|
|
|
|
Western religion
|
| |
|
| |
Western culture was significantly formed by Christianity as it was introduced in the Roman Empire in the late 4th century and evolved in the course of the European Middle Ages. Western Christianity was significantly influenced by Hellenistic religion (notably Platonism and Gnosticism) as well as the Roman imperial cult. Western Christianity is based on Roman Catholicism (Latin Rite), as opposed to Eastern Orthodoxy, from which it was divided by the Great Schism of the 11th century, and further includes all Protestant traditions splitting off Roman Catholicism from the 16th century.
Since the 19th century, Western religious practice has diversified into numerous new religious movements, including Occultism, Spiritism and diverse forms of Neopaganism.
West" as a culture or civilization historically evolved out of Greco-Roman Classical Antiquity.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Western religion' Start a new discussion about 'Western religion' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Western culture was significantly formed by Christianity as it was introduced in the Roman Empire in the late 4th century and evolved in the course of the European Middle Ages. Western Christianity was significantly influenced by Hellenistic religion (notably Platonism and Gnosticism) as well as the Roman imperial cult. Western Christianity is based on Roman Catholicism (Latin Rite), as opposed to Eastern Orthodoxy, from which it was divided by the Great Schism of the 11th century, and further includes all Protestant traditions splitting off Roman Catholicism from the 16th century.
Since the 19th century, Western religious practice has diversified into numerous new religious movements, including Occultism, Spiritism and diverse forms of Neopaganism.
Antiquity
"The West" as a culture or civilization historically evolved out of Greco-Roman Classical Antiquity. These cultures had polytheistic religions, viz. Greek polytheism and Roman polytheism. "Eastern" influences on these religions are evident from earliest times, the Orientalizing period at the very beginning of Greek antiquity.
During Hellenism and the Roman empire period, "Eastern" (Oriental) religions exerted a considerable influence on "Western" religion, giving rise to Persian influenced traditions like Gnosticism and Mithraism, as well as Egyptian an "Chaldean" influence on mystery religions (Orphism), astrology and magic. Early Christianity itself is a further example of Orientalizing influence on the later Roman empire.
During the same period, inherited traditions of native Roman religion were marginalized or overlaid by interpretatio graeca, and the Roman imperial cult evolved into a civil religion which involved state ritual rather than religious faith or experience. Celtic and Germanic religion was described by Roman ethnography as primitive, but at the same time as pure or unspoiled compared to the urban decadence of Rome.
Western Christianity
Western Christianity is based on Roman Catholicism (Latin Rite), as opposed to Eastern Orthodoxy, from which it was divided by the Great Schism of the 11th century.
Western Christianity itself was divided by the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, and pronouncedly "Western" forms of Christianity include Puritanism and Evangelicalism, movements resulting from the various "Great Awakenings" in the 18th to 20th century Anglosphere and popularly practiced in the USA.
Renaissance magic
New religious movements
Religion in the Western world today
The "Western world" taken as consisting of Europe, North America and Australia remains predominantly Christian: 78.5% in the USA (2002), 77% in Canada (2001), close to 80% in Europe (includes Eastern Orthodoxy in Eastern Europe, not properly part of "Western religion", 32.4% of Europeans are Roman Catholic, 16.2% are Protestant) and 64% in Australia (2006).
The second largest religions in all these regions are smaller by at least an order of magnitude, Islam in Europe with about 4%, Islam in Canada with about 2%, Judaism in the United States with about 1.7%,
and Islam in Australia with about 1.7%.
Most non-Christians in the Western world are irreligious, 30% in Australia, 16% in Canada, ca. 15% in Europe and 12% in the USA. This is a reflection of the tradition of secular humanism which culminated in the 18th century "Age of Enlightenment" and which allowed the great progress in science and technology which accompanied the "European miracle".
There remains a minority of the order of 5% of the population in the Western world which adheres to non-Western religions, mostly due to recent immigration, but to some extent also due to proselytization, notably conversion to various sects of Buddhism and Hinduism in the context of the New Age movement in the later part of the 20th century.
See also
External links
|
| |
|
|
