A Comparative Study Of The Emergence And Development Of Sects In Five Major World Religions: A Historical Overview

Abstract

The article explores the history of various sects in Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, highlighting their distinctive features and beliefs. It explains that sectarianism arises when narrow interpretations of religious beliefs are combined with intolerant behavior, resulting in militant ideologies that threaten societal peace and harmony. The article explores different sects within each religion, such as Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada in Buddhism, Shiva, Vaishnavism, and Shakteya in Hinduism, and Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Hasidic, and Kabbalah in Judaism. It also explains the political nature of the emergence of sectarianism in Islam and discusses the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Overall, the article emphasizes the need to promote tolerance and respect for diversity to combat the harmful effects of religious sectarianism.