Religion

Pilgrims (early Plymouth Colony settlers and the Mayflower voyage) Pilgrims English Separatists who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 to found Plymouth Colony; their origins, voyage, settlement, relations with Indigenous peoples, daily life, and legacy.

Polytheism: belief in many gods, forms, history and modern practice Polytheism Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities organized in pantheons, local cults, or spirits. This article outlines its features, historical development, living traditions, rituals…

Pope: Role, history, election, symbols and contemporary significance Pope The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. This article explains the office, election, symbols, historical development, authority and modern functi…

Pope Benedict Regnal name used by sixteen Roman Catholic popes. Covers the name's origin, numbering, notable holders (including Benedict XV and Benedict XVI), historical patterns and a few disti…

Pope Innocent — Popes who took the name Innocent Pope Innocent Overview of the popes who adopted the regnal name Innocent (Innocent I–XIII), their historical range, significance, and a brief guide to notable bearers and themes associated with…

Pope Leo — Popes named Leo, history and significance Pope Leo Overview and brief biographies of the popes named Leo (Leo I–Leo XIII), their historical roles, notable deeds, and legacy in church and secular history.

Pope Pius Pope Pius is the regnal name used by twelve Roman Catholic popes (Pius I–XII), associated with piety, doctrinal fidelity and reforms in liturgy, church law, and church-state relati…

Pope Valentine (Valentinus) — short-reigned pope of 827 Pope Valentine Pope Valentine (c.800–10 Oct 827) held the papacy for about two months in 827. His brief reign is poorly documented; he succeeded Eugene II and was followed by Gregory IV.

Pow-wow (Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic) Pow-wow (folk magic) Pow-wow (Braucherei) is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of healing and protective charms mixing Germanic folk practices with Christian prayers and written recipes used for people, a…

Pravachanasāra — the Jain 'Essence of Doctrine' (text attributed to Kundakunda) Pravachanasara Pravachanasāra is a classical Jain scripture, commonly attributed to Acharya Kundakunda. It explores the nature of the soul, bondage and liberation, and ethical practice for asceti…

Prayer: forms, purposes, and traditions across religions Prayer An overview of prayer as a human practice: definitions, typical forms, historical development, uses in major religions, and distinctions in purpose and practice.

Prayer in Christianity: forms, history, and practice Prayer in Christianity Overview of Christian prayer: meanings, common forms (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication), biblical roots, historical development, liturgical and personal practices,…

Prayer of Manasseh A brief penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh, preserved in a few ancient translations and valued for its themes of repentance and divine mercy. Its canonical status varie…

Predestination (theological doctrine) Predestination Predestination: the theological idea that God relates to time and human choice by ordering or foreknowing destinies. Overview of meanings, historical development, major views, and…

Predestination in Calvinism Predestination (Calvinism) An overview of the Calvinist doctrine of predestination: its main teachings, historical development, theological implications, and distinctions from alternative views such as Armin…

Presbyterian Church in Canada A Reformed Protestant denomination formed in 1875, the Presbyterian Church in Canada is governed by elders, rooted in Scottish and continental Reformation traditions, and notable f…

Presbyterian Church in Ireland A Reformed Protestant denomination primarily active across the island of Ireland. It is the largest Presbyterian body on the island and the largest Protestant denomination in North…

Presbyterianism A Protestant Christian tradition emphasizing representative church government by elders, Reformed theology, and a worship life centered on Scripture and the sermon.

Priest A priest is a person authorized to perform religious rites and services; article covers roles, historical development, variations across traditions, and distinctions from other rel…

Primitive Methodist Church A Methodist movement that began in early 19th‑century England emphasizing open‑air preaching, lay leadership, and evangelical outreach; later merged with other Methodist bodies in…

Prithvi — the Earth goddess in Hindu tradition Prithvi Prithvi is the personification of the Earth in Hindu tradition, venerated as a mother goddess of fertility, stability and nourishment, with roots in Vedic literature and roles in l…

Prophecy: meaning, forms, history, and cultural roles Prophecy An overview of prophecy: definitions, common forms, historical examples, interpretive challenges, and its roles in religion, politics, and culture.

Prophet: Religious Messengers, Voices, and Roles Prophet An overview of prophets: what they are, how they function in different faiths, historical development, distinctions among types, and their cultural significance.

Prophets of Islam Overview of prophetic figures in Islam: roles, terminology, major examples, doctrinal features, history of revelation, and distinctions from other Abrahamic views.

Proselyte Proselyte: historically a newcomer or convert, especially a Gentile who became part of the Jewish community; term appears in Greek and Hebrew scriptures and has legal, religious, a…

Proselytism: Meaning, History, Methods, and Contemporary Issues Proselytism Proselytism is the act of attempting to convert others to a belief or opinion. This article outlines its definition, origins, common methods, historical development, legal and ethi…

Protestant Reformation: causes, leaders, conflicts and legacy Protestant Reformation Sixteenth-century movement that reconfigured Western Christianity: its origins, doctrines, key figures, political consequences, and long-term cultural effects.

Protestantism: origins, beliefs, branches, and historical impact Protestantism Protestantism is a major branch of Christianity that began in 16th‑century Europe, emphasizing the Bible, justification by faith, and diverse denominational traditions with wide cu…

Psalm 151 — a short, disputed psalm in some biblical traditions Psalm 151 Psalm 151 is a brief psalm attributed to David, present in some ancient Greek manuscripts and certain Christian canons but absent from the Hebrew Bible; its origin, text, and statu…

Puja (Hinduism): ritual worship, forms, and social role Puja (Hinduism) Puja is a Hindu ritual of reverence and worship involving offerings, mantras, and symbolic gestures, performed in homes and temples to honor deities, guests, ancestors, and importa…

Pulpit: raised platform for preaching and readings in Christian worship Pulpit A pulpit is a raised platform in Christian churches from which clergy read scripture and deliver sermons. This article explains its design, history, liturgical role, and variations…

Puranas: The Ancient Hindu Narrative Scriptures Puranas Puranas are a body of Hindu scriptures preserving myth, cosmology, genealogies, rituals and local traditions in Sanskrit and regional languages, compiled and redacted over many cen…

Purgatory: Catholic doctrine, history, and practice Purgatory An overview of Purgatory as understood in Roman Catholic teaching: its meaning, theological basis, historical development, devotional practices, and differences with other Christia…

Puritanism: origins, beliefs, and historical influence Puritanism Puritanism was a reform movement within English Protestantism in the 16th–17th centuries emphasizing moral rigor, scriptural authority, and simpler worship; it shaped religion, soc…

Qadiri (Qadiriyya) Sufi Order Qadiri A major Sunni Sufi tariqa founded by ʿAbd al‑Qadir al‑Jilani in 12th‑century Baghdad, the Qadiri order emphasizes spiritual discipline within Islamic law and has diverse regional b…

Laylat al-Qadr (Qadr Night) — the Night of Decree in Islam Qadr Night Laylat al-Qadr, observed in Ramadan, commemorates the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed. It is marked by prayer, Qur'an recitation, seclusion, and…

Qibla Qibla is the direction Muslims face in prayer, traditionally toward the Kaaba in Mecca; it has religious, architectural and astronomical importance and has been determined by varie…

Qom: Iran's Major Shi'a Religious Center and Seminary City Qom Qom, Iran's leading Shi'a religious city, centers on the shrine of Fatima al-Ma'suma and a major hawza seminary, attracting pilgrims, clerics and students from across Iran and beyo…

Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) Quakers Religious Society of Friends, known as Quakers, is a movement with Christian roots from 17th-century England that emphasizes direct experience of the divine, peace, equality and si…

Quba Mosque — earliest mosque associated with Prophet Muhammad Quba Mosque Quba Mosque in Medina is traditionally regarded as the first mosque built by the Prophet Muhammad. It has been rebuilt and expanded across centuries and remains an important site o…

Qur'an: sacred scripture of Islam and its role, structure, and transmission Qur'an Overview of the Qur'an: its status in Islam, Arabic language, structure, history of revelation and compilation, liturgical use, translations and interpretation, and cultural signif…

Sūrat Quraysh (Qur'anic chapter) Quraish (sura) A concise encyclopedic overview of Sūrat Quraysh (Surah 106): text, themes, historical background, and its liturgical and moral significance within the Qur'an.

Quranism (al‑Qur'āniyya): Islam based on the Quran alone Quranism Quranism is the position that the Quran is the only authoritative source in Islam, rejecting the hadith collections as later, secondary literature; it shapes distinct approaches to…

Quraysh: The Meccan Tribe — origins, structure, and historical role Quraysh Quraysh, the dominant tribe of pre‑Islamic Mecca, known for its control of pilgrimage and trade, its internal clans, and its pivotal role in the life of the Prophet Muhammad and ea…

Rabbi: Duties, Training, History, and Contemporary Roles Rabbi A rabbi is a Jewish religious teacher and legal authority whose training, functions, and status have developed over centuries. This article explains origins, education, duties, com…

Radha: Hindu goddess of love and devotion Radha Radha is a central figure in devotional Hinduism, celebrated as Krishna's beloved, a symbol of pure bhakti, and an influential presence in literature, art, and ritual across severa…

Raëlism (Raëlian Movement): beliefs, history and controversies Raëlism Raëlism is a UFO-based movement founded by Claude Vorilhon (Raël) in 1974. It teaches that life on Earth was created by extraterrestrials called Elohim and emphasizes science, sens…

Rain dance: ritual practices, history, and cultural meanings Rain dance A rain dance is a ceremonial performance intended to encourage rainfall. This article explains typical elements, regional variations, history, cultural roles, and modern contexts o…