Religion

Trimurti — the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Trimurti Trimurti denotes the Hindu idea of three principal divine functions embodied by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva: creation, preservation and transformation. It appears in art, scripture, a…

Trinity (Christian doctrine) Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons who together share one divine being. This article explains its meaning, hi…

Tripitaka (Buddhist Canon) Tripitaka The Tripitaka, or Three Baskets, is the traditional collection of Buddhist scriptures comprising monastic rules, discourses, and scholastic analyses; it exists in several canons an…

Tritheism Tritheism: the view that three distinct gods form a cooperating triad. The term is used mainly as a polemical label in theological debates, distinct from the Christian doctrine of…

True Jesus Church A Christian denomination founded in early 20th-century China with Pentecostal roots. Known for Sabbath observance, baptism by immersion, feet washing, charismatic practices and a n…

Tulku: Reincarnate Lamas in Tibetan Buddhist Tradition Tulku A tulku is a Tibetan Buddhist lama believed to intentionally choose rebirth to continue spiritual work. This article explains origins, recognition practices, roles, history, and co…

The Twelve Apostles: origins, identity, and role in early Christianity Twelve Apostles An overview of the Twelve Apostles — the group of disciples selected by Jesus for mission, their names, mission in the Gospels, later developments, and their significance in Christ…

Twelver Shia Islam: Beliefs, Imams, History and Global Presence Twelvers Twelvers are the largest branch of Shia Islam, centered on belief in twelve divinely appointed Imams. Overview of doctrines, the twelve Imams, historical development, practices, an…

Ultramontanism Ultramontanism was a 18th–19th century Catholic movement emphasizing strong papal authority and centralization in Rome, influencing church doctrine and European church–state relati…

Umbanda: Brazil's syncretic spiritual tradition Umbanda Umbanda is a Brazilian syncretic religion blending African-derived practices, Indigenous elements, Catholicism and Spiritist ideas; centered on mediumship, healing rituals, and a p…

Umeå Pentecostal Church (Umeå pingstkyrka) Umeå Pentecostal Church Active Pentecostal congregation and church building in eastern Umeå, Sweden, known for local outreach, worship services and for hosting broadcasts of the programme Hela kyrkan sjun…

Unification Church A summary of the Unification Church (Family Federation), its origins, core beliefs, organization, practices such as mass weddings, and some historical and public controversies.

Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic) Federation of autonomous Old Catholic churches formed in 1889 that rejected papal infallibility, preserving Catholic liturgy and episcopal succession while pursuing ecumenical rela…

Unitarian Universalism: beliefs, history, and community life Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism is a noncreedal, pluralistic religious movement that emphasizes individual search for truth, social justice, and congregational autonomy. It traces its moder…

Unitarianism: beliefs, history, and distinctions Unitarianism Unitarianism is a theological tradition within and beyond Christianity that emphasizes God's unity, treats Jesus chiefly as a human teacher, and values reason and conscience in fai…

United Church of Canada Major Canadian Protestant denomination formed in 1925 by a union of Methodist, Congregational and many Presbyterian congregations; noted for mainline theology, social justice work…

United First Parish Church, Quincy, Massachusetts A historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in Quincy founded in 1639; the present 1828 meetinghouse is known as the 'Church of the Presidents' and contains the Adams family tom…

United Methodist Church A major Protestant denomination rooted in Wesleyan theology, founded in 1968 by a merger of American Methodist bodies; known for connectional governance, social witness and recent…

United Methodist Church of Sweden A Wesleyan Protestant body active in Sweden from 1868 to 2012, part of the global Methodist movement and a founder of the Uniting Church in Sweden.

United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA) United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America Mainline Protestant denomination formed in 1958 by a northern Presbyterian union; it was the largest U.S. Presbyterian body until its 1983 merger to form the Presbyterian Church (U…

Uniting Church in Sweden (Equmeniakyrkan) Uniting Church in Sweden A Protestant union church formed in 2011 from Baptist, Methodist and Mission Covenant traditions in Sweden, combining free‑church heritage with national organization, worship diver…

Priesthood of All Believers (Universal Priesthood) Universal priesthood (doctrine) Doctrine that all baptized Christians share in Christ's priestly role; summarizes origins, theological differences, practical effects, and modern debates.

Upanishads: the Vedantic scriptures of Hindu philosophical thought Upanishad The Upanishads are ancient Sanskrit texts at the end of the Vedas that explore knowledge (jnana), the nature of self (ātman), ultimate reality (brahman) and the path to liberation…

Uriel: Archangel of Light and Wisdom Uriel Overview of the archangel Uriel: name and meanings, textual sources, attributes and iconography, role in Jewish and Christian traditions, and cultural influence.

Vailala Madness: an early Papuan millenarian movement (1919–1922) Vailala Madness Concise encyclopedia article on the Vailala Madness, a short-lived millenarian movement in the Papuan Gulf (1919–1922), often cited as an early example of cargo-cult phenomena and…

Vaishnavism: Beliefs, History, Practices, and Modern Influence Vaishnavism Vaishnavism is a major Hindu tradition centered on devotion to Vishnu and his avatars, emphasizing bhakti, a rich scriptural corpus, diverse schools, temple life, and global commun…

Vaiśravaṇa (Vessavaṇa) — Guardian King and Wealth Deity in Buddhism Vaishravana Vaiśravaṇa, called Vessavaṇa in Pāli, is the northern guardian among the Four Heavenly Kings; a protector of the Dharma often associated with wealth, patronage of merchants, and va…

Vaishya: the traditional merchant and agricultural varna Vaishya Vaishya are traditionally the third varna in the Hindu social order, historically linked to trade, agriculture and artisanal occupations. They comprise many regional communities an…

Vajrayana Buddhism: the Tantric or Diamond Vehicle Vajrayana Vajrayana is a major branch of Buddhism originating in India that developed tantric methods, distinctive rituals, and a rich textual and monastic culture, especially associated wit…

Växjö Cathedral Växjö Cathedral is the medieval seat of the Diocese of Växjö in southern Sweden, serving as a regional church, historic monument, and active center for worship and culture.

Vedas: Foundations of Vedic literature and early Hindu thought Vedas The Vedas are a collection of ancient Indian sacred texts in Vedic Sanskrit. Composed and preserved orally, they underlie ritual practice, philosophy, and later Hindu traditions.

Venerable (honorific title) Venerable Venerable is an honorific used across religious traditions to indicate respect, applied in Christian churches and as a common English rendering of several Buddhist titles.

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala (Tirupati) Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala A comprehensive overview of the Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala near Tirupati: history, architecture, rituals, festivals, pilgrimage practices and its cultural and administrative s…

Vestal Virgins: Priestesses of Vesta in Ancient Rome Vestal Virgin The Vestal Virgins were a college of Roman priestesses who maintained Vesta's sacred fire, observed chastity for decades of service, enjoyed unusual legal privileges, and embodied…

Virgin birth of Jesus The belief that Jesus was conceived by Mary while she was a virgin, affirmed in Christian creeds and the Qur'an, and significant for doctrines of incarnation, sinlessness, and Mari…

Virginity: social, cultural, medical, and historical perspectives Virginity An overview of virginity as a social and medical concept: definitions, cultural meanings, hymen myths, historical roles, modern debates, and public-health and human-rights concerns…

Vishnu: Hindu god of preservation, avatars, and Vaishnava tradition Vishnu Vishnu is a principal deity in Hinduism, revered as the preserver of the universe in Vaishnavism. This article summarizes his theology, iconography, major avatars, historical role,…

Vocation: Meaning, Origins, and Social Role Vocation A vocation is a strong inclination toward a particular kind of work or way of life, often tied to service, belief, or personal fulfillment rather than financial reward.

Voodoo (Vodun/Vodou): Beliefs, Practices, and Cultural History Voodoo Voodoo (vodun/vodou) is an umbrella term for West African-derived animist and spirit-centered traditions, their diaspora forms (notably Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo), rituals…

Vulgate (Latin Bible) Vulgate The Vulgate is the late antique Latin translation of the Christian Bible largely prepared by St. Jerome; it became the standard Latin text of the Western Church and shaped medieval…

Wahhabism (Wahhabi movement) Wahhabi A conservative Sunni Islamic reform movement from 18th‑century Arabia associated with Muhammad ibn Abd al‑Wahhab, emphasizing strict monotheism, scriptural adherence, and the pract…

Watatsu Shrine (Watatsu-jinja) — Shinto shrine on Sado Island Watatsu Shrine Watatsu Shrine (Watatsu-jinja) is a Shinto shrine on Sado Island, Niigata, Japan. It serves local religious life, hosts community festivals, and reflects maritime and island cultur…

Western Christianity: Overview, Branches, History and Distinctive Features Western Christianity Western Christianity comprises the Latin-rite Christian traditions that developed in Western Europe and their global descendants, primarily including Roman Catholicism, Protestanti…

Wicca: Origins, Beliefs, and Contemporary Traditions Wicca Wicca: explore the modern pagan religion born in mid-20th century Britain—Gardnerian origins, key beliefs and rituals, terminology, and the range of contemporary traditions and lin…

Winti: Afro-Surinamese Traditional Religion Winti Winti is an Afro-Surinamese spiritual tradition originating among enslaved West Africans in Suriname. It centers on a supreme creator, ancestral and nature spirits, ritual healing,…

Witchcraft: beliefs, practices, history, and cultural roles Witchcraft Witchcraft encompasses practices and beliefs about magic, healing, divination and ritual. This article explains common features, historical development, uses, and how witchcraft di…

Witches' Sabbath: Belief, motifs, history and cultural legacy Witches' Sabbath The Witches' Sabbath is a historic concept of secret nocturnal gatherings attributed to witches. This article explains its motifs, origins in medieval Europe, role in witch trials,…

Women and Islam: Roles, Rights, Interpretations, and Contemporary Debates Women and Islam An accessible overview of how Islamic texts, law, history and modern movements shape women's lives in Muslim societies, including key debates and distinctions.