(part 1 of 3): Christians or cult members? In 2011 it was estimated that there were more than 7.6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in over 109 thousand congregations, in more than 200 countries.[1] As the name suggests, it is an evangelical religion. Members, of both genders and of all ages, actively go from door to door, … Read more
(part 1 of 2): An Introduction Taoism is an ancient Chinese tradition of philosophy and religious belief also referred to as Daoism which is said to be a more accurate way of saying the Chinese word in English. The Tao (in Taoism) is usually translated as ‘the way’. It is very difficult to estimate the … Read more
(part 1 of 2): What is Shintoism? According to the Princeton online dictionary Shintoism is the ancient indigenous religion of Japan. It lacks a formal dogma and is characterised by the veneration of nature spirits and ancestors.[1] The name Shinto comes from Chinese characters for Shen (‘divine being’), and Tao (‘way’) and means ‘Way of … Read more
(part 1 of 2): Who are the Mormons? Mormonism – the doctrines and practices of the Mormon Church based on the Book of Mormon.[1] Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name Latter-day comes from the belief that after the death of the early apostles, the Christian church fell … Read more
(part 1 of 2) What is Wicca? The word wicca comes from the Saxon root wicce, loosely translated as “wise” or “to bend or shape the unseen forces.” Wicca is the largest of the Neopagan[1] religions which are reconstructions of ancient abandoned pagan belief systems, including Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Norse, Roman, and other traditions. Thus … Read more
(part 1 of 2): Origin and History One of the groups associated with Islam which catches the attention of most Westerners is that known as Bahaism, due to their catchy yet evasive principle of peace and the unity of humanity. In reality, Bahaism is a sect which, according to Islam, is outside its fold due … Read more
(part 1 of 2) One of the most perplexing scenarios to non-Muslims and new Muslims alike is the division they may see between Shiites and Sunni Muslims. Some tend to become confused when they see that each group claims to be following the true Islam. To truly understand this subject to the fullest, one must … Read more
(part 1 of 2) Introduction Whether it’s from a documentary on TV or a beautifully designed website, the majority have heard something about ‘Sufis’ and ‘Sufism’; programs on TV have aired, talk show hosts have made mention of them and politicians are taking a keen interest in this group… one has only to type the … Read more
(part 1 of 3) Introduction At the heart of Islam lies belief in God. The core of the Islamic creed is bearing witness to the phrase, La illaha illa Allah, “There is no true deity deserving worship but God.” The testimony to this belief, calledtawhid, is the axis around which all Islam revolves. Moreover, it … Read more
(part 1 of 3): Who is Allah? In any discussion about the Names of God, it is important to understand that Muslims believe in One True God, the only Creator, the One Who has Dominion over all that exists, has ever existed or will come to exist. A Muslim worships the same One God whom … Read more