TALM International

Religions of the World

Hinduism
For certain is death for the born, and certain is birth for the dead, therefore over the inevitable, thou shouldst not grieve.
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 Verse 27

Introduction
Hinduism is the term used to describe a vast collection of loosely-related faith practices and philosophy native to the Indian subcontinent. The practices described below are popular but not definitive or even inclusive of most Hindus.
Recurrent Concepts throughout Hinduism
There is something sacred or blessed about the very geography of the Indian subcontinent. There might ultimately be one Almighty God. He has three most powerful forms: that of Brahman, the Creator of All; Shiva, Destroyer of All; and Vishnu, Preserver of All. This Almighty God also takes other forms, and popularly the forms are numbered as 330 million, and many forms act as individual deities. Some Hindus say that there are many gods and yet only an Almighty God; or some just say there are many gods and say nothing of an Almighty God. This is a difficult concept for non-Hindus but sensible to Hindus.
After death one’s soul (spiritual essence) leaves one’s body and migrates into a new body. This is called samsara (reincarnation).
The design of the universe contains an inherent and personal dharma (duty) for each creature; it is beneficial to recognize and accept this duty. Dharma changes in every incarnation of a soul. The design of the universe contains an inherent system of applying merit based on a creature’s adherence to its dharma; this system is called karma. Karma stays the same as a soul reincarnates.
There is a form of enlightenment which by means of which one can escape samsara and join Vishnu. This enlightenment involves recognizing maya (illusion) and thereby achieving moksha (enlightenment).
Vishnu loves humanity and wants humanity to seek Him. He incarnates Himself on earth periodically when righteousness declines and unrighteousness increases; while on earth he then augments the former and combats the latter.
Three of Vishnu’s latest forms have been Rama (born 7400 BCE), a dutiful warrior whose story is contained in the epic Ramayana; Krishna (born 3200 BCE), an intensely physically and mentally attractive cowherd and prince whose story is told in the epic Mahabharata; and Buddha (born 560 BCE), founder of Buddhism.
There is an associated concept of caste relating to Dharma; this concept may or may not have been radically altered by British occupation. Strictly speaking, only Hindus have caste, but in social practice, many classes of society from all religions exhibit intercaste formality.
India’s Peaceful Residents
Hindu tradition has been the formative background for the nurturing of other religions, notably Zoroastrianism (through Parsis), Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Historically, these faith systems and Hinduism itself have produced some of the highest philosophical treatises on the topic of peaceful living. None of these other religions have any basis in Hinduism; they were founded separately from Hindu religious influence.
Conclusion
It is not the case that one form or teaching of Vishnu is most important; it is one’s dharma which directs one to glorify Almighty God in the appropriate way. However, Rama and Krishna are wildly popular.
 

Agnosticism, Atheism, Non-religious

Introduction
Agnosticism is the faith system associated with material science (physics) and strict mathematical logic. It is a non-exclusive faith system in that it can be paired with any other number of religious beliefs at the user’s discretion.
Agnosticism holds that while spiritual things may exist, there is no conclusive evidence to be found in the material world for believing so. This is strictly distinct from another faith system, atheism, which holds that there is conclusive evidence to be found in the material world for believing that an intelligent spiritual force does not exist. There are some atheists who believe that while nothing intelligent exists in the spiritual realm, there is a spiritual realm nonetheless; these people are pantheists. A few people think nothing of spirituality at all; this group might be called non-religious.

Agnosticism
Belief in spirits almost always includes a belief that the spiritual realm and the physical realm will, on occasion, interact with each other. Agnosticism is a faith system which actively seeks this interaction. A person who looks for evidence of the interaction is an agnostic; if the evidence is convincing, then presumably the agnostic would change belief system to whichever religion exposed the interaction between realms. If the evidence is not convincing, then the agnostic would remain agnostic. Note that an agnostic is not an atheist, but that an agnostic might convert to atheism in the same way that conversion to any other religion is possible: the agnostic would need to find convincing evidence supporting the adoption of that faith system.
Atheism
There are no universally known scientific tests for disproving the existence of spiritual things; therefore, atheism is a religion based on faith. There are atheists who have found sufficient evidence of spiritual things despite knowing that there are no deity figures within the spiritual realm. These atheists are not categorized, but some religions which have branches teaching of an all-pervading non-sentient force include Buddhism, Hinduism, various primal faith systems, and branches of Neo-paganism such as Druidism, Shamanism, and Wicca.
Many people who are professed atheists are upset due to perceived injustices perpetuated by religious organizations. A common belief of atheists is that all known religions must be invalid by virtue of their causing mankind more harm than good. There are statistical tests for supporting this claim; however, such tests will never be conclusive and will always have a certain obvious degree of subjectivity in their interpretation.
Some atheists chose their belief out of simple personal preference, preferring not to elaborate on causality. This habit can be found in all religions, and is not unique to atheists.

"It appears to me (whether rightly or wrongly) that direct arguments against Christianity and theism produce hardly any effect on the public; and freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of mens' minds which follows from the advance of science." [Darwin]
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." [Voltaire]

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism." [Einstein]
"Faith means not wanting to know what is true." [Nietzsche]
"I cannot believe in the immortality of the soul.... No, all this talk of an existence for us, as individuals, beyond the grave is wrong. It is born of our tenacity of life – our desire to go on living … our dread of coming to an end." [Edison]
"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma." [Lincoln]

"Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn't killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity?" [Arthur C. Clarke]
"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies." [Thomas Jefferson]
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile." [Kurt Vonnegut]
"Religion is based . . . mainly on fear . . . fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. . . . My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race." [Bertrand Russell]

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Non-religion
Some people have a total lack of faith system, neither believing nor disbelieving in a spiritual realm but they are few and far between. The fact that these people are so rare is a matter of intense curiosity. There is strong evidence supporting the notion that there is something inherent in the human design which makes practically all people question whether or not a spiritual realm exists, if they doubt its existence at all.

Buddhism

I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the doctrine.
I take refuge in the monastic order.
   - Traditional and Liturgical
Introduction
Buddhism is probably the most simple religion to describe in broad generality though it often is practiced with a modicum of cultural flair. Buddhism’s chief tenets, called the Four Noble Truths, are:

• 1.Suffering exists.
  

• 2.Suffering has a cause, namely, desire.
  

• 3.Desire is the only cause of suffering.
  

• 4.There is a way to end desire.
  

• 1.Right views.
  

• 2.Right intention.
  

• 3.Right speech.
  

• 4.Right conduct.
  

• 5.Right livelihood.
  

• 6.Right strivings.
  

• 7.Right mindset.
  

• 8.Right concentration.
  

Islam
There is no god but Allah (Almighty God) and Muhammad is His prophet.
- Shahada (Creed of Islam)

Introduction
Islam is a religion which traces its founding to an agreement which Allah (Almighty God) had with Ibrahim, (Abraham), in 2000 BCE. Since then, Allah established a final covenant through a final prophet Muhammad, born 570 CE. This covenant involves respect for Allah’s instructions contained verbatim in the Qur’an as given to Muhammad; in return Allah promises infinite reward in Jannah (a paradise garden) after death. Most Muslims believe that Allah will punish in a finite way those who did not accept the covenant in this life, after which comes the possibility of entering Jannah.
Practices
Muslims have in common five practices, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. These are the following:

• 1.Recitation of the Shahadah, as written above
  

• 2.Salat, or prayer five times daily
  

• 3.Zakat, or the giving of alms toward charitable world-betterment
  

• 4.Sawn, or fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
  

• 5.Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
  

Purim, based on the Book of Esther in the Jewish Bible, the Tanakh, also called The Megillah, calls to mind the defeat of the Persian Haman who plotted to eliminate the Jewish nation. The book of Esther is publicly recited, and when the name of Haman is mentioned, noisemakers are rung to blot out the name of evil. Gifts are exchanged, and charity is offered to the less fortunate. There are also pastries that are eaten called Hamentaschen – literally Hamen’s pockets — or, in Italy, Orecci di Haman — Hamen’s Ears.

Passover is a week long holiday that commemorates the exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is generally held between March and April, and is celebrated by the abstention from eating leavened bread, as the fleeing members of the Jewish nation could not wait for bread to rise. Matzah is eaten instead (and is not permitted to rise for more than 18 minutes). A ceremonial Seder meal consists of Matzah and bitter herbs which recall the suffering of the Jewish people. Various prayers are recited throughout the occasion.

Shavuot occurs in late May or early June and celebrates the anniversary of God’s gift of the Torah to Moses; it is also a pilgrimage festival, like the holiday of Sukkoth. Shavuot occurs fifty days after Passover, giving it the Greek name of Pentecost, or fiftieth day. The Shavuot is extremely important, because with the gift of the Torah to them, the Jews became a true nation with a set of laws to honor God.
The Jewish Legacy
Judaism is a rewarding philosophy and religion that ties together all of its practitioners into a nation that is free of borders, yet all of whom share a common regard and concern for the state of Israel. All Jews are called to share in the Covenant and it is this incredible world family that sets the Jewish faith apart from all faiths. Even in the modern world, with its myriad concerns and worries, the Jewish people look to the future and the great Messianic age that will deliver humanity from its worldly problems.
Some years ago the Dalai Lama sought out Jewish rabbis to engage in a dialogue with them to find out how the Jewish people have survived in exile for so many years. Indeed, with the preservation of their beliefs and customs in the face of near-insurmountable enemies, the Jewish people serve as an excellent example of long-suffering endurance.

Catholicism

With more than a billion members, the Roman Catholic Church, or more commonly, the Catholic Church, is the oldest and largest Christian denomination in the world today. At its head is the Pope, who, it is believed, can infallibly and dogmatically define Christian teachings on theology and morality. Ignatius of Antioch is the first person known to have referred to the "Catholic Church." It appears in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, written around 107 AD.
Unlike Protestant churches, which hold to scripture, and scripture alone, as authoritative, the Catholic Church teaches that there are three sources of authority: the Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Church's interpretation of the first two. The main source for the official teachings of the church can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Catholics and Protestants agree on many of the major Christian doctrines, such as Jesus' virgin birth and sinless life, the incarnation and the Trinity, the bodily resurrection, and the Second Coming. However, there are major differences regarding authority, salvation, and faith. While the Catholic Church accepts both the Bible and church tradition as authoritative, Protestantism believes the Bible to be the sole authority on matters of belief and worship. Protestantism teaches that salvation is by grace, and grace alone, which is given to the believer directly by God at conversion. To this the Catholic Church adds sacraments as another way to achieve grace.
In fact, it is believed and taught in Catholicism that Christ himself instituted seven sacraments. The Sacraments are: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony. Sacraments are viewed as rituals that symbolize God's presence. All of these sacraments are seen as actual channels of God's grace to all those who willingly receive them.

The Virgin Mary holds a distinctive position in Catholicism, and Catholics offer her devotions and prayers. The most well-known Marian devotion is the recitation of the Rosary. It is believed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived him without the taint of Original Sin. This doctrine is known as the Immaculate Conception. The Assumption of Mary is the belief that Mary was assumed bodily into heaven at her death. These teachings are not to be found in the Bible. Instead, both are doctrines that have been dogmatically defined by popes, and, therefore, must be believed by faithful Catholics. Many Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary has appeared personally to people, and these are known as Marian apparitions. These apparitions have been given some support by the Church as credible, in particular Lourdes and Fatima.
Like all Christians, the Church believes it was founded by Jesus Christ in the 1st century A.D. He appointed twelve apostles, with Peter as the head apostle. The Pope and his cardinals are held as the successors to Peter and the Apostles. The Church's pubic ministry began at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. The apostles gained converts from Jewish communities scattered around the Mediterranean Sea area. As St. Paul began to convert Gentiles, Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. Christians began to see themselves as members of a separate religion, distinct from Judaism.
In the beginning, the church was loosely organized, and it was not until well into the second century that a more organized, hierarchical authority structure began to emerge. Originally a bishop would have authority only over the priests in his own city. Eventually the organization of the Church began to more closely resemble that of the Empire. Bishops in the more politically important cities, notably Rome and Antioch, began to assert their authority not only over their own clergy, but over other bishops as well. By the 3rd century, the Bishop of Rome began to assert more and more authority over other bishops, acting as arbiter of disputes among other bishops.
Christianity was legalized in 313, and declared the religion of the Empire in 380. In 325, the First Council of Nicaea convened and promulgated what became known as the Nicene Creed. This creed established basic Christian teachings. In addition, it divided the church into administrative areas for the first time, called dioceses. The Council of Rome, held in 382, established the Biblical canon. Eventually, the early Church came to be organized under the three patriarchs of Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. These three bishops were viewed as equals. The Bishop of Rome, however, saw himself as the successor of Saint Peter. As it was generally agreed that both Saints Peter and Paul were buried in Rome, the early Bishops of Rome saw this as further confirmation of their supremacy.

The year 431 saw the first large rupture, or schism, occur in the Church. The Council of Ephesus, held that year, stated that because the humanity and divinity of Jesus are inseparable, his mother Mary was necessarily the Mother of God. She was given the title Theotokos, which means God-bearer. Those who refused to accept the Council's ruling are represented today by the Assyrian Church of the East. The next major break was after the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451. This Council declared that Christ was one person with two natures. The Church in Alexandria rejected the teachings of this Council, and today these Churches are referred to as Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The 11th century saw the next major division in Catholicism, when the East-West Schism occurred. Differences in doctrine, church government, and worship practices that had developed over the centuries lead to a split in the year 1054 that divided the Church between East and West. Most of Western Europe was in the Western camp, while Greece, Romania, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Egypt made up the Eastern camp.
The greatest division in the Church occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation. At this time many not only rejected the structure of the Catholic Church, but many of its teachings. This last division would prove to be the most devastating, and the most permanent. Today, slightly less than half of the world's Christian population is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Christianity
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Jesus of Nazareth, Bible, Book of John 14:6

Introduction
Christianity is a system of faith which promises infinite divine benefit to its adherents and possibly infinite divine punishment to its detractors. Its adherents are commonly understood to be those people who adopt a belief system defined by Almighty God and originally given to select members of mankind for the purposes of human dissemination and proselytization.
Founding

Jesus of Nazareth was born into a family of low economic class in approximately 1 CE, (his birth defined the modern dating system), in what is currently Palestine. The manner of His birth was unusual and fulfilled interpretations of Jewish prophecy in what Christians call the Old Testament. Before he reached adolescence he displayed unnatural wisdom beyond human education.

When Jesus was thirty years old He became an itinerant preacher and miracle worker. At this time He made statements which define the purpose of human existence. Also at this time Jesus of Nazareth revealed that He was, in fact, God incarnate as a man. As part of His purpose on earth Jesus submitted Himself to the human legal system and accepted a resulting governmental death penalty.
Salvation through Human Sacrifice
His death became the last instance of blood sacrifice in the Jewish tradition and is thought to atone for all possible sin, due to the infinite value of the divine human sacrifice. This fulfilled Jewish prophesy, as did His miraculous resurrection three days after His death.
The key concept in Christianity is that there is a protocol by means of which one may use that blood sacrifice to pay for personal failings which have offended God, who requires retribution in His capacity as ultimate judge. God has some just method for deciding a person’s fate as a reincarnated spirit in the afterlife, and this decision is related to an individual’s utilization of the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
Authority

Christianity has a closed canon of doctrine within an authoritative book created by God through men in generations after the advent of Jesus; this book is the New Testament and together with the Old Testament makes up a set of works called the Bible.
Christianity’s largest authoritative body is the Holy See - commonly associated with either the Vatican or the Pope - which presides as head of the organization; fewer than half of all Christians recognize the authority of this body. Probably the most concise statement of Christianity is in the Nicene Creed or its derivatives; the sects of Christianity can generally be categorized by their reaction to this short document.
Missionary Tradition
Most of Christianity for most of history has held that those who die without accepting the doctrines of Christianity are doomed to Hell, a horrible fate in the afterlife. Because of this, many Christians insist that non-Christians be exposed to Biblical teachings. Some Christians consider the human-directed conversion of non-believers to Christianity to be more important than any other endeavor.
This belief is balanced in an informal way with the stronger notion that Almighty God is infinitely just, merciful, and loving; many believers find that they must reconcile that primary doctrine against all other doctrines, which are secondary.

Zoroastrianism
Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves in vision as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action. Between these two the wise ones chose aright; the foolish not so.
- Avesta: Yasna 30 Ahunavaiti Gatha, verse 3

Introduction
Zoroastrianism is a religion founded in Persia (Iran) by Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) sometime between 1200-600 BCE. It is a religion which promised salvation in exchange for right belief based on the teachings of a closed religious canon; historically, however, many original scriptures were lost when Iskandar (Alexander the Great) attacked Darius III’s Persian Empire in 330 BCE.
It is a faith system which treats human devotion to asha (truth and righteousness) as the necessary precondition to bring about Ahura Mazda’s (Almighty God’s) destruction of evil.
Cosmology
Ahura Mazda created the universe from nothing and made humankind desirous of good but ignorant of asha, the truth. There is something profound and valuable about the act of seeking asha; furthermore, it is within the ability of humankind to do so.
There is a foil to Ahura Mazda’s infinite goodness, and it is a finite evil entity or lie named Angre Mainyu. These two entities also have a set of spiritual underlings, Mazda’s being the ahuras and Angre Mainyu’s being the daevas (compare Vedic Hindu tradition, which reverses these roles). Mithra is the leader of the ahuras, and is like a leader of an angelic order.
Salvation

The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism and it charges readers to seek asha. It teaches that, upon simple reflection, one should realize that Ahura Mazda is good and that humankind is integral and potent in the overcoming of Angre Mainyu. The start of this battle between moral spirits is in finding wisdom; upon prayerful request, Mazda will aid His devotees to that end.
Mazda typically executes His spiritual designs for humans through Fravashi, or guardian angels. This is comparable to His executing His material world plans through humans themselves. Ultimately, human efforts will banish evil and unrighteousness from the material world.

Afterlife
There is a judgment for humans to determine residence in one of two spiritual planes in the afterlife. After death, a person crosses the Bridge of the Separator and enters either the Abode of Songs and exists in asha; otherwise a person enters the House of Lies and exists without asha.
Culture
During the Islamic conquest of Persia around 650 CE many Zoroastrians were displaced to India, where Zoroastrianism lives today through the Parsis and Iranis in India as well as the communities who stayed in Iran. Despite geographical separation for an extended period of time, most members of Zoroastrian faith remained true to its precepts and today the religion is not formally sectarian.
Zoroastrian culture teaches equality of all humans regardless of born traits or religion. Environmental concerns are historically also a cultural devotion.


Unitarian Universalism

Introduction
Unitarian Universalism is a religious denomination which embraces theological diversity. It reflects the merger of two longstanding traditions: Unitarianism and Universalism. Both traditions have Judeo-Christian roots extending back hundreds of years; some even to the very beginnings of Christianity. Unitarian Universalism has no creed; its adherents are free to follow many paths in the search for truth and decide their own beliefs about theological issues.
History
Originally, Unitarians were simply Christians who did not believe in the Trinity. Instead, they advocated the unity of God as their founding doctrine. Unitarian beliefs have been part of Christian theology since the time of the death of Jesus. However, religious groups did not form around this theological principle until the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe. Unitarianism emerged in America in the early 19th century, primarily in New England in Congregationalist churches. The churches were organized around broad principles of rational thinking, the humanity of Jesus, and each individual having a direct relationship with God.
Universalism has an equally long history which extends deeply into the history of Christianity beginning with some of the earliest Church scholars such as Origen and St. Gregory of Nyssa. Universalists denounced the doctrine of eternal damnation in favor of universal salvation and a loving God who will redeem all.
Universalism formed as a distinct denomination in America in 1793. Unitarians became a denomination in 1825. The two denominations consolidated into one, known as the Unitarian Universalist Association, in 1961. Today, there are approximately 1,041 congregations in Canada, the United States, and abroad. Worldwide membership is estimated at between 120,000 and 600,000 individuals.
Historically, both Unitarians and Universalists have been active in social justice, social reform, and other political issues. Their members have been involved in causes such as abolitionism, women’s suffrage, civil rights, the feminist movement, gay rights, and other social reform campaigns.
Spirituality

Unitarian Universalism’s defining characteristic is that it has no set beliefs. While both traditions began as divergent groups within Christianity and looked to the Bible as their source of truth, today the organization recognizes sacred texts and scriptures from all religions. There is no one way to think about the soul, the afterlife, or even God. While welcomed, belief in God is not required to be a member of a congregation. A variety of spiritual practices are found and welcomed within the congregations: Humanist, Agnostic, Earth-centered, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian and Pagan are the most prevalent.

Unificationism
God's true love can enter into every family in the love children have for their parents, the love of brothers and sisters, the conjugal love shared by husband and wife, and the love parents have for their children. These are the four great realms of heart.
- Unification blessing

Introduction
Mun Yong-myong - known to western cultures as Sun Myung Moon, claimed that on Easter Day in 1935 Jesus visited him and asked him to complete the work of restoring humanity to God, accomplish his work left unfinished after his crucifixion and defeat darkness so God can establish an eternal reign. Moon was 15 at the time. After a long period of personal prayer Moon took this mission upon himself and created the The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity - now known as the Unification Church, to fulfill his pledge of unification.
The beliefs of the Unification Church include a universal God, the creation of a kingdom of God on earth, salvation for all people, and that church founder Sun Myung Moon is the second coming of Christ. Divine Principles is their holy textbook.
Founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, the Unification Church was established in Seoul, South Korea after several false starts in northern Korea - for which he was imprissoned. The founding name was the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity and its members call themselves Unificationists. Outsiders nicknamed them "Moonies," a name members consider derogatory.
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification became the official name for the religious group in 1994. At that time, Moon announced the consolidation of all his entities including the The Washington Times, Korean Folk Ballet, and many others under the new name.
Missionaries have founded churches in more than 150 countries, including the United States. Estimates place membership in excess of the 100,000s but no definitive number's available.
Customs and Beliefs
In the teachings of Unificationsim, God is held to be the creator whose very essence is both that of  male and female and is the source of all things truthful, beautiful, and good. Human beings as well as the universe as a whole mirror God's purpose.
Reciprocal interaction - the concept of "give and take" is a central tenet of Unification in which the concept the the purpose of human existence is to return joy to God.
Other central concepts of Unification are "subject and object position" and the "four-position foundation."
Divine Principals
Moon's Holy Book No Trinity states that God is a single being comprised of both female/negative and male/positive in perfect harmony. God's female counterpart is the Holy Spirit, a form of energy from God.
Eve and Lucifer had an affair and had sexual relations with Adam prior to their marriage in Eden. These illicit acts led to Satan's rule of the world and the fall of mankind.
Born without sin, Jesus Christ was spiritually resurrected following his crucifixion. Angels took his body to an undisclosed location. He was executed before he could marry a perfect woman to undo original sin and make both physical and spiritual salvation possible. Only spiritual salvation was accomplished. Acceptance of Jesus as your savior and following his teachings will permit you to live with him in Paradise after you die.
Hell currently exists on earth and in the spiritual world but will be eradicated on earth.
Controversy
There have been many controversies associated with the Unification Church. It has been declared by many to be more of a cult than a church though several prominent sources have found that there is a genuine spiritual belief system as a basis for their religious views. The use of monies of the church have personally enriched Moon personally have also come into international question and sometimes prosecution and conviction for tax evasion in the United States.
There have also been allegations of recruitment and brainwashing in which young and vulnerable people were separated from their families through suspect methods. Long term research found that this was overblown and sensationalistic reporting even though the church did use high-coercion tactics to recruit new members during the 1970's.
There have at various times been reports of children born out of wedlock, accusations of antisemitism and more. We leave it for yourself to discover the world of Unificationism and form your own opinions.

Traditional African Religion

Introduction
African Traditional Religions are those practiced by the original inhabitants of Africa and can be divided into four different groups: the Nilo-Saharan, the Niger-Congo, the Khoisan and the Afro-Asiatic Religious Traditions. African Diasporic Religions, on the other hand, are those that developed when the African Traditional Religions practiced by African slaves in new world countries like the southern USA, Latin America and the Caribbean Islands were mixed with the religions being practiced in those countries at that time.
History
There are many different Traditional and Diasporic Religions and each have their own history and specific origin. For the Traditional Religions, one Nilo-Saharan group was monotheistic while another was non theistic (as were the Khoisan groups), the Niger-Congo group was concerned with the manifestation of spirit in nature and the Afro-Asiatic group was henotheistic. Diasporic Religions represent the merging of whatever Traditional Religion was now being practiced in a specific new world country with whatever religion was already being practiced in that country, like, for instance, Catholicism, Kardecist Spiritism or Native American traditional mythology.
Different people have been responsible for influencing the development of the different Traditional and Diasporic Religions. In the Yoruba Traditional Religion, for instance, one of the present leaders in the faith is Prince (Babalawo) Adigun Osolun and he is also the High Priest of several other sects, including Oke, Egbe and Obatala. Another example is the influence that Marie Laveau and her daughter had on the development of the Diasporic Religion Voudou in 19th Century New Orleans.
Reach & Spirituality

Taken together, the Traditional Religions and the Diasporic Religions have been designated as a 'major religious group' and are believed to have approximately 100 million adherents worldwide. Approximately 45% of the people living in Africa today are followers of the Traditional Religions although this figure may be significantly higher as some of the people who are deemed to adhere to Islamic tradition also still follow Yoruban religious traditions. The Diasporic Religions are also still extensively practiced today in the American south, Central America and South America.
How basic religious concepts are defined in the African Traditional Religions and the African Diasporic Religions also differs from religion to religion. The Diasporic language of Winti as practiced in Suriname, for instance, is based on a belief in the personification of supernatural spirits while the Traditional Yoruban religion believes that it is the manifest destiny of all human beings to merge with the divine creator.

The Occult

The occult is typically referred to as the "knowledge of the hidden," and with regard to medical aspects, it is known as a process that helps uncover unexplained anemia. To be an occultist means that the individual has an obsession with uncovering the truth that lurks behind the surface, typically by use of magic. The magick that is typically included with the occult includes alchemy, extra-sensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, and numerology.
Nowadays, it seems that the word "occult" is overused because anything that does not fall into the bracket of the organized religion falls into the broad term, "the occult." From the fifteenth to the seventeenth century, alchemy was somewhat prevalent, as it became pretty popular with scientists such as Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. The major problem with the occult with regard to science is that there were complaints that Isaac Newton used it to explain his definition of gravity. During the Age of Enlightenment, the occult was put on hold because of the empirical sciences gaining a foothold. The idea of the occult is that it should take the place of science; it should in some way explain the mysteries of science and restore man's place in the world and enter him or her into a place of dignity. Oddly enough, the Kabbalah is considered part of the occult, as it seems to have elements similar to it.
The occult is not something that arrives out of any physical nature, but rather it comes about through the spirit and the mind. The occult is often useful, as it serves to cure mental, psychological, and spiritual issues. Belief is a powerful tool, and so the success of the occult and its positive effects is directly related to that ability. It appears that currently some scientists actually include at least certain ideologies taken from the occult to be used in their studies.
Many religious denominations see the occult as something evil, a rather malevolent energy that is easily misguided by those that practice it. Only in Judaism is the occult accepted under certain circumstances. Some rabbis choose esoteric or occult principles as part of their ideology; esotericism is quite similar to the occult, in fact the terms are often interchanged in Judaism. Magnetism is also quite similar to the occult, as it also tries to uncover mystical qualities and shed light on them. There is an entire list of terms that share the same principles of the occult.

Tenrikyo

Introduction
Tenrikyo is a Japanese religion with about two million followers today, most of whom live in Japan. It is a newer religion, having been founded in the 19th century by a woman, Miki Nakayama. It is a monotheistic religion which believes that God, or Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, revealed wisdom through Nakayama and certain other people. Although reincarnation is part of Tenrikyo, its practitioners focus on cultivating worldly happiness, known as the Joyous Life, through charitable acts and kindness towards others.
History
Miki Nakayama founded Tenrikyo in 1838, when she felt the presence of Tenri-O-no-Mikoto while assisting in a Buddhist exorcism meant to cure her husband of illness. Nakayama began to teach Tenrikyo to others, including another person, Izo Iburi, who also received revelatory messages from Tenri-O-no-Mikoto and did much to spread Tenrikyo, as well as compile his and Nakayama's messages into formal texts. Government pressure forced Tenrikyo to become absorbed as a Buddhist sect for a while, but was later recognized by the Japanese government as a sect of Shinto, despite having a different theological nature than the polytheistic Shinto faith. Tenrikyo distinguished itself at this time due to its followers' humanitarian acts, such as founding orphanages and schools for the blind. After World War II, Tenrikyo practitioners asked the government to remove it from its status as Shinto sect, and Tenrikyo then got rid of much of its Buddhist and Shinto influence, although it still has retained some aspects of traditional Japanese worship practices. Today, a lack of political restrictions on Tenrikyo has allowed it to flourish in conventional society.
Spirituality

Followers of Tenrikyo hold God to be an entirely benevolent creator, who allows reincarnation but encourages the happiness of mankind during their mortal lives. To this end, Tenrikyo practitioners attempt to follow the path of the Joyous Life, which involves charity and mercy to others, and rejection of negative actions that would come out of greed, anger, or arrogance. Practitioners believe in the continual construction of a better world through small acts of daily kindness. To this end, many Tenrikyo followers have founded or participate in disaster relief programs, orphanages, hospitals, and schools. Music is important in Tenrikyo, and instruments are played in both daily and monthly services, although the prayers said during these services can be performed on one's own, if one cannot attend a temple at that time. Many followers of Tenrikyo also hold tenets of Christian or Buddhist beliefs.

Tarahumara Beliefs

The Tarahumara is a tribe of indigenous people of the northern regions of Mexico. Although they were originally from what is now the state of Chihuahua, the Tarahumara, also called the Raramuri, now inhabit the Copper Canyon in the Sierra Madre mountain range where they have lived since the coming of the Spaniards in the 16th century.
The Tarahumara tribe is best known to the western world for their athletic ability in long-distance running. The population of 50,000 to 70,000 Tarahumara that exist today remain largely a traditional people, living exactly as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Although separate villages are some distance apart, they maintain contact with the only means of transportation they have ever used - running. From an early age, the Tarahumara train their children in the art of long-distance running for both practical reasons and to keep tribal tradition alive. To celebrate their running skills, they play a game as they travel called "foot throwing" where they kick a ball back and forth amongst each other in a sort of relay. Individual games can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Notable amongst the Tarahumara people are their religious beliefs which have incorporated some western traditions, such as Roman Catholicism, through the ages. One of the most important beliefs they hold is that the afterlife takes place on a mirror image of the real world. Because of this, it is important that spiritual deeds be done to improve life in the real world so that it can be reflected into the spirit world.
Science tells us that the Tarahumara people settled into Mexico 15,000 years ago after a 5,000 year migration from Asia over the Bering Strait. The Tarahumara people tell a different tale. Their origin story begins with the sun and the moon. The sun and moon are siblings who, in the first days, dressed in leaves of palm and the only light to reach Earth came from the morning star, a louse from the head of the sun. The moon noticed the louse and ate it, plunging the world into total darkness. The early ancestors erected tall crosses of redwood, soaked them in alcohol and set them on fire, burning off the palm leaves and allowing them to shine in the sky. The sun and moon grew angry and flooded the world, destroying everything except for a one Tarahumara boy and one girl who hid in the mountains with three kernels of corn and three beans. After the flood, the corn and beans were grown into a bountiful harvest and the boy and girl procreated, creating the Tarahumara tribe of today.

The religious rituals of the Tarahumara often involve the ingestion of intoxicants. Alcohol is celebrated amongst the people and being drunk is considered an enlightened state, and not a reason for shame like it is in the west. Drunken festivals are said to provide a means of venting violent emotions. Fighting and adultery are common at these festivals and an occasional murder is not unheard of. However, the perpetrators are rarely, if ever, blamed for their actions. It is said to be the fault of the alcohol, not the person. Another narcotic used in religious ceremonies is peyote, with the hallucinogenic ingredient, mescaline. These ceremonies are much more somber than those involving the alcohol.
The deities worshiped by the Tarahumara have a mix of traditional elements with Christianity. They believe in a God and Devil but they are brothers. God has a wife and several sons (sukristo) and daughters (santi). These sons and daughters show themselves in the real world and are represented by the medallions and icons of the Catholic saints. God and The Devil are jointly responsible for the creation of humanity but with one large difference. God created the Tarahumara people of pure clay, whereas the Devil created all other people by mixing ash into the clay, so they are not pure. It is important to note, however, that the Tarahumara Devil is not necessarily considered evil. The Devil is the older brother and God often collaborates with him to meet out justice and punishment for those who deserve it.

Taoism
The Tao [way] that can be taught is not the eternal Tao.
- Lao-zi. ca600-530 BCE

Introduction

Taoism, also known as Daosim, emphasizes harmony between humans and the natural world. It is a religion native to China and dating from 550 BCE – 400 BCE. Lao-zi, whose name means "Old Boy," is the purported founder of Taoism. His book, Dao de jing (Classic of Tao), is simultaneously a powerful and ambiguous work containing phrasing with multiple meanings in its expounding of issues such as ethics, cosmology, epistemology, politics, and spiritual and material fulfilment.
The Chinese word “tao” means “way,” and Taoism is a system which promises to teach the best way to do all things. To practitioners, the fact that its date of founding and its founder are lightly recorded in history is trivial. Taoism specifies no belief in an Almighty God but does assume sentient spiritual beings. It emphasizes right actions but does not proscribe many beliefs.
The Way
Following the Tao means making choices that are most wholesome, most natural, and most beneficial. The Tao is without purpose; its followers react to situations without having specific expectations or desires to mold them. An analogy from the Dao de jing is that one should seek to resemble an uncarved stone. Where Western tradition argues about varying degrees of free will versus destiny, Taoism teaches that neither are significant and that humankind should live in a constant state of full and un-tapped potential.
Qi, The Force

Tao spiritual tradition describes an all-pervasive force called qi (Chi), which means energy or breath. Qi itself has two states, one corresponding to inhalation (yin) and one to exhalation (yang). By this metaphor the connectedness of other opposites can explained; the proper balance of anything is the Tao as there is a correct ratio of all coexisting opposites which are necessary for the sustenance of life. Examples of other opposites include male and female; activity and rest; hot and cold.
There might be ways to harness qi and use it to enact material-world changes; the holistic health philosophy of Tai Chi refers to this power in its very name, as does the fullness of its martial tradition Tai Chi Chuan. Feng Shui is a system of material-world organization which permits qi to flow and eddy throughout a particular location without becoming stagnant and deleterious. Acupuncture and other Chinese medical traditions regulate the ebb, flow, and balance of qi. All of these practices stem from traditions dating back thousands of years, but none of these have been universally popular or systematically practiced throughout that entire time span.
Spirituality
Taoism most readily differentiates from Confucianism, its geographic and cultural neighbour, by its emphasis on spirituality. Ancestor veneration in Taoism is believed to bring auspicious divine intervention more than simple self-betterment.
Authority
Taoism is not associated with any institution or authority; in fact, most practitioners have incorporated Taoist traditions into their lives without separating their cultural traditions from the Taoist faith traditions. Taoism is a part of Chinese folk tradition and has an open canon. It is being and will continue to be adapted to changes associated with each generation.
Additional Reading
A more in dept view at Taoism can be found in The World's Religions by Huston Smith available in the ULC catalog.

Sikhism
There is only one breath. All are made of the same clay. The light within all is the same.
- Guru Granth Sahib, page 96

Introduction
Sikhism was a religion founded in the northwestern Indian subcontinent through a revelation from Almighty God to Nanak (born 1469 CE), who gained the title Guru (teacher). Guru Nanek appointed a successor, as did each in a line of successors. By the early 1700s it was known that there would not be another human Guru, but rather the book Guru Granth Sahib would act as perpetual Guru thenceforth.
Sikhism has an unusual undercurrent of thought in assuming that one’s religion might be an un-chosen matter of birth as it relates to geography or era, and therefore one is only partially responsible for participating in it. By this circumvention of elitism the Sikhs traditionally establish a magnanimous sense of brotherhood between themselves and other faith traditions.
Sikhs accept concepts of karma and reincarnation but teach that Almighty God ultimately grants salvation. Descriptions of places such as “heaven” or “hell” in this scheme have little meaning.
Brotherhood

Sikhism stands out as a social movement as well as a religion. Sikhs strive to treat all people equally, regardless of religion, gender, social status, or any other factor commonly used to enforce discrimination.
While Sikhs personally value their religious beliefs over all others, they recognize that their personal beliefs may not be equally valuable to others. Sikhs claim that there are multiple ways to please Almighty God, and that they themselves are but one group of God’s children. Almighty God offers salvation on some other basis than perfunctory choice of religion.

Five K’s
Sikhs themselves stand out instantly in public by five outward signs, these being

1. kesh (uncut hair), often wrapped in a turban
2. kanga (comb), to keep hair neat
3. kara (steel bracelet), worn on dominant arm
4. kirpan (sword), usually small, a reminder of freedom
5. kaccha (breeches), which actually are often not publicly displayed

• The bible is God's word and is truth
• The bible is more reliable than tradition
• God's name is Jehovah
• Christ is inferior to Jehovah
• One God in one person
• There is no Trinity
• Jesus was the archangel Michael, who became human
• The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive
• The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force
• Jehovah first created his only begotten son who then created other things
• Jesus was a perfect man
• Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body
• Jesus was born again
• Jesus did not die on a cross, but on a stake
• Jesus' sacrifice did not include Adam
• Death is due to Adam's sin
• They are the only channel of God's truth
• Good works are required for salvation
• The soul no longer exists after death
• The cross is a pagan symbol
• There is no hell; souls of the wicked will be annihilated