organized religion

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

Jews collectively who practice a religion based on the Torah and the Talmud

the religion of most people in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal

religion adhering to the teaching of Lao-tzu

a religion represented by the many groups (especially in Asia) that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha

the group of initiated Sikhs to which devout orthodox Sikhs are ritually admitted at puberty; founded by the tenth and last Guru in 1699

a new religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1955 and characterized by a belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment

the native religion and former ethnic cult of Japan

the church that is recognized as the official church of a nation

a subdivision of a larger religious group

followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader

followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices

a religious society of women who live together as sisters (especially an order of nuns)

an independent Christian church established in Armenia since 300; was influenced by both Roman and Byzantine traditions

any of several churches claiming to have maintained historical continuity with the original Christian Church

a Christian religious sect in southern France in the 12th and 13th centuries; believers in Albigensianism

a Christian Church in the Middle East that followed Nestorianism; there is still a small Nestorian Church in Iraq

the ancient Christian church of Egypt

the Protestant churches and denominations collectively

a group in the Anglican Church that emphasizes the Catholic tradition (especially in sacraments and rituals and obedience to church authority)

a Christian church (with some Buddhist elements) founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon and known for staging mass weddings and other communal activities

a 16th century sect of Anabaptists centered in Germany who had an absolute disdain for human knowledge

an orthodox Anabaptist sect separated from the Mennonites in late 17th century; settled chiefly in southeastern Pennsylvania

a Jewish sect that recognizes only the Hebrew Scriptures as the source of divinely inspired legislation and denies the authority of the postbiblical tradition of the Talmud; the sect arose in Iraq in the eighth century

Jews who strictly observe the Mosaic law as interpreted in the Talmud

Jews who keep some of the requirements of the Mosaic law but allow for adaptation of other requirements (as some of the dietary laws) to fit modern circumstances

the most liberal Jews; Jews who do not follow the Talmud strictly but try to adapt all of the historical forms of Judaism to the modern world

one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam; mainly in Iran

one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam

the religious and social system of orthodox Hinduism

a Hindu sect worshiping Shiva

a Hindu sect worshiping Shakti

Hindu sect worshiping of Vishnu

any of several sects of Orthodox Judaism that reject modern secular culture and many of whom do not recognize the spiritual authority of the modern state of Israel

a religious sect founded in the United States in 1966; based on Vedic scriptures; groups engage in joyful chanting of `Hare Krishna' and other mantras based on the name of the Hindu god Krishna; devotees usually wear saffron robes and practice vegetarianism and celibacy

sect founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against Hinduism

a Chinese sect claiming to follow the teaching of Lao-tzu but incorporating pantheism and sorcery in addition to Taoism

school of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith; China and Japan

a major school of Buddhism teaching social concern and universal salvation; China; Japan; Tibet; Nepal; Korea; Mongolia

a major school of Buddhism teaching personal salvation through one's own efforts

movement within Buddhism combining elements of Hinduism and paganism

the branch of Shinto recognized as the official state religion of Japan

any branch of Shinto other than Kokka

(plural) the lay members of a male religious order

a group of person living under a religious rule

a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called Quakers

a celibate and communistic Christian sect in the United States

a Christian sect of dissenters that originated in southern France in the late 12th century adopted Calvinist doctrines in the 16th century

a Zoroastrian sect that claims Zurvan was the ultimate source of the universe

(Melanesia) the followers of one of several millenarian cults that believe salvation will come in the form of wealth (`cargo') brought by westerners; some ascribe divine attributes to westerners on first contact (especially to missionaries)

(Brazil) followers of a religious cult of African origin

(West Indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery

(Ethiopia) adherents of an African religion that regards Ras Tafari as divine

(Haiti) followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities

(Jamaica) a Black youth subculture and religious movement that arose in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1950s; males grow hair in long dreadlocks and wear woolen caps; use marijuana and listen to reggae music

a community of followers of the Wicca religion