Religion

Cave of Hira (Ghar Hira) — site of the first Islamic revelation Hira Ghar Hira is a small cave on Jabal al-Nour near Mecca where, according to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations from the angel Gabriel.

His Holiness (honorific used for religious leaders) His Holiness An overview of the honorific style "His Holiness": its meaning, usage across faiths, etiquette, typical examples such as the Pope and the Dalai Lama, and distinctions from other re…

Salvation History in Christian Theology: Covenants, Christ, and the Biblical Narrative History of salvation Overview of salvation history in Christian theology: how biblical covenants, key events and leaders lead to Christ, and how scholars interpret, apply, and debate this redemptive na…

Hjo Church (Hjo kyrka) — parish church in Hjo, Sweden Hjo Church Hjo Church (Hjo kyrka) is the main Church of Sweden parish church in Hjo on Lake Vättern. Rebuilt 1796–1799 after an 1794 fire, it remains a focal point for worship, community even…

Holiness movement A Protestant movement originating in 19th-century Methodism that emphasizes John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection and the pursuit of sanctified, holy living.

Holy Grail: legend, history, and cultural significance Holy Grail The Holy Grail is a legendary Christian relic—usually portrayed as Christ’s cup—central to medieval literature, Arthurian quests, relic claims, and modern metaphorical use.

Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago): history, role, and architectural overview Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago) Holy Name Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Built after the Great Chicago Fire, it serves as the archbishop's parish and a focal point for major l…

Holy See The Holy See is the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), the central government of the Roman Catholic Church and a distinct subject of international law and diplomacy.

Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is the third person of the Christian Trinity: divine presence and power active in creation, Scripture, sacraments, moral transformation, and spiritu…

Holy water: sacred water used in religious rites Holy water Holy water is water set apart by religious blessing for ritual purification, blessing, protection, and remembrance in many faiths, notably in Christian traditions such as the Catho…

Huguenots: French Calvinist Protestants, history and legacy Huguenots Huguenots were French followers of Calvinist Protestantism from the 16th century. This article outlines their beliefs, the wars and persecutions they endured, the diaspora and thei…

Hutterites: communal Anabaptist communities and history Hutterites Hutterites are a communal Anabaptist group originating in the 16th century. They practice adult baptism, communal ownership and pacifism, and live primarily in colonies across the…

Hymn: Sacred Song and Religious Worship Music Hymn A hymn is a sacred song used in religious worship across traditions. This article summarizes its form, history, musical features, liturgical roles, and variations such as Christian…

Ibadi (Ibāḍī) Islam: history, beliefs, and communities Ibadi Ibadi Islam is an early, distinct Muslim denomination historically linked to Arabia and North Africa, today best known as the majority faith in Oman and for its moderate, community…

Ibrahim Ibrahim is the Arabic form of the name Abraham. It refers to the prophet revered in Islam and to a widespread personal name and surname across many cultures and languages.

Ichinomiya — chief Shinto shrines of Japan's historical provinces Ichinomiya Ichinomiya denotes the highest-ranking Shinto shrine within a Japan pre-modern province. The term shaped local religion, place names, and shrine hierarchies from classical times to…

Iconostasis: the liturgical screen of Eastern Christian churches Iconostasis An iconostasis is a screen or wall covered with icons that separates the nave from the sanctuary in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches; it serves liturgical, theologica…

Idol: religious images, cultural icons, and the debate over representation Idol An idol is an object or figure venerated as a representation of a deity or admired as a cultural celebrity. The concept spans religious practice, art, and popular culture and raise…

Idolatry: worship of images, cultural history, and modern meanings Idolatry Idolatry is devotion to images, statues, or figures treated as divine or absolute. This article explains definitions, religious debates, historical developments, cultural distincti…

Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) Iglesia ni Cristo A Philippine-born Christian denomination founded by Felix Manalo in 1914, known for its centralized governance, nontrinitarian beliefs, global congregations and distinctive organiz…

Imam: roles, history, and variations in the Islamic tradition Imam An imam is a Muslim leader commonly responsible for leading prayer and guiding a community; the office and meaning vary across Sunni, Shia and other Muslim contexts.

Imam Ali Mosque (Imam Ali Holy Shrine) Imam Ali Mosque Major Shia shrine in Najaf, Iraq, built around the tomb of ʿAli ibn Abi Talib; a centre of pilgrimage, learning, and historic architecture noted for its gilded dome and seminaries.

Imam Reza Shrine (Mashhad): Mausoleum and Major Pilgrimage Complex Imam Reza shrine The Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, is the mausoleum of the eighth Twelver Shia Imam and a large religious, cultural, and architectural complex visited by millions of pilgrims e…

Iman (Islamic concept of faith) Iman (concept) Iman is the Islamic concept of inner faith or belief in God and related truths; it denotes conviction, trust, and the foundation of a Muslim's spiritual life.

Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic doctrine) Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic dogma that Mary was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her conception; defined in 1854 and observed as a feast on December 8.

Incarnation (religious concept) Incarnation Incarnation is the belief that a divine, spiritual, or nonmaterial reality takes on a bodily, often human, form. It appears across religions with varying meanings, purposes, and th…

Incarnation (Christianity) The Christian doctrine that the second Person of the Trinity, the Son, took on human nature and became Jesus of Nazareth, a central claim with theological, liturgical, and historic…

Incense: aromatic materials, history, and common uses Incense Incense are aromatic materials burned to release fragrant smoke. Used in religious rites, ceremonies, and domestic settings, it appears in many cultures in forms such as sticks, co…

Independent Catholic churches: overview, history, and distinctions Independent Catholic churches Christian communities tracing Catholic tradition but not in communion with the Holy See; varied origins, beliefs, liturgies, and relationships with Roman and Eastern churches.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum: history, purpose and legacy Index Librorum Prohibitorum Overview of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the Catholic Church's historical list of prohibited books: origins, criteria, notable cases, enforcement, abolition (1966) and its lega…

Indian religions (Indic traditions) Indian religions Religious traditions originating on the Indian subcontinent, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, sharing concepts like dharma, karma, samsara and diverse rituals, te…

Indulgence (Catholic doctrine) Indulgence A Catholic practice for remitting temporal punishment for forgiven sins; historical development, abuses, Reformation impact, modern rules, and distinctions between plenary and part…

Infant baptism Infant baptism (paedobaptism) is the administration of baptism to young children. This article explains its forms, theological rationales, denominational practices, history and con…

Initiation: ceremonies of admission, rites of passage, and membership Initiation Initiation denotes ceremonies or formal acts that admit, mark, or transition a person into a group, adult status, office, or social role. Practices vary widely by culture, religion…

Injil: Meaning, Islamic Perspective, and Relationship to the Gospels Injil Injil is the Arabic term for the Gospel. In Islamic belief it refers to a revealed scripture given to Jesus; Christians use it for the New Testament Gospels. The topic spans theolo…

Inquisition: institutions, procedures, and historical development Inquisition Series of Catholic Church tribunals and related institutions (from the 13th century onward) that investigated and punished alleged heresy; varied by time, place and legal authority…

Intelligent design: concept, history, and public debate Intelligent design Intelligent design argues that certain features of the universe and life are best explained by an intelligent cause. It is a contentious idea with legal, educational, scientific, a…

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISKCON, commonly called the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava organization founded in 1966 that promotes bhakti-yoga, temple worship, scriptural study, and community ou…

International Spiritual Movement Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam (ASI) International Spiritual Movement Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam (ASI) is a spiritual movement founded in Pakistan in 1980 by Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi, known for devotional teachings, international following, community…

Iqama — the second call that precedes congregational Muslim prayer Iqama The iqama (Arabic: إقامة) is the short second call heard just before a congregational Muslim prayer. It signals the immediate start of the prayer; wording and practice vary by comm…

Irreligion: nonreligious identity, beliefs, and social forms Irreligion Irreligion covers lack of religious affiliation or belief, including 'nones', atheists, agnostics and related positions; it describes identities, practices, history, and social imp…

Irreligious theism: belief in a deity without organized religion Irreligious theism Irreligious theism denotes belief in a higher being and often in miracles or intervention, while explicitly rejecting membership in or adherence to organized religion or doctrinal…

Isaac — Biblical patriarch and son of Abraham and Sarah Isaac Isaac is a central figure in the Abrahamic traditions: the son of Abraham and Sarah, father of Esau and Jacob, and a key link in the Genesis narratives and religious memory.

Ishmael Ishmael, eldest son of Abraham by Hagar, is a prominent figure in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions and is traditionally regarded as an ancestor of many Arab tribes.

Ishmaelites: origin, traditions, and historical identity Ishmaelites Overview of the Ishmaelites—descendants of Ishmael in religious texts and historical tradition, their claimed links to Arabian tribes, and how they are viewed in Jewish, Christian…

Islam: Beliefs, History, Practices and Major Traditions Islam Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic faith centered on the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad; it includes core beliefs, ritual practices, legal traditions, and diverse…

Islam in China A concise overview of the history, communities, cultural expressions and contemporary issues of Islam in China, from its Silk Road origins to modern regional diversity.

Islam in Europe: history, distribution, and contemporary issues Islam in Europe Overview of Islam's presence across Europe: historical roots, geographic distribution, demographics, social and political issues, and distinctions between long‑standing and newer M…