National religions

In the modern world there are many religions. Conditionally they can be divided into the following groups: world, national, tribal. The latter are common within a single community, a group of people. This is the oldest form of religion. Today it has survived in some parts of Africa and Asia. Servants of tribal religions are priests, shamans, sorcerers. They enjoy authority and are endowed with some power.

The main religions of the world are also world religions. These include Christianity, Buddhism, Islam. Their distinguishing feature is the prevalence among peoples living in different countries and on different continents. The most significant historical events are connected with world religions. Because of them there were conflicts, wars for many centuries.

The oldest world religion Buddhism originated in the VI. BC. E. in India. The reason for this was the outrageous outrage of the common people that existed at that time the caste system and slavery.

Islam arose in the 7th century. N. E. This was the period of the collapse of the established society and the formation of a new one. As the youngest world religion, Islam was influenced by already existing beliefs.

Christianity was founded in the 1st century. N. E. In the Roman Empire during the acute crisis of the slave system.

World religions emerged as a result of the development of society, states and relations between them. All of them developed in a unique historical environment and certain socio-economic conditions. This led to the presence of features and differences between them: religious norms, rules, rites and so on. They, throughout the history of mankind, have been the main cause of disagreement among peoples.

In a later period of time, national religions were formed. These include Hinduism (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka), Shintoism (Japan), Confucianism (China). Their distinctive feature can be called state-national character. The period of tribal fragmentation ended and it was replaced by states with centralized power. There was a class society and forms of beliefs gradually changed.

National religions supplanted the tribal, replacing many deities with one single. Judaism can be cited as an example. God Yahweh, whose life was given by the religious fantasy of the tribe of Judah, gradually became a god for all Jewish tribes, ie national.

Adapting to constantly changing conditions, national religions, as before, have a great influence on customs, customs, personal and family life. Especially it concerns the reproduction of the population.

For example, in Protestant countries, marriage is permitted from a later age, and it is quite easy to get a divorce. On the one hand, this does not allow young people to commit rash acts. But on the other - does not contribute to the preservation of marriage. National religions in Latin America, Spain allow women to marry from the age of 12, and men from 14 years. 30 years ago it was almost impossible to get a divorce from a Catholic. Today, this is a normal process, not requiring much effort and time.

In Muslim countries, religion encourages early marriages, polygamy, and large families. In contrast, Judaism forbids secondary marriages and, accordingly, divorces.

Some time ago, most of the teenage girls in India were getting married before the age of 14. This tradition has survived to this day. The age of marriage is slightly increased, but, as a rule, does not exceed 18 years.

The national religion of China, Confucianism, judging by the prevailing situation in this country, promotes and supports the demographic policy.