World Religions and Beliefs

Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religion of Persia that centers on the worship of Ahura Mazda, the supreme god of wisdom, light, and truth. Zarathustra was the prophet who founded the religion, not the god himself. Angra Mainyu represents the opposing force of evil and darkness.

Hinduism is highly diverse and decentralized, with no single creed or central authority. Consequently, followers practice the religion in a wide variety of ways, choosing different deities to worship and different spiritual paths to follow.

Trinitarianism is the Christian doctrine that defines God as three coexisting, co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This belief in a triune God is central to most Christian denominations.

Henotheism is the worship of a single, supreme god while not denying the existence of other deities. This concept is often used to describe Hindu practice, where many gods are seen as manifestations of the single ultimate reality, Brahman.

Polytheism is the belief in or worship of multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses. This contrasts with monotheism, which is the belief in a single god.

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of only one supreme deity. Major world religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are primary examples of monotheistic faiths.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism teach that suffering (dukkha) is caused by desire or attachment.

The Pandyan rulers and their subjects practiced and patronized multiple religions over time, including Shaivism, Vaishnavism (both forms of Hinduism), Jainism, and Buddhism. This religious pluralism was a defining feature of ancient and medieval South Indian society.

The prefix 'mono-' means one, and 'theistic' refers to the belief in a god or gods; therefore, monotheism is the belief in a single deity.

The prefix 'poly-' means many, and 'theistic' refers to the belief in a god or gods; therefore, polytheism is the belief in multiple deities.

Hinduism is the largest and most prevalent religion in India, practiced by a vast majority of the population.

Hinduism is not founded by a single person but evolved over thousands of years. It resulted from the blending of Vedic traditions brought by the Aryans with the indigenous beliefs and practices of the people already living in India.

Asoka actively promoted Buddhism by sending missionaries to various parts of Asia, which helped the religion spread beyond the borders of India.

Christian tradition holds that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. This event is central to Christian worship and the reason for Sunday services.

The Holy Trinity is a central Christian doctrine stating that God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, yet remains one God.