An academic reference covering the history, theology, practices, key figures, and sacred texts of twelve of the world's major religious traditions. Written for the curious, the student, and the scholar.
Search across all traditions, figures, texts, and practices
Each entry covers origin and history, foundational theology, core practices, major branches, key figures, sacred texts, and an annotated glossary.
One of the world's oldest monotheistic traditions, rooted in the covenant between God and the people of Israel. The foundation of all Abrahamic faiths.
✝The world's largest religion, centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and the belief that he is the Son of God and savior of humanity.
☪The world's second-largest religion, teaching the absolute oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad as the final messenger in a long prophetic line.
✦A modern revelation emphasizing the essential unity of all religions, the oneness of humanity, and the necessity of harmony between science and religion.
The world's oldest living religion and most diverse — a vast family of traditions, philosophies, and practices united by shared scriptures and concepts such as dharma, karma, and moksha.
☸Founded on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism charts a path from suffering to liberation through ethical conduct, meditation, and the cultivation of wisdom.
☬Founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab, Sikhism teaches devotion to the one God, equality of all people, service to humanity, and the discipline of a saint-soldier life.
☸An ancient Indian tradition that places non-violence (ahimsa) at the center of all ethics. Jainism teaches the liberation of the soul through strict ascetic discipline and the renunciation of worldly attachments.
Rooted in Laozi's Tao Te Ching, Taoism teaches harmony with the fundamental, ineffable principle underlying all of existence — the Tao, or "the Way" — through naturalness and non-action.
仁A philosophical and social tradition rooted in the teachings of Kongzi (Confucius), emphasizing ethical self-cultivation, filial piety, social harmony, and proper governance through virtue.
⛩Japan's indigenous spiritual tradition, centering on the veneration of kami — divine spirits inhabiting natural phenomena, ancestors, and sacred places — and the pursuit of ritual purity.
🔥One of the world's oldest prophetic religions, founded by the prophet Zarathustra in ancient Iran. Its cosmic dualism between truth and lie deeply influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
A quick-reference comparison of five major traditions across key dimensions of theology and practice — representing more than 6 billion adherents worldwide.
Faiths of the World is a comprehensive reference encyclopedia presenting the major religious traditions of humanity with equal depth, nuance, and academic rigor. Our goal is to make authoritative information about world religions accessible to curious readers, students, researchers, and educators alike.
Every tradition is presented on its own terms — through its own scriptures, theological categories, and historical development — rather than through the lens of comparison or judgment. We believe understanding requires listening before evaluating.
Content is compiled from primary religious texts, peer-reviewed scholarship, and established academic sources. Where traditions contain internal debate or diversity, we represent that diversity honestly rather than flattening it into false consensus.
All traditions are presented with equal depth and without evaluative judgment. We do not rank, prefer, or disparage any faith tradition.
Content is drawn from primary texts and peer-reviewed scholarship, with particular attention to how traditions understand themselves.
We represent the actual diversity within each tradition honestly — including schools, branches, and historical debates — rather than presenting any one view as definitive.
This encyclopedia grows continuously. Upcoming additions include indigenous traditions, new religious movements, and detailed figure profiles for each tradition.