Modern confessions on the territory of the Russian Federation. Religions of Russia

Over the past 10 years or so, Russia has experienced a period religious revival, return of the population to traditional religious values. The mass of the country's population remained faithful to their religious beliefs, as evidenced, in particular, by all objectively conducted studies. lately polls public opinion, as well as the desire of Russians to perform the most important religious sacraments and rituals (for example, such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, communion and marriage among Christians, circumcision rites and wedding ceremonies among Muslims and Jews, funeral rites the followers have the most different religions etc.).

The most influential religion in Russia is Christianity, and above all one of its most important directions - Orthodoxy, which in our country primarily represents Russian Orthodox Church. According to a sociological survey conducted in 2002, 58% now adhere to Orthodoxy. If we proceed from the fact that the population of our country, according to the All-Russian Population Census, was 145.2 million people on October 9, 2002, then we can assume that Orthodox Christians number approximately 84 million people in it.

Orthodoxy is professed by the bulk of the Russian population of the country, as well as by the majority of such people as the Izhorians, Vepsians, Sami, Komi, Komi-Permyaks, Udmurts, Besermyans, Chuvashs, Kryashens, Nagaibaks, etc. The vast majority of the Chulyms, Kumandins, Chelkans, Shors, Kets, Yugs, Nanais, Ulchis, Orochs, Itelmens, Aleuts, the overwhelming majority of the Selkups, Tubalars, Tofalars, Evens, Oroks, a significant part of the Enets, Telengits, Negidals, and others call themselves Orthodox. large number Nivkhs, although many of the listed peoples of Siberia and the Far East Orthodox faith combined with remnants of shamanistic and other local beliefs. The majority of Greeks and Bulgarians living in Russia are also Orthodox. Orthodoxy is also widespread among part of the Western Buryats; it is adhered to by some (primarily Don) and Mozdok Kabardians.

According to expert assessment, based on the existence of a certain correlation between religious and ethnic affiliation, Orthodox Christians predominate among believers in the vast majority of regions Russian Federation. The only exceptions are Chechen Republic, the Republic of Ingushetia and the Republic of Dagestan, where there are few Orthodox Christians, as well as the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug, where the Orthodox, although they do not form the majority of the population, are represented in very large groups (in In some of these subjects of the Russian Federation they constitute only slightly less than half of the believers).

In addition to the Russian Orthodox Church, to which the vast majority belongs Orthodox population our country, there are several other Orthodox church associations and individual communities operating in Russia, but their number is very small. This Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, church communities, subordinates Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, communities that recognize leadership Kyiv Patriarchate , different branches True Orthodox (Catacomb) Church, as well as scattered groups of so-called "True Orthodox Christians." The most famous community of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church is located in the city of Suzdal Vladimir region, there are followers of this church organization in Moscow, Ufa, Tyumen, Ussuriysk (Primorsky Territory), Orenburg Region, Udmurt Republic and a number of other places. There is a parish subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in Krasnodar, and a parish subordinate to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in the city of Ishim, Tyumen region. The number of followers of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church in Russia, as well as Russian parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, totals 50 thousand people.

IN different places Russia live Old Believers- Orthodox Christians who did not accept the reforms carried out by the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Nikon in the middle of the 17th century, which consisted primarily in bringing liturgical books in accordance with similar books among the Greeks. Old Believers are divided into a large number of different groups, which can be combined into two branches: priests and bespopovtsev. Popovtsy include three main church associations of Old Believers: Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church(Belokrinitsky hierarchy), the Russian Ancient Orthodox Church and co-religionists.

Closest to the Russian Orthodox Church fellow believers- a group of Old Believers who retained their service according to old books, but submitted in 1800 to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church. Co-religionists usually call themselves Orthodox Old Believers. There are now few fellow believers - according to rough estimates, from 6 to 12 thousand people. They are available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ivanovo, and in the village of Bolshoye Murashkino (Nizhny Novgorod region).

Another church association of Old Believers-Priests - Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church(Belokrinitsky hierarchy) is the largest Old Believer organization in the country (about 1 million supporters). Having emerged in the Beglopopov environment (the Beglopopovites accepted priests who defected from the Russian Orthodox Church), this church eventually became mid-19th centuries managed to create its own hierarchy. Most of all supporters of the Belokrinitsky hierarchy in, as well as in Moscow, the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Saratov, the Republic of Buryatia, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Krasnodar region, Perm and other regions.

Another association of Old Believers-Priests is Russian Old Orthodox Church(By different sources from 250 thousand to 500 thousand or more people). There are many followers of this church in Moscow, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Chita, Bryansk and other regions. In the Nizhny Novgorod region they are concentrated primarily in the Semenovsky, Urensky, Gorodetsky districts. Recently this church split, and the Old Orthodox Church of Russia emerged from it, using greatest influence V Kursk region and Krasnodar region. The Russian Ancient Orthodox Church itself is now officially called the Ancient Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow and All Rus'.

The priests also include two small groups of so-called catacomb co-religionists, however, do not maintain any relations with co-religionists of the Moscow Patriarchate. This Andreevtsy(about 10 thousand people) and Klimentovtsy(5 thousand people). The former are found in the Republic of Bashkortostan and some regions of the Urals, in the Krasnodar Territory and Eastern Siberia, the latter are also found in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

There are much more non-priest associations of the Old Believers than priestly ones. These are Chasovnoe, Pomorskoe, Fedoseevskoe, Filippovskoe, Spasovo consent, runners, Ryabinovtsy, Melchizedeks, etc.

Followers Concord of the Hours They do not consider themselves priestless and view the absence of the priesthood as a temporary phenomenon. Their total number is unknown, but, apparently, it now does not exceed 300 thousand people, although it was once much more significant. The chapels are settled mainly in the Perm, Sverdlovsk, Saratov and Tyumen regions, Altai Territory, Krasnoyarsk Territory and other regions.

Pomeranian, or Danilovskoe, agreement(the official name of this church association is Old Orthodox Pomeranian Church) stands out among the majority of non-priest agreements for its moderation and is the most numerous of them (in Russia - 800 thousand people). Pomeranians live in Moscow, the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Samara region, the Altai Territory and other places.

Close to Pomeranian Fedoseevskoe consent(10 thousand people) has supporters mainly in Moscow, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm and Leningrad regions.

Coming from a Pomeranian environment Filippov agreement, notorious for its “burnings” (self-immolations), now, according to one rough estimate, there are 200-300 people. Filippovites meet in small groups in the city of Orel, Belovsky and Guryevsky districts of the Kemerovo region. Their only well-organized community is located in the city of Kimry, Tver Region.

Number of followers Spasova consent(also called Netovites), probably 30-40 thousand people. Spasovo consent is mainly represented in the Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Vladimir, Ulyanovsk regions, the cities of Saratov, Orenburg, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir and other places.

Separated from the Filippovites runner, or wandering, sense, characterized by social nihilism, now has only about 1 thousand supporters. The runners call themselves truly Orthodox Christians wandering. They are currently mainly concentrated in the Kemerovo, Perm, Yaroslavl, and Tomsk regions, northwest of the city of Tomsk. The self-baptisms (grandmothers, self-crosses) that branched off from the Spasovites are very few in number, there are no more than a few thousand of them. They are found in Orenburg, Nizhny Novgorod and a number of other regions.

Close to self-baptizers Ryabinovsky sense, recognizing only eight-pointed cross, made from rowan, and currently has only a very small number of supporters. The main centers of concentration of followers of this persuasion are the city of Chistopol in the Republic of Tatarstan (Tatarstan) and the city of Sterlitamak in the Republic of Bashkortostan.

The origin of the priestless sense is not entirely clear Melchizedek, whose followers receive communion with bread and wine placed before the icons the day before. Melchizedeks are found in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the cities of Ufa, Blagoveshchensk, Sterlitamak, Ishimbay, Biysk and in the village of Zalesovo, Altai Territory (about 1 thousand people).

The overwhelming majority of Old Believers are Russians, although among them there are also Ukrainians, Belarusians, Karelians, Finns, Komi, Udmurts, Chuvashs and representatives of other peoples.

In addition to the Old Believers, other denominations emerged from the Orthodox environment and departed from Orthodoxy to varying degrees.

So, they are quite close to Orthodoxy johannites- admirers of who lived in the 19th - early 20th centuries. Orthodox priest John of Kronstadt, whom they considered a miracle worker. The number of Johannites in Russia is 1 thousand people, they can be found in St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Yaroslavl.

The so-called spiritual Christians who believe that the Holy Spirit can incarnate in people. Spiritual Christians include the Khlysty, Skoptsy, Doukhobortsy and Molokans.

Whips, famous for their ecstatic zeal, currently number about 10 thousand people. They are divided into a large number of sects ( fasters, Old Israel, New Israel, Spiritual Israel , New Christian Union, Redeemed Israel etc.). Khlysty are concentrated mainly in the city of Zherdevka, Tambov region, as well as in the cities of Tambov, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Labinsk (Krasnodar Territory), Stavropol, Samara, Orenburg.

A sect separated from the Khlysty Skoptsov, who decided to fight fornication, which had become widespread among the Khlysty, with the help of castration, for which she received her name. This sect, small in Russia, has a small number of followers in Moscow, Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region, and Yaroslavl.

Very distant from Christianity Doukhobors who rejected the Bible. In Russia their number is 10-20 thousand people. Doukhobors live in Tambov, Rostov, Orenburg, Tula regions, in the Krasnodar region and the Far East.

Molokans, having also significantly moved away in their doctrine from Christianity, still did not abandon the Bible, although they interpret it allegorically. There are approximately 40 thousand Molokans living in Russia, mainly concentrated in the Tambov and Orenburg regions, the North Caucasus and the Far East.

By ethnicity the majority of spiritual Christians are Russian.

In some respects, Tolstoyans and teetotalers are close to spiritual Christians.

Followers of the religious and moral teachings of Leo Tolstoy founded their own organization, which was called Spiritual unity. Tolstoyans (their number does not exceed 500 people) can be found in Moscow, Yaroslavl, Samara,.

Teetotalers Those who believe that if alcoholism is completely eradicated, the Kingdom of God will be established on Earth, are represented by several groups. The most significant and famous of them - the Churikovites (4 thousand people) - are named after the surname of their founder Ivan Churikov. They live in Leningrad, Vologda, Yaroslavl regions, St. Petersburg and some other places.

From the depths of Orthodoxy also emerged two sects that approached Judaism. These are Jehovah's Ilyinites and Subbotniks. Sect Jehovah's Witnesses-Ilintsy was founded in the middle of the 19th century. Staff Captain of the Russian Army N.S. Ilyin, who believed that Armageddon—the war between God and Satan—would soon come. Ilyin included a number of elements of Judaism in the dogma of his sect. The followers of this sect (their number does not exceed several thousand people) are mainly concentrated in the North Caucasus.

The religion that emerged in the 17th century deviated even more towards Judaism. a sect of Sabbatarians that rejects the Gospel. Number subbotniks is about 7 thousand people, they are concentrated near the city of Balashov, Saratov region, as well as in the village of Mikhailovka, Voronezh region.

Representatives of such a direction of Christianity live in Russia as Roman Catholicism. Different sources provide very different data on the number of Catholics in Russia - from 300 to 500 thousand or more people. The ethnic composition of the Catholic population of Russia is quite complex: the overwhelming majority are Catholics, a significant part of Hungarians, a minority of Ukrainians, Belarusians and Germans, small groups of Spaniards, Italians, French and representatives of some other nationalities living in Russia, as well as small groups of Russians and Armenians. Catholics in Russia mainly adhere to three rites practiced in Catholicism: Latin (Poles, Lithuanians, Germans, Spaniards, Italians, French, most Belarusian Catholics, some Russian Catholics), Byzantine (Ukrainian Catholics, a small part of Belarusian Catholics and a small group Russian Catholics) and Armenian (Armenian Catholics). Catholic parishes are available in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Marks (Saratov region), Volgograd, Astrakhan, Perm, Orenburg, Irkutsk, and a number of other cities.

Some features of Catholicism were borrowed by the marginal Christian religious organization that penetrated into our country - New Apostolic Church(according to various estimates from 6 to 50 thousand people).

Although followers Protestantism first appeared in Russia back in the 16th century, this direction of Christianity did not become widespread among the indigenous population of the country. In general, this picture has not changed even after, starting from the late 1980s, a large number of missionaries from Protestant denominations that had never previously functioned in Russia appeared in our country. According to available estimates, no more than 1% of the country's population now adheres to Protestantism. The following movements of Protestantism are represented in Russia: Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Calvinism (in the form of Reformedness and Presbyterianism), Mennoniteism, Methodism, Perfectionism, Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement close to it, Baptism, Adventism, Restorationism.

One of the main movements of Protestantism is quite widely represented in Russia - Lutheranism(according to some estimates - up to 270 thousand followers). It is predominantly common among the majority of Germans living in our country, and. In Russia there are Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, on, in and Central Asia(200 thousand supporters, mainly Germans, but also some Estonians, Latvians, Finns; Reformed Germans living in Russia are also organizationally connected with the church), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria(20 thousand people, mostly Ingrian Finns living in the Leningrad region), Evangelical Lutheran Church(10 thousand people, unites part of the Latvians living in Russia), United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia, which introduced a number of elements of Catholicism into the cult, and some others Lutheran churches. Lutherans live in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Moscow, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Volgograd regions and some other places.

Presented in Russia Calvinism- a movement of Protestantism, more radical than Lutheranism, which broke with Catholicism. There are two branches of Calvinism in the country - Reformed and Presbyterian. Reformation(5 thousand supporters) is widespread among the majority of Hungarians living in Russia, who are united in Reformed Fundamentalist Church. It is also followed by a very small group of Russians living in Tver. There are also Reformed Germans in the country, but they, as already noted, are organizationally united, as in Germany, with the local Evangelical Lutheran Church. As a result of the activities of Korean missionaries, followers of another branch of Calvinism appeared in Russia - Presbyterianism. There are now several Presbyterian churches in the country (the total number of Presbyterians is 19 thousand people).

Part of the country's German population adheres to Mennonite. Data on the number of Mennonites in the country is very contradictory. According to one estimate, there are 140 thousand Mennonites in Russia, according to another - only 6 thousand people. (such a possible sharp decrease in their number is associated with a mass exodus to).

In the last decade, as a result of proselytizing activities in Russia, a significant group has emerged methodologists(12 thousand people). Some of them are associated with one of the largest Protestant organizations United Methodist Church(5 thousand people), the other part - from Korean Methodist Church(7 thousand people). Close to Methodism perfectionism, whose supporters in Russia are 2.5 thousand people. In our country there are branches of the four largest perfectionist churches in the United States: Christian and Missionary Alliance(1.6 thousand supporters), Nazarene Church(250 people), Church of God [Anderson, Indiana](300 people) and Wesleyan Church(150 people).

The largest group of Protestants in Russia is now formed by supporters Pentecostalism. The total number of supporters of this movement of Protestantism is 416 thousand people. (some sources give a much higher figure - 1.4 million people, but it is, of course, greatly overestimated). The largest denomination of Russian Pentecostals is formed by Christians of the evangelical faith(according to various sources - from 100 to 187.5 thousand people), belonging to the group of Pentecostals of the two blessings and closely associated with the largest Pentecostal organization in the world - Assemblies of God. Other branches of Pentecostalism are also represented in Russia: Pentecostals of the Three Blessings ( International Pentecostal Holiness Church- about 3 thousand people), Pentecostals-Unitarians ( Evangelical Christians in the Spirit of the Apostles– from 6 to 15 thousand people). There are many other independent Pentecostal associations, as well as a significant group of Pentecostals who have chosen not to register.

Closely related to Pentecostalism is the charismatic movement, whose supporters also appeared in recent years in Russia. The number of charismatics, according to various estimates, ranges from 72 to 162 thousand people. Close to Pentecostalism and so-called. full gospel churches.

A significant number of supporters (381 thousand people) in Russia have such a movement of Protestantism as baptism. The largest Baptist organization country is Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of the Russian Federation(according to various estimates - from 243 to 456 thousand supporters). Along with this union, Russia operates Independent Baptist congregations(85 thousand people), Council of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists(from 23 to 50 thousand followers), a branch of the American Baptist Bible Fellowship(450 people). Over 90% of Baptists by nationality are Russian.

In Russia there are also Adventists(111 thousand people). The vast majority of them are Seventh Day Adventists(90 thousand people), yes Reform Adventists, or Seventh Day Adventist Faithful Remnant(20 thousand people), and a small group seventh day christians(1 thousand people).

Anglicanism- the movement of Protestantism closest to Catholicism and Orthodoxy - has a very small number of followers in Russia (3.3 thousand people), and most of them are Englishmen living in Moscow.

The remaining movements of Protestants are also represented in Russia by very small groups. This restorationists(3.3 thousand people, including followers Churches of Christ– 3.1 thousand people, and supporters Christian churches and churches of Christ– about 200 people), Salvation Army(3 thousand people), Plymouth, or Christian, brothers(2.4 thousand people), brothers, or dunkers(1.8 thousand people). So-called non-denominational Protestant churches also appeared in the country.

In Russia there are also so-called marginal Protestants, strongly departed from the basics Christian doctrine: Jehovah's Witnesses(according to various estimates - from 110 to 280 thousand people), Moonies, or supporters Unification Churches(30 thousand people), Mormons, or followers Church of Jesus Christ of Saints last days (from 4 to 20 thousand people), supporters International Church of Christ(12 thousand people), followers Christian Science(several hundred people), etc.

Among Christians of other directions in Russia there are followers of the Armenian Church, which did not agree with the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon apostolic church(about 1 million people are overwhelmingly Armenians living in Russia) and supporters of the Nestorian Assyrian Church of the East (about 1 million people are Assyrians living in our country).

A number of sects penetrated into Russia Hinduism, the most famous of which is the sect Hare Krishnas(official name - International Society Krishna consciousness). It has been implemented in some cities, mostly large ones. The number of Hare Krishnas is 15 thousand people. Missionaries of the syncretic religion that arose in the 19th century are also active in the country - Baha'ism, and also founded in the USA in the 20th century Church of Scientology. Chinese folk beliefs are widespread among the Taz and Chinese living in Russia.

A special religion is professed by a group of Yazidis living in Russia, who consider themselves a separate people.

Recently, the country has developed its own syncretic beliefs: Church of the Last Testament(its supporters, whose number reaches 24 thousand people, are also called by the name of their founder Vissarionites), White Brotherhood, sect of Porfiry Ivanov. The same type of belief - Marla Vera– also appeared among the Mari.

Not all of the denominations listed in the text could be reflected on the map. Some small, mainly Protestant, denominations did not allow us to show the scale of the map, and a number of small religious groups are not mapped because their exact location is unknown. Thus, this text can be considered not only as an explanation of the map, but also as a kind of addition to it.

Have a good day everyone! The concept of religions appears quite often in exams in the humanities. Therefore, I would recommend looking at these religions of the world, their list, in order to better navigate them.

A little about the concept of “World Religions”. It often refers to the three main religions: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. This understanding is incomplete to say the least. Because these religious systems have different currents. In addition, there are a number of religions that also unite many people. Before publishing the list, I also recommend reading the article about that .

List of world religions

Abrahamic religions- these are religions that go back to one of the first religious patriarchs - Abraham.

Christianity— briefly about this religion you can. It is represented today in several directions. The key ones are Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. Holy book Bible (mostly New Testament). It unites about 2.3 billion people today

Islam- how religion took shape in the 7th century AD and absorbed the revelations of Allah to his prophet Muhammad. It was from him that the prophet learned that one must pray a hundred times a day. However, Muhammad asked Allah to reduce the number of prayers, and in the end Allah allowed prayers five times a day. By the way, the ideas about heaven and hell in Islam and Christianity are somewhat different. Paradise here is the quintessence of earthly blessings. Holy book Koran. Today it unites about 1.5 billion people.

Judaism- religion primarily Jewish people, unites 14 million adherents. What struck me most was the worship service: during it you can behave quite casually. The holy book is the Bible (mainly the Old Testament).

Other religions

Hinduism- unites about 900 million followers and includes a belief in eternal soul(atman) and into the universal God. This religion and others like it are also called dharmic - from the Sanskrit word “dharma” - things, the nature of things. The religious priests here are called Brahmins. The key idea is the rebirth of souls. For those interested, jokes aside, look at Vysotsky: a song about the transmigration of souls.

Buddhism- unites over 350 million adherents. It comes from the fact that the soul is bound by the wheel of samsara - the wheel of reincarnation, and only work on oneself can allow it to break out of this circle into nirvana - eternal bliss. There are different branches of Buddhism: Zen Buddhism, Lamaism, etc. Sacred texts called Tripitaka.

Zoroastrianism(“Good Faith”) is one of the oldest monothestic religions, incorporating faith in the one god Ahura Mazda and his prophet Zarathushtra, uniting about 7 million people. Religion embodies belief in good and evil thoughts. The latter are the enemies of God and must be eradicated. Light is the physical embodiment of God and is worthy of veneration, which is why this religion is also called fire worship. Thus, in my opinion, this is the most honest religion, since it is thoughts that determine a person, and not his actions. If you agree with this, please like at the end of the post!

Jainism- unites approximately 4 million adherents and proceeds from the fact that all living beings are eternally living in spiritual world, calls for self-improvement through the cultivation of wisdom and other virtues.

Sikhism- unites about 23 million adherents and includes an understanding of God as the Absolute and as a part of every person. Worship occurs through meditation.

Juche is a North Korean political ideology that many consider a religion. It was formed on the basis of the transformation of the ideas of Marxism-Leninism and synthesis with traditional Chinese philosophy.

Confucianism- in the strict sense of the word, it is a more ethical and philosophical teaching than religion and combines ideas about proper behavior, ritual and tradition, which, according to Confucius, must be represented. The main treatise is Lun-yu. Consolidates about 7 million people.

Shintoism- this religion is widespread mainly in Japan, so read about it.

Khao Dai- a fairly new religious system that appeared in 1926 and combines many tenets of Buddhism, Lamaism, etc. Calls for equality between the sexes, pacifism, etc. It originated in Vietnam. In essence, religion embodies everything that has been lacking in this region of the planet for a long time.

I hope you got an idea about the religions of the world! Like and subscribe for new articles.

Best regards, Andrey Puchkov

There is hardly an adult who would not think about his place in life, about the role that fate has prepared for him, about the purpose of his appearance in this world. Regardless of whether a person prays or considers himself an atheist, he believes. It is faith that determines the degree of religiosity. From here the conclusion suggests itself: people are religious. But an individual person can have his own religion, sometimes unique. Let us pay attention to what religions there are in the world.

Christianity

Originated among the Palestinian Jews in the 1st century AD. The name comes from the Greek "christos", which means anointed one. Christ is the name given to Jesus, who lived in the 1st century AD. From the time its foundations began to be counted new era. The most numerous religion peace. Has 2.1 billion followers.

Jesus Christ is the founder of Christianity. God in the form of man, in whom lies the whole essence of Christianity. He descended to earth to save man from the power of sin, to heal human nature by his resurrection after execution. That is why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central dogma of Christianity.

It has three main branches - Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Catholicism. The source of faith is the Bible. Features: salvation of the soul in the renunciation of the sins of a corrupt world, opposition to the sinful pleasures of strict asceticism, renunciation of arrogance and vanity in favor of obedience and humility. The reward will be life after the kingdom of God comes to earth. Teaches that, unlike other religions, Christianity is given by God and not created by people.

Islam

Which world religions are militant? First of all, Islam. Translated from Arabic as “submissive to Allah.” Followers of Allah (god) call themselves Muslim ("submissive to Allah" translated in Arabic). In Russian this word was interpreted as Muslim.

Islam arose at the beginning of the 7th century in the western part of the Arabian Peninsula, where the cities of Mecca and Yathrib flourished (later renamed Madinat - “city of the prophet”). The abbreviated name of the city is Medina. The territory of modern Saudi Arabia.

Muslims perceive Islam as a way of life. The most significant point is the role of law - Sharia, which completely, down to the smallest detail, regulates the life of a Muslim. Islam sets a high ideal of the individual, whose goal is salvation through intellectual, physical and spiritual self-improvement, and the main task is submission to God.

Moral values: the special role of men, elders in age and position, community and family. Islam supports the theory of equality of people before God and assumes a respectful attitude towards the people of the “book” - Christians and Jews.

Islam was not the religion of the oppressed, but the religion of conquerors and victors. Ideal base for a centralized state and conducting an irreconcilable struggle against the opponents of Islam. A rigid view of political organization and power in society is presented. Prescribes to repay good with good, and evil with evil. Teaches generosity and helping the poor.

Buddhism

Since 1996, there have been from 360 to 500 thousand followers of Buddhism in the world. Buddhism, a religion older than many others, originated in India in the 6th century BC. Its founder had four names, but today they use the name of Buddha - the highest among the Gods. Since the 1st century AD, Buddhism has been divided into two movements (Hinayana and Mahayana) due to the fact that supporters did not find agreement on the question of which people are worthy of going to the highest heaven - Nirvana.

Buddha - "awakened one". It is not the name of a person, but a state of mind. Buddha is a universal teacher who explains the four noble truths that help everyone achieve enlightenment. This noble truth suffering, the noble truth of the cause of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, and the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

The highest goal is the achievement of nirvana - eternal peace and bliss, freedom from all kinds of pollution, including moral ones. A person’s salvation is in the hands of the person himself, and Buddha cannot save anyone. Love and mercy for all living beings without exception.

Judaism or which religion is older

The most ancient religion, distributed mainly among Jews. It originates in the 10th century BC. A striking example of the unity of religion and statehood. The rejection of Jesus Christ and the expectation of the coming of another ruler, called the Antichrist in Christianity, in the past became the cause of the state and spiritual catastrophe of the Jews, which led to their dispersion throughout the world. How modern religion formed at the end of the first - beginning of the second century AD. The main principle is the recognition of one God.

With the advent of Christianity and Islam, it actively conflicts with them, considering these two religions as its own distortion. Christians and Muslims also did not express much sympathy, and emphasized the persecution of Jews for their devotion to an apostate religion.

The international directory "Religions of the World" indicates that there were 20 million Jews in the world in 1993. But these data may be unreliable, since in 1996 other sources cited figures of about 14 million people. 40% of all Jews live in the United States, 30% in Israel.

Hinduism

Formed in the 1st century AD. It is not like any of the religions that exist in the world. First of all, because it does not represent a holistic teaching and was created in the process of synthesis of several religious beliefs. He doesn't have scriptures. This is reflected in the psychological makeup of the Hindu. An unthinkable combination of adherence to beliefs with unprincipled behavior, the desire to achieve social status and envy of those who managed to achieve this. Hinduism has no single authority in religious matters.

Confucianism

Ethical and political doctrine founded by the thinker Ancient China Confucius. According to the doctrine, a dutiful son is obliged to take care of his parents throughout his life. Parents should serve and please, be prepared for anything for their good, and honor them, regardless of the circumstances. In addition, the teaching called for the education of a highly moral person who would be honest and sincere, possess straightforwardness and fearlessness, modesty and justice. Restraint, love for people, dignity and selflessness should adorn such a person.

Jainism

A religion that has adopted the common concept of karma and liberation at the end of the path - nirvana, common to all Indian faiths. Doesn't recognize gods. He considers the human soul to be incorruptible, and the world to be primordial. The body shell is given to the soul according to the results previous lives. The soul can improve endlessly and achieve omnipotence and eternal bliss.

It is very problematic to comprehensively consider the question of which countries have which religions in one article, because in the world there are a great many religions and religious teachings. But the main most popular directions are fully represented.

The Russian Federation is a multinational state, and at the moment Representatives of more than 160 peoples and ethnic groups live in the country. According to the Constitution, all citizens of the Russian Federation, regardless of ethnicity, have equal rights and freedom of religion. Historically, different peoples living on the vast territory of Russia profess different religions and have different customs and traditions. The reason for this difference is in culture and beliefs different nationalities The fact is that a few centuries ago, many peoples who live on the territory of the modern Russian Federation did not have any contacts with each other and lived and built their civilizations separately from each other.

If we analyze the population of the Russian Federation according to belonging to one or another ethnic group, we can conclude that in different regions of the country representatives of certain peoples predominate. For example, in the Central and Northwestern regions of the country, Russian population, in the Volga region - Russians, Kalmyks and Tatars, in the regions of Western and Central Siberia - Altaians, Kazakhs, Nenets, Khanty, etc., in Eastern Siberia - Buryats, Tuvinians, Khakassians, etc., and in the Far Eastern regions - Yakuts, Chukchi, Chinese, Evens and representatives of many other small peoples. The religions of Russia are as numerous as the peoples inhabiting the state, because at the moment more than 100 representative offices are officially registered on the territory of the Russian Federation. religious organizations.

Number of believers in Russia and their religions

IN modern Russia There are also adherents of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, as well as people professing the traditional religions of the peoples of Russia, and members of religious organizations that are classified as totalitarian sects. According to studies by statistical agencies, more than 85% of Russian citizens believe in supernatural powers and belong to one or another religious denomination. In percentage terms, the religious affiliation of citizens of our country is as follows:

• Parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church christian church - 41%
• Muslims - 7%
• Christians who consider themselves Orthodox, but are not parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church - 4%
• Adherents of paganism, Old Believers and traditional religions peoples of Russia -1.5%
• Buddhists - 0.5%
• Protestant Christians - approx. 0.3%
• Catholic Christians - approx. 0.2%
• Adherents of Judaism - approx. 0.1%
• People who believe in the existence of God, but do not identify themselves with any religious denomination - approximately 25%
• Believers professing other religions - 5-6%
• Atheists - approx. 14%.

Since he lives in Russia huge amount representatives of different nations, and thanks to migration processes, thousands of immigrants from Central Asian countries and a number of other countries move to the country every year for permanent residence, you can determine what religions exist in Russia by simply opening a reference book on religious studies. The Russian Federation can be called a unique country of its kind in terms of religious composition population, since there are also adherents here ancient beliefs, and followers of many. Thanks to freedom of religion guaranteed by law, in every major city of the Russian Federation there are Orthodox and Catholic churches, mosques, and representations of numerous Protestant and religious-philosophical movements.

If we consider the religions of Russia geographically, we can conclude that Christians live in the western, northwestern and central regions of the Russian Federation, in central and eastern Siberia, along with Christians, adherents of the traditional religions of the peoples of Russia live, and North Caucasus predominantly inhabited by Muslims. However, in recent years the situation has changed significantly, and in such megacities as, for example, St. Petersburg and Moscow, which during the existence Russian Empire inhabited exclusively by Christians, more and more Muslim communities and Protestant religious organizations are appearing.

Traditional religions of the peoples of Russia

Despite the fact that many Russians are confident that Russia is a primordially Christian power, this is not the case. Christianity began to spread in the territories that are now part of the Russian Federation in the first half of the second millennium AD, and Christian missionaries came to the eastern regions of Russia and Siberia even later - in the 1580s-1700s. Before this, the peoples living on the territory of the modern Russian Federation believed in pagan gods, and in their religions there were many signs of the most ancient beliefs of the world -.

Slavic tribes that inhabited the territory in the pre-Christian era western Russia, were, like all Slavs, pagans, and worshiped a number of gods identifying the elements, natural and social phenomena. To this day, monuments of paganism have been preserved in different regions of Russia. Slavic culture- statues of ancient gods carved from wood, the remains of temples, etc., inhabiting Western Siberia, like the Slavs, were pagans, but animism and shamanism prevailed in their beliefs. But in the Far East, which was sparsely populated in the pre-Christian era, there lived tribes whose culture and religion were significantly influenced by eastern religions - Buddhism and Hinduism.