List of Religious Traditions

List of founders of religious traditions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For legendary figures for which historicity cannot be established, see culture hero.
This article lists historical figures credited with founding religions or religious philosophies or
people who first codified older known religious traditions. It also lists those who have founded a
specific major denomination within a larger religion.
In many cases, one can regard a religion as a continuous tradition extending to prehistoric times
without a specific founder (Hinduism, which is a synthesis of the Vedic religion, the shramanic
movement, and Indian folk religion; animism), or with legendary founding-figures whose
historicity has been widely questioned (such Rishabha). This notwithstanding, many historical
expressions of such religions will still have founders. Religion often develops by means of
schism and reform (motivated by theological speculation), and it becomes a matter of judgement
at what point such a schism or reform should be considered the "foundation" of a new religious
tradition. For example, Martin Luther and John Wesley worked for reforms but their efforts
failed to influence the whole Church and the end result was a new tradition within Christianity.
Chronologically, foundations of religious traditions may sub-divide into:
1. the Axial Age, with foundations to Hinduism, Zorastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism,
Confusianism, Judaism and with the earliest known major founding figures such as
Zoroaster, Confucius, and Buddha.
2. Hellenism to Late Antiquity, with foundations of classical religious traditions and schools
such as various sects of Early Christianity, Stoicism, Gnosticism.
3. the medieval to early modern period, with the rise of Islam, the Bhakti movement, Zen
Buddhism, and the Protestant Reformation.
4. new religious movements, since c. 1800.
Contents
1 Ancient (before AD 500)
2 Medieval to Early Modern (5001800 AD)
3 New religious movements (post-1800)
4 Notes
5 See also
6 References
7 Bibliography
Ancient (before AD 500)

See culture hero for legendary founders of doubtful historicity.
Name
Religious tradition founded
Ethnicity
Naram-Sin of
first known ruler to impose
Akkadian
Akkad
an imperial cult
built the Ziggurat of Ur to
Ur-Nammu
Sumerian
Nanna
Akhenaten
Atenism
The penultimate (23rd)

Tirthankara in Jainism
composed the gathas
Zoroaster
foundational to
Zoroastrianism
Roman king who codified
Numa Pompilius and organized the Roman
religion
Laozi
Taoism
built the Etemenanki,
Nebuchadnezzar II established Marduk as the
patron deity of Babylon
The final Tirthankara in
Mahavira
Jainism
Siddhrtha
Buddhism
Gautama Buddha
Confucius
Confucianism
Pythagoras
Pythagoreanism
Mozi
Mohism
established Second Temple
Ezra HaSofer
Judaism[7]
Epicurus
Epicureanism
Parshva
Zeno of Citium
Stoicism
Egyptian
Life of founder
22nd century BC
(short chronology)
21st century BC (short
chronology)
14th century BC
(conventional
Egyptian chronology)
Indian
877777 BC[1][2][3][4]
Central Iranian/Airya
c. 10th to 6th century

BC[5][n 1]
Italic of the Sabellian

Sabine tribe
717 BC 673 BC
Chinese
Babylonian
(southern dialect of
Akkadian)
6th century BC
Indian
599527 BC[6]
Indian
c. 5th century BC
Chinese
Greek, born on Samos
Chinese
Judean, Levite tribal
through Aaronic line
Greek, born on Samos
possibly Phoenician,[8]
albeit a Greek national
551 BC 479 BC
fl. 520 BC
470 BC 390 BC
6th century BC
fl. 459 BC[n 2]

fl. 307 BC
333 BC 264 BC
Jesus
Raja Yoga (part of

Hinduism)
Christianity
Paul the Apostle
Pauline Christianity
Patanjali
James the Just
Jewish Christianity
Talmudic Rabbinical
Judah haNasi
Judaism
Marcion of Sinope Marcionism
Nagarjuna
Madhyamaka
Plotinus
Neoplatonism
Mani
Manichaeism
Arius[n 3]
Arianism[n 4]
Pelagius[n 3]
Pelagianism[n 5]
Nestorius[n 3]
Nestorianism[n 6]
Eutyches
Monophysitism[n 7]
Indian
2nd century BC
Judean, Davidic line

c. 5-4 BC - c. 33 AD
Judean, albeit a Roman
1st century AD
citizen
Judean
1st century AD
Judean, Davidic line
2nd century AD
Pontic Greek
Telugu Dravidian
may have been of
Roman,[9]
Greek,[10] or Hellenized
Egyptian[11]
ancestry; Roman
citizen
Persian Western
Iranian/Airya
possibly Berber,
born in Libya;
hellenophone
British,[12] possibly
Irish;[13] fluent in Greek
and Latin
Assyrian,
albeit a Byzantine
national
born in Constantinople
110160
150250
205270
216276
250336
354430
386451
380456
Medieval to Early Modern (5001800 AD)

Name
Mazdak
Bodhidharma (Tamil Nadu, in
South India)
Muhammad
Songtsn Gampo
En no Ozuno
Huineng
Padmasambhava
Han Yu
Saich

Mazdakism
Life of founder
520s
Zen Buddhism
6th century
Islam
Tibetan Buddhism
Shugend
Zen Buddhism in China and East Asia
Nyingma
Neo-Confucianism
Tendai Buddhism (descended from
Tiantai)
early 7th century

7th century
late 7th century
638713
8th century
8th or 9th century
767?822
Kkai
Adi Shankara
Ramanujacharya
Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad
Basava
Hnen
Eisai
Shinran
Dgen
Haji Bektash Veli
Nichiren
Madhvacharya
Sant Mat (group of saints)
John Wyclif
Jan Hus
Ramananda
Srimanta Sankardeva
Guru Nanak Dev
Baba Sri Chand
Vallabha Acharya
Martin Luther
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Menno Simons
Conrad Grebel
Jacob Hutter
John Calvin[14]
Michael Servetus[15]
John Knox[16]
Akbar the Great
Jacob Arminius
John Smyth[17]
Avvakum[citation needed]
George Fox[18]
Philipp Jakob Spener[19]
Jakob Ammann
Emanuel Swedenborg
Shingon Buddhism
Advaita Vedanta
Vishishtadvaita Vedanta
Druze
Lingayatism
Jdo Buddhism (descended from Pure
Land Buddhism)
Rinzai Zen Buddhism (descended from
Linji)
Jdo Shinsh Buddhism (descended from
Jdo)
St Zen Buddhism (descended from
Caodong)
Bektashi Sufi)
Nichiren Buddhism
Dvaita
774835
9th century
1017-1137
11th century
12th century
11311212
11411215
11731263
12001253
12091271
12221282
12381317
13th to 15th
Bhakti movement (of Hinduism)
centuries
Lollardy
1320s1384
Hussitism
13721415
Sant Mat Vaishnavism
15th century
Mahapuruxiya Dharma
14491568
Sikhism
14691539
Udasi
14941629
Shuddhadvaita
14791531
Lutheranism and Protestantism in general 14831546
Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Achintya Bheda
14861534
Abheda
Mennonitism
14961561
Swiss Brethren, Anabaptism
14981526
Hutterites
15001536
Calvinism
15091564
Unitarianism
1511?1553
Presbyterianism
15101572
Din-i-Ilahi
15421605
Arminianism
15601609
Baptists
15701612
Russian Orthodox Old Believers
16201682
Religious Society of Friends
16241691
Pietism
16351705
Amish
16561730
The New Church
1688-1772
Baal Shem Tov[20]

John Wesley[21]
Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab
Ann Lee[22]
Hasidic Judaism
Methodism
Wahhabism
Shakers
16981760
17031791
17031792
17361784
New religious movements (post-1800)

Further information: list of new religious movements
Name
Ram Mohan Roy
Brahmo Samaj
Swaminarayan
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Auguste Comte
Religion of Humanity
Nakayama Miki
Tenrikyo
Ignaz von Dllinger
Old Catholics[n 8]
Phineas Parkhurst Quimby
New Thought
Allan Kardec
Spiritism
Mormonism, also known as the Latter
Joseph Smith
Day Saint movement
John Thomas
Christadelphians
Jamgon Kongtrul
Rime movement
Hong Xiuquan
Taiping Christianity
[23]
Bah'u'llh
Bah' Faith
Bb
Bb Faith, predecessor of Bah' Faith
James Springer White
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Wang Jueyi
I-Kuan Tao
[24]
Mary Baker Eddy
Christian Science
Rabbi Alfred G. Moses
Jewish Science
Vallalar
Samarasa Sutha Sanmarga Sangam
Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Arya Samaj
Ellen G. White[25]
Madame Blavatsky
Theosophy
Ayya Vaikundar
Ayyavazhi
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
Ahmadiyya
Guido von List
Armanism (Germanic mysticism)
Bible Student Movement and Jehovah's
Charles Taze Russell[26]
Witnesses
Wovoka
Ghost Dance
Rudolf Steiner
Anthroposophy
Swami Vivekananda
Ramakrishna Mission
[27]
William Irvine
Two by Twos and Cooneyites
Sri Aurobindo
Integral yoga
Mason Remey
Orthodox Baha'i Faith
Life of founder
17721833
17811830
17981857
17981887
17991890
18021866
18041869
18051844
18051871
18131899
18141864
18171892
18191850
18211881
18211884
18211910
18231874
18241883
18271915
18311891
18331851
18351908
18481919
18521916
18561932
18611925
18631902
18631947
18721950
18741974
Aleister Crowley
Charles Fox Parham
"Father Divine"
Ng Vn Chiu
Guy Ballard
Frank Buchman
Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
Gerald Gardner
Felix Y. Manalo
Frank Bruce Robinson
Noble Drew Ali
Marcus Garvey
Ernest Holmes
Sadguru Sadafaldeo Ji Maharaj
Aimee Semple McPherson[28]
Zlio Fernandino de Moraes[29]
Ida B. Robinson
Thelema
Pentecostalism
International Peace Mission movement
Cao Dai
I AM
Oxford Group/Moral Re-Armament
Reconstructionist Judaism
Wicca
Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)
Psychiana
Moorish Science Temple
Rastafari movement
Religious Science
Vihangam Yoga
Foursquare Church
Umbanda
Mount Sinai Holy Church of America
Wallace Fard Muhammad
Nation of Islam
Paramahansa Yogananda
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Ruth Norman
Swami Muktananda
Ikuro Teshima
L. Ron Hubbard
Kim Il-sung
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Samael Aun Weor
Mark L. Prophet
Ben Klassen
Ahnsahnghong
Huynh Phu So
Yong (Sun) Myung Moon[31]
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Clarence 13X
Mestre Gabriel
Nirmala Srivastava
Sveinbjrn Beinteinsson
Sathya Sai Baba
Anton Szandor LaVey
Rajneesh Chandra Mohan[32]
Self-Realization Fellowship
International Society for Krishna
Consciousness
Unarius
Siddha Yoga
Makuya
Church of Scientology
Juche[30]
Transcendental Meditation
Universal Christian Gnostic Movement
The Summit Lighthouse
Creativity
World Mission Society Church of God
Hoa Hao Buddhism
Unification Church
Ananda Marga
The Nation of Gods and Earths
Unio do Vegetal
Sahaja Yoga
satr
Sathya Sai Organization
Church of Satan
Osho movement
18751947
18731929
c. 18761965
18781926
18781939
18781961
18811983
18841964
18861963
18861948
18861929
18871940
18871960
18881902
18901944
18911975
18911946
1891 (disappeared
1934)
18931952
18961977
19001993
19081982
19101973
19111986
19121994
19172008
19171977
19181973
19181993
1918-1985
19191947
19202012
19211990
19221969
19221971
19232011
19241993
19262011
19301997
19311990
Mark Prophet; Elizabeth Clare

(Wolf) Prophet[33]
Franklin Jones
Claude Vorilhon
Marshall Vian Summers
Li Hongzhi
Ravi Shankar[34]
Ryuho Okawa
Vissarion
Tamara Siuda
Isak Gerson
Paul Twitchell
Church Universal and Triumphant

Adidam
Ralism
The New Message from God
Falun Gong
Art of Living Foundation
Happy Science
Church of the Last Testament
Kemetic Orthodoxy
Kopimism
Eckankar
1918-1973 1939
2009
19392008
1946
1949
1951
1956
19561961
1969
19931965
Notes
1. "Controversy over Zarautra's date has been an embarrassment of long standing to
Zoroastrian studies. If anything approaching a consensus exists, it is that he lived ca.
1000 BCE give or take a century or so, though reputable scholars have proposed dates as
widely apart as ca. 1750 BCE and '258 years before Alexander.'" (Encyclopdia Iranica)
2. historicity disputed but widely considered plausible. Gosta W. Ahlstrom argues the
inconsistencies of the biblical tradition are insufficient to say that Ezra, with his central
position as the 'father of Judaism' in the Jewish tradition, has been a later literary
invention. (The History of Ancient Palestine, Fortress Press, p.888)
3. The teaching of the traditional "founding father" of a "heresy" is may well have differed
greatly from the contents of the heresy as generally understood. For references see
following notes.
4. Acc. to Rowan Williams, 'Arianism' was essentially a polemical creation of Athanasius in
an attempt to show that the different alternatives to the Nicene Creed collapsed back into
some form of Arius' teaching. (Arius, SCM (2001) p.247)
5. Pelagius' thought was one sided and an inadequate interpretation of Christianity, but his
disciples, Celestius and, to a greater extent, Julian of Eclanum pushed his ideas to
extremes.(Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines A & C. Black (1965) p.361) Pelagius
himself was declared orthodox by the synod of Diospolis in 415, after repudiating some
of Celestius' opinions. (Frend, W.H.C. Saints and Sinners in the Early Church DLT
(1985) p.133)
6. Nestorius specifically endorsed the repudiation of "Nestorianism" reached at Chalcedon
in 451 (Prestige, G.L. Fathers and Heretics SPCK (1963) p.130)
7. Monophysitism represents an advanced type of Alexandrian Theology; it emerged in a
distinctive form in 433 as a result of the agreement between John of Antioch and Cyril of
Alexandria. The exaggerated form held by Eutyches was condemned in 451 by the
Council of Chalcedon. In its moderate forms the divergence from orthodoxy may be
simply terminological. Alexandrian Theology stressed both divine transcendence and a
marked dualism between the material and the spiritual and so tended to nullify the
humanity of Christ.(Cross & Livingstone. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
(1974) arts. Monophysitism, Alexandrian Theology)
8. The Old Catholic Churches are a grouping of national churches which have broken from
Rome at different times: The Church of Utrecht in 1724; German Austrian and Swiss
Christians who refused to accept the dogma of papal infallibility as defined in 1870 and
received the apostolic succession from Utrecht; these two groups were later some small
groups of Slav origin living in the USA (Cross & Livingstone. The Oxford Dictionary of
the Christian Church (1974) arts. Old Catholics; Holland, Christianity in)
List of people who have been considered

deities
(Redirected from List of deified individuals)
This is a list of notable people who were considered deities by themselves or others.
Contents
1 Imperial cults
2 Posthumous deification
3 Involuntary deification
4 Self-deification
5 See also
6 References
Imperial cults
Who
Egyptian pharaohs
Image
When
Notability
Egyptian pharaohs were kings of Ancient Egypt, and
were considered gods by their culture. Their titles
equated them with aspects of the likes of the hawk god
Horus, the vulture goddess Nekhbet, and the cobra3050 goddess Wadjet. The Egyptians believed that when
30 BC their Pharaoh died, he would continue to lead them in
the next life, which is why his burial was grand and
completed to perfectionto please him in the next life
and ensure his immortality to protect his people. See
List of pharaohs.[1][2]
Naram-Sin
2255
The first Mesopotamian king to claim divinity.[3]
2119 BC
Chinese Emperors
221 BC
Deified as "Sons of Heaven" since the Qin Dynasty
AD
under Qin Shi Huang.[4]
1911
Roman Emperors
Japanese Emperors
Natchez rulers
The Sailendras
Following Julius Caesar who in 42 BC was formally

deified as "the Divine Julius", and Caesar Augustus
henceforth became Divi filius ("Son of the Divine
One"), some (not all) Roman Emperors of the 1st to
42 BC 4th centuries claimed divinity, including Tiberius 14
AD 363 37, Caligula 3741, Claudius 4154, Hadrian 117
138, Commodus 161192, Constantine I 306312,
Julian the Apostate 361363
Further information: Imperial cult (ancient Rome),
Augustus (honorific) and Augusta (honorific)
Claimed, at least by some Shintoists, including
government officials, to be divine descendants of the
660 BC
goddess Amaterasu. Hirohito, the Showa emperor,
repudiated the "false conception" of his divinity in the

Humanity Declaration in 1945.[5]
The Natchez were a theocracy ruled by "The Great
700 Sun." This ruler has sometimes been deemed a Godking.[6]
The Sailendra dynasty of Java were active promoters
of Mahayana Buddhism and covered the plains of
700
Central Java with Buddhist monuments, including the
world famous Borobudur.[7]
Who
Image
Dalai Lamas
When
Notability
Considered re-incarnations of Avalokitevara in

1391 Tibetan Buddhism. Panchen Lamas are incarnations of
Amitbha.[8][9][10]
The Inca Emperors had a status very similar to that of

the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Inca Emperors
1438
Nepalese monarchs
1768 In Nepal, the kings of the Shah dynasty were

2008 considered incarnations of Vishnu.[citation needed]
Posthumous deification
Main article: Apotheosis
Who
Image
When
Notability
Imhotep
Ancient Egyptian architect and physician, who two

2600 BC thousand years after his death, was raised to that of a
god, becoming the god of medicine and healing.
Queen Dido of
Carthage
Founder and first queen of Carthage, after her death,

she was deified by her people with the name of Tanit
and assimilated to the Great Goddess Astarte (Roman
Juno).[11] The cult of Tanit survived Carthage's
814 BC
destruction by the Romans; it was introduced to Rome
itself by Emperor Septimius Severus, himself born in
North Africa. It was extinguished completely with the
Theodosian decrees of the late 4th century.
Homer (hero cult)
8th
century Venerated at Alexandria by Ptolemy IV Philopator.
BC
Romulus and Remus

(hero cult)
771717 Founders of Rome, sons of Mars, Romulus served as

BC first king. After his death, Romulus was defined as the
god, Quirinus, the divine persona of the Roman
people. He is now regarded as a mythological figure,
and his name a back-formation from the name Rome,
which may ultimately derive from a word for "river".
Some scholars, notably Andrea Carandini believe in
Who
Siddhrtha Gautama
Buddha
Hephaestion
Alexander III of
Macedon the Great
(hero cult)
Jesus
Image
When
Notability
the historicity of Romulus, in part because of the 1988
discovery of the Murus Romuli on the north slope of
the Palatine Hill in Rome.[12]
Believed a god by some Mahayana sects, and

563
worshipped as an avatar of Vishnu by some
BC(?)
Vaishnavas.
356324
Deified by Alexander the Great
BC
Some believe he implied he was a demigod by
actively using the title "Son of AmmonZeus". The
356323
title was bestowed upon him by Egyptian priests of
BC
the god Ammon at the Oracle of the god at the Siwah
oasis in the Libyan Desert.[13]
In Romans 1 Paul the Apostle described Jesus as being
the Son of God and the Lord. The First Council of
Nicaea was a synod assembly of bishops in 325 AD
called by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great
which formalized this in the Nicene and Jesus was
~4 BC
declared God Incarnate. He is now considered to be
~33 AD
divine in most Christian views of Jesus; God the Son
in Trinitarian Christianity.
Further information: History of early Christianity,
Pauline Christianity, Constantine the Great and
Christianity and Christology
Antinous
111 AD Deified by Hadrian. He is the last non-Imperial human

130 AD formally deified in Western civilization.
Mary (mother of
Jesus)
In 300 AD she was worshipped as a Mother Goddess

in the Christian sect Collyridianism, which was found
throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Collyridianism was
made up mostly of women followers and female
priests. Followers of Collyridianism were known to
300 CE make bread and wheat offerings to the Virgin Mary,
along with other sacrificial practices. The cult was
heavily condemned as heretical and schismatic by
other Christians and was preached against by
Epiphanius of Salamis, who discussed the group in his
recollective writings titled Panarion.
Who
Guan Yu
Al ibn Ab Tlib
Sugawara no
Michizane
El-Hakem b'Amr
Allah
Image
When
Notability
Guan Yu has been deified as early as the Sui Dynasty
and is still popularly worshipped today among the
Chinese people variedly as an indigenous Chinese
deity, a bodhisattva in Buddhism and a guardian deity
581 AD in Taoism. He is also held in high esteem in
618 AD Confucianism. In Hong Kong both police and
gangsters consider him a divine object of reverence. In
certain schools of Taoism and Chinese Buddhism he
has been deemed divine or semi-divine status. The
reverence for him may date back to the Sui dynasty.[14]
According to the Alawite faith, Ali ibn Abi Talib is
one member of a trinity (Ali-Muhammad-Salman the
599 AD Persian) corresponding roughly to the Christian
661 AD Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is considered to be
the second emanation of God by Yarsan and the
supreme deity in Ali-Illahism.
Japanese Imperial courtier banished from the capital
845 AD
and deified upon his death to appease his angry spirit.
903 AD
Worshipped as Tenjin, kami of scholarship.
Sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, ruling from 996 to
1021. The members of the Druze faith believe that the
985 AD
Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is God
1021 AD
incarnate and that he will come back as the Mahdi.[15]
[16][17][18][19]
Majapahit Kings
Javanese rulers of South East Asia's largest ever

1293 kingdom, in Indonesia. After death, they were
1597 depicted as Hindu gods (see for instance Raden
Wijaya).
Tokugawa Ieyasu
1543 Deified posthumously with the name Tsh

1616 Daigongen by his successors.
L. L. Zamenhof
1859
Considered a god by members of the Oomoto religion.
1917
Who
Image
When
Notability
1861 Deified by some people in the Philippines due to his

1896 contributions to the Philippine Revolution.[20][21]
Jos Rizal
Wallace Fard
Muhammad
~1877 Posthumously (?) deified by Elijah Muhammad. He is

~1934 also given other titles by the Nation of Islam.[22]
Kanichi Otsuka
Shinreikyo states of its founder "God became one with

1891 a human body, appeared among humanity, and
founded Shinreikyo."[23]
George Washington
Worshiped as a kami in Hawaiian Shinto shrines.[24] In

1732 the United States Capitol dome, he is also depicted
1799 ascending into Heaven and becoming a god, in the
famous painting called The Apotheosis of Washington.
Involuntary deification
Who
Ezra HaSofer
Antiochus II Theos
Image
When
Notability
Ezra established Second Temple Judaism[25] and is
regarded as a very important figure in Judaism.[26] The
458 BC
Quran claims that Yemenite Jews believed Uzair was
the son of God.[Quran 9:30][27]
Seleucid ruler. The younger son of Antiochus I and
Stratonice, succeeded his father in 261. He liberated
286
Ephesus, Ionia, Cilicia and Pamphylia from Egyptian
246 BC
domination, and in return for their autonomy the cities
of Asia Minor gave him the title Theos ("God").[28]
Zheng He
1371
Worshiped by some Chinese and South East Asians.[29]
1433
General John
Nicholson
1822
Inspired the cult of Nikal Seyn.
1857
Who
Image
When
Notability
Jiddu Krishnamurti
1895 Renounced the status of messiah and Maitreya

1986 incarnation given him by the Theosophical Society.
Haile Selassie I of
Ethiopia
Among most followers of the Rastafari movement,

Haile Selassie is seen as the second coming of Jesus
Christ, God incarnate, the Black Messiah and "Earth's
Rightful Ruler" who will also lead African peoples to
freedom. Rastas say that his royal titles (i.e. King of
1892
Kings, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and
1975
Root of David) were prophesied as belonging to the
returned Messiah in Revelation 5:5. Their faith in his
divinity first appeared in Jamaica, soon after his 1930
coronation in Addis Ababa.[30] Before his coronation he
was called Ras (meaning Prince) Tafari.
Prince Philip of
Greece and
Denmark, Duke of
Edinburgh
1921
Considered a god in the village of Yaohnanen, a cargo

cult in Vanuatu.[31] See Prince Philip Movement.
-?
These are little girls who are worshipped by both

Hindus and Buddhists as the incarnation of the Hindu
Goddess Durga (Nepali Taleju) in Nepal. They are
picked when they are prepubescent and are worshipped
until they reach puberty. Their cult is in South Asian
countries, especially in Nepal.
Kumari
Self-deification
Main article: Self-deification
Further information: Maitreya claimants, Buddha claimants and Messiah claimants
Who
Image When
Notability
Seleucid ruler (reigned 175-164); the only Seleucid
king to claim divine honors, calling himself Theos
Epiphaneus "God Manifest" and Nikephoros "Bringer
of Victory." Nearly conquered Ptolemaic Egypt, the
Antiochus IV
215
primary rival of the Seleucids among the Diadochi
Epiphanes
164 BC
states. Famously attempted to impose ancient Greek
religion on the Jews by persecution, leading to the
Maccabean Revolt; remembered as a major persecutor
in Jewish tradition.[28]
Who
Simon Magus
Image
When
Notability
Considered a god in Simonianism. According to
Irenaeus, he "was glorified by many as if he were a
god; and he taught that it was himself who appeared
among the Jews as the Son, but descended in Samaria
1st as the Father while he came to other nations in the
century character of the Holy Spirit. He represented himself, in
a word, as being the loftiest of all powers, that is, the
Being who is the Father over all, and he allowed
himself to be called by whatsoever title men were
pleased to address him."[32]
Veleda
1st Germanic prophetess considered a deity during her

century lifetime.
Ismail I
Self-claimed to be an emanation of God and was

1502
considered such by the Kzlba-Safaviya order,
1524
Qizilbash-Turkman subjects and Alevis.[33][34][35]
Danila Filippovich
He believed that he was God and started the Khlysts.

(There are various transliterations of his name
1700
including Danila Filipov, Danila Filipich, and Daniil
Filippovich.)[36]
Kondratii Selivanov
Kondraty Selivanov proclaimed himself both as the late

1780s Peter III of Russia and Christ himself, and started the
Skoptsy.
Hong Xiuquan
Father Divine
Chinese man who claimed he was the younger brother

1814 of Jesus, and thus a son of God. Led the Taiping
1864 Rebellion, conquering a large part of China before
defeat and suicide.
~1880
His followers considered him God in the flesh.[37]
1965
Taher Saifuddin
1888 Claimed to be Elahul Ard (God on Earth) in Bombay

1965 High Court[38][39]
Francisco Macas
Nguema
1924 In 1978, he changed the motto of Equatorial Guinea to

1979 "There is no other God than Macias Nguema." [40]
Who
Juanita Peraza
(Mita)
Lou de Palingboer
Image
When
Notability
1897 According to the Mita faith, Mita (Peraza) was the

1970 incarnation of the Holy Ghost on earth.[41]
A divorced Dutchman named Louwrens Voorthuijzen
who proclaimed himself "Lou the Eel Vendor", this
being the translation of his proclaimed name "Lou de
1898
Palingboer". He was a figure who mixed marketing
1968
European eels with proselytism. His followers also
considered him a living God on a mission against evil.
[42]
Founder of Peoples Temple, which started off as a part

of a mainstream Protestant denomination before
becoming a personality cult as time went on. One of
Jones's devotees claimed that Jones said "If you see me
as your savior, I'll be your savior. If you see me as your
God, I'll be your God";[43] however Jones also
described himself as atheist.[44]
He was born as Hulon Mitchell, Jr. and his selfproclaimed name means "God, Son of God." He could
have only been deeming himself son of God, not God,
but many of his followers clearly consider him God
Incarnate.[45][46]
Jim Jones
1931
1978
Yahweh ben Yahweh
1935
2007
Nirmala Srivastava
Guru and goddess of Sahaja Yoga, has proclaimed

1923 herself the incarnation of the Holy Ghost (Adi Shakti),
2011 claimed that all other incarnations (e.g., Krishna,
Christ, etc.) were aspects of her.[47][48]
"I am the one who created Adam and Eve. I made their
bodies and their blood", [] "I still use human beings
by speaking through them, like I spoke through Jesus
Christ until he went to Heaven." There are between 120
and a 1000 followers who consider him God.[49][50]
Hindu guru that followers believed was a reincarnation
of an avatar of Dattatreya. He alleged that he had the
ability to heal, raise the dead, appear in more than one
location at the same time, materialize objects, such as
jewellery, etc.
In 1997 he established the World Economic
Community Party () based on his
conviction that he is the God and Christ.[51]
Jehovah Wanyonyi
1924
Sathya Sai Baba
1926
2011
Mitsuo Matayoshi
1944
Claude Vorilhon
1946 Claims to be Maitreya, messenger of the "Elohim."
Who
Image
Vissarion
When
Notability
Claims to be Jesus Christ returned, which makes him
1961
not "God" but the "word of God".
List of deities
This is an index to polytheistic deities of the different religions, cultures and mythologies of the
world, listed by type and by region. This is not a list of names or epithets of gods in modern
monotheistic religions, for which see "Names of God". For deified individuals see "List of
people who have been considered deities", "Apotheosis" and "Imperial cult". For deities whose
cult is fictional see "List of deities in fiction".
Contents
1 By classification
2 By cultural sphere
3 Syncretic mythologies
4 See also
5 References
By classification
Ruler of the Pantheon
Celestial, Cosmological
Baronne Rigoley d'Ogny as Aurora, by Jean-Marc Nattier, Baltimore Museum of Art
Creator
Moon
Sky
Sun
Time
Weather, rain, thunder, lightning
Chthonic
Mother Earth
Mother Nature
Night
Ocean, water
Human sphere
Death
Father, Mother
Fate
Fertility, love, lust
Health, healing, medicine
Household, hearth
Hunting
Knowledge or wisdom
Thresholds, doorways
Trickster
War
Demigods, Deified Heroes
Culture heroes
Imperial cult
Sacred king
Spiritual entity
Avatar
By cultural sphere
Near East and North Africa
Osiris, lord of the dead. His green skin symbolizes rebirth
Ancient Near East

o Ancient Egyptian deities
o Mesopotamian deities
Kassite deities
o Semitic gods: see El, Elohim
Assyro-Babylonian pantheon (see also Family tree of the Babylonian

gods)
Canaanite deities
o Anatolia
Hittite deities
Hurrian deities
Lydian deities
o Caucasus
Armenian deities
Georgian deities
Ossetian deities
o Persia: see Yazata, see also Proto-Indo-Iranian religion
North Africa: Berber mythology
Pre-Islamic Arabian deities
Central / Northern Asia
Siberian
o Raven God of Kamchatka and Chukotka
Turco-Mongol
o Tengri
East Asia
Chinese deities
Japanese deities
Korean deities
List of bodhisattvas
India / South Asia
The image illustrates the Hindu belief that each part of the cow embodies a particular deity
Hindu deities
o Rigvedic deities (see also Proto-Indo-Iranian religion)
Southeast Asia
Deities of Philippine mythology
Malaysian Chinese Gods
Europe
Baltic deities
Celtic deities
o Irish deities
Etruscan deities
Finnic deities
Germanic deities
o Anglo-Saxon deities
o List of Norse gods and goddesses
Greek pantheon (see also List of Greek mythological figures, Twelve Olympians, Greek
hero cult, Family tree of the Greek gods, Mycenaean gods, Hellenismos)
Hungarian deities
List of Roman deities
Lusitani deities
Paleo-Balkanic deities (Thracian/Dacian/Illyrian)
Sami deities
Slavic deities
Sub-Saharan Africa
Contemporary poster of a Mami Wata, "serpent priestess" painted by German (Hamburg) artist
Schleisinger, ca. 1926, displayed in shrines as a popular image of Mami Wata in Africa and in the
Diaspora.[1][2]
African deities
o Alusi
o Guanche deities
o Yoruba deities
Afro-American religion
o Loa
o Orisha
Americas
Mesoamerica
o Aztec deities
o Maya deities
North America
o Inuit deities
o Native American deities
South America
o Incan deities
o Guarani
o Mapuche
Australia-Oceania
Australian Aboriginal deities
Mori deities
Polynesian deities
Rapa Nui deities (Easter Island)
Syncretic mythologies
List of Theosophical/Ascended Master Teachings deities
List of religions and spiritual traditions

(Redirected from List of religions)
This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness.
You can help by expanding it with entries that are reliably sourced.
Religious symbols in clock-wise order: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bah' Faith, Hinduism,
Taoism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Slavic neopaganism, Celtic polytheism, Heathenism (German
paganism), Semitic neopaganism, Wicca, Kemetism (Egyptian paganism), Hellenism, ItaloRoman neopaganism.
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, beliefs, and world views that establishes symbols that
relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. While religion is hard to define,
one standard model of religion, used in religious studies courses, was proposed by Clifford
Geertz, who simply called it a "cultural system".[1] A critique of Geertz's model by Talal Asad
categorized religion as "an anthropological category".[2] Many religions have narratives, symbols,
traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of
life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle
from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. According to some estimates, there are
roughly 4,200 religions in the world.[3]
The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system", but religion
differs from private belief in that it has a public aspect. Most religions have organized behaviors,
including clerical hierarchies, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership,
congregations of laity, regular meetings or services for the purposes of veneration of a deity or
for prayer, holy places (either natural or architectural), and/or religious texts. Certain religions
also have a sacred language often used in liturgical services. The practice of a religion may also
include sermons, commemoration of the activities of a god or gods, sacrifices, festivals, feasts,
trance, initiations, funerals, marriages, meditation, music, art, dance, public service, or other
aspects of human culture. Religious beliefs have also been used to explain parapsychological
phenomena such as out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences and reincarnation, along
with many other paranormal experiences. [4][5]
Some academics studying the subject have divided religions into three broad categories: world
religions, a term which refers to transcultural, international faiths; indigenous religions, which
refers to smaller, culture-specific or nation-specific religious groups; and new religious
movements, which refers to recently developed faiths.[6] One modern academic theory of
religion, social constructionism, says that religion is a modern concept that suggests all spiritual
practice and worship follows a model similar to the Abrahamic religions as an orientation system
that helps to interpret reality and define human beings,[7] and thus religion, as a concept, has been
applied inappropriately to non-Western cultures that are not based upon such systems, or in
which these systems are a substantially simpler construct.
Contents
1 Abrahamic religions
o 1.1 Bbism
o 1.2 Bah' Faith
o 1.3 Christianity
1.3.1 Other groups related to Christianity
o 1.4 Gnosticism
o 1.5 Islam
1.5.1 Religions related to Islam
1.5.1.1 Sufi and Shia Sects
o 1.6 Druze
o 1.7 Judaism and related religions
o 1.8 Black Hebrew Israelites
o 1.9 Rastafari movement
o 1.10 Mandaeans and Sabians
o 1.11 Shabakism
2 Indian religions
o 2.1 Ayyavazhi
o 2.2 Bhakti movement
o 2.3 Buddhism
o 2.4 Din-e Ilahi
o 2.5 Hinduism
o 2.6 Jainism
o 2.7 Meivazhi
o 2.8 Sikhism
3 Iranian religions
o 3.1 Zoroastrianism
o 3.2 Gnostic religions
o 3.3 Bb movement
o 3.4 Yazdnism
4 East Asian religions

o 4.1 Confucianism
o 4.2 Shinto
4.2.1 Shinto-inspired religions
o 4.3 Taoism
4.3.1 Contemporary Taoism-inspired religions
o 4.4 Other
4.4.1 Chinese
4.4.2 Korean
4.4.3 Vietnamese
5 African diasporic religions
6 Indigenous traditional religions

o 6.1 African
o 6.2 American
o 6.3 Eurasian
o 6.4 Oceania/Pacific
6.4.1 Cargo cults
7 Historical polytheism
o 7.1 Ancient Near Eastern
o 7.2 Indo-European
7.2.1 Hellenistic
o 7.3 Uralic
8 Mysticism and occult

o 8.1 Esotericism and mysticism
8.1.1 Western mystery tradition
8.1.1.1 Thelema
8.1.2 Christian mysticism and esotericism
o 8.2 Occult and magic
9 Modern Paganism
o 9.1 Syncretic
o 9.2 Ethnic
10 New religious movements

o 10.1 New Thought
o 10.2 Shinshukyo
11 Left-hand path religions
12 Post-theistic and naturalistic religions
13 Fictional religions
14 Parody or mock religions
15 Others
16 Other categorisations
o 16.1 By demographics
o 16.2 By area
17 See also
18 References
19 External links
Abrahamic religions
Main article: Abrahamic religions
A group of monotheistic traditions sometimes grouped with one another for comparative
purposes, because all refer to a patriarch named Abraham.
Bbism
Main article: Bbism
Azali
Bah' Faith
Main article: Bah' Faith

See also: Bah' divisions
Bah's Under the Provisions of the Covenant
Orthodox Bah' Faith
Christianity
Main article: Christianity
See also: List of Christian denominations
Western Christianity
Main article: Roman Catholic Church
Main article: Protestantism
Anabaptists
Anglicanism
Baptists
Calvinism
Congregational churches
Lutheranism
Methodism
Moravians
Nonconformism
Pentecostalism
Pietism
Presbyterianism
Quakerism
o Shakers
Waldensians
Eastern Christianity
Ancient Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
Eastern Catholics (In full communion with Rome, but retaining a diverse array of Eastern
liturgical rites; including the Maronites and Chaldean Catholics)
Eastern Orthodox Church (Includes the Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Russian
Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox, and several other autocephalous
churches and Patriarchates)
Russian Orthodox Old Believers
Eastern Orthodox Old Calendarists
Oriental Orthodox (Includes the Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian

Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox, as well as a portion of the St. Thomas Christians)
Other groups related to Christianity

Some of these groups consider themselves to be Christian, or to be derived from Christianity, but
they are considered heterodox or heretical by mainstream Christianity. Some of them are no
longer extant.
Arianism
Christadelphians
Christian Gnosticism
Christian Identity
Christian Science
Christian Universalism
Ebionites (no longer extant)
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jesuism
Latter Day Saint movement
Millerites
Nontrinitarianism
Messianic Judaism
Marcionism (no longer extant)
Rastafarianism
Spiritual Baptists
Swedenborgianism
The Aquarian Church
Unification Church
Unitarianism (see also Unitarian Universalism)
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Gnosticism
Many Gnostic groups were closely related to early Christianity, for example, Valentinism.
Irenaeus wrote polemics against them from the standpoint of the then-unified Catholic Church.[8]
Main article: Gnosticism
See also: List of Gnostic sects
Cerdonians (no longer extant)
Colarbasians (no longer extant)
Simonians (no longer extant)
Bogomilism (no longer extant)
Catharism (no longer extant)
The Yazidis are a syncretic Kurdish religion with a Gnostic influence:
Yazidis
Persian Gnosticism
Mandaeism
Manichaeism (no longer extant)
Bagnolians (no longer extant)
Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism
None of these religions are still extant.
Main article: Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism
Sethianism
o Basilideans
o Valentinianism
Bardaisan#Bardesanite school
Neo-Gnostic Groups
Ecclesia Gnostica
Islam
Main article: Islam
See also: Islamic schools and branches
Kalam Schools
Main article: Ilm al-Kalam
Ash'ari
Maturidi
Murji'ah
Mu'tazila
Kharijite
Main article: Khawarij
Ibadi (Only surviving sect)
Azraqi
Haruriyyah
Sufri
Shia Islam
Main article: Shia Islam
Isma'ilism
o Mustaali / Dawoodi Bohra
o Nizari
Ja'fari jurisprudence
o Twelver
Akhbari
Shaykhism
Usuli
o Alawites
o Alevism / Bektashi Order
Zaidiyyah
Sufism
Main article: Sufism
Bektashi Order
Chishti Order
Mevlevi Order
Mujaddidiyah
Naqshbandi
o Jahriyya
o Khufiyya
Ni'matullh
Tariqa
Qadiriyya
Sufi Order International
Sufism Reoriented
Suhrawardiyya
Tijaniyyah
Universal Sufism
o Dances of Universal Peace
Sunni Islam
Main article: Sunni Islam
Hanafi
o Barelvi
o Deobandi
o Gedimu
o Yihewani
o Xidaotang
Hanbali
Maliki
Shafi'i
Ahl al-Hadith or Salafi movement
Quranism
Main article: Quranism
Quranism
Tolu-e-Islam
United Submitters International
Black Muslims
Main article: Black Muslims
American Society of Muslims
Five-Percent Nation
Moorish Orthodox Church of America
Moorish Science Temple of America
Nation of Islam
United Nation of Islam
Ahmadiyya
Main article: Ahmadiyya
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam
Other Islamic groups
Yarsanism
Al-Fatiha Foundation
Canadian Muslim Union
European Islam
Ittifaq al-Muslimin
Jamaat al Muslimeen
Jadid
Liberal movements within Islam
Muslim Canadian Congress
Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi

o Messiah Foundation International
Progressive British Muslims
Progressive Muslim Union
Wahhabi movement
Mahdavia
Religions related to Islam

These religions are either descended from Sufi Islam, or consider themselves Islamic, but are
regarded as heretical or heterodox by other Muslims.
Sufi and Shia Sects
Alevism
Bektashi Order
Druze
Main article: Druze
Judaism and related religions

Main article: Judaism
See also: Jewish religious movements
Rabbinic Judaism
Main article: Rabbinic Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
o Haredi Judaism
o Hasidic Judaism
o Modern Orthodox Judaism
Conservative Judaism
o Masorti
o Conservadox Judaism
Union for Traditional Judaism
Reform Judaism
Progressive Judaism
o Liberal Judaism
Karaite Judaism
Main article: Karaite Judaism
Samaritanism
Samaritans use a slightly different version of the Pentateuch as their Torah, worshiping at Mount
Gerizim instead of Jerusalem, and are possibly the descendants of the lost Northern Kingdom.
They are definitely of ancient Israelite origin, but their status as Jews is disputed.[9]
Main article: Samaritans
Falasha or Beta Israel
Modern Non-Rabbinic Judaism
Alternative Judaism
Humanistic Judaism (not always identified as a religion)
Jewish Renewal
Reconstructionist Judaism
Historical groups
Second Temple Judaism
Essenes
Pharisees (ancestor of Rabbinic Judaism)
Sadducees (possible ancestor of Karaite Judaism)
Zealots (Judea)s
o Sicarii
Sects that believed Jesus was a prophet

o Ebionites
o Elcesaites
o Nazarenes
Sabbateans
o Frankism
Black Hebrew Israelites

Main article: Black Hebrew Israelites
Rastafari movement
Main article: Rastafari movement
Mandaeans and Sabians

Main articles: Mandaeism and Sabians
Mandaeism
Sabians
o Mandaean Nasaraean Sabeans
o Sabians of Harran
Shabakism
Main article: Shabak people
Indian religions
Main article: Indian religions
Indian religions are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent; namely Hinduism,
Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism and religions and traditions related to, and descended from,
them.
Ayyavazhi
Main article: Ayyavazhi
Bhakti movement
Main article: Bhakti movement
Kabir panth
Ravidassia religion
Sant Mat
Buddhism
Main article: Schools of Buddhism
Nikaya schools (which have historically been incorrectly called Hinayana in the West)
o Theravada
Sri Lankan Amarapura Nikaya
Sri Lankan Siam Nikaya
Sri Lankan Ramaa Nikaya
Bangladeshi Sangharaj Nikaya
Bangladeshi Mahasthabir Nikaya
Burmese Thudhamma Nikaya
Vipassana tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw and disciples
Burmese Shwegyin Nikaya
Burmese Dwara Nikaya
Thai Maha Nikaya
Dhammakaya Movement
Thai Dhammayuttika Nikaya
Thai Forest Tradition
Tradition of Ajahn Chah
o Vipassana movement
Mahayana
o Humanistic Buddhism
o Madhyamaka
Prasagika
Svatantrika
East Asian Mdhyamaka (Three Treatise school)
Jonang
o Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Sh
Nichiren Shsh
Soka Gakkai
o Pure Land Buddhism
Jdo-sh
Jdo Shinsh
o Buddha-nature
Daabhmik (absorbed into Huayan)
Huayan school (Avatamsaka)
Hwaeom
Kegon
o Tiantai
Tendai
Cheontae
o Yogcra
East Asian Yogcra
o Chan Buddhism
Caodong school
Zen
St
Keizan line
Jakuen line
Giin line
Linji school
Rinzai school
baku
Fuke-sh
Won Buddhism
Kwan Um School of Zen
Sanbo Kyodan
Vajrayana
o Shingon Buddhism
o Tibetan Buddhism
Bon
Gelug
Kagyu
Karma Kagyu
Barom Kagyu
Drukpa Lineage
Shangpa Kagyu
Nyingma
Sakya
Dagpo Kagyu
Jonang
New Buddhist movements

o Shambhala Buddhism
o Diamond Way Buddhism
o Triratna Buddhist Community
o New Kadampa Tradition[10]

o Share International
o True Buddha School
Nipponzan-Myhji-Daisanga
o The Osho or Rajneesh movement
Global Variants of Buddhism

o Buddhism in the United States
Din-e Ilahi
Din-e Ilahi
Hinduism
See also: Hindu denominations
Swaminarayan
Shrauta
Lingayatism
Shaivism
Shaktism
Tantrism
o Ananda Marga[11]
Smartism
Vaishnavism
o Gaudiya Vaishnavism
International Society for Krishna Consciousness[12]
Hindu reform movements

o Arya Samaj[13]
o Brahmo Samaj
o Ramakrishna Mission
o Satya Dharma
o Satsang of Thakur Anukulchandra
o Matua Mahasangha
Hinduism in Indonesia
Major schools and movements of Hindu philosophy

Main article: Hindu philosophy
Nyaya
Purva mimamsa
Samkhya
Vaisheshika
Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa)

o Advaita Vedanta
o Integral Yoga
o Vishishtadvaita
o Dvaita Vedanta
Yoga
o Ashtanga Yoga
o Bhakti Yoga
o Raja yoga
o Karma yoga
o Jnana yoga
o Kundalini yoga
o Hatha yoga
o Siddha Yoga
o Surat Shabd Yoga
o Tantric Yoga
o Sahaja Yoga
Jainism
Main article: Jainism
Digambara
o Bispanthi[14]
o Digambar Terapanth
o Kanji Panth[14]
o Panth of Kanji Swami
vtmbara
o Murtipujaka (Deravasi)
o Sthnakavs
o Svetambar Terapanth
Meivazhi
Meivazhi
Sikhism
Main article: Sikhism
Khalsa
o Nihang
Namdhari ("Kuka Sikhs")
Ravidassia religion
Sahajdhari
Iranian religions
Main article: Iranian religions
Zoroastrianism
Main article: Zoroastrianism
Zurvanism
Mazdakism
Khurramites (syncretism with Shi'a Islam)
Behafaridians
Gnostic religions
Mandaeism
Manichaeism
Mithraism
Bb movement
Bbism
Bah' Faith
Azali
Yazdnism
Main article: Yazdnism
Alevi (this is contested; most Alevi consider themselves to be Shia or Sufi Muslims, but a
minority adhere to the Yazdani interpretation)
Yarsani
Yazidi
East Asian religions

Main article: East Asian religions
Confucianism
Main article: Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism
New Confucianism
Shinto
Main articles: Shinto and Shinto sects and schools
Koshint
Shugend
Yoshida Shint
Shinto-inspired religions
Konkokyo
Oomoto
Seicho-no-Ie
Shinmeiaishinkai
Tenrikyo
Zenrinkyo
Taoism
Main article: Taoism
Way of the Five Pecks of Rice

o Way of the Celestial Masters
Zhengyi Dao ("Way of the Right Oneness")
Taipingjing-based movements
Shangqing School ("School of the Highest Clarity")
Lingbao School ("School of the Numinous Treasure")
Quanzhen School ("Way of the Fulfilled Virtue")

o Dragon Gate Taoism
Wuliupai ("School of Wu-Liu")
Yao Taoism (Meishanism)
Faism (Redhead Taoism)
Xuanxue (Neo-Taoism)
Contemporary Taoism-inspired religions
Yiguandao
Dudeism
Zenarchy (Kerry Wendell Thornley)
Other
Chinese
Chan Buddhism
Chinese folk religion
Falun Gong
Yiguandao (I Kuan-Tao)
Mohism
Xiantiandao
Korean
Cheondoism
Daejongism
Daesun Jinrihoe
Gasin faith
Jeung San Do
Juche
Korean shamanism
Suwunism
Vietnamese
Cao i
o Bu Sn K Hng
o Da
o Mu
Ha Ho
African diasporic religions

See also: African diasporic religions
African diasporic religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas
among African slaves and their descendants in various countries of the Caribbean Islands and
Latin America, as well as parts of the southern United States. They derive from African
traditional religions, especially of West and Central Africa, showing similarities to the Yoruba
religion in particular.
Batuque
Candombl
Dahomey mythology
Haitian mythology
Kumina
Macumba
Mami Wata
Obeah
Oyotunji
Palo
Quimbanda
Santera (Lukumi)
Umbanda[15]
Vodou
Indigenous traditional religions

See also: Paganism and Folk religion
Traditionally, these faiths have all been classified "Pagan", but scholars prefer the terms
"indigenous/primal/folk/ethnic religions".
African
Main article: African traditional religions
West Africa
Akan mythology
Ashanti mythology (Ghana)
Dahomey (Fon) mythology
Efik mythology (Nigeria, Cameroon)
Igbo mythology (Nigeria, Cameroon)
Isoko mythology (Nigeria)
Yoruba mythology (Nigeria, Benin)
Central Africa
Bushongo mythology (Congo)
Bambuti (Pygmy) mythology (Congo)
Lugbara mythology (Congo)
East Africa
Akamba mythology (East Kenya)
Dinka mythology (Sudan)
Lotuko mythology (Sudan)
Masai mythology (Kenya, Tanzania)
Southern Africa
Khoisan religion
Lozi mythology (Zambia)
Tumbuka mythology (Malawi)
Zulu mythology (South Africa)
American
Main article: Native American mythology
Abenaki mythology
Anishinaabe
Aztec mythology
Blackfoot mythology
Cherokee mythology
Chickasaw mythology
Choctaw mythology
Creek mythology
Crow mythology
Ghost Dance
Guarani mythology
Haida mythology
Ho-Chunk mythology (aka: Winnebago)
Hopi mythology
Inca mythology
Indian Shaker Church
Inuit mythology
Iroquois mythology
Keetoowah Nighthawk Society
Kuksu
Kwakiutl mythology
Lakota mythology
Leni Lenape mythology
Longhouse religion
Mapuche mythology
Maya mythology
Midewiwin
Miwok
Native American Church
Navajo mythology
Nootka mythology
Ohlone mythology
Olmec mythology
Pomo mythology
Pawnee mythology
Salish mythology
Selk'nam religion
Seneca mythology
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex
Sun Dance
Tsimshian mythology
Urarina
Ute mythology
Wyandot religion
Zuni mythology
Eurasian
Asian
Benzhuism (indigenous religion of the Bai people)
Bimoism (indigenous religion of the Yi people)
Bon (indigenous religion of Tibet)
Chinese mythology
Japanese mythology
Korean shamanism
Koshint
Manchu Shamanism
Mun (Lepcha)
Siberian Shamanism
Tengrism
Ua Dab (indigenous religion of the Hmong people)
Vietnamese folk religion
European
Asatru
Estonian mythology
Eskimo religion
Finnish mythology and Finnish paganism
Marla faith
Odinism
Romuva
Hungarian folk religion
Sami religion (including the Noaidi)
Wotanism
Oceania/Pacific
Australian Aboriginal mythology
Austronesian beliefs
o Balinese mythology
o Javanese beliefs
o Melanesian mythology
o Micronesian mythology
Modekngei
Nauruan indigenous religion
o Philippine mythology
Anito
Gab
Kulam
o Polynesian mythology
Hawaiian mythology
Mori mythology
Mori religion
Rapa Nui mythology
Moai
Tangata manu
Cargo cults
Main article: Cargo cults
John Frum
Johnson cult
Prince Philip Movement
Vailala Madness
Historical polytheism
Further information: Prehistoric religion and History of religion
Ancient Near Eastern

Main article: Ancient Near Eastern religions
Ancient Egyptian religion
Ancient Semitic religions

o Canaanite mythology
Canaanite religion
Mesopotamian mythology
o Arabian mythology (pre-Islamic)
o Babylonian and Assyrian religion
Babylonian mythology
Chaldean mythology
o Sumerian mythology
Indo-European
Main article: Proto-Indo-European religion
Proto-Indo-Iranian religion
o Historical Vedic religion
o Iranian mythology
Armenian mythology
Baltic polytheism
Celtic polytheism
o Brythonic mythology
o Gaelic mythology
Germanic polytheism
o Anglo-Saxon religion
o Continental Germanic religion
o Norse religion
Greek polytheism
Hittite mythology
Persian mythology
Roman polytheism
Slavic polytheism
Hellenistic
Main article: Hellenistic religion
Mystery religions
o Eleusinian Mysteries
o Mithraism
o Orphism
Pythagoreanism
Gallo-Roman religion
Uralic
Estonian polytheism
Finnish polytheism
Hungarian polytheism
Mysticism and occult

Esotericism and mysticism
Main articles: Esotericism and Mysticism
Hindu mysticism
o Tantra
o Vaastu Shastra
Kabbalah
Moorish Science Temple of America
Neoplatonism
Pythagoreanism
o Neopythagoreanism
Sufism
Theosophy
Western mystery tradition
Hermeticism
Builders of the Adytum
Fraternitas Saturni
Fraternity of the Inner Light
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

o The Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
Ordo Aurum Solis
Rosicrucian
o Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis[16]
o Rosicrucian Fellowship
Servants of the Light
Thelema
Main article: Thelema
AA
Ordo Templi Orientis

o Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O.)
Typhonian Order
Christian mysticism and esotericism

Main articles: Christian mysticism and Esoteric Christianity
Anthroposophy
Archeosophical Society
Behmenism
Christian Kabbalah
Martinism
Occult and magic

Main articles: Occultism and Magic (paranormal)
Alchemy
Ceremonial magic
o Enochian magic
o Goetic magic
Chaos magic
o Illuminates of Thanateros
o Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
Hoodoo (Rootwork)
o New Orleans Voodoo
Kulam - Filipino witchcraft
Pow-wow
Seir - Norse sorcery
Magick (Thelema)
Witchcraft
Modern Paganism
Main article: Paganism (contemporary)
See also: List of Modern pagan movements
Syncretic
Adonism
Church of All Worlds
Church of Aphrodite
Feraferia
Neo-Druidism
o Reformed Druids of North America
Neoshamanism
Neo-vlkisch movements
Technopaganism
Wicca
o British Traditional Wicca
Gardnerian Wicca
Alexandrian Wicca
Central Valley Wicca
Algard Wicca
Chthonioi Alexandrian Wicca
Blue Star Wicca
o Eclectic Wicca
o Celtic Wicca
o Saxon Wicca
o Dianic Wicca
o McFarland Dianic Wicca
o Faery Wicca
o Correllian Nativist Tradition
o Georgian Wicca
o Odyssean Wicca
o Wiccan church
Covenant of the Goddess
Ethnic
Baltic Neopaganism
Celtic Neopaganism
Finnish Neopaganism
Germanic Neopaganism
Hellenismos
Kemetism
Roman Neopaganism
Semitic Neopaganism
Slavic Neopaganism
Taaraism
Zalmoxianism
New religious movements

Main article: List of new religious movements
Creativity
Huna
Native American Church
Ralism
Scientology
Unitarian Universalist
New Thought
Main article: New Thought
Christian Science
Church Universal and Triumphant
Divine Science
Religious Science
Unity Church
Jewish Science
Seicho-no-Ie
Shinshukyo
Main article: Japanese new religions
Church of World Messianity
Happy Science
Konkokyo
Oomoto
PL Kyodan
Seicho-No-Ie
Tenrikyo
Left-hand path religions

Main article: Left-hand path and right-hand path
Satanism
o LaVeyan Satanism
o Theistic Satanism
Our Lady of Endor Coven (or Ophite Cultus Satanas)
Demonolatry
Luciferianism
Setianism (Temple of Set)
Post-theistic and naturalistic religions
Discordianism
Ethical Culture
Freethought (e.g. North Texas Church of Freethought)
Jesusism
Naturalistic Pantheism (e.g. World Pantheist Movement)
Secular Humanism
Yoism
Fictional religions
Main article: List of fictional religions
Parody or mock religions
Church of Euthanasia
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Pastafarianism)
Church of the SubGenius
Dudeism
Iglesia Maradoniana
Invisible Pink Unicorn
Jediism
Kibology
Landover Baptist Church
Last Thursdayism
Others
Cult of the Supreme Being
Deism
Eckankar
Fourth Way
Goddess movement
Humanism
The New Message from God
Nuwaubian Nation
Open-source religion
Plurationalism
Spiritism (Spiritualism)
Subud
Universal Life Church
Other categorisations
By demographics
Main article: Religious demographics
List of religious populations
By area
Further information: Religion geography
Religion in Africa
Religion in Asia
Religion in Australia
Religion in Europe
Religion in North America
Oceania / Pacific
Religion in South America
Religion by country
o List of state-established religions
o Buddhism by country
o Christianity by country
Roman Catholicism by country
Protestantism by country
o Hinduism by country
o Islam by country
o Judaism by country, Jewish population
o Sikhism by country
List of religious organizations

This is a list of religious organizations by faith.
As it can be a matter of debate as to whether an organization is, in fact, religious, organizations
only appear on this list where the organization itself claims or has claimed to be a religious
organization.
This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness.
You can help by expanding it with entries that are reliably sourced.
Contents
1 Christian organizations
o 1.1 Christian denominations
1.1.1 Christian organizations by denominational family affiliation
o 1.2 Christian organizations by purpose
1.2.1 Bible societies
1.2.2 Humanitarian Aid
1.2.3 Congregations by country
1.2.4 Dioceses
1.2.5 Christian media organizations
1.2.6 Mission organizations
1.2.7 Monasteries, abbeys, priories, and friaries
1.2.8 Christian orders and societies
1.2.9 Christian political organizations
1.2.10 Christian relief organizations
1.2.11 Christian schools and colleges
1.2.12 Christian sports organizations
1.2.13 Christian youth organizations
1.2.14 Miscellaneous Christian organizations
2 Islamic organizations
o 2.1 China
2.1.1 Hong Kong
2.1.2 Macau
o 2.2 Indonesia
o 2.3 Iran
o 2.4 Singapore
o 2.5 Taiwan
3 Jewish organizations
o 3.1 Jewish organizations by purpose
3.1.1 Youth organizations
4 Buddhist organizations
5 Hindu organizations
6 Pagan organizations
7 Rosicrucian organizations
8 Sikhist organizations
9 Theosophical organizations
10 Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist
11 Organizations of miscellaneous religions

o 11.1 Organizations of miscellaneous Asian religions
12 Interreligious organizations
o 12.1 Inter-Abrahamic organizations
13 See also
Christian organizations
See also: Category:Christian organizations
See also: Category:Lists of Christian buildings and structures
Christian denominations
Christian denominations
in English-speaking countries
Australia[show]
Canada[show]
United Kingdom[show]
United States[show]
International Associations[show]
Main article: List of Christian denominations

See also: List of Christian denominations by number of members
Christian organizations by denominational family affiliation
See also: Category:Christian organizations by denomination
Adventist
List of Seventh-day Adventist churches in New Zealand
List of Seventh-day Adventist periodicals
Media ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities
List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools
Anabaptist
See also: Category:Anabaptist organizations

Anglican
See also: Category:Anglican organizations
List of Anglican dioceses

o List of dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada
o List of dioceses of the Episcopal Church, United States
List of Anglo-Catholic churches
List of colleges and seminaries affiliated with the Episcopal Church
List of Anglican devotional societies
Baptist
See also: Category:Baptist organizations
List of Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland churches

o List of Baptist schools in the United States
o List of Baptist colleges and universities in the United Kingdom
o List of Baptist colleges and universities in the United States
o List of Baptist sub-denominations
Catholic
See also: Category:Roman Catholic Church organizations

See also: Category:Roman Catholic Church organisation
List of Carthusian monasteries
List of Roman Catholic missions in Africa
Dioceses
o List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical)
o List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)
o List of Roman Catholic archdioceses
o List of French dioceses in the 19th and 20th century
Congregations
o List of Roman Catholic churches in the Diocese of Charleston
o List of parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno
o List of parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
Orders and societies

o List of Ecclesial movements
Knights of Columbus
Knights of St. Joseph
Knights of St. George
Schools
o List of Roman Catholic seminaries
o List of Eastern Catholic seminaries
o List of Catholic Schools in the Philippines
o Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States
o List of independent Catholic schools in the United States
Etc.
o American Catholic Philosophical Association
o Wethersfield Institute
o Catholic Biblical Federation
Church of the East
See also: Category:Assyrian Church of the East

[show]
List of Diocese
Eastern Orthodox
See also: Category:Eastern Orthodox organizations
List of Eastern Orthodox dioceses and archdioceses

o List of the dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America
Congregations
o Orthodox parishes in the United States
Orthodox parishes in Alaska
Orthodox parishes in Hawaii
o Parishes of the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians in Great Britain

o Parishes of the Apostolic Exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia for the
Ukrainians
Evangelical
See also: Category:Evangelical organizations
List of evangelical seminaries and theological colleges
Lutheran
See also: Category:Lutheran organizations
List of Lutheran denominations
List of Lutheran dioceses and archdioceses
Nordic churches in London
List of ELCA seminaries
Seminaries of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Methodist
See also: Category:Methodist organizations
List of African Methodist Episcopal Churches
Oriental Orthodox
See also: Category:Oriental Orthodoxy
List of Coptic Orthodox Churches in the United States
List of Coptic Orthodox Churches in Canada
List of Eritrean Orthodox monasteries
[show]
List of Dioceses
Pentecostal
See also: Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal organizations

Presbyterian
See also: Category:Presbyterian organizations
List of Church of Scotland parishes
Protestant
List of the largest Protestant churches of the world
List of Protestant mission societies in Africa
Quaker
See also: Category:Quaker organizations
List of Friends schools
Reformed (Calvinist)
See also: Category:Calvinist organizations
Association for Reformational Philosophy

o List of Calvinist educational institutions
Stone-Campbell movement
List of universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ
List of universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of
Christ
Organizations of miscellaneous denominational families
List of Armenian Evangelical (AEUNA) churches in the United States
List of Messianic Jewish organizations
Christian organizations by purpose

Bible societies
[show]
List of bible societies
Congregations by country
See also: Category:Church buildings
See also: Category:Christian communities
[show]
Congregations by country
Dioceses
List of Anglican dioceses
See List of religious organizations#Catholic
See List of religious organizations#Church of the East
List of Eastern Orthodox dioceses and archdioceses
List of Lutheran dioceses and archdioceses
See List of religious organizations#Oriental Orthodox
Christian media organizations

Main article: List of Christian media organizations
See also: List of Christian record labels
See also: List of Christian film production companies
Mission organizations
See also: Category:Christian missions
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
World Vision United States
Samaritan's Purse
o List of Christian mission hospitals
o List of SVD missions
o List of Spanish missions
Youth With A Mission

o YWAM Maui
Monasteries, abbeys, priories, and friaries

See also: Category:Christian monasteries
List of monasteries, abbeys, and priories
[show]
Monasteries, abbeys, priories, and friaries by country
Christian orders and societies
See also: Category:Christian orders
Christian political organizations
See also: Category:Christian political organizations
Christian relief organizations
See also: Category:Christian charities
International
o Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
o Samaritan's Purse
o World Relief
o World Vision
o The Salvation Army
o Cross International
o World Vision in Progress
Hospitals
o List of Christian mission hospitals
o List of Christian hospitals in China
Christian schools and colleges

See also: Category:Christian schools
See also: Category:Christian universities and colleges
Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia
List of schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States
and Canada
List of SVD schools
Christian sports organizations

See also: Category:Christian sports organizations
Christian youth organizations
See also: Category:Christian youth organizations
Miscellaneous Christian organizations
See also: Category:Christian charities
See also: Category:Christian parachurch organizations
See also: Category:Christian countercult organizations
List of parachurch organizations

o Christian Vegetarian Association
o Society of Christian Philosophers
o Promise Keepers
Islamic organizations
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
See also: Category:Islam-related lists
See also: Category:Lists of Islamic buildings and structures
Islamic Association of China in Beijing, China
Islamic Association of Macau in Macau, China
Chinese Muslim Association in Taipei, Taiwan
China
Islamic Association of China
Hong Kong
Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association
Hong Kong Islamic Youth Association
Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong
Islamic Cultural Association (Hong Kong)
United Muslims Association of Hong Kong
Macau
Islamic Association of Macau
Indonesia
Nahdlatul Ulama
Iran
Islamic International Foundation of Cooperation
Singapore
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Taiwan
Chinese Islamic Cultural and Educational Foundation
Chinese Muslim Association
Chinese Muslim Youth League
Taiwan Halal Integrity Development Association
Jewish organizations
See also: Category:Judaism-related lists
See also: Category:Lists of Judaism-related buildings and structures
Jewish organizations by purpose

Youth organizations
See also: List of Jewish youth organizations
Buddhist organizations
See also: Category:Buddhism-related lists
See also: Category:Lists of Buddhist buildings and structures
Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship
Hindu organizations
Main article: List of Hindu organisations
Pagan organizations
See also: Category:Germanic paganism and mythology lists
Ar nDraiocht Fein
Asatru
Church and School of Wicca
Church of All Worlds
Circle Sanctuary
Covenant of the Goddess
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
Odinic Rite
Unitarian Earth Spirit Network
Rosicrucian organizations
Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
Rosicrucian Fellowship
Sikhist organizations

See also: Category:Sikhism-related lists
Theosophical organizations
Theosophical Society Adyar
Theosophical Society Pasadena
Theosophical Society Point Loma-Covina
New Acropolis
United Lodge of Theosophists
Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist
International Council of Unitarians and Universalists

o Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association
o Canadian Unitarian Council (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists)
o Deutsche Unitarier Religionsgemeinschaft
o European Unitarian Universalists
o General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (Unitarian Christian
Association; Unitarian Earth Spirit Network)
o Unitarian Church of Transylvania
o Unitarian Universalist Association (Church of the Larger Fellowship; Church of
the Younger Fellowship; Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans))
o Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
o Meadville Lombard Theological School
o Starr King School for the Ministry
o Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute
o Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship

o Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship
o National Church of Iceland (In contact organization)
American Unitarian Conference
Christian Universalist Association
The Unitarian Christian Emerging Church
Unitarian Ministries International
Organizations of miscellaneous religions
Church of Satan
Creativity
High Council of B'nei Noah
Never Ending Gardens
John Templeton Foundation
Temple of Set
Universal Life Church
World Pantheist Movement
Organizations of miscellaneous Asian religions

See also: List of Ayyavazhi Organisations
Avatar Meher Baba Trust
Sri Viswa Viznana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham
Interreligious organizations
Association for Consciousness Exploration
Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Berkeley Psychic Institute
Institute on Religion in an Age of Science
Interfaith Worker Justice
International Council for Inter-Religious Cooperation
National African Religion Congress
Partners for Sacred Places
Sea of Faith
Society for the Arts, Religion and Contemporary Culture
World Congress of Ethnic Religions
The World Peace Prayer Society
Inter-Abrahamic organizations
The Coexistence Trust
Faith & Values Media
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Major religious groups

"World religions" redirects here. For other uses, see World religions (disambiguation). For a
breakdown by religion List of religions and spiritual traditions
Size of major religious groups, 2012
Religion
Christianity
Islam
Unaffiliated
Percent
31.5%
23.2%
16.3%
Hinduism
Buddhism
Folk religions
Other
Judaism
15.0%
7.1%
5.9%
0.8%
0.2%
Pew Research Center, 2012[1]

The world's principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of
major groups, although this is by no means a uniform practice. This theory began in the 18th
century with the goal of recognizing the relative levels of civility in societies.[2]
Contents
1 History of religious categories
2 Classification
3 Religious demographics
o 3.1 Largest religions
o 3.2 Medium-sized religions
4 By region
5 Trends in adherence
o 5.1 World Christian Encyclopedia
6 Maps of self-reported adherence
7 See also
8 Notes
9 References
10 Sources
11 External links
History of religious categories
An 1821 map of the world, where "Christians, Mahometans, and Pagans" correspond to levels of
civilization (The map makes no distinction between Buddhism and Hinduism).
An 1883 map of the world divided into colors representing "Christians, Buddhists, Hindus,
Mohammedans and Pagans".
In world cultures, there have traditionally been many different groupings of religious belief. In
Indian culture, different religious philosophies were traditionally respected as academic
differences in pursuit of the same truth. In Islam, the Quran mentions three different categories:
Muslims, the People of the Book, and idol worshipers. Initially, Christians had a simple
dichotomy of world beliefs: Christian civility versus foreign heresy or barbarity. In the 18th
century, "heresy" was clarified to mean Judaism and Islam;[citation needed] along with paganism, this
created a fourfold classification which spawned such works as John Toland's Nazarenus, or
Jewish, Gentile, and Mahometan Christianity, which represented the three Abrahamic religions
as different "nations" or sects within religion itself, the "true monotheism."
Daniel Defoe described the original definition as follows: "Religion is properly the Worship
given to God, but 'tis also applied to the Worship of Idols and false Deities." At the turn of the
19th century, in between 1780 and 1810, the language dramatically changed: instead of
"religion" being synonymous with spirituality, authors began using the plural, "religions", to
refer to both Christianity and other forms of worship. Therefore, Hannah Adams's early
encyclopedia, for example, had its name changed from An Alphabetical Compendium of the
Various Sects... to A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations.[3]
In 1838, the four-way division of Christianity, Judaism, Mahommedanism (archaic terminology

for Islam) and Paganism was multiplied considerably by Josiah Conder's Analytical and
Comparative View of All Religions Now Extant among Mankind. Conder's work still adhered to
the four-way classification, but in his eye for detail he puts together much historical work to
create something resembling our modern Western image: he includes Druze, Yezidis, Mandeans,
and Elamites[clarification needed] under a list of possibly monotheistic groups, and under the final
category, of "polytheism and pantheism", he listed Zoroastrianism, "Vedas, Puranas, Tantras,
Reformed sects" of India as well as "Brahminical idolatry", Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,
Lamaism, "religion of China and Japan", and "illiterate superstitions".[4]
The modern meaning of the phrase "world religion", putting non-Christians at the same level as
Christians, began with the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. The Parliament
spurred the creation of a dozen privately funded lectures with the intent of informing people of
the diversity of religious experience: these lectures funded researchers such as William James, D.
T. Suzuki, and Alan Watts, who greatly influenced the public conception of world religions.[5]
In the latter half of the 20th century, the category of "world religion" fell into serious question,
especially for drawing parallels between vastly different cultures, and thereby creating an
arbitrary separation between the religious and the secular.[6] Even history professors have now
taken note of these complications and advise against teaching "world religions" in schools.[7]
Others see the shaping of religions in the context of the nation-state as the "invention of
traditions".
Classification
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this
article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged
and removed. (May 2014)
Further information: Comparative religion and Sociological classifications of religious
movements
Religious traditions fall into super-groups in comparative religion, arranged by historical origin
and mutual influence. Abrahamic religions originate in the Middle East, Indian religions in the
Indian subcontinent and East Asian religions in East Asia. Another group with supra-regional
influence are Afro-American religion, which have their origins in Central and West Africa.
Middle Eastern religions:[8]

o Abrahamic religions are the largest group, and these consist mainly of
Christianity, Islam, Judaism and the Bah' Faith. They are named for the
patriarch Abraham, and are unified by the practice of monotheism. Today, around
3.4 billion people are followers of Abrahamic religions and are spread widely
around the world apart from the regions around East and Southeast Asia. Several
Abrahamic organizations are vigorous proselytizers.[9]
Iranian religions (not listed below due to overlaps), partly of Indo-European origins,[10][11]
includes Zoroastrianism, Yazdnism, Ahl-e Haqq and historical traditions of Gnosticism
(Mandaeism, Manichaeism). It has significant overlaps with Abrahamic traditions, e.g. in
Sufism and in recent movements such as Bbism and the Bah' Faith.
Indian religions, originated in Greater India and partly of Indo-European origins, they
tend to share a number of key concepts, such as dharma, karma, reincarnation among
others. They are of the most influence across the Indian subcontinent, East Asia,
Southeast Asia, as well as isolated parts of Russia. The main Indian religions are
Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
East Asian religions consist of several East Asian religions which make use of the
concept of Tao (in Chinese) or D (in Japanese or Korean). They include many Chinese
folk religions, Taoism and Confucianism, as well as Korean and Japanese religion
influenced by Chinese thought.
African religions:[8]
o The religions of the tribal peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, but excluding ancient
Egyptian religion, which is considered to belong to the ancient Middle East;[8]
o African diasporic religions practiced in the Americas, imported as a result of the
Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 18th centuries, building on traditional religions
of Central and West Africa.
Indigenous ethnic religions, formerly found on every continent, now marginalized by the
major organized faiths in many parts of the world or persisting as undercurrents (folk
religions) of major religions. Includes traditional African religions, Asian shamanism,
Native American religions, Austronesian and Australian Aboriginal traditions, Chinese
folk religions, and postwar Shinto. Under more traditional listings, this has been referred
to as "paganism" along with historical polytheism.
New religious movement is the term applied to any religious faith which has emerged
since the 19th century, often syncretizing, re-interpreting or reviving aspects of older
traditions such as Ayyavazhi, Mormonism, Ahmadiyya, Pentecostalism, polytheistic
reconstructionism, and so forth.
Religious demographics
Further information: List of religious populations
Main category: Religious demographics
One way to define a major religion is by the number of current adherents. The population
numbers by religion are computed by a combination of census reports and population surveys (in
countries where religion data is not collected in census, for example the United States or France),
but results can vary widely depending on the way questions are phrased, the definitions of
religion used and the bias of the agencies or organizations conducting the survey. Informal or
unorganized religions are especially difficult to count.
There is no consensus among researchers as to the best methodology for determining the
religiosity profile of the world's population. A number of fundamental aspects are unresolved:
Whether to count "historically predominant religious culture[s]"[12]
Whether to count only those who actively "practice" a particular religion[13]
Whether to count based on a concept of "adherence"[14]
Whether to count only those who expressly self-identify with a particular denomination[15]
Whether to count only adults, or to include children as well.
Whether to rely only on official government-provided statistics[16]
Whether to use multiple sources and ranges or single "best source(s)"
Largest religions
The table below lists religions classified by philosophy; however, religious philosophy is not
always the determining factor in local practice. Please note that this table includes heterodox
movements as adherents to their larger philosophical category, although this may be disputed by
others within that category. For example Christianity and Islam include those are culturally
Christian and Muslim as well as indigenous people combining folk religions or shamanism with
either.
The population numbers below are computed by a combination of census reports, random
surveys (in countries where religion data is not collected in census, for example the United States
or France), and self-reported attendance numbers, but results can vary widely depending on the
way questions are phrased, the definitions of religion used and the bias of the agencies or
organizations conducting the survey. Informal or unorganized religions are especially difficult to
count. Some organizations may wildly inflate their numbers.
Religion
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Number of followers
Cultural tradition
(in millions)
2,200 Abrahamic religions
1,800 Abrahamic religions
1,100 Indian religions
488 Indian religions
Medium-sized religions
Founded
Levant region
Arabian Peninsula
Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
References
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
The following are medium-sized world religions:

Religion
Number of
followers
(in millions)
Cultural
tradition
Founded
Japanese
Japan
religions
28 Indian religions Indian subcontinent
Abrahamic
14
Levant region
religions
100[nb 1]
Shinto
Sikhism
Judaism
Korean
shamanism
5-15 Korean religions Korea
Caodaism
Vietnamese
religions
Abrahamic
5-7.3
religions
5-9
Bah' Faith
Jainism
Hoahaoism
Tenriism
Religion in Africa
Religion in Antarctica
Religion in Asia
Indian subcontinent, 7th to 9th

century BC
3-4 Korean religions Korea, 19th century
Vietnamese
1.5-3
Vietnam, 20th century
religions
Japanese
5
Japan, 19th century
religions
o Muslim world (SW Asia and N Africa)

Religion in Europe
o Religion in the European Union
[20]
[22][23][nb 2]
o Religion in the Middle East
[1]
Iran, 19th century
Further information: Religions by country

Religion by region
[19]
[21]
By region
[17][18]
Vietnam, 20th century
4.2 Indian religions
Cheondoism
References
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
Religion in North America
Religion in Oceania
Religion in South America
Trends in adherence
Further information: Growth of religion
Since the late 19th century, the demographics of religion have changed a great deal. On the one
hand, since the 19th century, large areas of Sub-Saharan Africa have been converted to
Christianity, and this area of the world has the highest population growth rate. On the other hand,
some countries with a historically large Christian population have experienced a significant
decline in the numbers of professed active Christians: see demographics of atheism. Symptoms
of the decline in active participation in Christian religious life include declining recruitment for
the priesthood and monastic life, as well as diminishing attendance at church. In the realm of
Western culture, there has been an increase in the number of people who identify themselves as
secular humanists. In many countries, such as the People's Republic of China, communist
governments have discouraged religion, making it difficult to count the actual number of
believers. However, after the collapse of communism in numerous countries of Eastern Europe
and the former Soviet Union, religious life has been experiencing resurgence there, both in the
form of traditional Eastern Christianity and particularly in the forms of Neopaganism and East
Asian religions.[citation needed]
World Christian Encyclopedia

Following is some available data based on the work of the World Christian Encyclopedia:[28]
[29]
19701985
3.65%: Bah'
Faith
2.74%: Islam
2.34%:
Hinduism
1.67%:
Buddhism
1.64%:
Christianity
Trends in annual growth of adherence

19902000
20002005[32]
% change 19702010 (40 yrs)[23]
2.65%:
1.84%: Islam 9.85%: Daoism
Zoroastrianism
2.28%: Bah'
1.70%: Bah'
4.26%: Bah' Faith
Faith
Faith
[30][31]
2.13%: Islam
1.62%: Sikhism 4.23%: Islam
1.57%:
Hinduism
1.32%:
1.69%: Hinduism
Christianity
1.36%:
1.09%: Judaism
Christianity
1.09%: Buddhism
1.87%: Sikhism
3.08%: Sikhism
2.76%: Buddhism
2.62%: Hinduism
2.60%: Jainism
2.50%: Zoroastrianism
across 40 yrs, world total 2.16%
2.10%: Christianity
0.83%: Confucianism
0.37%: unaffiliated (inc. atheists, agnostics,
religious but not affiliated)
-0.03%: Judaism
-0.83%: Shintoism
Maps of self-reported adherence
Map showing self-reported

religiosity by country. Based on a
20062008 worldwide survey by
Gallup.
World map showing the percentages

of people who regard religion as
"non-important" according to a 2002
Pew survey
Religions of the world, mapped by

distribution.
Predominant religions of the world,
List of 21st-century religious leaders

List of 20th-century religious leaders Religious leaders by year
See also:
State leaders by year
International organization leaders by year
Colonial governors by year
Contents
1 Buddhism
2 Christianity
o 2.1 Catholicism
o 2.2 Eastern Orthodoxy
o 2.3 Oriental Orthodoxy
o 2.4 Protestantism
2.4.1 Baptist
2.4.2 Holiness
2.4.3 Lutheranism
2.4.4 Methodism
2.4.5 Pentecostalism
2.4.6 Presbyterianism
2.4.7 Other protestant
o 2.5 Anglicanism
2.5.1 Provinces of the Anglican Communion
2.5.2 Continuing Anglicanism
o 2.6 Other Christian or Christian-derived faiths
3 Islam
o 3.1 Ismaili
o 3.2 Ahmadiyya
o 3.3 Nation of Islam
4 Judaism and related
5 Other
o 5.1 Unitarian Universalism
o 5.2 Bah'
6 See also
7 References
Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama (1950present)
Thai Buddhism
Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (19892013)
Christianity
Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church (complete list)
John Paul II, Pope (19782005)
Benedict XVI, Pope (20052013)
Francis, Pope (2013present)
Old Catholic Church of America
James Edward Bostwick, Archbishop (19972009)
Henry Pleau, Archbishop (2010present)
Polish Catholic Church
Wiktor Wysoczaski, Bishop Superior (1995present)
Old Roman Catholic Church in Europe[1]
Jerome Lloyd, Metropolitan Archbishop (2012present)
Eastern Orthodoxy
Church of Constantinople (complete list), the first among equals in Eastern Orthodoxy
Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1991present)
Church of Alexandria (complete list)
Peter VII, Patriarch of Alexandria (19972004)
Theodore II, Patriarch of Alexandria (2004present)
Church of Antioch (complete list)
Ignatius IV (Hazim), Patriarch of Antioch (19792012)
John X (Yazigi), Patriarch of Antioch (2012-present)
Church of Jerusalem
Diodoros I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (19812000)
Irenaios I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (20012005)
Albanian Orthodox Church
Anastasios (Yannoulatos), Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1992present)
Bulgarian Orthodox Church (complete list)
Maxim, Patriarch of All Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia (19712012)
Neofit, Patriarch of All Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia (2013-present)
Cypriot Orthodox Church (complete list)
Chrysostomos I, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (19772006)
Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (2006present)
Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church
Nicholas of Presov, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (20002006)
Christopher of Prague, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (2006

2014)
Rastilav of Presov, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (2014present)
Georgian Orthodox Church
Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (2005present)
Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1977present)
Church of Greece (complete list)
Christodoulos of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (19982008)
Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (2008present)
Orthodox Church in America, North America (complete list)
Theodosius (Lazor), Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and

Canada (19771980)
Theodosius (Lazor), Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and

Canada (19812002)
Herman (Swaiko), Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and

Canada (20022005)
Herman (Swaiko), Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All

America and Canada (20052008)
Jonah (Paffhausen), Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of

All America and Canada (20082009)
Jonah (Paffhausen), Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and

Canada (20092012)
Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (2012present)
Polish Orthodox Church
Sawa (Hrycuniak) of Poland, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (1998

present)
Romanian Orthodox Church
Teoctist I, Patriarch of All Romania (19862007)
Daniel Ciobotea, Patriarch of All Romania (2007present)
Russian Orthodox Church (complete list)
Alexy II of Russia, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (19902008)
Kirill I, acting (20082009), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (2009Present)
Serbian Orthodox Church (complete list)
Pavle of Serbia, Archbishop of Pe and Patriarch of Serbs (19902009)
Irinej of Serbia, Archbishop of Pe and Patriarch of Serbs (2010present)
Orthodox Church of Finland (complete list)
John Rinne, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (19872001)
Leo Makkonen Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (2001present)
Oriental Orthodoxy
Armenian Apostolic Church (complete list)
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians (1999present)
Armenian Apostolic Church (complete list)
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia (1995present)
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (complete list)
Shenouda III of Alexandria, Pope and Patriarch (19712012)
Theodoros II of Alexandria, Pope and Patriarch (2012present)
Eritrean Orthodox Church
Abune Dioskoros, Patriarch (2005present)
Ethiopian Orthodox Church (complete list)
Abune Paulos, Abuna and Patriarch (19922012)
Abune Mathias, Abuna and Patriarch (2013present)
Indian Orthodox Church (complete list)
Baselios Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan

(20052010)
Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara
Metropolitan (2010present)
Syriac Orthodox Church
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (19802014)
Ignatius Aphrem II Karim (2014-present)
Protestantism
National Association of Evangelicals
Kevin Mannoia, President (19992001)
Leith Anderson, President (20022003)
Ted Haggard, President (20032006)
Leith Anderson, President (2006-present)
Baptist
Baptist World Alliance
General Secretaries
Denton Lotz, General Secretary (N/A2007)
Neville Callam, General Secretary (2008present)
Presidents
Billy Kim, President (20002005)
David Coffey, President (20052010)
John Upton, President (2010present)
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Jan Lek, General Secretary (c. 2010)
Africa
Baptist Convention of Angola
Mateus Chaves, current President (c. 2010)
Alexandre Melo Chilanda, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Nigerian Baptist Convention
President
Uche Enyioha, current President (c. 2010)
General Secretary and CEO
James Tanimola Ayorinde, General Secretary (c. 1960s)
S. T. Ola Akande, General Secretary
S. Ola Fadeji, General Secretary
Solomon Ademola Ishola, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Asia
Bangladesh Baptist Sangha
Joyanto Adhikari, current President (c. 2010)
Milton Biswas, current General-Secretary (c. 2010)
Paku Karen Baptist Association (Burma)
Letta, Executive Secretary
Kooler, Executive Secretary
Augustus Spurgeon, Executive Secretary
Caleb Paw, Executive Secretary
Paul Htoo, current Executive Secretary (c. 2010)
Association of Baptist Churches in Israel
Monther Naum, Chairman (N/A2006)
Fuad Haddad, Chairman (2006present)
Association of Fundamental Baptist Churches in the Philippines
Arleen D. Fidel, Chairman (2004present)
Baptist Conference of the Philippines
Joel Villamor, first General Secretary of the Conference (c. 1970s)
Eugene Ares, first Moderator of the Conference
Singapore Baptist Convention
Peter Tang, Executive Director (c. 2010)
India
Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang
Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
T. Ch. Immanuel, President (2006present)
M. Ashok Kumar, Secretary (2006present)
Manipur Baptist Convention
O. Alem, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Vumthang Sitlhou, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Tripura Baptist Christian Union
M.J. Eade, founding leader (1938N/A)
Rajani Kaipeng, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Europe, regional
European Baptist Federation
Tony Peck, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
International Baptist Convention
Jimmy Martin, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Europe, national
Baptist Union of Romania
Paul Negru, President (N/A2007)
Otniel Bunaciu, current President (2007present)
Convention of the Hungarian Baptist Churches of Romania
Norwegian Baptist Union
Borzsi Istvn, current President (c. 2010)
Janne M. Sjdahl, first General Secretary (1879N/A)
Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia
Alexey V. Smirnov, President (2010present)
United Kingdom
Baptist Union of Great Britain
Baptist Union of Scotland
Jonathan Edwards, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Alan Donaldson, current General Director (c. 2010)
Baptist Union of Wales
Peter M. Thomas, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
North America
Canada
Baptist General Conference of Canada
Canadian Baptist Ministries
Jamey McDonald, current Executive Director (c. 2010)
Gary Vincent Nelson, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Canadian Baptists of Western Canada
Canadian National Baptist Convention
Jan Paasuke, current President of the Board (c. 2010)
Gerry Taillon, current National Ministry Leader (c. 2010)
Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Canada
William Payne, founder (1983N/A)
Roger Fellows, founding General Coordinator (2001N/A)
Mark Hudson, current General Coordinator (c. 2010)
Union of French Baptist Churches of Canada
Roland Grimard, General Secretary (2003present)
United States
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Churches USA
Linzy Slayden, current President (c. 2010)
Baptist General Conference
Gordon Taylor, Coordinator (2008present)
Baptist Bible Fellowship International
A. Roy Medley, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
Brooks Wicker, current President (c. 2010)
Jerry Sheveland, current President (c. 2010)
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
J. Brent Walker - Executive Director (1999present)
Baptist Missionary Association of America
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Stephen LeBar, Executive Director (20042009)
Stan Rieb, National Network Facilitator, (2009present)
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Cecil Sherman, first Coordinator (19921996)
Daniel Vestal, Coordinator (1996present)
Enterprise Association of Regular Baptists
Eugene Dickerson, current Moderator (c. 2010)
Roger Ball, current President (c. 2010)
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
John Vaughn, current President (c. 2010)
General Association of General Baptists
Paul S. Morton, International Presiding Bishop (1994present)
Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International
Samuel Kelley, Founder, (1870N/A)
Conservative Baptist Association of America
Cheryl Dudley, President , (20082011)
Church of Christ, Instrumental (Kelleyites)
John David Smith, Executive Director, (2010present)
James Murray, interim Executive Director (c. 2010)
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
John Greening, current National Representative (c. 2010)
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
Stephen J. Thurston, current President (c. 2010)
Samuel C. Tolbert, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
American National Baptist Convention, since 1895 known as the National Baptist
Convention, USA, Inc.
W. H. Alpine, President (1880-1882)
J. Q. A. Wilhite, President (1882-1883)
J. A. Foster, President (1883-1884)
W. A. Brinkley, President (1884-1885)
W. J. Simmons, President (1886-1890)
E. W. Brawley, President (1890-1891)
M. Vann, President (1891-1893)
Elias Camp Morris, President (18951922)
L. K. Williams, President (19241940)
David V. Jemison, President (19401953)
Joseph H. Jackson, President (19541982)
T. J. Jemison, President (19831994)
Henry Lyons, President (19941999)
Stewart Cleveland Cureton, President (1999)
William J. Shaw, President (19992009)
Julius R. Scruggs, President (2009present)
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
S.M. Lockridge, President (19881994)
S. M. Wright, President (1994)
Melvin Von Wade, Sr., President (1994N/A)
W.T. Snead, President (1988N/A)
C. C. Robertson, President (2006present)
North American Baptist Conference
Rob McCleland, current Executive Director (c. 2010)
Ohio Valley Christian Baptist Church of God
Paul Hagen, current General Superintendent (c. 2010)
Delmar Rogers, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Walter Parrish III, current General Secretary (c. 2010)
President
T. DeWitt Smith, Jr., 18th President (N/A2010)
Carroll A. Baltimore, 19th President (2010present)
Southern Baptist Convention (complete list)
James Merritt, President (20002002)
Jack Graham, President (20022004)
Bobby Welch, President (20042006)
Frank S. Page, President (20062008)
Johnny M. Hunt, President (20082010)
Bryant Wright, President (2010present)
United American Free Will Baptist Church
Henry J. Rodmon, current General Bishop (c. 2010)
Holiness
Bible Missionary Church
Rodger Moyer, General Moderator (1987present)
Alvie Jarratt, General Moderator (1999present)
Christian and Missionary Alliance (U.S.)
David Rambo, President (c.19872005)
Gary Benedict, President (20052013)
Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
Senior Bishop
Maurice D. Bingham, Senior Bishop, (19962004)
Emery Lindsay, Senior Bishop (2005present)
President
Vernon Kennebrew, President (c.2005present)
Church of the Nazarene
John A. Knight, General Superintendent (19852001)
William J. Prince, General Superintendent (19892001)
James Diehl, General Superintendent (19932009)
Paul Cunningham, General Superintendent (19932009)
Jerry D. Porter, General Superintendent (1997present)
Jim Bond, General Superintendent (19972005)
W. Talmadge Johnson, General Superintendent (20012005)
Jesse Middendorf, General Superintendent (2001present)
Nina Gunter, General Superintendent (20052009)
J. K. Warrick, General Superintendent (2005present)
Eugenio Duarte, General Superintendent (2009present)
David W. Graves, General Superintendent (2009present)
Stan Toler, General Superintendent (2009present)
Pillar of Fire International
Robert Barney Dallenbach, General Superintendent (20002008)[2]
Joseph Gross, General Superintendent (2008present)[3]
Salvation Army
John Gowans, General (19992002)
John Larsson, General (20022006)
Shaw Clifton, General (20062011)
Linda Bond, General (20112013)
Andr Cox, General (2013present)
Lutheranism
International
Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
Steven P. Petersen, President (20082011):
Daniel Koelpin, President (2011present)
International Lutheran Council
Chairman
Ralph Mayan, Chairman (2005 2008)
Gerald B. Kieschnick, Chairman (2009 2010)
Hans-Jrg Voigt, Chairman (2010 2012)
Executive Secretary
Samuel H. Nafzger, Executive Secretary (2001 or before present)
Lutheran World Federation
Christian Krause (Germany), President (19972003)
Mark Hanson (US), President (20032010)
Munib Younan (Palestine), President (2010present)
Europe
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia
Jaan Kiivit, Jr, Archbishop (19942005)
Andres Pder, Archbishop (2005present)
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia Church Abroad
Udo Petersoo, Archbishop, (19902006)
Andres Taul, Archbishop, (20072010)
Thomas Vaga, Acting Bishop (2011present)
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Jukka Paarma, Archbishop of Turku (19982010)
Kari Mkinen, Archbishop of Turku (2010present)
Church of Norway
Harald V of Norway, King of Norway (1991present)
Swedish Church
Karl Gustav Hammar, Lutheran Primate of Sweden (19972006)
Anders Wejryd, Lutheran Primate of Sweden (2006present)
North America
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Alvin L. Barry, President (19922001)
Robert T. Kuhn, President (2001)
Gerald B. Kieschnick, President (20012010)
Matthew C. Harrison, President (2010present)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
H. George Anderson, Presiding Bishop (19952001)
Mark Hanson Presiding Bishop (2001present)
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
William Sullivan, National Service Coordinator (20022010)
Mark Vander Tuig, National Service Coordinator (2010present)
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Karl R. Gurgel, President (19932007)
Mark G. Schroeder, President (2007present)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Telmor Sartison, National Bishop (19932001)
Raymond Schultz, National Bishop (20012007)
Susan Johnson, National Bishop (2007present)
Methodism
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Chinese Methodist Church in Australia
Albert Chiew, Bishop (c.20082010)
James Kwang, Bishop (2010present)
Free Methodist Church in Canada
Nathaniel P. Lazaro, General Superintendent (2000present)
Methodist Church Ghana
Samuel Asante Antwi, President and Presiding Bishop (19972003)
Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop (20032009)[4]
Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop (2009present)
Methodist Church in Malaysia
Peter Chio, Bishop (?2004)
Hwa Yung, Bishop (2004present)
Methodist Church in Singapore
Keith A. Elford, Bishop (1997present)
Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas
Clement W. Fugh, General Secretary (2000present)
Robert M. Solomon, Bishop (2000present)
Methodist Church of Southern Africa
President
H Mvume Dandala, President (19982003)
Ivan M Abrahams, President (2003present)
General Secretary
Vivian Harris, General Secretary (19882001)
Ross A J Olivier, General Secretary (20012005)
Vuyani G Nyobole, General Secretary (2005present)
United Methodist Church
Gregory V. Palmer, President of the Council of Bishops (20082010)
Larry M. Goodpaster, President of the Council of Bishops (2010present)
Pentecostalism
Indian Pentecostal Church of God registered with the Government of India on 9

December 1935
Rev K.E. Abraham, Founder (19241974)
Rev P.M. Samuel, First President (19351955)
Rev K.C. John, President (2006present)
Church of God (Full Gospel) in India registered with the Government of India on 9
December 1949
Rev. Robert F. Cook, Founder (19191950)
Kalloor Chacko, Co-Founder (19191950)
Rev. M. Kunjappy, Overseer(2008present)
World Assemblies of God Fellowship
Thomas E. Trask, Chairman (20002008)
Assemblies of God, United States
Thomas E. Trask, General superintendent (19932007)
George O. Wood, General superintendent (2007present)
Grace Communion International (until 2009, called the Worldwide Church of God from
19682009)
George O. Wood, Chairman (2008present)
Joseph Tkach, Jr., President and pastor general (1995present)
New Apostolic Church
Richard Fehr, Chief apostle (19882005)
Wilhelm Leber, Chief apostle (2005present)
Presbyterianism
Church of Scotland (complete list)
John Miller, Moderator of the General Assembly (2001)
Finlay Macdonald, Moderator of the General Assembly (2002)
Iain Torrance, Moderator of the General Assembly (2003)
Alison Elliot, Moderator of the General Assembly (2004)
David Lacy, Moderator of the General Assembly (2005)
Alan McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly (2006)
Sheilagh M. Kesting, Moderator of the General Assembly (2007)
David W. Lunan, Moderator of the General Assembly (2008)
William C. Hewitt, Moderator of the General Assembly (2009)
John Christie, Moderator of the General Assembly (2010)
A. David K. Arnott, Moderator of the General Assembly (2011)
Albert O. Bogle, Moderator of the General Assembly (2012)
Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly (2013)
John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly (2014)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (complete list)
Syngman Rhee, Moderator of the General Assembly (2000-2001)
Jack Rogers, Moderator of the General Assembly (2001-2002)
Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator of the General Assembly (2002-2003)
Susan R. Andrews, Moderator of the General Assembly (2003-2004)
Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the General Assembly (2004-2006)
Joan Gray, Moderator of the General Assembly (2006-2008)
Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the General Assembly (2008-2010)
Cynthia Bolbach, Moderator of the General Assembly (2010-2012)
Neal Presa, Moderator of the General Assembly (2012-2014)
Other protestant
Church of North India
Purely Lyngdoh, Moderator
Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary
Church of South India
S. Vasanthakumar, Moderator
Seventh-day Adventists (complete list)
Jan Paulsen, General Conference President (19992010)
Ted N. C. Wilson, General Conference President (2010present)
Uniting Church in Australia
President
James Haire, President (20002003)
Dean Drayton, President (20032006)
Gregor Henderson, President (20062009)
Alistair Macrae, President (20092012)
Andrew Dutney, President (2012present)
General Secretary
Gregor Henderson, General Secretary (19892001)
Terence Corkin, General Secretary (2001present)
United Church of Canada
Marion Pardy, Moderator (20002003)
Peter Short, Moderator (20032006)
David Giuliano, Moderator (20062009)
Mardi Tindal, Moderator (20092012)
Gary Paterson, Moderator (2012present)
Anglicanism
Provinces of the Anglican Communion
Church of England
Formal leadership
Elizabeth II, Supreme Governor of the Church of England (1952present)
Effective leadership, (complete list)
George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (19912002)
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (20022012)
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury (2013present)
Anglican Church of Australia (complete list)
Peter Carnley, Primate (20002005)
Phillip Aspinall, Primate (2005present)
Anglican Church of Canada
Michael Peers, Primate (19862004)
Fred Hiltz, Primate (2007present)
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Hong Kong Anglican Church)
Peter Kwong, Archbishop (19982006)
Paul Kwong, Archbishop (2007present)
Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Presiding Bishop
Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop (19982006)
Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop (2006present)
George L.W. Werner, President of the House of Deputies (2000present)
Continuing Anglicanism
Anglican Orthodox Church Jerry L. Ogles, Presiding Bishop (2003present)
Anglican Province of Christ the King
Robert Morse, Bishop Ordinary (19772007)
James E. Provence, Bishop (2007present)
Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas
Anglican Church in America
Louis Falk, Primate (19912005)
Louis Falk, President of the House of Bishops (2005present)
Anglican Province of America Walter Grundorf, Presiding Bishop (early 1990s

present)
Diocese of the Holy Cross Paul C. Hewett, Diocesan Bishop (2006present)
Episcopal Missionary Church
William Millsaps, Presiding Bishop (20002005)
Council Nedd II, Presiding Bishop (2005present)
Reformed Episcopal Church Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop (1996

present)
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Eliud Wabukala, Chairman (2008present)
Anglican Church in North America Robert Duncan, Primate (2009present)
Church of England in South Africa
Frank J. Retief, Presiding Bishop (20002010)
Desmond Inglesby, Presiding Bishop (2010present)
North American Anglican Conference
Anglican Episcopal Church
Reginald Hammond, Presiding Bishop (20002004)
George Connor, Presiding Bishop (2006present)
Diocese of the Great Lakes
Julius A. Neeser, Bishop Ordinary (19982002)
David T. Hustwick, Bishop Ordinary (2002present)
Orthodox Anglican Communion
Scott Earle McLaughlin, Metropolitan Archbishop (20002012)
Creighton Jones, Metropolitan Archbishop (2012present)
Orthodox Anglican Church
Scott Earle McLaughlin, Presiding Bishop (20002012)
Creighton Jones, Presiding Bishop (2012present)
Traditional Anglican Communion
John Hepworth, Primate (20022012)
Samuel Prakash, Primate (2012present)
Anglican Catholic Church in Australia
John Hepworth, Archbishop (19982012)
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Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
Reign
Gendun Drup, 1st Dalai Lama

13911474
Tibetan
Wylie transliteration
Pronunciation
Conventional Romanisation
House
taa la'i bla ma

[tal lama]
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Tibetan name
Tibetan
The Dalai Lama /dla lm/[1][2] is a reincarnated lama of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school
of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsongkhapa (13571419). The 14th and current Dalai Lama is
Tenzin Gyatso, recognized since 1950.
The Dalai Lama is traditionally thought to be the successor in a line of tulkus who are considered
to be metaphorical manifestations of Avalokitevara. The name is a combination of the Mongolic
word dalai meaning "ocean" and the Tibetan word (bla-ma) meaning "guru, teacher,
mentor". The Tibetan word "lama" corresponds to the better known Sanskrit word "guru".[3]
For certain periods between the 17th century and 1962, the Gelug school managed the Tibetan
government, which administered portions of Tibet from Lhasa.
Contents
1 History
o 1.1 Unification of Tibet
2 Residence
3 Searching for the reincarnation

o 3.1 List of Dalai Lamas
4 Future of the position
5 See also
6 Notes and references
7 Bibliography
8 Further reading
9 External links
History
Main article: History of Tibet
Part of a series on
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Kublai Khan
Gshi Khan
During 1252, Kublai Khan granted an audience to Drogn Chgyal Phagpa and Karma Pakshi,
the 2nd Karmapa. Karma Pakshi, however, sought the patronage of Mngke Khan. Before his
death in 1283, Karma Pakshi wrote a will to protect the established interests of his lineage, the
Karma Kagyu, by advising his disciples to locate a boy to inherit the black hat. His instruction
was based on the premise that the Buddhist Dharma is eternal, and that the Buddha would send
emanations to complete the missions he had initiated. Karma Pakshi's disciples acted in
accordance with the will and located the reincarnated boy of their master. The event was the
beginning of the teacher reincarnation (Tulku) system for the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan
Buddhism. During the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle Emperor bestowed the title Great Treasure
Prince of Dharma, the first of the three Princes of Dharma, upon the Karmapa. Other Tibetan
Buddhist lineages responded to the teacher reincarnation system by creating similar systems.
Unification of Tibet
In the 1630s, Tibet became entangled in power struggles between the rising Manchu and various
Mongol and Oirat factions. Ligden Khan of the Chakhar, retreating from the Manchu, set out to
Tibet to destroy the Yellow Hat sect. He died on the way to Qinghai (Koko Nur) in 1634.[4] His
vassal Tsogt Taij continued the fight, even having his own son Arslan killed after Arslan changed
sides. Tsogt Taij was defeated and killed by Gshi Khan of the Khoshud in 1637, who would in
turn become the overlord of Tibet, and act as a "Protector of the Yellow Church."[5] Gshi helped
the Fifth Dalai Lama to establish himself as the highest spiritual and political authority in Tibet
and destroyed any potential rivals. The time of the Fifth Dalai Lama was, however, also a period
of rich cultural development.[citation needed]
The Fifth Dalai Lama's death was kept secret for fifteen years by the regent (Tibetan:
, Wylie: sde-srid), Sanggye Gyatso. This was apparently done so that the Potala Palace could
be finished, and to prevent Tibet's neighbors taking advantage of an interregnum in the
succession of the Dalai Lamas.[6]
Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama, was not enthroned until 1697. Tsangyang Gyatso
enjoyed a lifestyle that included drinking, the company of women, and writing love songs.[7] In
1705, Lobzang Khan of the Khoshud used the sixth Dalai Lama's escapades as excuse to take
control of Tibet. The regent was murdered, and the Dalai Lama sent to Beijing. He died on the
way, near Koko Nur, ostensibly from illness. Lobzang Khan appointed a new Dalai Lama who,
however was not accepted by the Gelugpa school. Kelzang Gyatso was discovered near Koko
Nur and became a rival candidate.
The Dzungars invaded Tibet in 1717, and deposed and killed Lobzang Khan's pretender to the
position of Dalai Lama. This was widely approved. However, they soon began to loot the holy
places of Lhasa, which brought a swift response from the Kangxi Emperor in 1718; but his
military expedition was annihilated by the Dzungars in the Battle of the Salween River, not far
from Lhasa.[8][9]
A second, larger, expedition sent by the Kangxi Emperor expelled the Dzungars from Tibet in
1720 and the troops were hailed as liberators. They brought Kelzang Gyatso with them from
Kumbum to Lhasa and he was installed as the seventh Dalai Lama in 1721.[10]
After him [Jamphel Gyatso the eighth Dalai Lama (17581804)], the 9th and 10th Dalai
Lamas died before attaining their majority: one of them is credibly stated to have been
murdered and strong suspicion attaches to the other. The 11th and 12th were each
enthroned but died soon after being invested with power. For 113 years, therefore,
supreme authority in Tibet was in the hands of a Lama Regent, except for about two years
when a lay noble held office and for short periods of nominal rule by the 11th and 12th
Dalai Lamas.
It has sometimes been suggested that this state of affairs was brought about by the
Ambansthe Imperial Residents in Tibetbecause it would be easier to control the
Tibet through a Regent than when a Dalai Lama, with his absolute power, was at the head
of the government. That is not true. The regular ebb and flow of events followed its set
course. The Imperial Residents in Tibet, after the first flush of zeal in 1750, grew less and
less interested and efficient. Tibet was, to them, exile from the urbanity and culture of
Peking; and so far from dominating the Regents, the Ambans allowed themselves to be
dominated. It was the ambition and greed for power of Tibetans that led to five successive
Dalai Lamas being subjected to continuous tutelage.[11]
Thubten Jigme Norbu, the elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama, described these unfortunate
events as follows:
It is perhaps more than a coincidence that between the seventh and the thirteenth holders
of that office, only one reached his majority. The eighth, Gyampal Gyatso, died when he
was in his thirties, Lungtog Gyatso when he was eleven, Tsultrim Gyatso at eighteen,
Khadrup Gyatso when he was eighteen also, and Krinla Gyatso at about the same age.
The circumstances are such that it is very likely that some, if not all, were poisoned,
either by loyal Tibetans for being Chinese-appointed impostors, or by the Chinese for not
being properly manageable.[12]
Throne awaiting Dalai Lama's return. Summer residence of 14th Dalai Lama, Nechung, Tibet.
Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama, assumed ruling power from the monasteries, which
previously had great influence on the Regent, during 1895. Due to his two periods of exile in
19041909, to escape the British invasion of 1904, and from 19101912 to escape a Chinese
invasion, he became well aware of the complexities of international politics and was the first
Dalai Lama to become aware of the importance of foreign relations. After his return from exile in
India and Sikkim during January 1913, he assumed control of foreign relations and dealt directly
with the Maharaja and the British Political officer in Sikkim and the king of Nepal rather than
letting the Kashag or parliament do it.[13]
Thubten Gyatso issued a Declaration of Independence for his kingdom in Central Tibet from
China during the summer of 1912 and standardised a Tibetan flag, though no other sovereign
state recognized the independence.[14] He expelled the Ambans and all Chinese civilians in the
country, and instituted many measures to modernise Tibet. These included provisions to curb
excessive demands on peasants for provisions by the monasteries and tax evasion by the nobles,
setting up an independent police force, the abolition of the death penalty, extension of secular
education, and the provision of electricity throughout the city of Lhasa in the 1920s.[15] Thubten
Gyatso died in 1933.
The 14th Dalai Lama was not formally enthroned until 17 November 1950, during the People's
Republic of China invasion of the kingdom. In 1951, he and the Tibetan government formally
accepted the Seventeen Point Agreement by which Tibet was formally incorporated into the
People's Republic of China. Fearing for his life in the wake of a revolt in Tibet in 1959, the 14th
Dalai Lama fled to India, from where he led a government in exile.[16][17] With the aim of
launching guerrilla operations against the Chinese, the CIA funded the Dalai Lama with US$1.7
million a year in the 1960s.[18] In 2001 the 14th Dalai Lama ceded his absolute power over the
government to an elected parliament of selected Tibetan exiles. His original goal was full
independence for Tibet, but by the late 1980s he was seeking high-level autonomy instead.[19] He
continued to seek greater autonomy from China, but Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the
parliament-in-exile said "If the middle path fails in the short term, we will be forced to opt for
complete independence or self-determination as per the UN charter".[20]
Residence
Starting with the 5th Dalai Lama and until the 14th Dalai Lama's flight into exile during 1959,
the Dalai Lamas spent winters at the Potala Palace and summers at the Norbulingka palace and
park. Both are in Lhasa and approximately 3 km apart.
Following the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. The then
Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, allowed in the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government
officials. The Dalai Lama has since lived in exile in Dharamshala, in the state of Himachal
Pradesh in northern India, where the Central Tibetan Administration is also established. Tibetan
refugees have constructed and opened many schools and Buddhist temples in Dharamshala.[21]
Potala Palace

Norbulingka
Searching for the reincarnation
The search for the 14th Dalai Lama took the High Lamas to Taktser in Amdo
Palden Lhamo, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso, who promised
Gendun Drup the 1st Dalai Lama in one of his visions that "she would protect the reincarnation
lineage of the Dalai Lamas"
By the Himalayan tradition, phowa is the discipline that transfers the mindstream to the intended
body. Upon the death of the Dalai Lama and consultation with the Nechung Oracle, a search for
the Lama's yangsi, or reincarnation, is conducted. Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of
the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government to find his reincarnation.
The process can take around two or three years to identify the Dalai Lama, and for the 14th,
Tenzin Gyatso, it was four years before he was found. Historically, the search for the Dalai Lama
has usually been limited to Tibet, though the third tulku was born in Mongolia. Tenzin Gyatso,
however, has stated that he will not be reborn in the People's Republic of China, though he has
also suggested he may not be reborn at all, suggesting the function of the Dalai Lama may be
outdated.[22] The government of the People's Republic of China has stated its intention to be the
ultimate authority on the selection of the next Dalai Lama.[citation needed]
The High Lamas used several ways in which they can increase the chances of finding the
reincarnation. High Lamas often visit Lhamo La-tso, a lake in central Tibet, and watch for a sign
from the lake itself. This may be either a vision or some indication of the direction in which to
search, and this was how Tenzin Gyatso was found. It is said that Palden Lhamo, the female
guardian spirit of the sacred lake Lhamo La-tso promised Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama, in
one of his visions "that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas."[citation
needed]
Ever since the time of Gendun Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama, who formalised the system, the
Regents and other monks have gone to the lake to seek guidance on choosing the next
reincarnation through visions while meditating there.[23]
The particular form of Palden Lhamo at Lhamo La-tso is Gyelmo Maksorma, "The Victorious
One who Turns Back Enemies". The lake is sometimes referred to as "Pelden Lhamo Kalideva",
which indicates that Palden Lhamo is an emanation of the goddess Kali, the shakti of the Hindu
God Shiva.[24]
Lhamo Latso ... [is] a brilliant azure jewel set in a ring of grey mountains. The elevation and the
surrounding peaks combine to give it a highly changeable climate, and the continuous passage of
cloud and wind creates a constantly moving pattern on the surface of the waters. On that surface
visions appear to those who seek them in the right frame of mind.[25]
It was here that in 1935, the Regent Reting Rinpoche received a clear vision of three Tibetan
letters and of a monastery with a jade-green and gold roof, and a house with turquoise roof tiles,
which led to the discovery of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.[26][27][28]
High Lamas may also have a vision by a dream or if the Dalai Lama was cremated, they will
often monitor the direction of the smoke as an indication of the direction of the rebirth.[22]
Once the High Lamas have found the home and the boy they believe to be the reincarnation, the
boy undergoes a battery of tests to affirm the rebirth. They present a number of artifacts, only
some of which belonged to the previous Dalai Lama, and if the boy chooses the items which
belonged to the previous Dalai Lama, this is seen as a sign, in conjunction with all of the other
indications, that the boy is the reincarnation.[29]
If there is only one boy found, the High Lamas will invite Living Buddhas of the three great
monasteries, together with secular clergy and monk officials, to confirm their findings and then
report to the Central Government through the Minister of Tibet. Later, a group consisting of the
three major servants of Dalai Lama, eminent officials,[who?] and troops[which?] will collect the boy
and his family and travel to Lhasa, where the boy would be taken, usually to Drepung
Monastery, to study the Buddhist sutra in preparation for assuming the role of spiritual leader of
Tibet.[22]
If there are several possible reincarnations, however, regents, eminent officials, monks at the
Jokhang in Lhasa, and the Minister to Tibet have historically decided on the individual by putting
the boys' names inside an urn and drawing one lot in public if it was too difficult to judge the
reincarnation initially.[30]
List of Dalai Lamas

This article contains Chinese text. Without
proper rendering support, you may see question
marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of
Chinese characters.
This article contains Indic text. Without proper
rendering support, you may see question marks
or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts
instead of Indic text.
There have been 14 recognised incarnations of the Dalai Lama:

Name
Picture
Tibetan
Lifespa Recognise Enthronemen
Alternative
Tibetan/Wylie pinyin/Chines
n
d
t
spellings
e
Gendun
1
Drup
1391
1474
Gendun
2
Gyatso
1475
1542
N/A[31]
dge 'dun 'grub
N/A
[31]
Gdn Chub
Gedun
Drub
Gedn
Drup
Gedn
Gdn Gyaco Gyatso
Gendn
dge 'dun rgya
Gyatso
mtsho
Sonam
Gyatso
1543
1588
1578
Soinam Gyaco Snam
Gyatso
bsod nams
rgya mtsho
Yonten
4
Gyatso
1589
1617
1603
yon tan rgya

mtsho
Yoindain
Gyaco
Yontan
Gyatso,
Ynden
Gyatso
Ngawang
5 Lobsang
Gyatso
1617
1682
1618
1622
Lobsang
Gyaco
blo bzang rgya
mtsho
Lobzang
Gyatso
Lopsang
Gyatso
Tsangyan
g Gyatso
1683
1706
1688
1697
tshang
dbyangs rgya
mtsho
Kelzang
Gyatso
1707
1757
1720
bskal bzang
rgya mtsho
Cangyang
Gyaco
Kelsang
Gaisang Gyaco Gyatso
Kalsang
Gyatso
Jamphel
8
Gyatso
1758
1804
1760
1762
Qamb Gyaco
Lungtok
Gyatso
1805
1815
1807
1808
Lungdog
byams spel
rgya mtsho
Tsayang
Gyatso
Gyaco
lung rtogs rgya
mtsho
Jampel
Gyatso
Jampal
Gyatso
Lungtog
Gyatso
10
Tsultrim
Gyatso
1816
1837
1822
1822
Cchim Gyaco Tshltrim
Gyatso
tshul khrim
rgya mtsho
Khendrup
11
Gyatso
1838
1856
1841
1842
Kaichub
Trinley
Gyatso
1857
1875
1858
1860
Chinlai Gyaco
1879
12
Thubten
13
Gyatso
1876
1933
1878
mkhas grub
rgya mtsho
Gyaco
'phrin las rgya

mtsho
thub bstan
rgya mtsho
Kedrub
Gyatso
Trinle
Gyatso
Thubtan
Tubdain Gyaco Gyatso
Thupten
Gyatso
14
Tenzin
Gyatso
born
1935
1937
1950
(currently in
exile)
Dainzin Gyaco Tenzin
Gyatso
bstan 'dzin
rgya mtsho
There has also been one nonrecognised Dalai Lama, Ngawang Yeshey Gyatso, declared 28 June
1707, when he was 25 years old, by Lha-bzang Khan as the "true" 6th Dalai Lama however, he
was never accepted as such by the majority of the population.[9][32][33]
Future of the position

Main article: 15th Dalai Lama
The main teaching room of the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India
14th Dalai Lama

In the mid-1970s, Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, told a Polish newspaper that he
thought he would be the last Dalai Lama. In a later interview published in the English language
press he stated, "The Dalai Lama office was an institution created to benefit others. It is possible
that it will soon have outlived its usefulness."[34] These statements caused a furor amongst
Tibetans in India. Many could not believe that such an option could even be considered. It was
further felt that it was not the Dalai Lama's decision to reincarnate. Rather, they felt that since the
Dalai Lama is a national institution it was up to the people of Tibet to decide whether the Dalai
Lama should reincarnate.[35]
The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has claimed the power to approve the
naming of "high" reincarnations in Tibet, based on a precedent set by the Qianlong Emperor of
the Qing Dynasty.[citation needed] The Qianlong Emperor instituted a system of selecting the Dalai
Lama and the Panchen Lama by a lottery that used a golden urn with names wrapped in clumps
of barley. This method was used a few times for both positions during the 19th century, but
eventually fell into disuse.[citation needed] In 1995, the Dalai Lama chose to proceed with the selection
of the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama without the use of the Golden Urn, while the
Chinese government insisted that it must be used.[citation needed] This has led to two rival Panchen
Lamas: Gyaincain Norbu as chosen by the Chinese government's process, and Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima as chosen by the Dalai Lama.
During September 2007 the Chinese government said all high monks must be approved by the
government, which would include the selection of the 15th Dalai Lama after the death of Tenzin
Gyatso.[citation needed] Since by tradition, the Panchen Lama must approve the reincarnation of the
Dalai Lama, that is another possible method of control.[citation needed]
In response to this scenario, Tashi Wangdi, the representative of the 14th Dalai Lama, replied that
the Chinese government's selection would be meaningless. "You can't impose an Imam, an
Archbishop, saints, any religion...you can't politically impose these things on people," said
Wangdi. "It has to be a decision of the followers of that tradition. The Chinese can use their
political power: force. Again, it's meaningless. Like their Panchen Lama. And they can't keep
their Panchen Lama in Tibet. They tried to bring him to his monastery many times but people
would not see him. How can you have a religious leader like that?"[36]
The 14th Dalai Lama said as early as 1969 that it was for the Tibetans to decide whether the
institution of the Dalai Lama "should continue or not".[37] He has given reference to a possible
vote occurring in the future for all Tibetan Buddhists to decide whether they wish to recognize
his rebirth.[38] In response to the possibility that the PRC might attempt to choose his successor,
the Dalai Lama said he would not be reborn in a country controlled by the People's Republic of
China or any other country which is not free.[22][39] According to Robert D. Kaplan, this could
mean that "the next Dalai Lama might come from the Tibetan cultural belt that stretches across
northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan, presumably making him even more pro-Indian and antiChinese".[40]
The 14th Dalai Lama supported the possibility that his next incarnation could be a woman.[41]
"Despite the complex historical, religious and political factors surrounding the selection of
incarnate masters in the exiled Tibetan tradition, the Dalai Lama is open to change," author
Michaela Haas writes.[42] "Why not? What's the big deal?"[43]
List of popes
This article is about the Roman Catholic Church. For popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church, see
List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria. For a graphical representation of this list, see List
of popes (graphical).
Plaque commemorating the popes buried in St Peter's (their names in Latin and the year of their
burial)
This chronological list of popes corresponds to that given in the Annuario Pontificio under the
heading "I Sommi Pontefici Romani" (The Supreme Pontiffs of Rome), excluding those that are
explicitly indicated as antipopes. Published every year by the Roman Curia, the Annuario
Pontificio attaches no consecutive numbers to the popes, stating that it is impossible to decide
which side represented at various times the legitimate succession, in particular regarding Pope
Leo VIII, Pope Benedict V and some mid-11th-century popes.[1]
The 2001 edition of the Annuario Pontificio introduced "almost 200 corrections to its existing
biographies of the popes, from St Peter to St John Paul II". The corrections concerned dates,
especially in the first two centuries, birthplaces and the family name of one pope.[2]
The term pope (Latin: papa "father") is used in several Churches to denote their high spiritual
leaders (for example Coptic Pope). This title in English usage usually refers to the head of the
Catholic Church. The Catholic pope uses various titles by tradition, including Summus Pontifex,
Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei. Each title has been added by unique historical
events and unlike other papal prerogatives, is not incapable of modification.[3]
Hermannus Contractus may have been the first historian to number the popes continuously. His
list ends in 1049 with Pope Leo IX as number 154. Several changes were made to the list during
the 20th century. Antipope Christopher was considered legitimate for a long time. Pope-elect
Stephen was considered legitimate under the name Stephen II until the 1961 edition, when his
name was erased. Although these changes are no longer controversial, a number of modern lists
still include this "first Pope Stephen II". It is probable that this is because they are based on the
1913 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is in the public domain.
A significant number of these popes have been recognized as saints, including 48 out of the first
50 consecutive popes and others are in the sainthood process.
Contents
1 Chronological list of popes

o 1.1 1st5th centuries
o 1.2 6th15th centuries
o 1.3 16th20th centuries
o 1.4 21st century
o 1.5 Religious orders
2 Notes on numbering of popes
3 See also
4 References
o 4.1 Specific
o 4.2 General
5 External links
Chronological list of popes

1st5th centuries
1st century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
1
33 64/67
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
St Peter
PETRUS
Personal Place of
Notes
name
birth
Bethsaida, Apostle of Jesus Christ
Simon
Galilea,
from whom he
Peter
Syria,
Roman
Empire
received the keys of

the Kingdom of
Heaven, according to
Matthew 16:1819.
Executed by
crucifixion upsidedown; feast day (Feast
of Saints Peter and
Paul) 29 June, (Chair
of Saint Peter) 22
64/67(?)
76/79(?)
St Linus
76/79(?)
92
St Anacletus
(Cletus)
Linus
Tuscia
LINUS
Anacletus Rome
Martyred; feast day 26

April. Once
erroneously split into
Cletus and Anacletus[5]
Clement Rome
Feast day 23
November. Issued 1
Clement which is said
to be the basis of
apostolic authority for
the clergy. Also
revered as a saint in
Eastern Christianity,
with a feast day of 25
November.
ANACLETUS
92 99
St Clement I
CLEMENS
February. Although
there is no evidence
that Peter ever served
as the Bishop of Rome,
and while there is
historical evidence that
the Church of Rome
was founded before
Peter ever journeyed
outside of Judea,
Samaria, or Galilee, he
is nevertheless
recognized by the
Roman Catholic
Church as the first
Bishop of Rome
appointed by Christ.
Also revered as saint in
June.[4]
Feast day 23
September. Also
June.
99 107
St Evaristus
Aristus
EVARISTUS
Bethlehem, Said to have divided

Judea
Rome into parishes,
assigning a priest to
each. Feast day of 26
October.
2nd century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
6
107 115
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
St Alexander I
Personal Place of
Notes
name
birth
Inaugurated the
Alexander Rome
custom of blessing
houses with holy
water. Also revered
as a saint in
Eastern
Christianity, with a
feast day of 16
March.
ALEXANDER
115/116
125
St Sixtus I
125
136/138
St Telesphorus
Xystus
Rome
XYSTUS
TELESPHORUS
Telesphorus Terranova
da Sibari,
Calabria
Feast day of 6
April. Also revered
as a saint in
Eastern
feast day of 10
August.
10
11
12
136/138
140/142
St Hyginus
140/142
155
St Pius I
155 20
April 168
St Anicetus
168 174
St Soter
Hyginus
Athens,
Greece
Pius
Aquileia, Martyred by
Friuli
sword; feast day 11
July. Decreed that
Easter should only
be celebrated on a
Sunday.
Anicitus
Emesa,
Syria
Soter
Fondi,
Latium
HYGINUS
PIUS
ANICETUS
SOTERIUS
13
14
174 24
May 189
St Eleuterus
189
198/199
St Victor I
Eleuther
ELEUTHERIUS
VICTOR
Victor
Traditionally
martyred; feast day
11 January
Traditionally
martyred; feast day
17 April. Decreed
that priests are not
allowed to have
long hair.
Traditionally
martyred; feast day
22 April. Declared
that marriage was
valid as a
sacrament blessed
by a priest;
formally
inaugurated Easter
as an annual
festival in Rome.
Nicopoli, Traditionally
Epirus
martyred; feast day
Greece
6 May
Roman
Africa
Known for
excommunicating
Theodotus of
Byzantium.
Quartodecimanism
controversy.
15
19920
December
217
St Zephyrinus
Zephyrinus Rome
ZEPHYRINUS
(18 years+)
3rd century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
16
c. 217
222
17
18
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
St Callixtus I
Personal Place of
Notes
name
birth
Iberian Martyred; feast
Callistus
Peninsula day 14 October.
CALLISTUS
222 23
May 230
St Urban I
21 July 230
28
September
235
St Pontian
Urban
Rome
Pontianus
Rome
URBANUS
PONTIANUS
(5 years,
69 days)
19
21
November
235
3 January
236
(0 years,
43 days)
St Anterus
ANTERUS
Anterus
Also revered as a
saint in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 25
May.
First to abdicate
after exile to
Sardinia by
Emperor
Maximinus Thrax.
The Liberian
Catalogue records
his death on 28
September 235,
the earliest exact
date in papal
history.[6][7]
Petilia
Feast day 3
Policastro January. Also
- Calabria revered as a saint
in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 5
August.
20
10 January
236
20
January
250
St Fabian
Fabianus
Rome
Cornelius
Rome
Lucius
Rome
Feast day 5
March.
Stephanus
Rome
Martyred by
beheading; feast
day 2 August.
Also revered as a
saint in Eastern
Christianity, with
the same feast
day.
Sixtus
Greece
Martyred by
beheading. Also
revered as a saint
in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 10
August.
FABIANUS
(14 years,
10 days)
21
6/11 March
251
June 253
St Cornelius
CORNELIUS
(2 years+)
22
25 June
253
5 March
254
St Lucius I
LUCIUS
Divided the
communities of
Rome into seven
districts, each
supervised by a
deacon. Feast day
20 January. Also
revered as a saint
in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 5
August.
Died a martyr
through extreme
hardship; feast
day 16 September.
(256 days)
23
12 May
254
2 August
257
St Stephen I
STEPHANUS
(3 years,
82 days)
24
31 August
257
6 August
258
(341 days)
St Sixtus II
XYSTUS Secundus
25
22 July 259
26
December
268
St Dionysius
Dionysius
Greece
Felix
Rome
DIONYSIUS
Feast day 26
December
(9 years,
157 days)
26
5 January
269
30
December
274
St Felix I
FELIX
(5 years,
890 days)
27
4 January
275
7
December
283
St Eutychian
Eutychianus Tuscany
EUTYCHIANUS
(8 years,
337 days)
28
17
December
283
22 April
296
St Caius
Gaius
CAIUS
(12 years,
127 days)
29
30 June
296
1 April
304
(7 years,
276 days)
4th century
St Marcellinus
MARCELLINUS
Marcellinus
Salona, Martyred
Dalmatia (according to
legend) Feast day
22 April. Also
revered as a saint
in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 11
August.
Rome
Feast day 26
April. Also
revered as a saint
in Eastern
Christianity, with
a feast day of 7
June.
Numerical
Pontificate
order
30
308309
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
St Marcellus I
Personal Place of
name
birth
Italia
Banished from Rome

under Maxentius
(309).
Sardinia
Banished by the
emperor Maxentius,
and died in exile.
Africa
First pope after the

end of the persecution
of Christians through
the Edict of Milan
(313 AD) issued by
Constantine the Great.
Presided over the
Lateran council of
313.
MARCELLUS
31
32
18 April
17 August
309 or 310
St Eusebius
2 July 311
10
January
314
St Miltiades
(Melchiades)
EUSEBIUS
MILTIADES
(2 years,
192 days)
33
31 January
314
31
December
335
St Sylvester I
SILVESTER
(21 years,
334 days)
34
18 January
336
7 October
336
(263 days)
St Mark
MARCUS
Notes
Sant'Angelo Feast day 31

a Scala,
December. Also
Avellino
January. First Council
of Nicaea (325).
Under him was built:
the Basilica of St.
John Lateran, Santa
Croce in
Gerusalemme and Old
St. Peter's Basilica.
Donation of
Constantine.
Rome
Feast day 7 October
35
6 February
337
12 April
352
St Julius I
Rome
IULIUS
(15 years,
66 days)
36
17 May
352
24
September
366
Liberius
Rome
LIBERIUS
(14 years,
130 days)
37
1 October
366
11
December
384
DAMASUS
Idanha-aVelha,
Portugal
St Siricius
Rome
St Damasus I
Arian controversy.
Credited with splitting
the birth of Christ into
two distinct
celebrations: The
Epiphany stayed on
the traditional date,
and the Nativity was
added on 25
December.
Earliest pope not yet
canonized by the
Roman Catholic
Church. Revered as a
saint in Eastern
feast day of 27
August.[8]
Patron of Jerome,
commissioned the
Vulgate translation of
the Bible. Council of
Rome (382).
(18 years,
71 days)
38
11
December
384
26
November
399
Papa SIRICIUS
(14 years,
350 days)
39
27
November
399
19
December
401
St Anastasius I
Papa
ANASTASIUS
Rome
Instructed priests to
stand and bow their
heads as they read
from the Gospels.
(2 years,
22 days)
5th century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
Personal Place of
name
birth
Notes
40
22
December
401
12 March
417
St Innocent I
Papa
INNOCENTIUS
Albano,
Latium
Visigoth Sack of
Rome (410) under
Alaric
(15 years,
80 days)
41
18 March
417
26
December
418
Papa ZOSIMUS
Mesoraca,
Calabria
St Boniface I
Rome
St Zosimus
(1 year,
283 days)
42
28
December
418
4
September
422
Papa BONIFATIUS
(3 years,
250 days)
43
10
September
422
27 July
432
Papa
COELESTINUS
Rome,
Western
Roman
Empire
St Sixtus III
Rome
St Celestine I
(9 years,
321 days)
44
31 July 432
18
August 440
(8 years,
18 days)
Papa SIXTUS Tertius
Also revered as a
saint in Eastern
feast day of 8 April.
45
29
September
440
10
November
461
Rome
St Leo I
(Leo the Great)
Papa LEO MAGNUS
(21 years,
43 days)
46
19
November
461
29
February
468
St Hilarius
Hilarius
Convinced Attila
the Hun to turn
back his invasion of
Italy. Wrote the
Tome which was
instrumental in the
Council of
Chalcedon and in
defining the
hypostatic union.
Feast day 10
November. Also
Eastern
feast day of 18
February.
Sardinia
Papa HILARIUS
(6 years,
102 days)
47
3 March
468
10 March
483
St Simplicius
Simplicius Tivoli
Papa SIMPLICIUS
(15 years,
7 days)
48
13 March
483
1 March
492
St Felix III (Felix Felice

II)
Rome
Sometimes called
Felix II
Africa
The last pope to

have been born on
the continent of
Africa. The first
pope called the
"Vicar of Christ".[9]
Papa FELIX Tertius

(Secundus)
(8 years,
354 days)
49
1 March
492
21
November
496
(4 years,
265 days)
St Gelasius I
Papa GELASIUS
Gelasius
50
24
November
496
19
November
498
Anastasius Rome
Anastasius II
Papa ANASTASIUS
Secundus
Tried to end the

Acacian schism but
it resulted in the
Laurentian schism.
(1 year,
360 days)
51
22
November
498
19 July
514
Simmaco Sardinia
St Symmachus
Papa SYMMACHUS
(15 years,
239 days)
6th15th centuries
6th century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
52
20 July 514
19 July
523
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
St Hormisdas
Personal Place of
Notes
name
birth
Hormisdas Frosinone, Father of Pope
Southern
Latium
Papa
HORMISDAS
Silverius. Acacian
schism.
(8 years,
364 days)
53
13 August
523
18 May
526
St John I
Giovanni Toscana
Papa IOANNES
(2 years,
278 days)
54
13 July 526
22
September
530
(4 years,
71 days)
St Felix IV
(Felix III)
Papa FELIX
Quartus (Tertius)
Felice
Samnium
Sometimes called
Felix III. Built Santi
Cosma e Damiano.
55
22
September
530
17
October
532
Boniface II
Bonifacio Rome to
Ostrogoth
parents
Papa
BONIFATIUS
Secundus
(2 years,
25 days)
56
2 January
533
8 May
535
John II
Mercurio Rome
Papa IOHANNES
Secundus
(2 years,
126 days)
57
13 May
535
22 April
536
St Agapetus I
Agapito
Rome,
Feast days 22 April
Ostrogothic and 20 September.
Kingdom Also revered as a
saint in Eastern
feast day of 17 April.
Silverius
Italia
Papa AGAPITUS
(346 days)
58
1 June 536
11
November
537
St Silverius
Papa SILVERIUS
(1 year,
163 days)
59
29 March
537
7 June
555
(18 years,
70 days)
Vigilius
Papa VIGILIUS
First pope not to use

his personal name.
This was because of
the Roman god,
Mercury.
Rome
Exiled; feast day 20

June, son of Pope
Hormisdas
60
16 April
556
4 March
561
Pelagius I
Rome
Papa PELAGIUS
Credited with the

construction of the
basilica of Santi
Apostoli.
(4 years,
322 days)
61
17 July 561
13 July
574
John III
Eastern
Roman
Empire
Benedict I
Italia
(12 years,
361 days)
62
2 June 575
30 July
579
Catelinus Rome,
Papa IOANNES
Tertius
Papa
BENEDICTUS
(4 years,
58 days)
63
26
November
579
7
February
590
Pelagius II
Rome
Papa PELAGIUS
Secundus
Ordered the
construction of the
Basilica di San
Lorenzo fuori le
Mura.
(10 years,
73 days)
64
3
September
590
12 March
604
(13 years,
191 days)
St Gregory I
(Gregory the
Great)
Papa
GREGORIUS
MAGNUS
Gregorio Rome
O.S.B.
The first formally to

employ the titles
Servus servorum Dei
and Pontifex
Maximus.
Established the
Gregorian chant.
Feast day 3
September. Also
with a feast day of
12 March. Known as
"the Father of
Christian Worship".
Known as "St.
Gregory the
Dialogist" in Eastern
Orthodoxy.
7th Century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
65
13
September
604
22
February
606
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
Sabinian
Personal Place of
name
birth
Notes
Blera
Papa SABINIANUS
(1 year,
162 days)
66
19
February
607
12
November
607
Boniface III
Bonifacio Rome
Papa BONIFATIUS
Tertius
(267 days)
67
25 August
608
8 May
615
St Boniface IV
Papa BONIFATIUS
Quartus
Bonifacio Marsi
O.S.B.
(6 years,
256 days)
68
19 October
615
8
November
618
(3 years,
20 days)
St Adeodatus I
(Deusdedit)
Papa ADEODATUS
sive DEUSDEDIT
Rome
First pope to bear

the same name as
his immediate
predecessor.
Member of the
Order of Saint
Benedict.
Sometimes called
Deusdedit, as a
result Pope
Adeodatus II is
sometimes called
Pope Adeodatus
without a number.
The first pope to
use lead seals on
papal documents,
which in time came
to be called Papal
bulls.
69
23
December
619
25
October
625
Boniface V
Bonifacio Naples
Papa BONIFATIUS
Quintus
(5 years,
306 days)
70
27 October
625
12
October
638
Honorius I
Papa HONORIUS
Onorio
Campania, Named a heretic

Byzantine and anathematized
Empire
by the Third
Council of
Constantinople
(680)
(12 years,
350 days)
71
28 May
640
2 August
640
Severinus
Severino Rome
Papa SEVERINUS
(0 years,
66 days)
72
24
December
640
12
October
642
John IV
Papa IOANNES
Quartus
Zadar,
Dalmatia,
Byzantine
Empire
(1 year,
292 days)
73
24
November
642
14 May
649
(6 years,
171 days)
Theodore I
Papa THEODORUS
Jerusalem The last pope from

Palestine. Planned
the Lateran Council
of 649, but died
before it could
open.
74
21 July 649
16
September
655
St Martin I
Martino
Near Todi,
Umbria,
Byzantine
Empire
Eugenio
Rome
Papa MARTINUS
(6 years,
57 days)
75
10 August
654
1 June
657
St Eugene I
Last pope
recognized as a
martyr. Feast day of
12 November. Also
Eastern
feast day of 14
April.
Papa EUGENIUS
(2 years,
295 days)
76
30 July 657
27
January
672
St Vitalian
Papa VITALIANUS
Segni,
Byzantine
Empire
(14 years,
181 days)
77
11 April
672
17 June
676
Sometimes called
unknown Rome,
Byzantine
Pope Adeodatus
Papa ADEODATUS O.S.B.
Adeodatus II
Secundus
Empire
Donus
Rome,
Byzantine
Empire
(4 years,
67 days)
78
2
November
676
11 April
678
(1 year,
160 days)
Papa DONUS
(without a number)
in reference to Pope
Adeodatus I
sometimes being
called Pope
Deusdedit.
Member of the
Order of Saint
Benedict.
79
27 June
678
10
January
681
Sicily
Also revered as a
saint in Eastern
feast day of 20
February.
Sicily
Feast day 3 July
Benedetto Rome,
Feast day 7 May
St Agatho
Papa AGATHO
(2 years,
197 days)
80
17 August
682
28 June
683
St Leo II
Leo
Papa LEO Secundus
(315 days)
81
26 June
684
8 May
685
St Benedict II
Papa BENEDICTUS
Secundus
Byzantine
Empire
John V
Syria
(317 days)
82
12 July 685
2 August
686
Papa IOANNES
Quintus
(1 year,
21 days)
83
21 October
686
22
September
687
(335 days)
Conon
Papa CONON
Sicily
84
15
December
687
8
September
701
St Sergius I
Sicily
Papa SERGIUS
Introduced the
singing of the Lamb
of God at mass.[9]
(13 years,
267 days)
8th century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
85
30 October
701
11
January
705
Portrait
Name
English Regnal
John VI
Personal Place of
name
birth
Notes
Greece
Papa IOANNES
Sextus
(3 years,
73 days)
86
1 March
705
18
October
707
Papa IOANNES
Septimus
Rossano, The second pope to

Calabria bear the same name
as his immediate
predecessor.
Sisinnius
Syria
John VII
(2 years,
231 days)
87
15 January
708
4
February
708
Papa SISINNIUS
(21 days)
88
25 March
708
9 April
715
(7 years,
15 days)
Constantine
Papa
COSTANTINUS
sive
CONSTANTINUS
Syria
Last pope to visit

Greece while in
office, until John
Paul II in 2001.
89
19 May
715
11
February
731
Papa GREGORIUS
Secundus
Feast day 11
Byzantine February. Held the
Empire Synod of Rome
(721).
St Gregory III
Syria
St Gregory II
Gregorio Rome,
(15 years,
268 days)
90
18 March
731
28
November
741
Papa GREGORIUS
Tertius
(10 years,
255 days)
91
3
December
741
22 March
752
St Zachary
Papa ZACHARIAS
The third pope to

bear the same name
as his immediate
predecessor. Was
previously the last
pope to have been
born outside Europe
until the election of
Francis in 2013.
Santa
Feast day 15
Severina - March. Built the
Calabria church of Santa
Maria sopra
Minerva.
(10 years,
110 days)
(never
23 March
consecrated) 752
25 March
752
Pope-elect
Stephen
Papa Electus
STEPHANUS
(Never took
office as
pope)
92
26 March
752
26 April
757
(5 years,
31 days)
Stephen II
(Stephen III)
Papa STEPHANUS
Secundus (Tertius)
Rome
Sometimes known
as Stephen II. Died
three days after his
election; never
receiving episcopal
consecration. Some
lists still include
him. The Vatican
sanctioned his
addition in the
sixteenth century;
removed in 1961.
He is no longer
considered a pope
by the Catholic
Church.
Sometimes called
Stephen III. The
Donation of Pepin.
93
29 May
757
28 June
767
St Paul I
Paolo
Rome
Stefano
Sicily
Adriano
Rome
Leo
Rome
Papa PAULUS
(10 years,
30 days)
94
7 August
768
24
January
772
Stephen III
(Stephen IV)
Papa STEPHANUS
Tertius (Quartus)
Sometimes called
Stephen IV. The
Lateran Council
(769).
(3 years,
170 days)
95
1 February
772
26
December
795
Adrian I
Papa HADRIANUS
(23 years,
328 days)
96
26
December
795
12 June
816
St Leo III
Papa LEO Tertius
(20 years,
169 days)
Crowned
Charlemagne
Imperator Augustus
on Christmas Day,
800, thereby
initiating what
would become the
office of Holy
Roman Emperor
requiring the
imprimatur of the
pope for its
legitimacy.
9th century
Numerical
Pontificate
order
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Age at
Place election #
Personal
years
of / death as
name
or
birth
pope
resigned
Notes
97
12 June
816
24
January
817
(0 years,
226 days)
98
25 January
817
11
February
824
Stephen IV Stephanus Rome

(Stephen V)
<1
Sometimes
called
Stephen V.
Credited with
finding the
body of Saint
Cecilia in the
Catacomb of
Callixtus,
building the
basilica of
Santa Cecilia
in Trastevere
and the
church of
Santa Maria
in Domnica.
Papa
STEPHANUS
Quartus
(Quintus)
St Paschal I Pasquale Rome

Papa
PASCHALIS
(7 years,
17 days)
99
8 May 824
August
27 827
(3 years,
111 days)
100
31 August
827
10
October
827
Eugenio Rome
Valentino Rome
<1
Gregory IV Gregorio Rome
17
Eugene II
Papa
EUGENIUS
Secundus
Valentine
Papa
VALENTINUS
(0 years,
40 days)
101
December
827
25
January
844
(17 years+)
Papa
GREGORIUS
Quartus
Rebuilt the
atrium of St.
Peters
Basilica and
in the newly
decorated
chapel
transferred the
body of
Gregory I.
102
25 January
844
7 January
847
Sergius II
Rome
Rome
Member of
the Order of
Saint
Benedict.
Rome
Encouraged
missionary
activity.
Rome
Papa SERGIUS
Secundus
(2 years,
347 days)
103
27 January
847
17 July
855
St Leo IV
Papa LEO
Quartus
Leo
O.S.B.
(8 years,
171 days)
104
29 July
855
7 April
858
Benedict III Benedetto Rome

Papa
BENEDICTUS
Tertius
(2 years,
252 days)
105
24 April
858
13
November
867
(9 years,
203 days)
106
14
December
867
14
December
872
St Nicholas I Niccol
(Nicholas the
Great)
Papa
NICOLAUS
MAGNUS
Adrian II
Adriano
Papa
HADRIANUS
Secundus
(5 years,
0 days)
107
14
December
872
16
December
882
(10 years, 2
days)
John VIII
Papa
IOANNES
Octavus
Giovanni Rome
10
108
16
December
882
15 May
884
Marino
Gallese,
Rome
Adriano
Rome
Stephen V Stefano
(Stephen VI)
Rome
Marinus I
Papa
MARINUS
(1 year,
151 days)
109
17 May
884
July 885
(1 year+)
110
September
885
14
September
891
(4 years+)
111
19
September
891
4 April
896
St Adrian
III
Papa
HADRIANUS
Tertius
Sometimes
called
Stephen VI.
Papa
STEPHANUS
Quintus
(Sextus)
Formosus
Formoso Ostia
Papa
FORMOSUS
(4 years,
198 days)
112
4 April 896
19 April
896
(15 days)
Boniface VI Bonifacio Rome

Papa
BONIFATIUS
Sextus
<1
Posthumously
ritually
executed
following the
Cadaver
Synod.
113
22 May
896
14
August 897
Stephen VI Stefano
(Stephen
VII)
115
116
Papa
STEPHANUS
Sextus
(Septimus)
(1 year,
84 days)
114
Rome
Romano Gallese,
August 897
November
897
Romanus
December
897 - 20
December
897
Theodore II Teodoro Rome
January
898
January
900
John IX
Papa
ROMANUS
Sometimes
called
Stephen VII.
Held the
infamous
Cadaver
Synod.
<1
Rome
<1
Papa
THEODORUS
Secundus
Papa
IOANNES
Nonus
Giovanni Tivoli
O.S.B.
Member of
the Order of
Saint
Benedict.
(2 years+)
117
Benedict IV Benedetto Rome
1 February
900
July 903
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Quartus
(3 years+)
10th century
Numerica Pontificate
l order
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Personal Place Age at

name
of election
/ death
birth
or
#
year
s as
pope
Notes
resigne
d
118
119
120
July 903
September 903
Leo V
Leo
29 January 904
14 April 911
Sergius III Sergio
Ardea
<1
Rome
Rome
Sabina
<1
Papa LEO
Quintus
(7 years, 75 days)
Papa
SERGIUS
Tertius
April 911
June 913
Anastasius
III
Papa
ANASTASIU
S Tertius
121
122
July/August
913 25
February 914
Lando
March 914
May 928
John X
Lando
Papa
LANDUS
Papa
IOANNES
Decimus
Giovanni Romagna
14
"Saeculum
obscurum"
begins.
The first
pope to be
depicted
with the
Papal
Tiara.
123
124
June 928
February 929
Leo VI
February 929
15 March 931
Stephen
VII
(Stephen
VIII)
Leo
Rome
<1
Stefano
Rome
Giovanni Rome
Leo
O.S.B.
Rome
Member of
the Order
of Saint
Benedict.
Stephan
Rome
Sometimes
called
Stephen
IX.
Rome
Papa LEO
Sextus
Sometimes
called
Stephen
VIII.
Papa
STEPHANUS
Septimus
(Octavus)
125
126
February/Marc
h 931
December 935
John XI
3 January 936
13 July 939
Leo VII
(3 years,
191 days)
127
14 July 939
October 942
Papa
IOANNES
Undecimus
Papa LEO
Septimus
Stephen
VIII
(Stephen
IX)
Papa
STEPHANUS
Octavus
(Nonus)
128
30 October
942
10 May 946
(3 years,
192 days)
Marinus II Marino
Papa
MARINUS
Secundus
129
10 May 946
8 December
955
(9 years,
212 days)
130
16 December
955
14 May 964
(8 years,
150 days)
131
22 May 964
23 June 964
(0 years, 32 days)
132
July 964 1
March 965
Rome
Octavian Rome
Agapetus II Agapito
Papa
AGAPITUS
Secundus
John XII
Papa
IOANNES
Duodecimus
Benedict V
Rome
<1
Rome
<1
Papa
BENEDICTU
S Quintus
Leo VIII
Papa LEO
Octavus
Deposed in
963 by
Emperor
Otto
invalidly;
end of the
"Saeculum
obscurum"
.
Elected by
the people
of Rome,
in
opposition
to the
Antipope
Leo VIII
who was
appointed
by
Emperor
Otto; he
accepted
his own
deposition
in 964
leaving
Leo VIII
as the sole
pope.
Appointed
antipope
by
Emperor
Otto in
963 in
opposition
to John
XII and
Benedict
V. He
became the
true pope
after
Benedict V
was
133
134
135
1 October 965
6 September
972
(6 years,
341 days)
John XIII
19 January 973
June 974
Benedict VI
Rome
Rome,
Papal
States
Rome
Papa
IOANNES
Tertius
Decimus
(1 year+)
Papa
BENEDICTU
S Sextus
October 974
10 July 983
Benedict
VII
deposed.
Chronicled
after his
death as
"the
Good".
Deposed
and
murdered.
Papa
BENEDICTU
S Septimus
136
137
December 983
20 August
984
John XIV
August 985
March 996
John XV
(8 years+)
Papa
IOANNES
Quartus
Decimus
Papa
IOANNES
Quintus
Decimus
Pavia
Pietro
Campanor
a
<1
Rome
10
John
The first
pope to
formally
canonize a
saint.
138
3 May 996
18 February
999
(2 years,
291 days)
139
2 April 999
12 May 1003
(4 years, 40 days)
Gregory V Bruno of Germany

Papa
Carinthia , Holy
First
German
Pope
Sylvester II Gerbert Auvergn

Papa
d'Aurillac e region
The first
French
pope.
Roman
Empire
GREGORIUS
Quintus
of France
SILVESTER
Secundus
11th century
Numerical
Pontificate Portraitjaleel
order
140
141
Name
English
Regnal
Personal
name
June 1003
6
December
1003
John XVII
Siccone
25
December
1003
July 1009
John XVIII Giovanni

Papa IOANNES Fasano;
Duodevicesimus Phasianus
Papa IOANNES
Septimus
Decimus
Place of
birth
Rome, Papal
States
Rapagnano,
Papal States
(5 years+)
142
31 July
1009
12 May
1012
(2 years, 286
days)
Pietro Martino Rome, Papal

Papa SERGIUS Boccapecora, States, Holy
Roman
Quartus
O.S.B.
Empire
Sergius IV
Notes
143
18 May
1012
9 April
1024
(11 years,
327 days)
144
April/May
1024
20
October
1032
Benedict
VIII
Theophylactus Rome, Papal

States, Holy
II, Conti di
Papa
Tusculum
BENEDICTUS
Octavus
Roman
Empire
John XIX
Rome, Papal
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
Romanus,
Papa IOANNES Conti di

Undevicesimus Tusculum
(8 years+)
145
20 October
1032 31
December
1044
Benedict IX Theophylactus Rome, Papal 1st Term

States, Holy
Papa
III, Conti di
BENEDICTUS Tusculum
Nonus
Roman
Empire
(12 years, 72
days)
146
1 January
1045 - 31
March
1045
Sylvester III John, Bishop of Rome, Papal Validity of election

Papa
SILVESTER
Tertius
Sabina
States, Holy questioned;

Roman
considered AntiEmpire
Pope; deposed at
the Council of
Sutri.
(0 years, 89
days)
147
1 April
1045 10
November
1045
(0 years, 223
days)
Benedict IX Theophylactus Rome, Papal 2nd Term; deposed

States, Holy at the Council of
Papa
III, Conti di
BENEDICTUS Tusculum
Nonus
Roman
Empire
Sutri
148
10
November
1045 23
December
1046
Gregory VI Johannes
Papa
Gratianus
Rome, Papal Deposed at the

States, Holy Council of Sutri
Roman
Empire
Clement II
Hornburg, Appointed by
Duchy of
Henry III at the
Saxony,
Council of Sutri;
Holy Roman crowned Henry III
Empire
as Holy Roman
Emperor.
GREGORIUS
Sextus,
(1 year, 43
days)
149
24
December
1046
9
October
1047
Suidger
Papa
CLEMENS
Secundus
(0 years, 289
days)
150
151
November
1047 17
July 1048
Benedict IX Theophylactus Rome, Papal 3rd Term; deposed

States, Holy and
Papa
III, Conti di
BENEDICTUS Tusculum
Nonus
Roman
Empire
17 July
1048
9 August
1048
Damasus II Poppo
Pildenau,
Duchy of
Bavaria,
Holy Roman
Empire
Papa
DAMASUS
Secundus
(0 years, 23
days)
152
12
February
1049
19 April
1054
(5 years, 66
days)
excommunicated
St Leo IX
Bruno, Count of Eguisheim, In 1054, mutual
Papa LEO
Nonus
Dagsbourg
Swabia,
excommunications
Holy Roman of Leo IX and
Empire
Patriarch of
Constantinople
Michael I
Cerularius began
the EastWest
Schism. The
anathematizations
were rescinded by
Pope Paul VI and
Patriarch
Athenagoras in
1965.[10]
153
13 April
1055
28 July
1057
Victor II
Gebhard, Count Kingdom of
Germany,
Papa VICTOR of Calw,
Secundus
Tollenstein, and Holy Roman
Empire
Hirschberg
(2 years, 106
days)
154
2 August
1057
29 March
1058
(0 years, 241
days)
155
6
December
1058
27 July
1061
Stephen IX Frdric de
(Stephen X) Lorraine,
Papa
O.S.B.
Duchy of
Sometimes called
Lorraine,
Stephen X.
Holy Roman Member of the
Empire
Order of Saint
Benedict.
Nicholas II
Chteau de
Chevron,
Kingdom of
Arles
STEPHANUS
Nonus
(Decimus)
Papa
NICOLAUS
Secundus
Grard de
Bourgogne
(2 years,
233 days)
156
30
September
1061
21 April
1073
Alexander II Anselmo da
Papa
Baggio
ALEXANDER
Secundus
In 1059 the
College of
Cardinals was
designated the sole
body of pope
electors in the
document In
nomine Domini.
(Papal conclave).
Milan, Italy, Authorised the
Holy Roman Norman conquest
Empire
of England in
1066.
(11 years,
203 days)
157
22 April
1073
25 May
1085
(12 years,
33 days)
St Gregory
VII
Papa
GREGORIUS
Septimus
Hildebrand
O.S.B.
Sovana,
Italy, Holy
Roman
Empire
Initiated the
Gregorian
Reforms.
Restricted the use
of the title "Papa"
to the Bishop of
Rome.[4] Member
of the Order of
Saint Benedict.
Political struggle
with German
Emperor Henry
IV, who had to go
to Canossa (1077).
158
24 May
1086
16
September
1087
Bl. Victor III Desiderio;

Papa VICTOR Desiderius;
Tertius
Dauferius
O.S.B.
Benevento, Member of the

Duchy of
Order of Saint
Benevento Benedict.
(1 year,
115 days)
159
Lagery,
Bl. Urban II Odo of
Papa
Lagery, O.S.B. County of
12 March
1088
29 July
1099
Preached and
started the First
Champagne, Crusade. Member
France
of the Order of
Saint Benedict.
URBANUS
Secundus
(11 years,
139 days)
160
13 August
1099
21
January
1118
Paschal II
Papa
PASCHALIS
Secundus
Raniero
O.S.B.
Bleda, Papal Member of the

States, Holy Order of Saint
Roman
Benedict. Ordered
Empire
the building of the
basilica of Santi
Quattro Coronati.
(18 years,
161 days)
12th century
Numerical
order
161
Pontificat
e
24 January
1118
28
January
1119
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Gelasius II
Papa
GELASIUS
Secundus
Personal
name
Giovanni
Coniulo,
O.S.B.
Place of
birth
Notes
Gaeta,
Member of the
Principality Order of Saint
of Capua
Benedict.
(1 year,
4 days)
162
2 February
1119
13
December
1124
(5 years,
315 days)
Callixtus II Guido, Comte Quingey,

Papa
CALLISTUS
Secundus
de Bourgogne
Opened the First

County of
Council of the
Burgundy, Lateran in 1123
Holy Roman
Empire
163
15
December
1124
13
February
1130
Fiagnano,
Honorius II Lamberto
Papa
Scannabecchi Papal States,
Holy Roman
HONORIUS
, Can.Reg. Empire
Secundus
(5 years,
60 days)
164
14
February
1130
24
September
1143
Gregorio
Papa
Papareschi,
INNOCENTIU Can.Reg.
Rome, Papal
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
Celestine II Guido
Citt di
Castello,
Papal States,
Holy Roman
Empire
Innocent II
S Secundus
Canon Regular
of S. Maria di
San Reno.
Approved the
new military
order of the
Knights Templar
in 1128.
Canon Regular
of Lateran;
Convened the
Second Council
of the Lateran,
1139
(13 years,
222 days)
165
26
September
1143
8 March
1144
Papa
COELESTINU
S Secundus
(0 years,
164 days)
166
12 March
1144
15
February
1145
Papa LUCIUS
Secundus
Bologna,
Canon Regular
Gerardo
Papal
States,
of S. Frediano di
Caccianemici
Holy Roman Lucca
dal Orso,
Empire
Can.Reg.
Bl. Eugene
III
Member of the
Bernardo da Pisa,
Republic
of
Order of
Pisa, O.Cist.
Lucius II
(0 years,
340 days)
167
15
February
1145
8 July
1153
Papa
EUGENIUS
Tertius
Pisa, Holy
Roman
Empire
(8 years,
143 days)
168
8 July
1153
3
December
1154
(1 year,
148 days)
Anastasius
IV
Papa
ANASTASIUS
Quartus
Rome, Papal
Corrado
Demetri della States, Holy
Roman
Suburra
Empire
Cistercians.
Announced the
Second Crusade.
169
4
December
1154
1
September
1159
Adrian IV
Papa
HADRIANUS
Quartus
Nicholas
Breakspear,
Can.Reg.
Abbots
First and only
Langley,
English pope;
Hertfordshire purportedly
, Kingdom of granted Ireland
England
to Henry II, King
of England.
Canon Regular
of St. Rufus
Monastery .
Rolando
Siena, Italy, Convened the

Holy Roman Third Council of
Empire
the Lateran,
1179
Ubaldo
Lucca, Italy,
Holy Roman
Empire
Uberto
Crivelli
Cuggiono,
Italy, Holy
Roman
Empire
Alberto di
Morra,
Can.Reg.
Benevento,
Papal States,
Holy Roman
Empire
(4 years,
271 days)
170
7
September
1159
30
August
1181
Alexander
III
Papa
ALEXANDER
Tertius
(21 years,
357 days)
171
1
September
1181
25
November
1185
Lucius III
Papa LUCIUS
Tertius
(4 years,
85 days)
172
25
November
1185
19
October
1187
Urban III
Papa
URBANUS
Tertius
(1 year,
328 days)
173
21
October
1187
17
December
1187
(0 years,
57 days)
Gregory
VIII
Papa
GREGORIUS
Octavus
Canon Regular
Premostratense.
Proposed the
Third Crusade
174
Clement III Paolo Scolari Rome, Papal
19
December
1187
20
March
1191[11]
Papa
CLEMENS
Tertius
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
Celestine III Giacinto

Papa
Bobone
COELESTINU
S Tertius
Rome, Papal
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
Innocent III Lothario dei

Papa
Conti di
INNOCENTIU Segni
Gavignano,
Papal States,
Holy Roman
Empire
(3 years,
91 days)
175
21 March
1191
8
January
1198
(6 years,
293 days)
176
8 January
1198
16 July
1216
S Tertius
(18 years,
190 days)
Convened the
Fourth Council
of the Lateran,
1215. Initiated
the Fourth
Crusade but later
distanced
himself from it
and threatened
participants with
excommunicatio
n when it
became clear
that the
leadership
abandoned a
focus on
conquest of the
Holy Land and
instead intended
to sack Christian
cities.[12]
13th century
Numerical
order
177
Pontificate
18 July
1216
18 March
1227
(10 years,
243 days)
Portrait
Personal Place of
Notes
English Regnal
name
birth
Rome, Papal Initiated the
Honorius III Cencio
States, Holy Fifth Crusade.
Papa
Savelli
Name
HONORIUS
Tertius
Roman
Empire
Approved
several religious
and tertiary
orders.
178
19 March
1227
22
August
1241
Gregory IX
Papa
GREGORIUS
Nonus
Ugolino
dei Conti
di Segni,
O.F.S
(14 years,
156 days)
179
25 October
1241
10
November
1241
Celestine IV Goffredo
Papa
Castiglioni
COELESTINUS
Quartus
Anagni,
Canonized
Papal States, Elisabeth of
Holy Roman Hungary (1235).
Empire
Initiated the
Inquisition in
France and
endorsed the
Northern
Crusades.
Milan, Italy, Died before
Holy Roman coronation.
Empire
(0 years,
16 days)
180
25 June
1243
7
December
1254
Innocent IV
Papa
INNOCENTIUS
Quartus
(11 years,
165 days)
181
12
December
1254
25 May
1261
Convened the
Sinibaldo Genoa,
Republic
of
First Council of
Fieschi
Genoa, Holy Lyons (1245).
Roman
Issued the bull
Empire
Ad extirpanda
that permitted
the torture of
heretics (1252).
Jenne, Papal Established an

Alexander IV Rinaldo
Inquisition in
Papa
dei Conti States
France.
ALEXANDER di Jenne
Quartus
(6 years,
164 days)
182
29 August
1261
2 October
1264
Urban IV
Papa URBANUS
Quartus
Troyes,
Jacques
Pantalon County of
Instituted the
feast of Corpus
Champagne, Christi (1264).
France
(3 years,
34 days)
183
5 February
1265
29
November
1268
(3 years,
298 days)
Clement IV
Papa CLEMENS
Quartus
Gui Faucoi Saint-Gilles,

Languedoc,
France
N/A
29
November
1268
1
September
1271
Interregnum
184
1
September
1271
10
January
1276
Bl. Gregory X Tebaldo

Papa
Visconti,
GREGORIUS O.F.S
Decimus
(4 years,
131 days)
185
21 January
1276
22 June
1276
(0 years,
153 days)
186
11 July
1276
18
August
1276
Bl. Innocent Pierre de

V
Tarentaise,
Papa
O.P.
INNOCENTIUS
Quintus
Adrian V
Papa
HADRIANUS
Quintus
Almost 3 year
period without a
valid pope
elected. This
was due to a
deadlock among
cardinals voting
for the pope.
Piacenza,
Convened the
Italy, Holy Second Council
Roman
of Lyons (1274).
Empire
Responsible for
regulation all
papal conclaves
until the 20th
century.
County of Member of the
Savoy, Holy Dominican
Roman
Order.
Empire
Annulled
Ottobuono Genoa,
Republic
of
Gregory X's
Fieschi
Genoa, Holy papal bull on the

Roman
regulations of
Empire
papal conclaves.
(0 years,
38 days)
187
8
September
1276
20 May
1277
(0 years,
254 days)
John XXI
Pedro
Papa IOANNES Julio

Vicesimus Primus (a.k.a.
Petrus
Hispanus
and Pedro
Hispano)
Lisbon,
Portugal
Due to a
confusion over
the numbering
of popes named
John in the 13th
century, there
was no John
XX. There has
never been a
John XX,
because the 20th
pope of this
name formerly
when elected,
decided to skip
the number XX
and be counted
as John XXI
instead. He
wanted to
correct what in
his time was
believed to be an
error in the
counting of his
predecessors
John XV to XIX
188
25
November
1277
22
August
1280
Nicholas III
Papa
NICOLAUS
Tertius
Giovanni
Gaetano
Orsini
Rome, Papal
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
(2 years,
271 days)
189
22
February
1281
28 March
1285
Martin IV
Papa
MARTINUS
Quartus
Simon de Meinpicien,
Touraine,
Brion
France
(4 years,
34 days)
190
2 April
1285
3 April
1287
Honorius IV Giacomo
Papa
Savelli
Rome, Papal
States, Holy
Roman
Empire
Nicholas IV
Lisciano,
Member of the
Papal States, Franciscan
Holy Roman Order.
Empire
HONORIUS
Quartus
(2 years,
1 day)
191
22
February
1288
4 April
1292
Papa
NICOLAUS
Quartus
Girolamo
Masci,
O.F.M.
(4 years,
42 days)
N/A
4 April
1292
5 July
1294
Interregnum
2 year period
without a valid
pope elected.
This was due to
a deadlock
among cardinals
voting for the
pope.
192
5 July 1294
13
December
1294
St Celestine V Pietro
Papa
Angelerio,
COELESTINUS O.S.B.
Quintus
Sant'Angelo
Limosano,
Kingdom of
Sicily
(0 years,
161 days)
193
One of the few

popes who
resigned
voluntarily.
Member of the
Order of Saint
Benedict.
Founded the
Celestines.
Formalized the
Boniface VIII Benedetto Anagni,
Papal
States,
Jubilee in 1300.
Papa
Caetani
24
December
1294
11
October
1303
Holy Roman Issued Unam

Empire
Sanctam (1302)
which
proclaimed
papal supremacy
and pushing it to
its historical
extreme.
BONIFATIUS
Octavus
(8 years,
291 days)
14th century
Numerical
order
194
Pontificate
22 October
1303
7 July
1304
(0 years,
259 days)
195
5 June
1305
20 April
1314
Portrait
Personal Place of
name
birth
Treviso
Bl. Benedict Niccol
XI
Boccasini,
Papa
O.P.
Name
English Regnal
BENEDICTUS
Undecimus
Clement V
N/A
20 April
1314
Interregnum
Member of the
Dominican
Order. Reverted
Boniface VIII's
Unam Sanctam.
Bertrand de Villandraut, Pope at
Papa CLEMENS Got

Quintus
(8 years,
319 days)
Notes
Gascony,
France
Avignon.
Convened the
Council of
Vienne (1311
1312). Initiated
the persecution
of the Knights
Templar with
the bull
Pastoralis
Praeeminentiae
under pressure
from King
Philip IV of
France.
2 year period
without a valid
pope elected.
7 August
1316
196
7 August
1316
4
December
1334
John XXII
Papa IOANNES
Vicesimus
Secundus
Jacques
d'Euse;
Jacques
Duse
Cahors,
Quercy,
France
This was due to

a deadlock
among cardinals
voting for the
pope.
Pope at
Avignon.
Controversial
for his views on
the Beatific
Vision.
(18 years,
119 days)
197
20
December
1334
25 April
1342
Benedict XII Jacques

Papa
Fournier,
BENEDICTUS O.Cist.
Duodecimus
(7 years,
126 days)
198
7 May
1342
6
December
1352
Clement VI
Pierre
Papa CLEMENS Roger,

Sextus
O.S.B.
(10 years,
213 days)
199
18
December
1352
12
September
1362
(9 years,
268 days)
200
28
September
1362
19
December
1370
(8 years,
82 days)
Innocent VI
Papa
INNOCENTIUS
Sextus
tienne
Aubert
Saverdun,
County of
Foix,
France
Pope at
Avignon.
Member of the
Order of
Cistercians.
Known for
issuing the
Apostolic
constitution
Benedictus
Deus (1336).
Maumont, Pope at
Limousin, Avignon.
France
Reigned during
the Black Death
and absolved
those who died
of it of their
sins.
Les Monts, Pope at
Limousin, Avignon.
France
Through his
exertions the
Treaty of
Brtigny (1360)
was brought
about.
Bl. Urban V Guillaume Grizac,

Languedoc,
Papa URBANUS (de)
France
Quintus
Grimoard,
O.S.B.
Pope at
Avignon.
Member of the
Order of Saint
Benedict.
Reformed ares
of education and
sent missionary
movements
across Europe
and Asia. His
pontificate
witnessed the
201
30
December
1370
27 March
1378
Gregory XI
Papa
GREGORIUS
Undecimus
Pierre
Roger de
Beaufort
Alexandrian and
Savoyard
crusades.
Maumont, Pope at
Limousin, Avignon; returns
France
to Rome. The
last French
pope.
(7 years,
87 days)
202
8 April
1378
15
October
1389
Urban VI
Papa URBANUS
Sextus
Western Schism.
Bartolomeo Naples,
Kingdom
of
Last pontiff to
Prignano
Naples
be elected
outside the
College of
Cardinals.
(11 years,
190 days)
203
2
November
1389
1 October
1404
Boniface IX
Papa
BONIFATIUS
Nonus
Naples,
Western Schism.
Pietro
Kingdom
of
Tomacelli
Naples
(14 years,
334 days)
15th century
This pope resigned his office.
The exact birth date of Innocent VIII and almost all popes prior to Eugene IV is
unknown, therefore the lowest probable age has been assumed for this table.
Numerical Pontificat
order
e
204
17
October
1404
6
November
1406
(2 years,
20 days)
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Innocent
VII
Papa
INNOCENTIU
S Septimus
Age at
Personal Place of start/en

d of
name
birth
Cosimo
Gentile
Migliorati
Notes
papacy
Sulmona, 65 / 67 Western
Kingdom [B]
Schism
of Naples
205
30
November
1406
4 July
1415
Gregory XII Angelo

Papa
Correr
GREGORIUS
Duodecimus
Venice,
Republic
of Venice
[R]
(8 years,
216 days)
N/A
206
4 July
1415
11
November
1417
11
November
1417
20
February
1431
Interregnum
Martin V
Papa
MARTINUS
Quintus
Oddone
Colonna,
O.F.S
Genazzano 48 / 62
, Papal
States
Western
Schism;
abdicated
during the
Council of
Constance,
which had
been called by
his opponent
John XXIII.
Two-year
period without
a valid pope
elected.
Convened the
Council of
Basel (1431).
Initiated the
Hussite Wars.
(13 years,
101 days)
207
3 March
1431
23
February
1447
Eugene IV
Papa
EUGENIUS
Quartus
/ 63
Gabriele Venice, 47
[B]
Republic
Condulmer
of Venice
, O.S.A.
(15 years,
357 days)
208
6 March
1447
24
March
1455
(8 years,
18 days)
Nicholas V Tommaso Sarzana, 49 / 57

Papa
Parentucell Republic
of Genoa
NICOLAUS i, O.P.
Quintus
Member of
the
Augustinian
Order.
Crowned
Sigismund
emperor at
Rome in
1433.
Transferred
the Council of
Basel to
Ferrara. It was
later
transferred
again, to
Florence,
because of the
Bubonic
plague.
Member of
the Dominican
Order. Held
the Jubilee of
1450.
Crowned
Frederick III
emperor at
Rome (1452).
Created a
209
8 April
1455
6
August
1458
76 / 79
Callixtus III Alfonso de Xtiva,
Kingdom
Papa
Borja
of
Valencia,
Crown of
Aragon
CALLISTUS
Tertius
(3 years,
120 days)
210
19 August
1458
15
August
1464
Pius II
Papa PIUS
Secundus
Enea Silvio Corsignan 52 / 58

Piccolomin o,
Republic
i
of Siena
(5 years,
362 days)
211
30 August
1464
26 July
1471
(6 years,
330 days)
Paul II
Papa PAULUS
Secundus
Pietro
Barbo
Venice,
47 / 54
Republic
of Venice
library in the
Vatican which
would
eventually
become the
Bibliotheca
Apostolica
Vaticana.
The first
Spanish pope.
Ordered the
Feast of the
Transfiguratio
n to be
celebrated on
6 August.
Ordered the
retrial of Joan
of Arc, in
which she was
vindicated.
Displayed a
great interest
in urban
planning.
Founded
Pienza near
Siena as the
ideal city in
1462. Known
for his work
on the
Commentarie
s.
The nephew
of Eugene IV.
Built the
Palazzo San
Marco (now
Palazzo
Venezia).
Approved the
introduction
of printing in
the Papal
States.
212
9 August
1471
12
August
1484
Sixtus IV
Papa XYSTUS
Quartus
Francesco
della
Rovere,
O.F.M.
Celle
Ligure,
Republic
of Genoa
57 / 70
Giovanni
Battista
Cybo
Genoa,
Republic
of Genoa
51 / 59
Roderic
Llanol i
de Borja
Xtiva,
61 / 72
Kingdom
of
Valencia,
Crown of
Aragon
(13 years,
3 days)
213
29 August
1484
25 July
1492
Innocent
VIII
Papa
INNOCENTIU
S Octavus
(7 years,
331 days)
214
11 August
1492
18
August
1503
Alexander
VI
Papa
ALEXANDER
Sextus
[B]
(11 years,
7 days)
Member of
the Franciscan
Order.
Commissione
d the Sistine
Chapel.
Authorized an
Inquisition
targeting
converted
Jewish
Christians in
Spain at the
request of
Queen
Isabella and
King
Ferdinand.
Appointed
Toms de
Torquemada.
Endorsed the
prosecution of
witchcraft in
the bull
Summis
desiderantes
affectibus
(1484).
Nephew of
Callixtus III;
father to
Cesare Borgia
and Lucrezia
Borgia.
Divided the
extraEuropean
world
between Spain
and Portugal
in the bull
Inter caetera
(1493). No
Alexander V
due to the
antipope.
16th20th centuries
16th century
Numerical Pontifica
order
te
Portrait
Name
English
Personal
name
Place of Age at
birth start/en
Notes
Regnal
215
22
Septembe
r 1503
18
October
1503
Pius III
Papa PIUS
Tertius
Francesco
Todeschini
Piccolomini
d of
papacy
Siena,
64 / 64 Nephew of Pius
Republic of
II. Founded the
Siena
Piccolomini
Library
adjourning the
Siena Cathedral.
(0 years,
26 days)
216
31
October
1503
21
February
1513
Julius II
Papa IULIUS
Secundus
Giuliano
della
Rovere,
O.F.M.
(9 years,
113 days)
217
9 March
1513
1
December
1521
Leo X
Papa LEO
Decimus
Giovanni di
Lorenzo de'
Medici
(8 years,
267 days)
218
9 January
1522
14
Septembe
r 1523
(1 year,
248 days)
Adrian VI Adriaan
Papa
Floriszoon
HADRIANUS Boeyens
Sextus
Patere et
sustine
("Respect and
Albisola,
59 / 69 Nephew of
Republic of
Sixtus IV;
Genoa
convened the
Fifth Council of
the Lateran
(1512). Took
control of all the
Papal States for
the first time.
Commissioned
Michelangelo to
paint the Sistine
Chapel ceiling.
Proposed plans
for rebuilding St
Peter's Basilica.
Florence, 37 / 45 Son of Lorenzo
Republic of
the Magnificent.
Florence
Closed the Fifth
Council of the
Lateran.
Remembered
for granting
indulgences to
those who
donated to
rebuild St.
Peter's Basilica;
excommunicate
d Martin Luther
(1521).
Extended the
Spanish
Inquisition into
Portugal.
Utrecht,
62 / 64 The only Dutch
Bishopric of
pope; last nonUtrecht,
Italian to be
Holy
elected pope
Roman
until John Paul
Empire
II in 1978. Tutor
(now
of Emperor
Netherlands
Charles V.
)
Retained his
wait")
219
26
Novembe
r 1523
25
Septembe
r 1534
(10 years,
303 days)
220
13
October
1534
10
Novembe
r 1549
baptismal name
as his regnal
name.
[13]
Clement
VII
Papa
CLEMENS
Septimus
Florence, 45 / 56
Giulio di
Giuliano de' Republic of
Florence
Medici
Candor
illsus
("He without
injury")[14]
Paul III
Alessandro
Papa PAULUS Farnese

Tertius
(15 years,
28 days)
221
7
February
1550
29
March
1555
(5 years,
50 days)
Julius III
Papa IULIUS
Tertius
Giovanni
Maria
Ciocchi del
Monte
Cousin of Leo
X. Rome
plundered by
imperial troops
(1527). Forbade
the divorce of
Henry VIII;
crowned
Charles V as
emperor at
Bologna (1530).
His niece was
married to the
future Henry II
of France.
Ordered
Michelangelo's
painting of The
Last Judgment
in the Sistine
Chapel.
Canino,
66 / 81 Opened the
Lazio,
Council of Trent
Papal States
(1545). His
illegitimate son
became the first
Duke of Parma.
Decreed the
second and final
excommunicati
on of Henry
VIII. Appointed
Michelangelo to
supervise
construction of
St. Peter's
Basilica (1546).
Rome,
62 / 67 Established the
Lazio,
Collegium
Papal States
Germanicum
(1552).
Reconvened the
Council of
Trent. The
Innocenzo
Scandal.
222
223
9 April
1555
1 May
1555
(0 years, 22
days)
S Secundus
23 May
1555
18
August
1559
Paul IV
(4 years,
87 days)
224
Montefano, 53 / 53
Marcello
Marche,
Cervini
Papal States
Papa
degli
MARCELLU Spannochi
Marcellus
II
26
December
1559
9
December
1565
Giovanni
Papa PAULUS Pietro

Quartus
Carafa,
Dominus
mihi adjutor
C.R.
("The Lord is
my helper")[15]
Pius IV
Papa PIUS
Quartus
Giovanni
Angelo
Medici
(5 years,
348 days)
225
7 January
1566
1 May
1572
(6 years,
115 days)
St Pius V
Papa PIUS
Quintus
Utinam
dirigantur
vi me ad
custodienda
s
("It binds us to
keep")[16]
Antonio
Ghislieri,
O.P.
The last to use

his birth name
as the regnal
name. Instituted
immediate
economies in
Vatican
expenditures.
The Missa
Papae Marcelli
composed in his
honour.
Capriglia 78 / 83 Member of the
Irpina,
Theatines.
Campania,
Established the
Kingdom of
Roman Ghetto
Naples
in Cum Nimis
Absurdum
(1555) and
established the
Index of
Forbidden
Books. Ordered
Michelangelo to
repaint the
nudes of The
Last Judgment
modestly.
Milan,
60 / 66 Reopened and
Duchy of
closed the
Milan
Council of
Trent. Ordered
public
construction to
improve the
water supply of
Rome.
Instituted the
Tridentine
Creed.
Bosco,
61 / 68 Member of the
Piedmont,
Dominican
Duchy of
Order.
Milan
Excommunicate
d Elizabeth I
(1570). Battle of
Lepanto (1571);
instituted the
feast of Our
Lady of Victory.
Issued the 1570
Roman Missal.
226
13 May
1572
10 April
1585
(12 years,
332 days)
Gregory
XIII
Papa
GREGORIUS
Tertius
Decimus
Bologna,
70 / 83
Ugo
EmiliaBoncompag
Romagna,
ni
Papal States
Aperuit et
clausit
("Opened and
closed")[17]
227
24 April
1585
27
August
1590
Sixtus V
Felice
Papa XYSTUS Peretti di

Quintus
Montalto,
O.F.M.
Conv.
(5 years,
125 days)
228
15
Septembe
r 1590
27
Septembe
r 1590
Urban VII Giovanni

Papa
Battista
URBANUS
Castagna
Septimus
Reformed the
calendar (1582);
built the
Gregorian
Chapel in the
Vatican. The
first pope to
bestow the
Immaculate
Conception as
Patroness to the
Philippine
Islands through
the bull Ilius
Fulti Prsido
(1579).
Strengthened
diplomatic ties
with Asian
nations.
Grottammar 63 / 68 Member of the
e, Marche,
Conventual
Papal States
Franciscan
Order. Known
for fixing and
completing
building works
to major
basilicas in
Rome. Limited
the College of
Cardinals to 70
in number;
doubled the
number of
curial
congregations.
Rome,
69 / 69 ShortestLazio,
reigning pope;
Papal States
died before
coronation. Set
the worldwide
smoking ban.
(0 years,
12 days)
229
5
December
1590
16
October
1591
(0 years,
315 days)
Gregory
XIV
Papa
GREGORIUS
Quartus
Decimus
Niccol
Sfondrati
Somma
55 / 56
Lombardo,
Lombardy,
Duchy of
Milan
Modified the
constitution
Effraenatam of
Sixtus V so that
the penalty for
abortion did not
apply until the
foetus became
animated
230
29
October
1591
30
December
1591
Innocent IX Giovanni
Papa
Antonio
INNOCENTI Facchinetti
US Nonus
(0 years,
62 days)
231
30
January
1592
3
March
1605
Clement
VIII
Papa
CLEMENS
Octavus
(13 years,
32 days)
Ippolito
Aldobrandi
ni
(1591). Made
gambling on
papal elections
punishable by
excommunicati
on.
Bologna,
72 / 72 Supported the
Emiliacause of Philip
Romagna,
II and the
Papal States
Catholic League
against Henry
IV in the French
Wars of
Religion.
Prohibited the
alienation of
church property.
Fano,
55 / 69 Initiated an
Marche,
alliance of
Papal States
European
Christian
powers to
partake in the
war with the
Ottoman
Empire known
as The Long
War (1595).
Convened the
Congregatio de
Auxiliis which
addressed
doctrinal
disputes
between the
Dominicans and
Jesuits
regarding free
will and divine
grace.[18]
17th century
order
e
232
1 April
1605
27 April
1605
(0 years,
26 days)
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Leo XI
Papa LEO
Undecimus
Age at

d of
name
birth
Alessandro
Ottaviano
de' Medici
Notes
papacy
Florence, 69 / 69 The nephew of
Duchy of
Leo X. Called
Florence
"Papa Lampo"
(Lightning Pope)
for his brief
pontificate.
233
16 May
1605
28
January
1621
(15 years,
257 days)
234
9
February
1621
8 July
1623
Paul V
Papa PAULUS
Quintus
Camillo
Borghese
Rome,
Lazio,
Papal
States
Absit nisi in
te gloriari
("Far, but in
your glory")[19]
Gregory XV Alessandro Bologna,

Papa
Ludovisi EmiliaGREGORIUS
Quintus
Decimus
Romagna,
Papal
States
Urban VIII Maffeo

Papa
Barberini
URBANUS
Octavus
Florence,
Grand
Duchy of
Tuscany
Innocent X Giovanni
Papa
Battista
INNOCENTI Pamphilj
Rome,
Lazio,
Papal
States
(2 years,
149 days)
235
6 August
1623
29 July
1644
(20 years,
358 days)
236
15
Septembe
r 1644
7
January
1655
(10 years,
114 days)
US Decimus
Alleviat
sunt aqu
super terram
("Water on
earth")[20]
52 / 68 Known for
various building
projects which
included the
facade of St
Peter's Basilica.
Established the
Bank of the
Holy Spirit
(1605); restored
the Aqua
Traiana.
67 / 69 Established the
Congregation for
the Propagation
of the Faith
(1622). Issued
the bull Aeterni
Patris (1621)
which imposed
conclaves to be
by secret ballot.
Issued the
constitution
Omnipotentis
Dei against
magicians and
witches (1623).
55 / 76 Trial against
Galileo Galilei.
The last pope to
expand papal
territory by force
of arms. Issued a
1624 bull that
made the use of
tobacco in holy
places
punishable by
excommunicatio
n.
70 / 80 The great-greatgreat-grandson
of Alexander VI.
Erected the
Fontana dei
Quattro Fiumi in
Piazza Navona.
Promulgated the
apostolic
constitution
Cum occasione
(1653) which
condemned five
doctrines of
237
7 April
1655
22 May
1667
(12 years,
45 days)
Alexander
VII
Fabio
Chigi
Papa
ALEXANDER
Septimus
Montium
custos
("Mountain
guardian")[21]
238
20 June
1667
9
December
1669
(2 years,
172 days)
Clement IX Giulio
Papa
Rospigliosi
CLEMENS
Nonus
Aliis non
sibi Clemens
Jansenism as
heresy.
Siena,
56 / 68 Great-nephew of
Grand
Paul V.
Duchy of
Commissioned
Tuscany
St. Peter's
Square. Issued
the constitution
Sollicitudo
Omnium
Ecclesiarum that
set the doctrine
of the
Immaculate
Conception
almost identical
to that of Pius
IX centuries
later.
Pistoia, 67 / 69 Commissioned
Grand
the colonnade of
Duchy of
St. Peter's
Tuscany
Square.
Mediated in the
peace of Aachen
(1668).
("For others,
not Clement")
[22]
239
29 April
1670
22 July
1676
(6 years,
84 days)
Rome,
Clement X Emilio
Papa
Bonaventur Lazio,
Papal
CLEMENS
a Altieri
States
Decimus
Bonum
auget malum
minuit
("It measures
the lesser evil")
[23]
79 / 86 Canonized the
first saint from
the Americas:
Saint Rose of
Lima (1671).
Decorated the
bridge of Sant'
Angelo with the
ten statues of
angels and the
two fountains
that adorn the
piazza of St.
Peter's.
Established
regulations for
the removal of
relics of saints
from cemeteries.
240
Bl. Innocent Benedetto Como, 65 / 78 Believed to have

secretly funded
XI
Odescalchi Lombardy
21
Septembe
r 1676
12
August
1689
Avarus non
Implebitur
(12 years,
325 days)
241
, Duchy of
Milan
Papa
INNOCENTI
US Undecimus
("The covetous
man is not
(never)
satisfied [with
money]")[24]
6 October
1689
1
February
1691
Alexander
VIII
Pietro Vito
Ottoboni
Papa
ALEXANDER
Octavus
William III's
Glorious
Revolution to
overthrow James
II. Condemned
the doctrine of
mental
reservation
(1679) and
initiated the
Holy League.
Extended the
Holy Name of
Mary as a
universal feast
(1684). Admired
for positive
contributions to
catechesis.
Venice, 79 / 80 Condemned the
Republic
so-called
of Venice
philosophical sin
(1690).
(1 year,
118 days)
242
12 July
1691
27
Septembe
r 1700
Innocent
XII
Papa
INNOCENTI
US
Duodecimus
(9 years,
77 days)
Antonio
Pignatelli,
O.F.S
Spinazzol 76 / 85
a, Apulia,
Kingdom
of Naples
Issued the bull

Romanum decet
Pontificem to
stop nepotism
(1692). Erected
various
charitable and
educational
institutions.
18th century
order
e
243
23
Novembe
r 1700
19
March
1721
(20 years,
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Personal
name
Clement XI Giovanni
Papa
Francesco
CLEMENS
Albani
Undecimus
Age at
Place of start/en
d of
birth
Notes
papacy
Urbino,
51 / 71 The "Chinese
Marche,
Rites"
Papal States
controversy.
The last pope
with
Albanian
origin.
Patronized
the first
116 days)
244
8 May
1721
7 March
1724
(2 years,
304 days)
245
29 May
1724
21
February
1730
(5 years,
268 days)
246
12 July
1730
6
February
1740
(9 years,
209 days)
Innocent
XIII
Michelange
lo dei Conti
Papa
INNOCENTI
US Tertius
Decimus
Servant of
God
Benedict
XIII
Pietro
Francesco
Orsini, O.P.
Papa
BENEDICTU
S Tertius
Decimus
Clement
XII
Papa
CLEMENS
Duodecimus
Dabis
discernere
inter malum
Lorenzo
Corsini,
O.F.S
archaeologic
al
excavations
in the Roman
catacombs
and made the
feast of the
Immaculate
Conception
universal.[9]
Poli, Lazio, 65 / 68 Prohibited
Papal States
the Jesuits
from
prosecuting
their mission
in China
ordering that
no new
members
should be
received into
the order.
Gravina in 75 / 81 Member of
Puglia, Bari,
the
Kingdom of
Dominican
Naples
Order; third
and last
member of
the Orsini
family to be
pope.
Originally
called
Benedict
XIV due to
the antipope
but reverted
to XIII.
Repealed the
worldwide
tobacco
smoking ban
set by Urban
VII and
Urban VIII.
Florence,
78 / 87 Completed
Grand Duchy
the new
of Tuscany
faade of the
Archbasilica
of St. John
Lateran
(1735).
Commissione
d the Trevi
Fountain in
et bonum
("Distinguish
between good
and evil")[25]
247
17 August
1740
3 May
1758
(17 years,
259 days)
Benedict
XIV
Papa
BENEDICTU
S Quartus
Decimus
Prospero
Lorenzo
Lambertini
Curabuntor
omnes
("Will heal
all")[26]
248
6 July
1758
2
February
1769
(10 years,
211 days)
Clement
XIII
Papa
CLEMENS
Tertius
Decimus
Carlo della
Torre di
Rezzonico
Rosa
umbri
("Umbrian
rose")[27]
249
19 May
1769
22
Septembe
r 1774
(5 years,
126 days)
Clement
XIV
Papa
CLEMENS
Quartus
Decimus
Ursus velox
("Quick bear")
[28]
Giovanni
Vincenzo
Antonio
Ganganelli,
O.F.M.
Conv.
Rome
(1732).
Condemned
Freemasonry
in In
Eminenti
(1738).
Bologna,
65 / 83 Reformed the
Papal States
education of
priests and
the calendar
of feasts.
Completed
the Trevi
Fountain and
affirmed the
teachings of
Thomas
Aquinas;
founded
academies of
art, religion
and science.
Venice,
65 / 75 Provided the
Republic of
famous fig
Venice
leaves on
nude male
statues in the
Vatican.
Defended the
Society of
Jesus in
"Apostolicum
pascendi"
(1765).
Sant'Arcange 63 / 68
lo di
Romagna,
Papal States
Member of
the
Conventual
Franciscan
Order.
Suppressed
the Society
of Jesus in
the brief
"Dominus ac
Redemptor"
(1773).
250
15
February
1775
29
August
1799
Pius VI
Papa PIUS
Sextus
Floret in
domo
domini
(24 years,
195 days)
N/A
Count
Giovanni
Angelo
Braschi
Cesena,
57 / 81
EmiliaRomagna,
Papal States
("It blossoms in
the house of
God")[29]
29 August
1799
14
March
1800
Interregnum
Condemned
the French
Revolution;
expelled
from the
Papal States
by French
troops from
1798 until his
death. The
last pope to
be a patron of
Renaissance
art.
Six-month
period
without a
valid pope
elected. This
was due to
unique
logistical
problems (the
old pope died
a prisoner
and the
conclave was
in Venice)
and a
deadlock
among
cardinals
voting.
19th century
Numerical
order
251
Pontificat
e
14 March
1800
20
August
1823
(23 years,
159 days)
Portrait
Name
English
Regnal
Age at

d of
name
birth
papacy
Cesena, 57 / 81
Servant of Count
EmiliaGod Pius Barnaba
Romagna,
VII
Niccol
Papal
Papa PIUS
Maria Luigi States
Septimus
Chiaramonti
, O.S.B.
Aquila
Rapax
("Rapacious
eagle")[30]
Notes
Member of
the Order of
Saint
Benedict.
Present at
Napoleon's
coronation as
Emperor of
the French.
Briefly
expelled
from the
Papal States
by the
French
252
28
September
1823
10
February
1829
Leo XII
Papa LEO
Duodecimus
(5 years,
135 days)
253
31 March
1829
30
November
1830
Pius VIII
Papa PIUS
Octavus
Count
Annibale
Francesco
Clemente
Melchiore
Girolamo
Nicola
Sermattei
della Genga
Genga,
Marche,
Papal
States
63 / 68
Francesco
Saverio
Castiglioni
Cingoli,
Marche,
Papal
States
67 / 69
(1 year,
244 days)
254
2 February
1831
1 June
1846
(15 years,
119 days)
Bartolomeo Belluno, 65 / 80
Veneto,
Alberto
Republic
Papa
Cappellari, of Venice
GREGORIU O.S.B. Cam.
Gregory
XVI
S Sextus
Decimus
between
1809 and
1814.
Placed the
Catholic
educational
system under
the control of
the Jesuits
through
Quod divina
sapientia
(1824).
Condemned
the Bible
societies.
Accepted
Louis
Philippe I as
King of the
French.
Condemned
the masonic
secret
societies and
modernist
biblical
translations
in the brief
Litteris
altero
(1830).
Member of
the
Camaldolese
Order; last
non-bishop
to be elected
to the
papacy.
Opposed
democratic
and
modernising
reforms in
the Papal
States.
255
16 June
1846
7
February
1878
(31 years,
236 days)
256
20
February
1878
20 July
1903
Bl. Pius IX Count

Papa PIUS
Giovanni
Nonus
Maria
MastaiFerretti,
O.F.S.
Senigallia 54 / 85
, Marche,
Papal
States
Leo XIII
Carpineto 67 / 93
Romano,
Lazio,
Papal
States
Papa LEO
Tertius
Decimus
Gioacchino
Vincenzo
Raffaele
Luigi Pecci,
O.F.S.
(25 years,
150 days)
Opened the
First Vatican
Council; lost
the Papal
States to
Italy.
Defined the
dogma of the
Immaculate
Conception
and defined
papal
infallibility.
Issued the
controversial
Syllabus of
Errors.
Longest
serving pope
in history.
Issued the
encyclical
Rerum
Novarum;
supported
Christian
democracy
against
Communism
. Had the
fourthlongest reign
after Pius IX,
Saint Peter
and John
Paul II.
Promoted the
rosary and
the scapular
and
approved
two new
Marian
scapulars;
first pope to
fully
embrace the
concept of
Mary as
mediatrix.
20th century
Portrait
Name
English
Personal Place of Age at
start/en
Notes
Regnal
order
257
e
4 August
1903
20
August
1914
(11 years,
16 days)
Motto
Latin
(English)
name
birth
d of
papacy
Riese,
68 / 79
Treviso,
Lombardy
-Venetia,
Austrian
Empire
Encouraged and
expanded
reception of the
Eucharist.
Combatted
Modernism;
issued the oath
against it.
Advocated the
Gregorian Chant
and reformed the
Roman Breviary.
Genoa,
59 / 67
Pegli,
Kingdom
of
PiedmontSardinia
Credited for
intervening for
peace during
World War I.
Issued the 1917
Code of Canon
Law; supported
the missionaries
in Maximum
Illud.
Remembered by
Benedict XVI as
a "prophet of
peace".
64 / 81
Achille Desio,
Lombardy
Papa PIUS
Ambrogio
-Venetia,
Undecimus
Damiano Austrian
Ratti,
Empire
Pax Christi O.F.S.
in Regno
Christi
Signed the
Lateran Treaty
with Italy (1929)
establishing
Vatican City as a
sovereign state.
Inaugurated
Vatican Radio;
created the feast
of Christ the
King. Opposed
Communism,
Nazism and
Fascism.
St Pius X
Papa PIUS
Decimus
Instaurare
Omnia in
Christo
Giuseppe
Melchiorr
e Sarto,
O.F.S.
("Restore all
things in
Christ")
258
3
September
1914
22
January
1922
(7 years,
141 days)
Benedict
XV
Giacomo
Paolo
Papa
Giovanni
BENEDICTU Battista
S Quintus
Della
Decimus
Chiesa,
O.F.S.
In te,
Domine,
speravi:
non
confundar
in
aeternum.
("In thee, o
Lord, have I
trusted: let me
not be
confounded for
evermore.")
259
6 February
1922
10
February
1939
(17 years,
4 days)
Pius XI
("The Peace of
Christ in the
Kingdom of
Christ")
260
2 March
1939
9
October
1958
(19 years,
221 days)
Eugenio
Maria
Giuseppe
Giovanni
Pacelli,
O.F.S.
Rome,
63 / 82
Lazio,
Kingdom
of Italy
Angelo
Giuseppe
Roncalli,
O.F.S.
Sotto il
76 / 81
Monte,
Bergamo,
Kingdom
of Italy
Bl. Paul VI Giovanni

Papa PAULUS Battista
Sextus
Enrico
Antonio
Cum Ipso in Maria
Monte
Montini
Concesio, 65 / 80
Brescia,
Kingdom
of Italy
Servant of
God John
Paul I
Forno di 65 / 65
Canale,
Belluno,
Veneto,
Kingdom
of Italy
Ven. Pius
XII
Papa PIUS
Duodecimus
Opus
Justitiae
Pax
("The work of
justice [shall
be] peace")
261
28
October
1958
3 June
1963
(4 years,
218 days)
St John
XXIII
Papa
IOANNES
Vicesimus
Tertius
Obedientia
et Pax
("Obedience
and peace")
262
21 June
1963
6 August
1978
(15 years,
46 days)
("With Him on
the mount")
263
26 August
1978
28
September
1978
(0 years,
33 days)
Papa
IOANNES
PAULUS
Primus
Albino
Luciani
Invoked papal
infallibility in
the encyclical
Munificentissim
us Deus; defined
the dogma of the
Assumption.
Eliminated the
Italian majority
of cardinals.
Credited with
intervening for
peace during
World War II;
controversial for
his role in the
Holocaust.
Opened the
Second Vatican
Council; called
"Good Pope
John". Issued the
encyclical
Pacem in Terris
(1963) on peace
and nuclear
disarmament;
intervened for
peace during the
Cuban Missile
Crisis (1962).
Last pope to be
crowned in a
coronation with
the tiara. First
pope to travel to
the USA and
Australia; first
pope since 1809
to travel outside
Italy. Closed the
Second Vatican
Council. Issued
the encyclical
Humanae Vitae
(1968) banning
contraception.
Abolished the
coronation
opting for the
Papal
Inauguration.
First pope to use
'the First' in
papal name; first
with two names

for two
immediate
predecessors.
Last pope to use
the Sedia
Gestatoria.
Humilitas
("Humility")
264
16
October
1978
2 April
2005
St John
Paul II
Karol
Jzef
Wojtya
Papa
IOANNES
PAULUS
Secundus
(26 years,
168 days)
Wadowice 58 / 84
, 2nd
Polish
Republic
Totus Tuus
("Totally
yours")
First Polish pope

and first nonItalian pope
since Adrian VI
(1522-1523).
Associated with
the fall of
Communism in
Europe. Traveled
extensively; first
pope to travel to
Canada. Third
longest reign
after Pius IX and
Saint Peter.
Founded World
Youth Day
(1984).
Canonized more
saints than all his
predecessors.
21st century
Name
Numerical
order
Pontificate
Portrait
English
Regnal
Motto
Age at
Personal Place of start/end

of
name
birth
papacy
Latin (English)
265
19 April
2005
28
February
2013
(7 years,
315 days)
Benedict
XVI
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Sextus Decimus
Cooperatore
s Veritatis
("Cooperators
of the truth")
Notes
Joseph
Aloisius
Ratzinger
Marktl
78 / 85
am Inn,
Bavaria,
Germany
Oldest to
become
pope since
Clement XII
(1730).
Elevated the
Tridentine
Mass to a
more
prominent
position and
promoted
the use of
Latin; reintroduced
several
disused
266
13 March
2013
present
(1 year,
290 days)
Flores, 76 / Jorge
Buenos
Papa
Mario
FRANCISCUS Bergoglio, Aires,
Argentina
S.J.
Miserando
atque
Eligendo
Francis
("By having
mercy, by
choosing")
Religious orders
38 popes have been members of religious orders. These have included:
Benedictines (18):
papal
garments.
Established
the Anglican
Ordinariate.
First pope to
renounce the
papacy on
his own
initiative
since
Celestine V
(1294),[31]
retaining
regnal name
with title of
Pope
Emeritus.[32]
First pope to
be born
outside
Europe since
Gregory III
(731741)
and the first
from the
Americas;
first pope
from the
Southern
Hemisphere.
First
religious
pope since
Gregory
XVI (18311846); first
Jesuit pope.
First to use a
new and
noncomposed
regnal name
since Lando
(913914).
o Gregory I, Boniface IV, Adeodatus II, Leo IV, John IX, Leo VII, Sergius IV,
Stephen IX, Gregory VII, Victor III, Urban II, Paschal II, Gelasius II, Celestine V,
Clement VI, Urban V, Pius VII
and including Camaldolese (1):
Gregory XVI
Augustinians (6):
o Eugene IV
and including Canons Regulars (5):
Honorius II, Innocent II, Lucius II, Gregory VIII, Adrian IV
Dominicans (5):
o Innocent V, Benedict XI, Nicholas V, Pius V, Benedict XIII
Franciscans (5):
o Nicholas IV, Sixtus IV, Julius II
and including Conventual Franciscans (2):
Sixtus V, Clement XIV
Cistercians (2):
o Eugene III, Benedict XII
Theatines (1):
o Paul IV
Jesuits (1):
o Francis
12 popes have been members of third orders, also called "tertiaries" or "Third Order Secular,"
and all of them of the Secular Franciscans:
Gregory IX, Gregory X, Martin V, Innocent XII, Clement XII, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X,
Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII
Notes on numbering of popes
A number of anomalies in the list given above need further explanation:
Felix II (356357), Boniface VII (974, 984985), John XVI (997998), Benedict X
(10581059) and Alexander V (14091410) are not listed because all of them are
considered antipopes.[33]
The numbering of popes named Felix has been amended to omit antipope Felix II;
however, most lists still call the last two Felixes Felix III and Felix IV. Additionally, there
was an antipope Felix V.[33]
There has never been a pope John XX as a result of confusion of the numbering system in
the 11th century.[34]
Pope-elect Stephen, who died before being consecrated, has not been on the Vatican's
official list of popes since 1961, but appears on lists dating from before 1960.[34] The
numbering of following popes called Stephen are nowadays given as Pope Stephen II
(752757) to Pope Stephen IX (10571058), rather than Stephen III to Stephen X.
When Simon de Brion became pope in 1281, he chose to be called Martin. At that time,
Marinus I and Marinus II were mistakenly considered to be Martin II and Martin III
respectively, and so, erroneously, Simon de Brion became Pope Martin IV.[35]
Pope Donus II, said to have reigned about 974, never existed. The belief resulted from the
confusion of the title dominus (lord) with a proper name.
Pope Joan also never existed; however, legends about her may have originated from
stories about the pornocracy.[36]
The status of Antipope John XXIII was uncertain for hundreds of years, and was finally
settled in 1958 when Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli announced his own name as John XXIII.
Baldassare Cossa, who was Antipope John XXIII, served as a Cardinal of the reunited
church before his death in 1419 and his remains are found in the Florence Baptistery.
Those who believe in Sedevacantism say that there have been no legitimate popes since
Pius XII. This is because they consider all popes since the Second Vatican Council to be
heretics.[37][38]
List of cathedrals in India

A cathedral (from the Greek kathedra (), seat, bench, chair) is a Christian church which
contains the seat of a bishop,[1] thus serving as the central church of a diocese.
This is the list of cathedrals in India sorted by denomination.

Part of a series on
Christianity in India
Background[hide]
St. Thomas Christians (Nasrani)
St. Thomas Christian Churches
Synod of Diamper
Coonan Cross Oath
Malankara (historical)
People[hide]
St. Thomas the Apostle
Mar Sabor and Mar Proth
Mar Baselios Eldho
Marthoma Metrans
Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar
St. Alphonsa
St. Francis Xavier
St. Gonsalo Garcia
Thomas of Cana
Mar Kuriakose Elias Chavara
Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly
Devasahayam Pillai
Mar Gregorios of Parumala
Mother Teresa
Mar Joseph C. Panjikaran
Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan
Mar Geevarghese Dionysius
Abraham Malpan
Palackal Thoma Malpan
Mar Augustine Kandathil
William Carey
Denominations[hide]
St. Thomas Christian

Chaldean Syrian
Jacobite Syrian
Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Malabar Independent Syrian
Mar Thoma Syrian
St. Thomas Evangelical
Syro-Malabar Catholic
Syro-Malankara Catholic
Latin Church
Latin Catholic Church
Brahmavar Orthodox Church
Protestant
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran
Church of North India / of South India
Garo Baptist
Indian Pentecostal Church of God
Church of God (Full Gospel)
North Bank Baptist Christian
Northern Evangelical Lutheran
The Pentecostal Mission
Seventh-day Adventist
Presbyterian
True Jesus
United Evangelical Lutheran
Indian Christianity portal
Contents
1 Roman Catholic
o 1.1 Latin Catholic Provinces
1.1.1 Ecclesiastical Province of Agra
1.1.2 Ecclesiastical Province of Bangalore
1.1.3 Ecclesiastical Province of Bhopal
1.1.4 Ecclesiastical Province of Bombay
1.1.5 Ecclesiastical Province of Calcutta
1.1.6 Ecclesiastical Province of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
1.1.7 Ecclesiastical Province of Delhi
1.1.8 Ecclesiastical Province of Gandhinagar
1.1.9 Ecclesiastical Province of Goa and Daman
1.1.10 Ecclesiastical Province of Guwahati
1.1.11 Ecclesiastical Province of Hyderabad
1.1.12 Ecclesiastical Province of Imphal
1.1.13 Ecclesiastical Province of Madras and Mylapore
1.1.14 Ecclesiastical Province of Madurai
1.1.15 Ecclesiastical Province of Nagpur
1.1.16 Ecclesiastical Province of Patna
1.1.17 Ecclesiastical Province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
1.1.18 Ecclesiastical Province of Raipur
1.1.19 Ecclesiastical Province of Ranchi
1.1.20 Ecclesiastical Province of Shillong
1.1.21 Ecclesiastical Province of Thiruvananthapuram
1.1.22 Ecclesiastical Province of Verapoly
1.1.23 Ecclesiastical Province of Visakhapatnam
o 1.2 Syro-Malabar Ecclesiastical Provinces
1.2.1 Province of Eranakulam - Angamaly
1.2.2 Province of Changanassery
1.2.3 Province of Tellicherry
1.2.4 Province of Thrissur
1.2.5 Province of Kottayam
1.2.6 Dioceses directly under the Holy See
o 1.3 Syro-Malankara Ecclesiastical Provinces
1.3.1 Province of Trivandrum
1.3.2 Province of Tiruvalla
2 Anglican
o 2.1 Church of South India
o 2.2 Church of North India
3 Oriental Orthodox
o 3.1 Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
3.1.1 Angamaly Diocese
3.1.2 Kandanad Diocese
3.1.3 Kochi Diocese
3.1.4 Kottayam Diocese
3.1.5 Simhasa Churches
3.1.6 Knanaya Diocese
3.1.7 North Kerala (Malabar, Kozhikode and Thrissur)
3.1.8 South Kerala (Niranam, Thumbamon and Kollam)
3.1.9 Outside Kerala (Mylapore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi)
3.1.10 Evangalical Association
o 3.2 Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
3.2.1 In Kerala
3.2.2 Outside Kerala
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Roman Catholic
St. Catherine's Cathedral in Old Goa.
Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi.
St Joseph's Cathedral in Hyderabad.
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral on Mangalore
St. Philomena's Cathedral in Mysore
St. Xavier's Cathedral in Kottar
Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Thrissur
Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pondicherry
St. Mary's Cathedral in Punalur

St. Michael's Cathedral in Kottapuram
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Agra
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Asansol
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Family Rosary of Fatima in Belgaum
St. Mary's Cathedral in Varanasi
St. Francis Assisi Cathedral of Verapoly
Mary Help of Christians Cathedral in Kohima
St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral in Changanassery
Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Kottayam
St. Patrick's Cathedral in Poona
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Jamshedpur
St. Thomas Cathedral in Irinjalakuda
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Trivandrum
St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Bangalore
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Shimoga
Prem Mandir, cathedral of Rajkot

Cathedrals of the Roman Catholic Church in India:[2]
Latin Catholic Provinces

Ecclesiastical Province of Agra
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Archdiocese of Agra

o Church of Akbar former cathedral of the Archdiocese of Agra
o Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Diocese of Ajmer
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Allahabad
o Cathedral of St. Alphonsus de Ligouri of the Diocese of Bareilly
o St. Joseph's Cathedral in Kotdwar of the Diocese of Bijnor
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Gorakhpur
o Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation of the Diocese of Jaipur
o Cathedral of St. Anthony of the Diocese of Jhansi
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Lucknow
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Meerut
o Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral of the Diocese of Udaipur
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Varanasi
Ecclesiastical Province of Bangalore
St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bangalore

o Cathedral of Our Lady of the Family Rosary of Fatima of the Diocese of Belgaum
o St. Antony's Cathedral of the Diocese of Bellary
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Chikmagalur
o Cathedral of Mother Mary of Divine Grace of the Diocese of Gulbarga
o Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady of the Diocese of Karwar
o Our Lady of Rosary of Mangalore of the Diocese of Mangalore

o St. Philomena's Church of the Diocese of Mysore
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Shimoga
o Cathedral of Our Lady of the Miracles of the Diocese of Udupi
Ecclesiastical Province of Bhopal
St. Francis Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bhopal

o Cathedral of St. John the Baptist of the Diocese of Gwalior
o St. Francis Cathedral of the Diocese of Indore
o Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Diocese of Jabalpur
o Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Diocese of Jhabua
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Khandwa
o St Raphael's Cathedral in Sagar Cantonment of the Diocese of Sagar
o St. Vincent Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic
Diocese of Satna
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Ujjain
Ecclesiastical Province of Bombay
Cathedral of the Holy Name of the Archdiocese of Bombay

o St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Cathedral of the Diocese of Kalyan
o Cathedral of St. Anne of the Diocese of Nashik
o St Patrick's Cathedral of the Diocese of Poona
o Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace of the Diocese of Vasai
Ecclesiastical Province of Calcutta
Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary of the Archdiocese of Calcutta
o Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of the Diocese of Asansol

o Cathedral of the Good Shepherd of the Diocese of Bagdogra
o Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Diocese of Baruipur
o Immaculate Conception Cathedral of the Diocese of Darjeeling
o Christ Redeemer Cathedral of the Diocese of Jalpaiguri
o Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer of the Diocese of Krishnagar
o St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral of the Diocese of Raiganj
Ecclesiastical Province of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in Cuttack of the Archdiocese of CuttackBhubaneswar

o Christ the King Cathedral of the Diocese of Balasore
o Queen of the Missions Cathedral of the Diocese of Berhampur
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Rourkela
o St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral of the Diocese of Sambalpur
Ecclesiastical Province of Delhi
Sacred Heart Cathedral, New Delhi of the Archdiocese of Delhi

o St. Mary's Cathedral in Jammu Cantonment of the Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Jalandhar
o Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Joseph in Shimla of the Diocese of Simla and
Chandigarh
o Christ the King Co-Cathedral in Chandigarh of the Diocese of Simla and
Chandigarh
Ecclesiastical Province of Gandhinagar
St. Mary's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar
o Mount Carmel Cathedral of the Diocese of Ahmedabad

o Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral of the Diocese of Baroda
o Prem Mandir of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Rajkot
Ecclesiastical Province of Goa and Daman
Se Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman

o Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sea in Daman of the Archdiocese of Goa and
Daman
o Cathedral of Our Lady of Miracles in Sawantwadi of the Diocese of Sindhudurg
Ecclesiastical Province of Guwahati
St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Guwahati

o Cathedral of St. Albert of the Diocese of Bongaigaon
o Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of the Diocese of Dibrugarh
o Cathedral of the Risen Christ of the Diocese of Diphu
o Cathedral of St. Joseph of the Diocese of Itanagar
o Cathedral of Christ the Light of the Diocese of Miao
o Cathedral of St. John Bosco of the Diocese of Tezpur
Ecclesiastical Province of Hyderabad
St Joseph's Cathedral, Hyderabad of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad

o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Adilabad
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Cuddapah
o Cathedral of St. Joseph of the Diocese of Khamman
o Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral of the Diocese of Kurnool
o St. Teresa's Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Kurnool
o Mary Queen of the Apostles Cathedral of the Diocese of Nalgonda

o Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral in Hanamakonda of the Diocese of Warangal
Ecclesiastical Province of Imphal
St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Imphal

o Mary Help of Christians Cathedral of the Diocese of Kohima
Ecclesiastical Province of Madras and Mylapore
San Thome Basilica of the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore

o St. Mary of the Angels Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore
o Cathedral of St. Joseph of the Diocese of Chingleput
o St. Michael's Cathedral of the Diocese of Coimbatore
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Ootacamund
o Assumption Cathedral of the Diocese of Vellore
Ecclesiastical Province of Madurai
St. Mary's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madurai

o St. John Cathedral of the Diocese of Dindigul
o St. Xavier's Church, Kottar of the Diocese of Kottar
o Holy Trinity Cathedral, Thirithuvapuram of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai
o St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral of the Diocese of Palayamkottai
o Alangara Annai Cathedral of the Diocese of Sivagangai
o Cathedral of Our Lady of Health of the Diocese of Tiruchirapalli
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Tuticorin
Ecclesiastical Province of Nagpur
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Nagpur
o St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral of the Diocese of Amravati

o St. Francis de Sales Cathedral of the Diocese of Aurangabad
o St. Thomas Cathedral in Balharshah of the Diocese of Chanda
Ecclesiastical Province of Patna
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Archdiocese of Patna

o St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Patna
o Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Diocese of Bettiah
o Immaculate Conception Cathedral of the Diocese of Bhagalpur
o Cathedral of Mary Mother of Perpetual Help of the Diocese of Buxar
o Cathedral of St. Francis Assisi of the Diocese of Muzaffarpur
o St. Peter's Cathedral of the Diocese of Purnea
Ecclesiastical Province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and

Cuddalore
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Dharmapuri
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Diocese of Kumbakonam
o Infant Jesus Cathedral of the Diocese of Salem
o St. Mary's Co-Cathedral in Shevapet of the Diocese of Salem
o Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Diocese of Tanjore
Ecclesiastical Province of Raipur
St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Raipur

o Cathedral of the Immaculate Mother of God of the Diocese of Ambikapur
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Jagdalpur
o Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Kunkuri of the Diocese of Jashpur

o Cathedral of St. Michael of the Diocese of Raigarh
Ecclesiastical Province of Ranchi
St. Mary's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Ranchi

o Cathedral of the Diocese of Daltonganj
o Cathedral of St. Paul of the Diocese of Dumka
o St. Patrick Cathedral of the Diocese of Gumla
o Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Diocese of Hazaribag
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Jamshedpur
o Cathedral of St. Michael of the Diocese of Khunti
o Stella Maris Cathedral of the Diocese of Port Blair
o St. Anne Cathedral of the Diocese of Simdega
Ecclesiastical Province of Shillong
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians of the Archdiocese of Shillong

o Pro-Cathedral of Shantir Rani in Mariamnagar of the Diocese of Agartala
o Christ the King Cathedral of the Diocese of Aizawl
o Cathedral of St. Theresa of Lisieux of the Diocese of Jowai
o Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle of the Diocese of Nongstoin
o Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians of the Diocese of Tura
Ecclesiastical Province of Thiruvananthapuram
St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram

o Mount Carmel Cathedral in Alappuzha of the Diocese of Alleppey
o Immaculate Conception Cathedral of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara
o St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur of the Diocese of Punalur

o Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pullichira of the Diocese of Quilon
o Infant Jesus Cathedral in Tangasseri Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Quilon
Ecclesiastical Province of Verapoly
St. Francis Assisi Cathedral in Ernakulam of the Archdiocese of Verapoly

o Former Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph in Varapuzha of
the Archdiocese of Verapoly
o Mother of God Cathedral of the Diocese of Calicut
o Santa Cruz Basilica of the Diocese of Cochin
o Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of the Diocese of Kannur
o St. Michael's Cathedral in Kodungallur (Cranganore) of the Diocese of
Kottapuram
o San Sebastian Cathedral of the Diocese of Sultanpet
o Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Kottayam of the Diocese of Vijayapuram
Ecclesiastical Province of Visakhapatnam
St. Peter's Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam

o St. Anne's Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam
o Amalodbhavi Cathedral of the Diocese of Eluru
o Infant Jesus Cathedral in Phirangipuram of the Diocese of Guntur
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Diocese of Nellore
o Cathedral of the Diocese of Srikakulam
o St. Paul's Cathedral of the Diocese of Vijayawada
o St. Peter's Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Vijayawada
Syro-Malabar Ecclesiastical Provinces
Province of Eranakulam - Angamaly
St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam of the Syro-Malabar

Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
o St George's Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Idukki
o St George's Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam
Province of Changanassery
St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of

Changanassery
o St. Dominic's Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kanjirappally
o St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palai
o Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Thuckalay
Province of Tellicherry
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Palissery of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of

Tellicherry
o Cathedral of St. Lawrence of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Belthangady
o Pro-Cathedral of St. Antony in Iduvally of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of
Bhadravathi
o St Joseph's Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Mananthavady
o Mary Matha Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Thamarassery
o Infant Jesus Cathedral in Mysore of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of
Mandya
Province of Thrissur
Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar

Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
o Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram
o St Thomas Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda
o St. Mary's Forane Church in Puthenchira former cathedral of the Syro-Malabar

Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda
o St Raphael's Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat
Province of Kottayam
Christ the King Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam
Dioceses directly under the Holy See
Kristuraja Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Faridabad
Syro-Malankara Ecclesiastical Provinces

Province of Trivandrum
St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Major Archeparchy of

Trivandrum
o St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica former cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Major
Archeparchy of Trivandrum
o Christ the King Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Marthandom
o St. Mary's Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Mavelikara
o St. Peter's Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
Province of Tiruvalla
St. John's Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Archdiocese of Tiruvalla

o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Muvattupuzha
o St. Thomas Cathedral in Sulthan Bathery of the Syro-Malankara Diocese of
Bathery
o St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Puthur
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong
Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary in Kolkata
Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Darjeeling
Infant Jesus Cathedral in Tangasseri
St. Thomas Cathedral in Pala
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Nagpur

St. Joseph's Cathedral in Imphal
St. John's Cathedral in Tiruvalla
St. Mary's Cathedral in Jalandhar
Assumption Cathedral in Vellore
Infant Jesus Cathedral in Salem
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Lucknow
St. Mary's Cathedral in Trivandrum
Anglican
Medak Cathedral in Medak
All Saints Cathedral, Allahabad
St. Paul's Cathedral in Calcutta
Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi
Church of South India

Cathedrals of the Church of South India:
St. George's Cathedral in Chennai
Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tirunelveli
Immanuel Cathedral in Coimbatore
Herald AG church in Coimbatore
St Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore
Shanthi Cathedral in Mangalore
Holy Trinity Cathedral Church in Kottayam
Christ Cathedral Church in Melukavu
CSI Cathedral Church in Shoranur
CSI Cathedral Church, LMS compound in Thiruvananthapuram
Epiphany Cathedral in Dornakal
Holy Cross Cathedral in Nandyal
Wesley Cathedral in Karimnagar
Medak Cathedral in Medak
St Andrew's Cathedral in Machilipatnam
St. John's Cathedral in Nazareth
AG Church, Panruti, Cuddalore 607106.
Church of North India

Cathedrals of the Church of North India:
St.Georges Cathedral in Sadar Bazaar, Agra
St. Thomas Cathedral in Car Nicobar
Christ Church Cathedral in Jabalpur
St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata
All Saints Cathedral in Allahbad
All Saints Cathedral in Nagpur
St. Saviour Cathedral in Ahmednagar
St. Paul's Cathedral in Ranchi
All Saints Cathedral in Shillong
Christ Church Cathedral in Bhagalpur
Christ Church Cathedral in Amritsar
St. Thomas Cathedral in Bombay
Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi
St. Bartholomew Cathedral in Barrackpore
St. Andrews Cathedral in Darjeeling
St. Paul's Cathedral in Poona
Oriental Orthodox
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Cathedrals of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church:
St Athanasiaus Cathedral, Puthencruz, Kerala SEAT OF CATHOLICOS OF INDIA
Angamaly Diocese
Mount Sinai Mar Baselios Catholicate Araman Church, Kothamangalam, Kerala

(Diocean Headquarters)
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Sonooro Cathedral, Angamaly, Kerala of Angamaly Region
Mor Saboor Afroth Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Akaparambu, Kerala of Aluva Region
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Morakkala, Pallikkara, Kerala of Pallikkara Region
Bethel Sulokho Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Perumbavoor, Kerala of Perumbavoor Region
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kuruppampady, Kerala of East Perumbavoor

Region
St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Mazhuvannoor, Kerala of South Perumbavoor

Region
Mathamariyam Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Valiyapally, Kothamangalam, Kerala of

Kothamangalam Region
Marthoma Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Cheriapally, Kothamangalam, Kerala of

Kothamangalam Region
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Karakkunnam, Kerala of South Muvattupuzha

Region
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Nercha Cathedral, Rakkad, Kerala of North Muvattupuzha

Region
St George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Adimali of Highrange Region
Kandanad Diocese
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kandanad, Kerala (Diocean Headquarters)
St Mary's Rajadhiraja Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Piravom, Kerala of Piravom Region
St. Kuriakose Jacobite Cathedral Church, Maneed of Puthencruz Region
St.Peter's & St.Paul's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Neeramukal of Neeramugal Region
St Mary's Cathedral, Kadayckanad of Kolenchery Region
Kochi Diocese
Kyomtho Seminary Cathedral,Thiruvamkulam (Diocean Headquarters)
Marthomman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy, Kerala of Mulamthuruthy

Region
St George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Karingachira, Kerala of Kochi Region.
Kottayam Diocese
St Joseph Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kottayam
Marthamariyam Cathedral, Manarcad, Kerala of Manarcad Region
St Mary's Cathedral,Pampady of Pampady Region
Simhasa Churches
St Mary's Sonoro Cathedral, Elamkulam, Kerala of Ernakulam Region
St:Peter's Jacobite Syrian Simhasana Cathedral,Thiruvananthapuram of

Thiruvanathapuram Region
Mor Ignatius Cathedral, Manjinikkara of Manjinikkara Region
St Ignatius Cathedral, Puthenangady of Kottayam Region
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Meenangady of Malabar Region
Knanaya Diocese
Knanaya Cathedral, Chingavanam, Kerala
North Kerala (Malabar, Kozhikode and Thrissur)
St Peter's & St Paul's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Meenangady
St Marys Jacobite Syriyan Cathedral Calicut
South Kerala (Niranam, Thumbamon and Kollam)
St George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kavumbhagam, Kerala (Niranam Diocese Dicean

Headquarters)
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kundara of Kollam Diocese
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Pathanamthitta (Thumbamon Diocean

Headquarters)
St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manthalir of Thumbamon Region
St George Jacobite Cathedral, Puthiyakavu of Adoor Region
Outside Kerala (Mylapore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi)
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Bangalore
St Peter's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, New Delhi
St Gregorios Jacobite Cathedral, Mettuguda, Hyderabad
Evangalical Association
St Antony's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Jeppu, Mangalore, Karnataka
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Cathedrals of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church:
In Kerala
Kadeesa Orthodox Cathedral, Kayamkulam, Kerala
Mar Elia Cathedral, Kottayam, Kerala
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Kunnakurady, Kerala
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Kozhikode, Kerala
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala
St. Ignatius Orthodox Cathedral, Chengannur, Kerala
St. Ignatius Orthodox Cathedral, Thrissur, Kerala
St. Johns Orthodox Cathedral, Pampady, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Mulakulam, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Puthiyakavu, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Niranam, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Sulthanbathery, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Thumpamon, Kerala
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Ernakulam, Kerala
St. Stephens Orthodox Cathedral, Kudassanad, Kerala
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kadampanad, Kerala
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kungiripetty, Kerala
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kollam, Kerala
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Karthikappally, Kerala
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Muvattupuzha, Kerala
St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Thottomon, Ranny, Kerala
Outside Kerala
St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Bangalore, Karnataka
Mar Gregorios Cathedral, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Broadway, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Nagpur, Maharashtra
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kolkata, West Bengal
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Dadar, Maharashtra
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Brahmavar, Karnataka
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Hauz Khas, Delhi
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Port Blair, Andaman
St. Marys Orthodox Cathedral, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Timeline of religion
The timeline of religion is a chronological catalog of important and note-worthy religious events
in pre-historic and modern times. This article reaches extensively into pre-historic times, as the
bulk of the human religious experience is not relegated to written history. Written history is only,
approximately, 5000 years old (the age of formal writing). A lack of written records results in the
fact that most of the knowledge about pre-historic religion is derived from archaeological records
and other indirect sources, and suppositions. Much pre-historic religion is subject to continued
debate.
Contents
1 Prehistoric period (300th millennium to 34th century BCE)

o 1.1 300th to 51st millennium BCE
o 1.2 50th to 11th millennium BCE
o 1.3 100th to 34th century BCE
2 Ancient history (33rd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

o 2.1 33rd to 12th century BCE
o 2.2 13th to 9th century BCE
o 2.3 8th to 3rd century BCE
o 2.4 2nd century BCE to 4th century CE
3 Middle Ages (5th to 15th century)

o 3.1 5th to 9th century
4 Early modern and Modern era (16th to 20th century)

5 21st century
o 5.1 2000s
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
9 Footnotes
Prehistoric period (300th millennium to 34th century BCE)

See also: Prehistoric religion, Paleolithic religion and Evolutionary origin of religions
A commonly held marker for the dawn of religious belief and practice is the advent of intentional
burial marks.[1]
300th to 51st millennium BCE

223,000100,000 BCE
The earliest evidence of Hominids, such as Neanderthals[2][3] and even Homo
heidelbergensis,[3][4] deliberately disposing of deceased individuals usually in funerary
caches. The graves, located throughout Eurasia (e.g. the Pontnewydd Cave (Wales),
Atapuerca Mountains (Spain), Qafzeh, Es Skhul, Krapina (Croatia),[3] are believed to
represent the beginnings of ceremonial rites, although there is some debate about this.[5]
Neanderthals placed their deceased in simple graves with little or no concern for grave
goods or markers; however, their graves occasionally appeared with limestone blocks in
or on them, possibly an archaic form of grave marking.[3] These practices were possibly
the result of empathetic feelings towards fellow tribespeople, for example: an infant
buried in the Dederiyeh Cave after its joints had disarticulated was placed with concern
for the correct anatomical arrangement of its body parts.[3]
98,000 BCE
In the area of present-day France and Belgium, Neanderthals begin defleshing their dead,
possibly after a period of excarnation prior to burial.[3]
50th to 11th millennium BCE

40,000 BCE
One of the earliest anatomically modern humans to be cremated is buried near Lake
Mungo.[6][7][8][9][10]
38,000 BCE
The Aurignacian[11] Lion man of the Hohlenstein Stadel, the oldest known zoomorphic
(animal-shaped) sculpture in the world and one of the oldest known sculptures in general,
is made. The sculpture has also been interpreted as anthropomorphic, giving human
characteristics to an animal, although it may have represented a deity.[12]
33,000-25,000 BCE
Tsodilo, a 30,000 years old worshiping place found in northwestern Botswana.[13] All
convincing evidence for Neanderthal burials ceases. Roughly coinciding with the time
period of the Homo sapiens introduction to Europe and decline of the Neanderthals.[3]
Individual skulls and/or long bones begin appearing heavily stained with red ochre and
are separately buried. This practice may be the origins of sacred relics.[3] The oldest
discovered "Venus figurines" appear in graves. Some are deliberately broken or
repeatedly stabbed. Possibly representing murders of the men they are buried with[3] or
some other unknown social dynamic.
25,00021,000 BCE
Clear examples of burials are present in Iberia, Wales, and Eastern Europe. All of these,
also, incorporate the heavy use of red ochre. Additionally, various objects are being
included in the graves (i.e. periwinkle shells, weighted clothing, dolls, possible
drumsticks, mammoth ivory beads, fox teeth pendants, panoply of ivory artifacts, "baton"
antlers, flint blades, etc.).[3]
13,0008,000 BCE
Noticeable burial activity resumes. Prior mortuary activity had either taken a less obvious
form or contemporaries retained some of their burial knowledge in the absence of such
activity; dozens of men, women, and children were being buried in the same caves which
were used for burials 10,000 years beforehand. All these graves are delineated by the
cave walls and large limestone blocks. The burials are very similar to each other and
share a number of characteristicsochre, shell and mammoth ivory jewellerythat go
back thousands of years. Some burials are double, comprising an adult male with a
juvenile male buried by his side. They are now appearing to take on the form of modern
cemeteries. Old burials are commonly being redug and moved to make way for the new
ones, with the older bones often being gathered and cached together. Large stones may
have acted as grave markers. Pairs of ochred antlers are sometimes poles within the cave;
this is compared to the modern practice of leaving flowers at one's grave.[3]
100th to 34th century BCE

9831
The Neolithic Revolution begins and results in a worldwide population explosion. The
first cities, states, kingdoms, and organized religions begin to emerge. The early states
were usually theocracies, in which the political power is justified by religious prestige.
Beginning of First Sangam period in South India.
91307370 BCE
The apparent lifespan of Gbekli Tepe, one of the oldest human-made place of worship
yet discovered,[14] including the Sphinx (dated to 9500 BCE) has also been found in a
nearby site, Nevali ori.
8000 BCE
Four to five pine posts are erected near the eventual site of Stonehenge.
75005700 BCE
The settlements of Catalhoyuk develop as a likely spiritual center of Anatolia. Possibly

practicing worship in communal shrines, its inhabitants leave behind numerous clay
figurines and impressions of phallic, feminine, and hunting scenes.
55004500 BCE
The Proto-Indo-Europeans (PIE) emerged, probably within the Pontic-Caspian steppe
(though their exact urheimat is debated). The PIE peoples developed a religion focused
on sacrificial ideology, which would influence the religions of the descendent IndoEuropean cultures throughout Europe, Anatolia, and the Indian subcontinent.
~3750 BCE
The Proto-Semitic people emerged with a generally accepted urheimat in the Arabian
peninsula. The Proto-Semitic people would migrate throughout the Near East into
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. Their religion
would influence their descendant cultures and faiths, including the Abrahamic religions.
Ancient history (33rd century BCE to 3rd century CE)

See also: History of religion
33rd to 12th century BCE

33001300 BCE
Extent and major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. The shaded area does not include
recent excavations.
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilization (33001300 BCE;
mature period 26001900 BCE) in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent,
noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multistoried houses as
well as for containing artifacts which could be linked to pre-vedic religions.
3102 BCE
Beginning of Kaliyuga, a new age among the followers of Indian religions.[15][16][17][18][19]
3100 BCE
The initial form of Stonehenge is completed. The circular bank and ditch enclosure, about
110 metres (360 ft) across, may be complete with a timber circle.
31002900 BCE
Newgrange, the 250,000 ton (226,796.2 tonne) passage tomb aligned to the winter
solstice in Ireland, is built.[20]
3000 BCE
Sumerian Cuneiform emerges from the proto-literate Uruk period, allowing the
codification of beliefs and creation of detailed historical religious records.
The second phase of Stonehenge is completed and appears to function as the first
enclosed cremation cemetery in the British Isles.
26352610 BCE
The oldest surviving Egyptian Pyramid is commissioned by pharaoh Djoser.
2600 BCE
Stonehenge begins to take on the form of its final phase. The wooden posts are replaced
with that of bluestone. It begins taking on an increasingly complex setupincluding
altar, portal, station stones, etc.and shows consideration of solar alignments.
2560 BCE
The approximate time accepted as the completion of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the
oldest pyramid of the Giza Plateau.
24942345 BCE
The first of the oldest surviving religious texts, the Pyramid Texts, are composed in
Ancient Egypt.
2200 BCE
Minoan Civilization in Crete develops. Citizens worship a variety of Goddesses.
21502000 BCE
The earliest surviving versions of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (originally titled "He
who Saw the Deep" (Sha naqba muru) or "Surpassing All Other Kings" (Shtur eli
sharr)) were written.
20001850 BCE
The traditionally accepted period in which the Judeochristian/Islamic patriarchal figure
Abraham lived. Likely born in Ur Kadim or Haran and died in Machpelah, Canaan.
17001100 BCE
Rig Veda gets composed, the oldest of all Vedas (scriptures in Hinduism)
1600 BCE
The ancient development of Stonehenge comes to an end.
1500 BCE
The Vedic Age starts in India after the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilisation
13th to 9th century BCE

1351 or 1353 BCE
Reign of Akhenaten in Ancient Egypt. Akhenaten is sometimes credited with starting the
earliest known monotheistic religion.
13001000 BCE
The "standard" Akkadian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh was edited by Sin-liqeunninni.
1250 BCE
A suggested time for the biblical Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
1200600 BCE
The Upanishads (Vedic texts) get composed which contain the earliest emergence of
some of the central religious concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism
1200 BCE
The Greek Dark Age begins.
1200 BCE
Olmecs build earliest pyramids and temples in Central America.[21]
950 BCE
The Torah, the core texts of Judaism and foundation of later Abrahamic religions, is
believed to be given by God to Moses
877777 BCE
Parshva, 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
8th to 3rd century BCE

800 BCE
The Greek Dark Age ends.
600500 BCE
Earliest Confucian writing, Shu Ching incorporates ideas of harmony and heaven.
599527 BCE
Mahavira, 24th and last Tirthankar of Jainism.[28]
600400 BCE
Probable time of existence of Laozi, author of the Tao Te Ching, considered the founding
work of philosophical Taoism.
563 BCE
Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism is born.
551 BCE
Confucius, founder of Confucianism, is born.[21]
440 BCE
Zoroastrianism enters recorded history.
399 BCE
Socrates is tried for impiety.
300 BCE
Theravada Buddhism is introduced to Sri Lanka by the Venerable Mahindra.
250 BCE
The Third Buddhist council was convened.
2nd century BCE to 4th century CE

150 BCE
The oldest surviving Hebrew Bible manuscripts date to about the 2nd century BCE
(fragmentary).
100 BCE500 CE
The Yoga Stras of Patajali constituting the foundational texts of Yoga are composed.
63 BCE
Pompey captures Jerusalem and annexes Judea as a Roman client kingdom.
7 BCE36 CE
The approximate time-frame for the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of
Christianity.
5062
Council of Jerusalem is held.
70
Siege of Jerusalem and the Destruction of the Temple.
220
Manichaean Gnosticism is formed by prophet Mani
250
Some of the oldest parts of the Ginza Rba, a core text of Mandaean Gnosticism, are
written.
250900
Classic Mayan civilization, Stepped pyramids are constructed.
300
The oldest known version of the Tao Te Ching is written on bamboo tablets.
313
The Edict of Milan decrees religious toleration in the Roman empire.
325
The first Ecumenical Council, the Council of Nicaea, is convened to attain a consensus
on doctrine through an assembly representing all of Christendom. It establishes the
original Nicene Creed, fixes Easter date, confirms primacy of the sees of Rome,
Alexandria, and Antioch, and grants the See of Jerusalem a position of honor.
350
The oldest record of the complete biblical texts survives in a Greek translation called the
Septuagint, dating to the (appx. placement here) 4th century CE (Codex Sinaiticus).
380
Theodosius I declares Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.
381
The second Ecumenical Council, the Council of Constantinople, reaffirms/revises the
Nicene Creed repudiating Arianism and Macedonianism.
381391
Theodosius proscripted Paganism within the Roman Empire.
393
The Synod of Hippo, the first time a council of bishops of early Christianity listed and
approved a biblical canon.
Middle Ages (5th to 15th century)

See also: History of religions Middle Ages
5th to 9th century

405
St. Jerome completes the Vulgate, the first Latin translation of the Bible.
410
The Western Roman Empire begins to decline, signaling the onset of the Dark Ages.
424
The Assyrian Church of the East formally separates from the See of Antioch and the
western Syrian Church
431
The third Ecumenical Council, the Council of Ephesus, is held as a result of the
controversial teachings of Nestorius, of Constantinople. It repudiates Nestorianism,
proclaims the Virgin Mary as the Theotokos ("Birth-giver to God", "God-bearer",
"Mother of God"), repudiates Pelagianism, and again reaffirmes the Nicene Creed.
449
The Second Council of Ephesus declares support of Eutyches and attacked his opponents.
Originally convened as an Ecumenical council, its ecumenicality is rejected and is
denounced as a latrocinium by the Chalcedonian.
451
The fourth Ecumenical Council, the Council of Chalcedon rejects the Eutychian doctrine
of monophysitism, adopts the Chalcedonian Creed, reinstated those deposed in 449 and
deposed Dioscorus of Alexandria, and elevates of the bishoprics of Constantinople and
Jerusalem to the status of patriarchates.
451
The Oriental Orthodox Church rejects the christological view put forth by the Council of
Chalcedon and is excommunicated.
480547
The Rule of Saint Benedict is written by Benedict of Nursia, the founder of Western
Christian monasticism.
553
The fifth Ecumenical Council, Second Council of Constantinople, repudiates the Three
Chapters as Nestorian and condemns Origen of Alexandria.
570632
Life-time of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullh, the founder of Islam.
632661
The Rashidun Caliphate brings Arab conquest of Persia, Egypt, Iraq, bringing Islam into
those regions.
650
The verses of the Qur'an are compliled in the form of a book in the era of Uthman, the
third Caliph of Islam.
661750
The Umayyad Caliphate brings Arab conquest of North Africa, Spain, Central Asia.
Marking the greatest extent of the Arab conquests bringing Islam into those regions.
680681
The sixth Ecumenical Council, the Third Council of Constantinople, rejects
Monothelitism and Monoenergism.
Circa 680 the split between Sunni and Shiites starts to grow.
692
The Quinisext Council (aka "Council in Trullo"), an amendment to the 5th and 6th
Ecumenical Councils, establishes the Pentarchy.
712
Kojiki, the oldest Shinto text is written[21]
716936
The beginning of migrations of Zoroastrian communities (Parsi) from Persia to India
caused by Muslim conquest of their lands and persecution.
754
The latrocinium Council of Hieria supports iconoclasm.
787
The seventh Ecumenical Council, Second Council of Nicaea, restores the veneration of
icons and denounces iconoclasm.
788820
Lifetime of Adi Shankara, a Hindu philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita
Vednta.
850
The oldest extant manuscripts of the vocalized Masoretic text upon which modern
editions are based date to the (appx.) 9th century CE.
10th to 15th century

1054
The Great Schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches formally
takes place.
10951099
The first Crusade takes place.
11071110
Sigurd I of Norway wages the Norwegian Crusade on Muslims in Spain, the Baleares,
and in Palestine.
11471149
The Second Crusade is waged in response to the fall of the County of Edessa.
11891192
The Third Crusade, European leaders attempt to reconquer what they considered the Holy
Land from Saladin.
11991204
The Fourth Crusade takes place.
1204
Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade sack the Christian Eastern Orthodox city of
Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.
1206
Delhi Sultanate is established.
12091229
The Albigensian Crusade takes place in Occitania, Europe.
12171221
The Church attempts the Fifth Crusade.
12221282
Nichiren Daishonin the Buddha of True Causes, Latter Day of the Law and founder of
Nichiren Buddhism is born,
based at Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji (Japan), Nam(u)-Myh-Renge-Ky
12281229
The Sixth Crusade occurs.

1229
The Codex Gigas is completed by Herman the Recluse in the Benedictine monastery of
Podlaice near Chrudim.
1244
Jerusalem is sacked again, instigating the Seventh Crusade.
1270
The Eighth Crusade is organized.
12711272
The Ninth Crusade fails.
1320
Pope John XXII lays the groundwork for the future witch-hunts with the formalization of
the persecution of witchcraft.
13781417
The Roman Catholic Church is split during the Western Schism.
14691539
The life of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism.
1484
Pope Innocent VIII marks the beginning of the classical European witch-hunts with his
papal bull Summis desiderantes.
1500
African religious systems are introduced to the Americas, with the commencement of the
trans-Atlantic forced migration.
1517
Martin Luther, of the Protestant Reformation, posts the 95 theses.
In the Spanish Empire, Catholicism is spread and encouraged through such institutions as
missions and the Inquisition.
1562
The Massacre of Vassy sparks the first of a series of French Wars of Religion.
Early modern and Modern era (16th to 20th century)

See also: History of religions Modern period

1699
The creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Sikhism
1708
Death of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the last Sikh guru, who, before his death, instituted the
Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, as the eternal Guru.
1770
Baron d'Holbach publishes The System of Nature said[29] to be the first positive
unambiguous statement of atheism in the West.
17891799
The Dechristianisation of France during the Revolution.[30][31] The state confiscates

Church properties, bans monastic vows, with the passage of the Civil Constitution of the
Clergy removes the Church from the Roman Pope and subordinates it as a department of
the Government, replaces the traditional Gregorian Calendar, and abolishes Christian
holidays.
1791
Freedom of religion, enshrined in the Bill of Rights, is amended into the constitution of
the United States forming an early and influential secular government.

1801
The situation following the French Revolution, France and Pope Pius VII entered into the
Concordat of 1801. While "Catholicism" regains some powers and becomes recognized
as "...the religion of the great majority of the French", it's not reafforded the latitude it
had enjoyed prior to the Revolution. It's not the official state religion, the Church
relinquishes all claims to estate seized after 1790, the clergy is state salaried and must
swear allegiance to the State, and religious freedom is maintained.
18191850
The life of Siyyid 'Al Muh ammad Shrz (Persian: ) Bab (October 20,
1819 July 9, 1850), the founder of Bbism.
18171892
The life of Bah'u'llh, founder of the Bah' Faith.
1830
The Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism) is founded by Joseph Smith, Jr.
18351908
Lifetime of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the messianic Ahmadiyya Movement
in Islam.
18361886
Lifetime of Ramakrishna, famous saint & mystic of Bengal
1841
Satguru Ram Singh JiRam Singh, Creator of Namdhari Sikhs sect of Sikh religion.
1875
The Theosophical Society formed in New York City by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Steel
Olcott, William Quan Judge and others.
1879
Christian Science was granted its charter in Boston, Massachusetts.
1893
Swami Vivekananda's first speech at The Parliament of World Religions, Chicago that
brought the ancient philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world.
1899
Aradia (aka the Gospel of the Witches), one of the earliest books describing post
witchhunt European religious Witchcraft, is published by Charles Godfrey Leland.[32]
1904
Thelema founded.
1905
In France the law on the Separation of the Churches and the State is passed, officially
establishing it a state secularism and putting an end to the funding of religious groups by
the state.[33]
Becoming a place of pilgrimage for neo-druids and other pagans, the Ancient Order of
Druids organized the first recorded reconstructionist ceremony in Stonehenge.
1908
The establishment of the Khalifatul Masih after Prophethood in the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community, the Second Manifestation of God's Power.
1917
The October Revolution, in Russia, leads to the annexation of all church properties and
subsequent religious suppression.
the 1917 Constitution of Mexico is written making Mexico a secular state.
1926
Cao Dai founded.
The Cristero War is fought in Mexico between the secular government and religious
christian rebels ends 1929.
1930s
Rastafari movement begins.
The Nation of Islam is founded in Detroit, Michigan.
1932
A neo-Hindu religious movement, the Brahma Kumaris or "Daughters of Brahma"
started. Its origin can be traced to the group "Om Mandali", founded by Lekhraj
Kripalani(18841969).
1938
The first event of the Holocaust, the Kristallnacht, takes place.
19391945
Millions of Jews are relocated and killed by the Nazi government during Holocaust.
1947
British India is partitioned on religious lines; into an Islamic country of Pakistan and the
secular nation of India with a Hindu majority.
1948
The Jews return to their ancient biblical homeland and the state of Israel is created.
1952
Scientology is created.
1954
Wicca is publicized by Gerald Gardner.[34]
1960s
Various Neopagan and New Age movements gain momentum.
1961
Unitarian Universalism formed from merger of Unitarianism and Universalism.[35]
1962
The Church of All Worlds, the first American neo-pagan church, is formed by a group
including Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, and Richard Lance
Christie.
19621965
The Second Vatican Council takes place.[36][37][38][39]
1965
Srila Prabhupada establishes the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and
introduces translations of the Bhagavad-Gita and Vedic Scriptures in mass production all
over the world.
1966
Anton Szandor LaVey's Satanism begins, with Anton Szandor LaVey's founding of the
Church of Satan.[40]
19721984
The Stonehenge free festivals are held.[41]
1973
Claude Vorilhon established the Ralian Movement and changed his name to Ral
following a purported extraterrestrial encounter in December 1973.
1984
Operation Blue Star occurs at holiest site of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
1984 Anti-Sikh riots follow.
19722004
Germanic Neopaganism (aka Heathenism, Heathenry, satr, Odinism, Forn Sir, Vor
Sir, and Theodism) begins to experience a second wave of revival.[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]
[51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]
1979
The Iranian Revolution results in the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran.
1981
The Stregherian revival continues. "The Book of the Holy Strega" and "The Book of
Ways" Volume I & II are published.
1985
The Battle of the Beanfield forces an end to the Stonehenge free festivals.[41][64][65]
1989
The revolutions of 1989, the overthrow of many Soviet-style states,[66] allows a
resurgence in open religious practice in many Eastern European countries.[citation needed]
1990s
European pagan reconstructive movements (Celtic, Hellenic, Roman, Slavic, Baltic,
Finnish, etc.) organize.
1993
The European Council convened in Copenhagen, Denmark, agrees to criteria requiring
religious freedom within any and all prospective members of the European Union.
1998
The Strega Arician Tradition is founded.[67]
21st century
See also: History of religion
2000s
2001
Osama bin Laden's declaration of al-Qaeda's "holy" war on America, reaches a climax
with 2,993 dead, through al-Qaeda's actions on 11 September.[68][69][70][71][72][73]
2008
The only Hindu Kingdom in the world, Nepal, is declared to be secular by its Constituent
Assembly after declaring the state a Republic on 28 May 2008.
2009
The Church of Scientology in France is fined 600,000 and several of its leaders are fined
and sentenced to jail for defrauding new recruits out of their savings.[74][75][76] The state
fails to disband the church due to legal changes occurring over the same time period.[76][77]
Evolutionary origin of religions

Neolithic "Potnia Theron" type goddess, seated on a throne flanked by two lionesses, from
atalhyk.
The evolutionary origin of religions theorizes about the emergence of religious behavior during
the course of human evolution.
Contents
1 Nonhuman religious behaviour
2 Setting the stage for human religion

o 2.1 Increased brain size
o 2.2 Tool use
o 2.3 Development of language
o 2.4 Morality and group living
3 Evolutionary psychology of religion
4 Prehistoric evidence of religion

o 4.1 Paleolithic burials
o 4.2 The use of symbolism
o 4.3 Origins of organized religion
o 4.4 Invention of writing
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Nonhuman religious behaviour

Humanitys closest living relatives are common chimpanzees and bonobos. These primates share
a common ancestor with humans who lived between four and six million years ago. It is for this
reason that chimpanzees and bonobos are viewed as the best available surrogate for this common
ancestor. Barbara King argues that while non-human primates are not religious, they do exhibit
some traits that would have been necessary for the evolution of religion. These traits include high
intelligence, a capacity for symbolic communication, a sense of social norms, realization of
"self" and a concept of continuity.[1][2][3] There is inconclusive evidence that Homo
neanderthalensis may have buried their dead which is evidence of the use of ritual. The use of
burial rituals is thought to be evidence of religious activity, and there is no other evidence that
religion existed in human culture before humans reached behavioral modernity.[4]
Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, argues that many species grieve death and loss.[5]
Setting the stage for human religion

Increased brain size
In this set of theories, the religious mind is one consequence of a brain that is large enough to
formulate religious and philosophical ideas.[6] During human evolution, the hominid brain tripled
in size, peaking 500,000 years ago. Much of the brain's expansion took place in the neocortex.
This part of the brain is involved in processing higher order cognitive functions that are
connected with human religiosity. The neocortex is associated with self-consciousness, language
and emotion[citation needed]. According to Dunbar's theory, the relative neocortex size of any species
correlates with the level of social complexity of the particular species. The neocortex size
correlates with a number of social variables that include social group size and complexity of
mating behaviors. In chimpanzees the neocortex occupies 50% of the brain, whereas in modern
humans it occupies 80% of the brain.
Robin Dunbar argues that the critical event in the evolution of the neocortex took place at the
speciation of archaic homo sapiens about 500,000 years ago. His study indicates that only after
the speciation event is the neocortex large enough to process complex social phenomena such as
language and religion. The study is based on a regression analysis of neocortex size plotted
against a number of social behaviors of living and extinct hominids.[7]
Stephen Jay Gould suggests that religion may have grown out of evolutionary changes which
favored larger brains as a means of cementing group coherence among savannah hunters, after
that larger brain enabled reflection on the inevitability of personal mortality.[8]
Tool use
Lewis Wolpert argues that causal beliefs that emerged from tool use played a major role in the
evolution of belief. The manufacture of complex tools requires creating a mental image of an
object which does not exist naturally before actually making the artifact. Furthermore, one must
understand how the tool would be used, that requires an understanding of causality.[9]
Accordingly, the level of sophistication of stone tools is a useful indicator of causal beliefs.[10]
Wolpert contends use of tools composed of more than one component, such as hand axes,
represents an ability to understand cause and effect. However, recent studies of other primates
indicate that causality may not be a uniquely human trait. For example, chimpanzees have been
known to escape from pens closed with multiple latches, which was previously thought could
only have been figured out by humans who understood causality. Chimpanzees are also known to
mourn the dead, and notice things that have only aesthetic value, like sunsets, both of which may
be considered to be components of religion or spirituality.[11] The difference between the
comprehension of causality by humans and chimpanzees is one of degree. The degree of
comprehension in an animal depends upon the size of the prefrontal cortex: the greater the size of
the prefrontal cortex the deeper the comprehension.[12]
Development of language
See also: Origin of language and Myth and religion
Religion requires a system of symbolic communication, such as language, to be transmitted from
one individual to another. Philip Lieberman states "human religious thought and moral sense
clearly rest on a cognitive-linguistic base".[13] From this premise science writer Nicholas Wade
states:
"Like most behaviors that are found in societies throughout the world, religion must have
been present in the ancestral human population before the dispersal from Africa 50,000
years ago. Although religious rituals usually involve dance and music, they are also very
verbal, since the sacred truths have to be stated. If so, religion, at least in its modern form,
cannot pre-date the emergence of language. It has been argued earlier that language
attained its modern state shortly before the exodus from Africa. If religion had to await
the evolution of modern, articulate language, then it too would have emerged shortly
before 50,000 years ago."[14]
Another view distinguishes individual religious belief from collective religious belief. While the
former does not require prior development of language, the latter does. The individual human
brain has to explain a phenomenon in order to comprehend and relate to it. This activity predates
by far the emergence of language and may have caused it. The theory is, belief in the
supernatural emerges from hypotheses arbitrarily assumed by individuals to explain natural
phenomena that cannot be explained otherwise. The resulting need to share individual
hypotheses with others leads eventually to collective religious belief. A socially accepted
hypothesis becomes dogmatic backed by social sanction.
Morality and group living

Main articles: Evolution of morality and Morality Evolutionary perspectives
Frans de Waal and Barbara King both view human morality as having grown out of primate
sociality. Though morality awareness may be a unique human trait, many social animals, such as
primates, dolphins and whales, have been known to exhibit pre-moral sentiments. According to
Michael Shermer, the following characteristics are shared by humans and other social animals,
particularly the great apes:
"attachment and bonding, cooperation and mutual aid, sympathy and empathy, direct and
indirect reciprocity, altruism and reciprocal altruism, conflict resolution and
peacemaking, deception and deception detection, community concern and caring about
what others think about you, and awareness of and response to the social rules of the
group".[15]
De Waal contends that all social animals have had to restrain or alter their behavior for group
living to be worthwhile. Pre-moral sentiments evolved in primate societies as a method of
restraining individual selfishness and building more cooperative groups. For any social species,
the benefits of being part of an altruistic group should outweigh the benefits of individualism.
For example, lack of group cohesion could make individuals more vulnerable to attack from
outsiders. Being part of a group may also improve the chances of finding food. This is evident
among animals that hunt in packs to take down large or dangerous prey.
All social animals have hierarchical societies in which each member knows its own place. Social
order is maintained by certain rules of expected behavior and dominant group members enforce
order through punishment. However, higher order primates also have a sense of reciprocity and
fairness. Chimpanzees remember who did them favors and who did them wrong. For example,
chimpanzees are more likely to share food with individuals who have previously groomed them.
[16]
Chimpanzees live in fission-fusion groups that average 50 individuals. It is likely that early
ancestors of humans lived in groups of similar size. Based on the size of extant hunter-gatherer
societies, recent Paleolithic hominids lived in bands of a few hundred individuals. As community
size increased over the course of human evolution, greater enforcement to achieve group
cohesion would have been required. Morality may have evolved in these bands of 100 to 200
people as a means of social control, conflict resolution and group solidarity. According to Dr. de
Waal, human morality has two extra levels of sophistication that are not found in primate
societies. Humans enforce their societys moral codes much more rigorously with rewards,
punishments and reputation building. Humans also apply a degree of judgment and reason not
otherwise seen in the animal kingdom.
Psychologist Matt J. Rossano argues that religion emerged after morality and built upon morality
by expanding the social scrutiny of individual behavior to include supernatural agents. By
including ever-watchful ancestors, spirits and gods in the social realm, humans discovered an
effective strategy for restraining selfishness and building more cooperative groups.[17] The
adaptive value of religion would have enhanced group survival.[18] [19] Rossano is referring here to
collective religious belief and the social sanction that institutionalized morality. According to
Rossano's teaching, individual religious belief is thus initially epistemological, not ethical, in
nature.
Evolutionary psychology of religion

Main article: Evolutionary psychology of religion
There is general agreement among cognitive scientists that religion is an outgrowth of brain
architecture that evolved early in human history. However, there is disagreement on the exact
mechanisms that drove the evolution of the religious mind. The two main schools of thought
hold that either religion evolved due to natural selection and has selective advantage, or that
religion is an evolutionary byproduct of other mental adaptations.[20] Stephen Jay Gould, for
example, believed that religion was an exaptation or a spandrel, in other words that religion
evolved as byproduct of psychological mechanisms that evolved for other reasons.[21][22][23]
Such mechanisms may include the ability to infer the presence of organisms that might do harm
(agent detection), the ability to come up with causal narratives for natural events (etiology), and
the ability to recognize that other people have minds of their own with their own beliefs, desires
and intentions (theory of mind). These three adaptations (among others) allow human beings to
imagine purposeful agents behind many observations that could not readily be explained
otherwise, e.g. thunder, lightning, movement of planets, complexity of life, etc.[24] The emergence
of collective religious belief identified the agents as deities that standardized the explanation.
Some scholars have suggested that religion is genetically "hardwired" into the human condition.
One controversial hypothesis, the God gene hypothesis, states that some variants of a specific
gene, the VMAT2 gene, predispose to spirituality.[25]
Another view is based on the concept of the triune brain: the reptilian brain, the limbic system,
and the neocortex, proposed by Paul D. MacLean. Collective religious belief draws upon the
emotions of love, fear, and gregariousness and is deeply embedded in the limbic system through
sociobiological conditioning and social sanction. Individual religious belief utilizes reason based
in the neocortex and often varies from collective religion. The limbic system is much older in
evolutionary terms than the neocortex and is, therefore, stronger than it much in the same way as
the reptilian is stronger than both the limbic system and the neocortex. Reason is pre-empted by
emotional drives. The religious feeling in a congregation is emotionally different from individual
spirituality even though the congregation is composed of individuals. Belonging to a collective
religion is culturally more important than individual spirituality though the two often go hand in
hand. This is one of the reasons why religious debates are likely to be inconclusive.[citation needed]
Yet another view is that the behaviour of people who participate in a religion makes them feel
better and this improves their fitness, so that there is a genetic selection in favor of people who
are willing to believe in religion. Specifically, rituals, beliefs, and the social contact typical of
religious groups may serve to calm the mind (for example by reducing ambiguity and the
uncertainty due to complexity) and allow it to function better when under stress.[26] This would
allow religion to be used as a powerful survival mechanism, particularly in facilitating the
evolution of hierarchies of warriors, which if true, may be why many modern religions tend to
promote fertility and kinship.
Still another view is that human religion was a product of an increase in dopaminergic functions
in the human brain and a general intellectual expansion beginning around 80 kya.[27][28] Dopamine
promotes an emphasis on distant space and time, which is critical for the establishment of
religious experience.[29] While the earliest shamanic cave paintings date back around 40 kya, the
use of ochre for rock art predates this and there is clear evidence for abstract thinking along the
coast of South Africa by 80 kya.
Prehistoric evidence of religion

See also: Paleolithic religion and Prehistoric religion
When humans first became religious remains unknown, but there is credible evidence of
religious behavior from the Middle Paleolithic era (300500 thousand years ago)[citation needed] and
possibly earlier.
Paleolithic burials
The earliest evidence of religious thought is based on the ritual treatment of the dead. Most
animals display only a casual interest in the dead of their own species.[30] Ritual burial thus
represents a significant change in human behavior. Ritual burials represent an awareness of life
and death and a possible belief in the afterlife. Philip Lieberman states "burials with grave goods
clearly signify religious practices and concern for the dead that transcends daily life."[13]
The earliest evidence for treatment of the dead comes from Atapuerca in Spain. At this location
the bones of 30 individuals believed to be Homo heidelbergensis have been found in a pit.[31]
Neanderthals are also contenders for the first hominids to intentionally bury the dead. They may
have placed corpses into shallow graves along with stone tools and animal bones. The presence
of these grave goods may indicate an emotional connection with the deceased and possibly a
belief in the afterlife. Neanderthal burial sites include Shanidar in Iraq and Krapina in Croatia
and Kebara Cave in Israel.[32][33][33][34]
The earliest known burial of modern humans is from a cave in Israel located at Qafzeh. Human
remains have been dated to 100,000 years ago. Human skeletons were found stained with red
ochre. A variety of grave goods were found at the burial site. The mandible of a wild boar was
found placed in the arms of one of the skeletons.[35] Philip Lieberman states:
"Burial rituals incorporating grave goods may have been invented by the anatomically
modern hominids who emigrated from Africa to the Middle East roughly 100,000 years
ago".[35]
Matt Rossano suggests that the period in between 80,00060,000 years after humans retreated
from the Levant to Africa was a crucial period in the evolution of religion.[36]
The use of symbolism

The use of symbolism in religion is a universal established phenomenon. Archeologist Steven
Mithen contends that it is common for religious practices to involve the creation of images and
symbols to represent supernatural beings and ideas. Because supernatural beings violate the
principles of the natural world, there will always be difficulty in communicating and sharing
supernatural concepts with others. This problem can be overcome by anchoring these
supernatural beings in material form through representational art. When translated into material
form, supernatural concepts become easier to communicate and understand.[37] Due to the
association of art and religion, evidence of symbolism in the fossil record is indicative of a mind
capable of religious thoughts. Art and symbolism demonstrates a capacity for abstract thought
and imagination necessary to construct religious ideas. Wentzel van Huyssteen states that the
translation of the non-visible through symbolism enabled early human ancestors to hold beliefs
in abstract terms.[38]
Some of the earliest evidence of symbolic behavior is associated with Middle Stone Age sites in
Africa. From at least 100,000 years ago, there is evidence of the use of pigments such as red
ochre. Pigments are of little practical use to hunter gatherers, thus evidence of their use is
interpreted as symbolic or for ritual purposes. Among extant hunter gatherer populations around
the world, red ochre is still used extensively for ritual purposes. It has been argued that it is
universal among human cultures for the color red to represent blood, sex, life and death.[39]
The use of red ochre as a proxy for symbolism is often criticized as being too indirect. Some
scientists, such as Richard Klein and Steven Mithen, only recognize unambiguous forms of art as
representative of abstract ideas. Upper paleolithic cave art provides some of the most
unambiguous evidence of religious thought from the paleolithic. Cave paintings at Chauvet
depict creatures that are half human and half animal.
Origins of organized religion
See also: Neolithic religion

Social evolution of humans [15][40]
Period years ago
Society type
Number of individuals
100,00010,000
Bands
10s100s
10,0005,000
Tribes
100s1,000s
5,0003,000
Chiefdoms
1,000s10,000s
3,0001,000
States
10,000s100,000s
2,000*present
Empires
100,0001,000,000s
Organized religion traces its roots to the neolithic revolution that began 11,000 years ago in the
Near East but may have occurred independently in several other locations around the world. The
invention of agriculture transformed many human societies from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a
sedentary lifestyle. The consequences of the neolithic revolution included a population explosion
and an acceleration in the pace of technological development. The transition from foraging bands
to states and empires precipitated more specialized and developed forms of religion that reflected
the new social and political environment. While bands and small tribes possess supernatural
beliefs, these beliefs do not serve to justify a central authority, justify transfer of wealth or
maintain peace between unrelated individuals. Organized religion emerged as a means of
providing social and economic stability through the following ways:
Justifying the central authority, which in turn possessed the right to collect taxes in return
for providing social and security services.
Bands and tribes consist of small number of related individuals. However, states and
nations are composed of many thousands of unrelated individuals. Jared Diamond argues
that organized religion served to provide a bond between unrelated individuals who
would otherwise be more prone to enmity. In his book Guns, Germs, and Steel he argues
that the leading cause of death among hunter-gatherer societies is murder.[40]
Religions that revolved around moralizing gods may have facilitated the rise of large,
cooperative groups of unrelated individuals.[41]
The states born out of the Neolithic revolution, such as those of Ancient Egypt and
Mesopotamia, were theocracies with chiefs, kings and emperors playing dual roles of political
and spiritual leaders.[15] Anthropologists have found that virtually all state societies and
chiefdoms from around the world have been found to justify political power through divine
authority. This suggests that political authority co-opts collective religious belief to bolster itself.
[15]
Invention of writing
See also: History of writing
Following the neolithic revolution, the pace of technological development (cultural evolution)
intensified due to the invention of writing 5000 years ago. Symbols that became words later on
made effective communication of ideas possible. Printing invented only over a thousand years
ago increased the speed of communication exponentially and became the main spring of cultural
evolution. Writing is thought to have been first invented in either Sumeria or Ancient Egypt and
was initially used for accounting. Soon after, writing was used to record myth. The first religious
texts mark the beginning of religious history. The Pyramid Texts from ancient Egypt are one of
the oldest known religious texts in the world, dating to between 24002300 BCE.[42][43][44] Writing
played a major role in sustaining and spreading organized religion. In pre-literate societies,
religious ideas were based on an oral tradition, the contents of which were articulated by
shamans and remained limited to the collective memories of the society's inhabitants. With the
advent of writing, information that was not easy to remember could easily be stored in sacred
texts that were maintained by a select group (clergy). Humans could store and process large
amounts of information with writing that otherwise would have been forgotten. Writing therefore
enabled religions to develop coherent and comprehensive doctrinal systems that remained
independent of time and place.[45] Writing also brought a measure of objectivity to human
knowledge. Formulation of thoughts in words and the requirement for validation made mutual
exchange of ideas and the sifting of generally acceptable from not acceptable ideas possible. The
generally acceptable ideas became objective knowledge reflecting the continuously evolving
framework of human awareness of reality that Karl Popper calls 'verisimilitude' a stage on the
human journey to truth.[46]
History of religions
For the journal of that name, see History of Religions (journal). For the academic study of
religion in general, see Religious studies.
History of religions
founding figures
Anthropology
Comparative religion
Development
Neurotheology / God gene
Origins
Psychology
Prehistoric
Ancient Near East
Ancient Egypt
Semitic
Indo-European
Vedic Hinduism
Greco-Roman
Celtic Germanic
Axial Age
Vedanta Shramana
Dharma Tao
Hellenism
Monism Dualism
Monotheism
Christianization
Islamization
Renaissance Reformation
Age of Reason
New religious movements
Great Awakening
Fundamentalism
New Age
Postmodernism
Abrahamic
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Bah' Faith
Indic
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
Sikhism
Ayyavazhi
Taoism
Neopagan
Wicca
The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious experiences and ideas.
This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,200 years ago (3200
BCE). The prehistory of religion relates to a study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the
advent of written records. The timeline of religion is a comparative chronology of religion.
The word "religion" as it is used today does not have an obvious pre-colonial translation into
non-European languages. Anthropologist, Daniel Dubuisson writes that "what the West and the
history of religions in its wake have objectified under the name 'religion' is ... something quite
unique, which could be appropriate only to itself and its own history".[1] The history of other
cultures' interaction with the religious category is therefore their interaction with an idea that first
developed in Europe under the influence of Christianity.[2]
Contents
1 History of study
2 Overview
3 Origin
4 Religion at the neolithic revolution

o 4.1 Neolithic religions
o 4.2 Value of religion
5 Axial age
6 Middle Ages
7 Modern period
8 Development of "new religions"
9 See also
o 9.1 Shamanism and ancestor worship
o 9.2 Polytheism
o 9.3 Monotheism
o 9.4 Monism
o 9.5 Dualism
o 9.6 New religious movements
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
History of study
The school of religious history called the Religionsgeschichtliche Schule was a 19th-century
German school of thought which was the first to systematically study religion as a socio-cultural
phenomenon. It depicted religion as evolving with human culture, from primitive Polytheism to
ethical monotheism.
The Religionsgeschichtliche Schule appeared at a time when scholarly study of the Bible and
church history was flourishing in Germany and elsewhere (see higher criticism, also called the
historical-critical method). The study of religion is important because it has often shaped
civilizations' law and moral codes, social structure, art and music.
Overview
The 19th century saw a dramatic increase in knowledge about other cultures and religions, and
also the establishment of economic and social histories of progress. The "history of religions"
school sought to account for this religious diversity by connecting it with the social and
economic situation of a particular group.
Typically, religions were divided into stages of progression from simple to complex societies,
especially from polytheistic to monotheistic and from extempore to organized. Religions can be
classified as circumcising and non-circumcising, proselytizing (attempting to convert people of
other religion) and non-proselytizing. Many religions share common beliefs.
Origin
See also: Evolutionary origin of religions and Timeline of religion
The earliest evidence of religious ideas dates back several hundred thousand years to the Middle
and Lower Paleolithic periods. Archaeologists refer to apparent intentional burials of early homo
sapiens from as early as 300,000 years ago as evidence of religious ideas. Other evidence of
religious ideas include symbolic artifacts from Middle Stone Age sites in Africa. However, the
interpretation of early paleolithic artifacts, with regard to how they relate to religious ideas,
remains controversial. Archeological evidence from more recent periods is less controversial. A
number of artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic (50,000-13,000) are generally interpreted by
scientists as representing religious ideas. Examples of Upper Paleolithic remains associated with
religious beliefs include the lion man, the Venus figurines, cave paintings from Chauvet Cave
and the elaborate ritual burial from Sungir.
In the 19th century, various theories were proposed regarding the origin of religion, supplanting
the earlier claims of Christianity of urreligion. Early theorists Edward Burnett Tylor and Herbert
Spencer proposed the concept of animism, while archaeologist John Lubbock used the term
"fetishism". Meanwhile, religious scholar Max Mller theorized that religion began in hedonism
and folklorist Wilhelm Mannhardt suggested that religion began in "naturalism", by which he
meant mythological explanation of natural events.[3] All of these theories have since been widely
criticized; there is no broad consensus regarding the origin of religion.
Religion at the neolithic revolution

See also: Neolithic revolution
Through the bulk of human evolution, humans lived in small nomadic bands practicing a hunter
gatherer lifestyle. The emergence of complex and organized religions can be traced to the period
when humans abandoned their nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyles in order to begin farming
during the Neolithic period. The transition from foraging bands to states and empires resulted in
more specialized and developed forms of religion that were reflections of the new social and
political environments. While bands and small tribes possess supernatural beliefs, these beliefs
are adapted to smaller populations.
Neolithic religions
The religions of the Neolithic peoples provide evidence of some of the earliest known forms of
organized religions. The Neolithic settlement of atalhyk, in what is now Turkey, was home to
about 8,000 people and remains the largest known settlement from the Neolithic period. James
Mellaart, who excavated the site, believed that atalhyk was the spiritual center of central
Anatolia.[4] A striking feature of atalhyk are its female figurines. Mellaart, the original
excavator, argued that these well-formed, carefully made figurines, carved and molded from
marble, blue and brown limestone, schist, calcite, basalt, alabaster, and clay, represented a female
deity of the Great Goddess type. Although a male deity existed as well, statues of a female
deity far outnumber those of the male deity, who moreover, does not appear to be represented at
all after Level VI.[5] To date, eighteen levels have been identified. These careful figurines were
found primarily in areas Mellaart believed to be shrines. One, however a stately goddess seated
on a throne flanked by two female lions was found in a grain bin, which Mellaart suggests
might have been a means of ensuring the harvest or protecting the food supply.[6]
The Pyramid Texts from ancient Egypt are one of the oldest known religious texts in the world
dating to between 2400-2300 BCE.[7][8] Writing played a major role in sustaining organized
religion by standardizing religious ideas regardless of time or location.
Value of religion
Organized religion emerged as a means of providing social and economic stability to large
populations through the following ways:
Organized religion served to justify the central authority, which in turn possessed the
right to collect taxes in return for providing social and security services to the state. The
empires of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were theocracies, with chiefs, kings and
emperors playing dual roles of political and spiritual leaders.[9] Virtually all state societies
and chiefdoms around the world have similar political structures where political authority
is justified by divine sanction.
Organized religion emerged as means of maintaining peace between unrelated

individuals. Bands and tribes consist of small number of related individuals. However
states and nations are composed of thousands or millions of unrelated individuals. Jared
Diamond argues that organized religion served to provide a bond between unrelated
individuals who would otherwise be more prone to enmity. He argues that the leading
cause of death among hunter gatherer societies is murder.[10]
Axial age
See also: Axial Age
The period from 900 to 200 BCE has been described by historians as the axial age, a term coined
by German philosopher Karl Jaspers. According to Jaspers, this is the era of history when "the
spiritual foundations of humanity were laid simultaneously and independently... And these are
the foundations upon which humanity still subsists today". Intellectual historian Peter Watson has
summarized this period as the foundation of many of humanity's most influential philosophical
traditions, including monotheism in Persia and Canaan, Platonism in Greece, Buddhism, Jainism
in India, and Confucianism and Taoism in China. These ideas would become institutionalized in
time, for example Ashoka's role in the spread of Buddhism, or the role of platonic philosophy in
Christianity at its foundation.
Middle Ages
Present-day world religions established themselves throughout Eurasia during the Middle Ages
by: Christianization of the Western world; Buddhist missions to East Asia; the decline of
Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent; and the spread of Islam throughout the Middle East,
Central Asia, North Africa and parts of Europe and India.
During the Middle Ages, Muslims were in conflict with Zoroastrians during the Islamic conquest
of Persia; Christians were in conflict with Muslims during the Byzantine-Arab Wars, Crusades,
Reconquista, Ottoman wars in Europe and Inquisition; Shamans were in conflict with Buddhists,
Taoists, Muslims and Christians during the Mongol invasions; and Muslims were in conflict with
Hindus and Sikhs during Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent.
Many medieval religious movements emphasized mysticism, such as the Cathars and related
movements in the West, the Jews in Spain (see Zohar), the Bhakti movement in India and Sufism
in Islam. Monotheism reached definite forms in Christian Christology and in Islamic Tawhid.
Hindu monotheist notions of Brahman likewise reached their classical form with the teaching of
Adi Shankara.
Modern period
European colonisation during the 15th to 19th centuries resulted in the spread of Christianity to
Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, Australia and the Philippines. The invention of the printing
press in the 15th century played a major role in the rapid spread of the Protestant Reformation
under leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. Wars of religion followed, culminating in
the Thirty Years War which ravaged central Europe, 1618-1648. The 18th century saw the
beginning of secularisation in Europe, gaining momentum after the French Revolution. By the
late 20th century religion had declined in most of Europe.
In the 20th century, the regimes of Communist Eastern Europe and Communist China were antireligious. A great variety of new religious movements originated in the 20th century, many
proposing syncretism of elements of established religions. Adherence to such new movements is
limited, however, remaining below 2% worldwide in the 2000s (decade). Adherents of the
classical world religions account for more than 75% of the world's population, while adherence
to indigenous tribal religions has fallen to 4%. As of 2005, an estimated 14% of the world's
population identifies as nonreligious.
Development of "new religions"

The term new religious movement (NRM) can identify a religious faith or an ethical, spiritual, or
philosophical movement of recent[when?] origin that does not form part of an established
denomination, church, or religious body.
Mahvkyas
Part of a series on
Advaita Vedanta
Main articles[show]
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Philosophy[show]
Practices[show]
Scriptures[show]
Influences[show]
This article contains Indic text. Without proper

rendering support, you may see question marks
or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts
instead of Indic text.
Part of a series on
Hindu philosophy
stika
Samkhya
Yoga
Nyaya
Vaisheshika
Mmms
Tantra
Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta
Vishishtadvaita
Dvaita
Dvaitadvaita
Achintya Bheda Abheda
Bhedabheda
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Crvka
jvika
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People
Acharyas[show]
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Philosophers[show]
The Mahavakyas (sing.: mahvkya, ; plural: mahvkyni, ) are "The

Great Sayings" of the Upanishads, as characterized by the Advaita school of Vedanta.
Contents
1 The four principal Mahavakyas

o 1.1 Other Mahavakyas
o 1.2 Prajnam Brahma
2 See also
3 Notes
4 References
5 Sources
o 5.1 Published sources
o 5.2 Web-sources
6 External links
The four principal Mahavakyas

Though there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four Vedas, are often
mentioned as "the Mahavakyas".[1] According to the Vedanta-tradition, the subject matter and the
essence of all Upanishads is the same, and all the Upanishadic Mahavakyas express this one
universal message in the form of terse and concise statements.[citation needed] In later Sanskrit usage,
the term mahvkya came to mean "discourse", and specifically, discourse on a philosophically
lofty topic.[web 1]
According to the Advaita Vedanta tradition the four Upanishadic statements indicate the ultimate
unity of the individual (Atman) with Supreme (Brahman).[citation needed]
The Mahavakyas are:
1. prajnam brahma - "Praja[note 1] is Brahman"[note 2], or "Brahman is Praja"[web 3]
(Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda)
2. ayam tm brahma - "I am this Self (Atman) that is Brahman" (Mandukya Upanishad
1.2 of the Atharva Veda)
3. tat tvam asi - "Thou art That" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda)
4. aham brahmsmi - "I am Brahman", or "I am Divine"[5] (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)
People who are initiated into sannyasa in Advaita Vedanta are being taught the four [principal]
mahavakyas as four mantras, "to attain this highest of states in which the individual self
dissolves inseparably in Brahman".[6]
Other Mahavakyas
Brahma satyam jagan mithya - Brahman is real; the world is unreal - Vivekachudamani
Ekam evadvitiyam brahma - Brahman is one, without a second - Chndogya Upanis ad
So 'ham - He am I - Isha Upanishad
Sarvam khalvidam brahma - All of this is brahman - Brahman
Prajnam Brahma
See also: Prajna
Several translations, and word-orders of these translations, are possible:
Prajnam:
j can be translated as "consciousness", "knowledge", or "understanding."[7]
Pra is an intensifier which could be translated as "higher", "greater", "supreme" or

"premium",[8] or "being born or springing up",[9] referring to a spontaneous type of
knowing.[9][note 3]
Prajnam as a whole means:
, "prajJAna",[web 7]
o Adjective: prudent, easily known, wise[web 7]
o Noun: discrimination, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence. Also: distinctive mark,
monument, token of recognition, any mark or sign or characteristic, memorial[web 7]
"Consciousness"[2][web 2]
"Intelligence"[3][4]
"Wisdom"[web 3]
Related terms are jnana, prajna and prajnam, "pure consciousness".[10] Although the common
translation of jnanam[10] is "consciousness", the term has a broader meaning of "knowing";
"becoming acquainted with",[web 8] "knowledge about anything",[web 8] "awareness",[web 8] "higher
knowledge".[web 8]
Brahman:
"The Absolute"[2][web 2]
"Infinite"[web 2]
"The Highest truth"[web 2]
Most interpretations state: "Prajnam (noun) is Brahman (adjective)". Some translations give a
reverse order, stating "Brahman is Prajnam",[web 3] specifically "Brahman (noun) is Prajnam
(adjective)": "The Ultimate Reality is wisdom (or consciousness)".[web 3]
Sahu explains:
Prajnanam iti Brahman - wisdom is the soul/spirit. Prajnanam refers to the intuitive truth which
can be verified/tested by reason. It is a higher function of the intellect that ascertains the Sat or
Truth in the Sat-Chit-Ananda or truth-consciousness-bliss, i.e. the Brahman/Atman/Self/person
[...] A truly wise person [...] is known as Prajna - who has attained Brahmanhood itself; thus,
testifying to the Vedic Maha Vakya (great saying or words of wisdom): Prajnanam iti Brahman.
[11]
And according to David Loy,

The knowledge of Brahman [...] is not intuition of Brahman but itself is Brahman.[12]

List of Religious Traditions

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List of Religious Traditions

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List of founders of religious traditions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Ancient (before AD 500)

2 Medieval to Early Modern (5001800 AD)

3 New religious movements (post-1800)

Ancient (before AD 500)

The penultimate (23rd)

c. 10th to 6th century

Italic of the Sabellian

fl. 459 BC[n 2]

Raja Yoga (part of

Paul the Apostle

James the Just

Judean, Davidic line

Medieval to Early Modern (5001800 AD)

Religious tradition founded

early 7th century

Baal Shem Tov[20]

New religious movements (post-1800)

Wallace Fard Muhammad

Mark Prophet; Elizabeth Clare

Church Universal and Triumphant

List of people who have been considered

Following Julius Caesar who in 42 BC was formally

repudiated the "false conception" of his divinity in the

Considered re-incarnations of Avalokitevara in

The Inca Emperors had a status very similar to that of

1768 In Nepal, the kings of the Shah dynasty were

Ancient Egyptian architect and physician, who two

Founder and first queen of Carthage, after her death,

Homer (hero cult)

Romulus and Remus

771717 Founders of Rome, sons of Mars, Romulus served as

Believed a god by some Mahayana sects, and

111 AD Deified by Hadrian. He is the last non-Imperial human

In 300 AD she was worshipped as a Mother Goddess

Javanese rulers of South East Asia's largest ever

1543 Deified posthumously with the name Tsh

1861 Deified by some people in the Philippines due to his

~1877 Posthumously (?) deified by Elijah Muhammad. He is

Shinreikyo states of its founder "God became one with

Worshiped as a kami in Hawaiian Shinto shrines.[24] In

1895 Renounced the status of messiah and Maitreya

Among most followers of the Rastafari movement,

Considered a god in the village of Yaohnanen, a cargo

These are little girls who are worshipped by both

1st Germanic prophetess considered a deity during her

Self-claimed to be an emanation of God and was

He believed that he was God and started the Khlysts.

Kondraty Selivanov proclaimed himself both as the late

Chinese man who claimed he was the younger brother

1888 Claimed to be Elahul Ard (God on Earth) in Bombay

1924 In 1978, he changed the motto of Equatorial Guinea to

1897 According to the Mita faith, Mita (Peraza) was the

Founder of Peoples Temple, which started off as a part

Yahweh ben Yahweh

Guru and goddess of Sahaja Yoga, has proclaimed

Sathya Sai Baba

1946 Claims to be Maitreya, messenger of the "Elohim."

Baronne Rigoley d'Ogny as Aurora, by Jean-Marc Nattier, Baltimore Museum of Art

Weather, rain, thunder, lightning

Fertility, love, lust

Health, healing, medicine

Demigods, Deified Heroes