaries to assist you in bringing the traditions to life. Visit our Teachers page to review all of our resources.</p> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-2">see all resources</a> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hide"> <a href="//www.patheos.com"> <span> <img src="//www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos Logo"> <meta content="127"> <meta content="38"> </span> <span>Patheos</span> <span>Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="site-footer-2022"> <div class="container"> <div class="extras-block mobile"> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82f1f7f2f2edf0f6c2e5e7f6e3e6efebf0e3eeace1edefbdf1f7e0e8e7e1f6bfd2e3f6eae7edf1a2d1f7e0f1e1f0ebf2f6ebedeca2d1f7f2f2edf0f6" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="footer-nav-links"> <ul> <li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">About Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href=" https://www.patheos.com/interfaith-calendar/2025?utm_source=footer&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=link&utm_id=nav">2025 Calendar</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Videos</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos/advertising">Advertise With Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/write-for-us">Write for Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Service</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://privacyportal.cookiepro.com/webform/8becd7f7-c923-4cd4-814a-e08c34baf60b/draft/f9dd159d-d007-43b0-a267-2b05605a52c3">Do Not Sell My Data</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">Contact Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.radiantdigital.com/">Radiant Digital</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/preference-center">Manage Newsletter Subscriptions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/push-notifications">Unsubscribe From Notifications</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/sitemaps">Sitemap</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="logo-block"> <div class="footer-logo"></div> Copyright 2008-2025, Patheos. All rights reserved. </div> <div class="extras-block"> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0d3d5d0d0cfd2d4e0c7c5d4c1c4cdc9d2c1cc8ec3cfcd9fd3d5c2cac5c3d49df0c1d4c8c5cfd380f3d5c2d3c3d2c9d0d4c9cfce80f3d5d0d0cfd2d4" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type='text/javascript'> window.rad = window.rad || {}; window.rad.ads = window.rad.ads || {}; window.rad.ads.preload = {"pageConfig":{"channel":"","hierarchy":"/29966721/PATH/library","tags":["Spiritual","religion","Faith","world"],"audience":null,"contentid":"a3fc123b","title":"Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions","type":"patheos-library-main","disabled":false,"enableHeaderBidding":true,"enableAdmiral":true,"enableOptimera":true,"admiralAdFreeOfferIds":["5d3f6796da6fa95e8589a652","5e45c46f0cb01b0d8a4a3a1a","5d3f66970cb01b379f35f8df","5e45c42d5c443b73b53cc7a5","623b4296cf541f46827b865d"],"cookieConsentDomainId":"3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb","creativeConfigInsertLocationIds":["overlay-inject-location","writer-theme-logo","patheos-main-nav","path-main-navigation"],"creativeConfigNavId":"patheos-main-nav","creativeConfigEnableScrollingNav":false,"analyticsTrackingId":"UA-6605286-6","prebidAdapters":{"pubmatic":{"publisherId":"159758","pubmaticAdSlots":[{"id":"3214316","size":[300,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214317","size":[728,90],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214318","size":[300,600],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214319","size":[970,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214320","size":[300,100],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214321","size":[320,50],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214322","size":[300,250],"mobile":true}]},"appnexus":{"placementId":"26373425","adSizes":[[970,250],[300,600],[300,250],[320,50],[160,600],[728,90],[300,100],[468,60]]},"rubicon":{"accountId":"24710","siteId":"432530","zoneId":"2474518"}},"customTargeting":[{"key":"p_channel","value":""},{"key":"faiths","value":[]},{"key":"topics","value":[]}],"ipApiKey":"oQJeoTOiJjO6efS","liveIntentPublisherId":null}}; </script> <script> window.addEventListener('load', function() { function checkForVideoEmbeds() { // Check for YouTube iframes var youtubeEmbeds = document.querySelectorAll('iframe[src*="youtube.com"]'); // Check for JW Player iframes var jwPlayerEmbeds = document.querySelectorAll('iframe[src*="jwplayer"]'); // check for video tags var videoTags = document.getElementsByTagName("video"); // check for mp4 or m4v extensions var mp4Tags = document.querySelectorAll('video[src$=".mp4"]'); var m4vTags = document.querySelectorAll('video[src$=".m4v"]'); return youtubeEmbeds.length === 0 && jwPlayerEmbeds.length === 0 && videoTags.length === 0 && mp4Tags.length === 0 && m4vTags.length === 0; } // Only load Meta Pixel if no video embeds are found if (checkForVideoEmbeds()) { console.log("No video embeds found, loading Meta Pixel"); // Add script tag var script = document.createElement('script'); script.innerHTML = "!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)" + "{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?" + "n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};" + "if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';" + "n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;" + "t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];" + "s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script'," + "'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');" + "fbq('init', '1510929182549648');" + "fbq('track', 'PageView', { fbc: '', fbp: '' }, { eventID: '63875594052745' });"; document.head.appendChild(script); // Add noscript tag var noscript = document.createElement('noscript'); var img = document.createElement('img'); img.height = "1"; img.width = "1"; img.style.display = "none"; img.src = "https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1510929182549648&ev=PageView&eid=63875594052745&ud[fbp]=&ud[fbc]=&noscript=1"; noscript.appendChild(img); document.body.appendChild(noscript); } else { console.log("Video embeds found, not loading Meta Pixel"); } }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.open("POST", "/ptapi/pageload/event", true); xmlHttp.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8"); xmlHttp.send(JSON.stringify({ "Referer": window.location.href, "EventID": "63875594052745" })); </script>  <script type="module" src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js"></script> <script type="module" src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/app.9919b64a.js"></script> <script>!function () { var e = document, t = e.createElement("script"); if (!("noModule" in t) && "onbeforeload" in t) { var n = !1; e.addEventListener("beforeload", function (e) { if (e.target === t) n = !0; else if (!e.target.hasAttribute("nomodule") || !n) return; e.preventDefault() }, !0), t.type = "module", t.src = ".", e.head.appendChild(t), t.remove() } }();</script> <script src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/" nomodule=""></script> <script src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/" nomodule=""></script> <link rel="preload" href="/areas/patheos/css/main.css?v=609b267289c4cd39a75b4d3ba23a9a54" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="/areas/patheos/css/main.css?v=609b267289c4cd39a75b4d3ba23a9a54"></noscript>  <script src="/areas/patheos/js/vendor/lazysizes.min.js" async=""></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:100,300,400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" crossorigin="">  </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Library Of World Religions And Faith Traditions | Patheos