History Fact Finder | Religion - How Are Religions Classified?

How are religions classified?

Religion is a belief in divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe. Religion is divided into two categories: elementary forms and higher religions. Some elementary forms, also called traditional religions, include animism, ancestor worship, and totemism. Animism is the belief that all natural things (for example, rocks, trees, animals) have a soul (a spiritual force). Ancestor worship involves both honoring and fearing the spirits of dead family members, who are believed to help or harm their descendants. Totemism is the belief by a group of people, such as a tribe or clan, that they have a spiritual relationship with a particular animal or natural object called a totem.

Higher religions involve the idea of transcendence (existing apart from the natural world). Higher religions are classified as polytheistic (believing in...

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