Some religions have been serving as an influential belief system in the lives of people for thousands upon thousands of years, while others have existed for a relatively short period of time. In this article, we will randomly explore an assortment of religions and how long people have been following their teachings.
Aladura: This mostly monotheistic religion highlights a combination of Anglican, Pentecostal and traditional African beliefs. The religion is often characterized by an assortment of prophet-healing churches that have been founded since about 1918 in West Nigeria.
3 Facts About Aladura
1) In the language of Yoruba, “Aladura” translates into “Praying People.”
2) Faith healing is a dominant belief amongst followers, which also embraces religious elements linked to Pentecostalism.
3) In Western Nigeria, there are four initial churches associated with Aladura: Christ Apostolic Church; Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim; Church of the Lord (Aladura); and Celestial Church of Christ.
Asatru: This polytheistic religion involves Norse creation myths with Norse gods and goddesses. As a revival of Norse and Germanic paganism, this belief system was reborn during the 1970s in Scandinavia and the United States.
3 Facts About Asatru
1) The roots of Asatru can be traced back thousands of years.
2) A practicing Asatruar is sometimes referred to as a ‘heathen.’
3) Other names that the belief system is called include: Odinism, Wodinism, and Germanic Neopaganism.
Atheism: If you believe that there is no God or divine being, then you are often considered an atheist. The majority of their beliefs regarding the universe are primarily based upon the latest finds in the scientific world. The first traces of this belief system appears throughout history, but is highly mentioned after the Enlightenment, which took place during the 19th century.
3 Facts About Atheism
1) A well-known supporter of atheism is Richard Dawkins, who has written a handful of books, including “The Selfish Gene”, “The Ancestor’s Tale” and “The God Delusion.”
2) It is and was not uncommon to find people considering being an atheist as a criminal act.
3) During the Middle Ages, the Europeans believed that atheists should be burned to death if they did not believe in God.
Baha’I Faith: In Tehran, Iran, the Baha’I Faith was founded with the help of Bahá’u’lláh in 1863. The basis of the religion focused on one God, who was believed to reveal himself throughout many other religions about the world.
3 Facts About the Baha’i Faith
1) The founder of the faith (Bahá’u’lláh), was a Persian nobleman native to Tehran, who during the 19th century, decided to abandon his comfortable life to pursue a life that spread the word of peace and unity.
2) The central message of the Baha’I Faith is one of unity, where they believe that humanity is one single race.
3) If you pay a visit to a Baha’I House of Worship, you will find that all people are welcome. The structure of such places of worship usually keeps in line with a design that includes nine sides and a central dome.