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The religion that has the greatest affinity with your belief system is: Your belief system is 72% compatible with Neo-Pagan religious beliefs. Neo-Pagan groups like Wicca and Druidism and the others, have different faiths, but tend to be polytheistic, they believe in multiple gods and goddesses. Most groups also have a highly personal relationship with nature and its seasons, observing important rituals throughout the year to express their faith. It appears that you are also interested in the natural world and the significance it has in your life. Recent attempts to reconstruct the ancient pagan faith — nearly wiped out after years of persecution — have unearthed spiritual texts and a highly secretive oral tradition. While the history of their religion is important, most Neo-Pagan practitioners worship in solitude, performing rituals of personal significance to express their own highly individual spirituality. Perhaps you too enjoy being alone when you want to reflect about your spirituality. How did Neo-Paganism come to be? Modern paganism, called Neo-Paganism, encompasses many religions that are adopted from the original tribal faiths of ancient Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Oceania, and Australia, which were generally interested in the natural world and their place within it. The desire to revive these ancient religions emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1954, Gerald Brousseau Gardner published Witchcraft Today, one of the pivotal books on Neo-Paganism. His book documented the secret lore of a nearly extinct pagan religion that he learned about through a pagan woman's first-hand accounts. Since then, many Neo-Pagan religions have formed, including Wicca, Druidism, and Goddess worship. And since the advent of the Internet, there has been an unusually high growth rate of Neo-Pagan religions due to the increased availability of information. Some estimate that Neo-Paganism is doubling in size every two and a half years. Is Neo-Paganism beginning to resonate with you? Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Get specific information about Neo-Paganism's god and goddesses, its beliefs about the origin of the world, its take on the afterlife, and some key aspects that make the religion unique in the Core Religious Beliefs and You section below. Your religion report Core religious beliefs and you What's your spiritual style? History behind the test For More Reading In addition to more information about the religion you're most compatible with, find out how closely aligned your belief system is with the other 9 major world religions we tested for. Use this information not only to become more aware of what you might share with other traditions seemingly outside your faith, but also to gain a greater understanding of and tolerance for the people who practice different religions from yours. Neo-Paganism You're 72% compatible with Neo-Pagan beliefs. Gods and goddesses Neo-Pagans believe that there are multiple gods and goddesses that oversee different aspects of nature. For example, in most Neo-Pagan religions, the Goddess represents an amalgam of many goddesses from varied ancient pagan traditions and she guides us through the transitions in our lives. First, there is the Maiden who represents the vigor and sexuality of our youth, then the Mother who symbolizes a powerful confidence, fertility, and nurturing, and finally, the Crone who is wise, experienced, and compassionate. She is the one who would guide you through to death. Origin of the World Ancient pagan beliefs about the origin of the world are many and varied. Today's Neo-Pagans may or may not believe the ancient creation stories to be true, but most are probably interested in the symbolism they offer. Here's an example of an ancient pagan creation story told by Nordic peoples: In the beginning, there was a void called Ginnungagap, which means something akin to "yawning gap." Alongside the Ginnungagap, there existed two lands: the Niflheim — the northern land of fog and ice — and the Muspelheim — the southern land of fire. In the north, 11 rivers sprang from a spring that flowed toward the gap and froze until it filled a portion of the gap. At the same time, lava and other molten material flowed from the south into the southern portion of the gap. Then, the fire and ice mingled and formed a giant called Ymir and a cow called Audhumla. Ymir drank the cow's milk and drifted off into a deep sleep. As he slept, the sweat of his armpit formed two frost giants, male and female, and from his legs, another male frost giant. Meanwhile, the cow licked salty ice to gain nourishment, and this licking created the god Buri. Buri had a son named Bor, who killed Ymir. As Ymir died, his blood drained from his body and caused a huge flood that drowned all of the frost giants, leaving only the god Bor and his three sons. The three sons of Bor placed Ymir's body into the Ginnungagap and created the Earth from it. Afterlife Most Neo-Pagans do believe in some form of reincarnation; however, beliefs about the specifics are not consistent within Neo-Paganism. Because the religion tends to draw solo practitioners, the beliefs from one Neo-Pagan to the next are largely individual. What makes it unique? Neo-Pagans tend to worship outside in nature whenever possible because much of their spirituality is tied to the cycles of life and the changing of the seasons. The majority of Neo-Pagans worship by designing private rituals; a few do, however, form small groups so that they can worship in the company and support of others. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unitarian Universalism You're 69% compatible with Unitarian Universalist beliefs. God Unitarian Universalists have widely varying beliefs about God — from agnostic to polytheistic. As such, it is an extremely tolerant religion and welcomes diverse individual spiritual orientation and many views on the concept of God. Origin of the World Unitarian Universalism believes that the creation stories of all world religions are mythical — some adherents just enjoy them for their symbolism. The organization's official position on the origin of the world supports the big bang theory — that a cosmic explosion marked the beginning of the universe — and further scientific exploration. Afterlife Unitarian Universalist beliefs about the afterlife are as varied as their beliefs about God. For the most part, however, Unitarian Universalists do not believe that the soul is reincarnated after death. In fact, the organization's official position on the matter is disbelief in reincarnation, but a Unitarian Universalist church would not disapprove of a member's belief in reincarnation. What makes it unique? What sets Unitarian Universalism apart from other religions is their view on religious tolerance. The church is organized around a broad set of moral ideologies, which invites a diverse congregation that welcomes any member. Since members are actively encouraged to seek the spiritual truth that is most true for them as individuals, there is a diverse variety of ideas and this can be confusing or stimulating, depending on your perspective. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Native American You're 67% compatible with Native American religious beliefs. Gods and Goddesses Native Americans believe that their multiple gods and goddesses rule different aspects of nature. For example, Estsanatlehi (meaning "changing woman") is the ageless Navajo goddess of time and change. She's responsible for the changing of the seasons and for birth and death. Some Native American religions also believe in a primary God, referred to as the Great Spirit, who is the Earth's creator and the overseer of humankind. The Origin of the World There are a variety of traditional Native American beliefs about the origin of the world. Generally speaking, however, most believe that the world was started by a "God of creation." For example, this is the Chippewa's creation story: Long ago the Creator sat alone in the darkness thinking, and with His thoughts formed Mother Earth. Then He covered Mother Earth lovingly with many trees, plants, and animals. The world He created was beautiful, yet he grew lonely. From the soil of the Earth, he formed the first man and the first woman and gave them tools to aid in their survival. To the man, He gave a bow and arrow for hunting. To the woman, he gave a basket for gathering seeds. He then blew life into each of them, first the woman, then the man. When the humans first lived, they accepted their duty to take care of Mother Earth, to not be greedy, and to give back equally what they had taken. Afterlife Most Native American religions do not have firm beliefs about what happens after death. Some are comfortable not having a definitive explanation, some believe in a spiritual life after death, and some believe you are reincarnated, either into an animal or a human. What makes it unique? What sets the Native American religions apart from others is their passion for the Earth and the natural world. They have traditionally stressed the close relationship between man and nature and the need to protect the Earth and the environment. This belief is completely integrated into their religions. In their eyes, the Divine and nature are one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baha'i You're 55% compatible with Baha'i beliefs. God The Baha'i believe in a single, all-powerful, all-knowing God. Like Islam, the Baha'i believe that God has sent a series of prophets to Earth. However, unlike Islam, the Baha'i believe that God will continue to send prophets over and above the 10 prophets he's sent so far, including Krishna, Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad, as well as the two prophets of the Baha'i religion, The Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. Origin of the World The Baha'i religion does not contain a creation story. It interprets the stories in the sacred texts of the major world religions as primarily mythical and seeks to understand their symbolism. Afterlife The Baha'i religion teaches that each person's soul lives on after death and is then free to travel the spirit world, which they conceive of as an extension of this world. What makes it unique? Unlike the other 9 major world religions, the Baha'i religion believes that peace will come when the world unifies under a single religion and a single government. It attempts to resolve the differences among Abrahamic Faiths and between the Vedic Faiths and unify all people under the Baha'i religion. To support the cause of world peace, the Baha'i World Faith is among the most socially active, if not the most socially active religious organization on the planet. They work toward equality for all people and are concerned with human rights issues worldwide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hinduism You're 55% compatible with Hindu beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Hinduism also has a good amount in common with Buddhism. Here's why: Both religions are informed by the sacred texts known as the Vedas and because of that are called the Vedic Faiths. Also, both religions believe in the combination of reincarnation— the cycle of birth-death-rebirth — and Karma — the notion that a person's good and bad deeds will have an effect on their future lives, for better or worse. Gods and goddesses Hindus believe that there are multiple gods and goddesses that rule different aspects of life, but that they all make up one Divine essence. For example, they believe in Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of success and overcoming obstacles, who is also associated with wisdom and power. They also believe in the Divine Mother called Devi (meaning "mother goddess"). She is both gentle in her efforts to bring and protect life, and terrible in her efforts to bring death and destruction. Origin of the World There are many Hindu explanations for the origin of the world, but all recognize Brahma as the God of creation. Here's a version of the Hindu creation story: In the beginning all was undifferentiated and in perfect harmony and Vishnu lay relaxed on his serpent, Sheshnag. As Vishnu opened his eyes, creation began. A lotus flower emerged from his navel and birthed the god of creation, Brahma. Brahma proceeded to create the universe in the form of a golden egg, called the Hiranyagarbha, which means "the golden womb." Afterlife Hindus believe that the soul is reincarnated through something called transmigration — at death, the soul is reborn into another body. In this way, each soul engages in a continual process of birth-death-rebirth over many lifetimes and in each its Karma will dictate the kind of life it will have. For example, if a soul has accumulated enough good Karma, it may be reborn into a life where it enjoys more comfort and has more opportunity to share the knowledge it has gained through behaving the right way. After living many lives of continued good Karma, one may reach a state of Nirvana where it will be free finally from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth. What makes it unique? The Hindus' belief that their social position in this life is entirely due to their behavior in the last creates a rigid social hierarchy. If you were to give it a motto, it might read, "You get what you deserve." They believe that it's only through concentrated effort in this life that you may be able to positively affect your social position in the next and move further along your path toward Enlightenment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buddhism You're 54% compatible with Buddhist beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Buddhism also has a good amount in common with Hinduism. Here's why: First of all, Buddhism grew out of a Hindu culture and both religions are informed by the sacred texts known as the Vedas and as such are called the Vedic Faiths. Also, both religions believe in the combination of reincarnation — the cycle of birth-death-rebirth — and Karma, the notion that a person's good and bad deeds will have an effect on their future lives, for better or worse. God The Buddha did not try to explain the existence of a God, gods, or goddesses or document the proper rituals and sacrifices to achieve oneness with God, but he did offer a wealth of specific teachings whose principles encourage a spiritual connection through commitment to self-discipline, meditation, and important moral rules. Origin of the World Here, Buddhism also diverges from traditional Vedic religious beliefs. Buddhists do not believe that there was a "God of creation," but rather that the universe is constantly being created and destroyed as it evolves in time. Afterlife The Vedic Faiths both agree that after multiple rebirths one can reach Enlightenment — a state of being where you do not experience suffering or desire — but this is where their similarities end. Buddhists reject the notion of a social hierarchy, and with it, the idea that good Karma will allow one's soul to be reborn into a higher social position. In addition, they do not believe that there is one permanent soul that moves from one life to the next, but that an individual's character is changing constantly throughout one's life transitions, whether it is a transition from adolescence to early adulthood or a transition from this life to the next. What makes it unique? What sets Buddhism apart from the other religions is the Buddha's teachings that as a group are called the Tripitaka. After he reached Enlightenment, the Buddha taught his revelations in the form of three doctrines. The Four Noble Truths are the core Buddhist lessons and principles: (1) Suffering is real and universal, (2) Suffering is caused by a need for control, (3) Suffering ceases to exist when you reach enlightenment and (4) The Eightfold Path leads to Enlightenment. The Five Precepts are the rules to live by: Do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not be immodest, and do not consume drugs. And the Eightfold Path, also called the Middle Path (the path to Enlightenment) is the approach that helps end craving and attachment: (1) Right Understanding, (2) Right Thinking, (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Conduct, (5) Right Livelihood, (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Mindfulness, and (8) Right Concentration. By studying these lessons, a Buddhist may, in time, reach Enlightenment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Judaism You're 46% compatible with Judaic religious beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Judaism also has a good amount in common with Islam and Christianity. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots (and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other? God Jews believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Christians and the Muslims do. Also like their fellow Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward living a good and holy life. At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and bring peace. They also believe that God entered into a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him and his descendants his "chosen people," in return for their love and obedience. Origin of the World The Abrahamic Faiths also have very similar beliefs about how the world was created. Here's the creation story from the book of Genesis: Long ago, before the Earth existed, there was nothing and all was dark. Then God created Heaven and the Earth in six days. On the first day, God said "Let there be light" and a flash of light drove away the darkness, creating the day and the night. On the second day, God created the beautiful sky. On the third day, God gathered the water together to form oceans, rivers and lakes and covered the land of the Earth with many varieties of plants, including trees and grasses. On the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day, God created many types of fish and birds. On the sixth day, God created all of the rest of the animals on Earth. Then He created the first man and the first woman, named Adam and Eve, in his own image to be the rulers of Earth. On the seventh day, God rested. Afterlife The Abrahamic Faiths believe that after death individual human souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell. Some Jews believe, however, that souls can be reincarnated up to three times, the idea being that you get to learn additional lessons on Earth, and then, after the third lifetime, the souls are judged and sent to either Heaven or Hell. What makes it unique? Judaism differs from both Christianity and Islam in their beliefs about Jesus and the Messiah. Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, nor do they believe he was a prophet or a Savior sent by God. Some Jews believe that Jesus was a wise teacher of religious ethics. They do not believe that it's necessary to be saved from "original sin," which comes from the Christian belief that all people have inherited the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. Instead, Jews anticipate the coming of the Messiah, who will lead them back to the Promised Land and usher in a period of peace. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spiritualism You're 42% compatible with Spiritualist beliefs. Divine Belief about God widely varies among Spiritualists, but many believe in the almighty God of the Old Testament. For most of the Spiritualists, however, their primary connection to the Divine is through a spiritual medium. Mediums are believed to be highly sensitive psychics who can communicate with the spirit world through séances, trances, and other psychic techniques. Origin of the World Most Spiritualists see the creation story they are most familiar with — that of the Old Testament — as a mythology. They have no official position on the origin of the world. Afterlife Spiritualists believe that death is a transition from existence on a physical plane to the very same on a spiritual plane. Once on a spiritual plane, they believe that even the most sinful people can grow and improve. They also believe that while you're on the physical plane, you can take the knowledge you gain about the spiritual plane to help you better make the transition. This is the main reason mediums contact the spirit world. What makes it unique? What sets the Spiritualists apart from other religions is the deep faith they place in the ability of psychics and mediums to see what lies beyond in the spiritual plane. Many Spiritualists seek to hone their own psychic abilities so they can gather better knowledge. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islam You're 35% compatible with Islamic beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Islam also has a good amount in common with Judaism and Christianity. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots (and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other? God Muslims believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Christians and the Jews do. Also like their fellow Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward living a good and holy life. At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and bring peace. Islam traces its lineage back to Abraham through Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. Origin of the World Islam's interpretation of the creation story in the book of Genesis differs somewhat from that of Judaism and Christianity. Instead of believing the world was created in six days, Muslims believe that God created the world in six periods, each of which could have been millions or billions of years long. Read the Genesis story. Afterlife The Abrahamic Faiths believe that after death individual human souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell. What makes it unique? Islam recognizes Muhammad as the last true prophet sent to Earth by God. There are 25 prophets mentioned in the Qur'an (Islam's most well-known sacred text), including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet sent by God but not that he was the Son of God. They believe that when he died on the cross, he ascended to Heaven and was not resurrected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christianity You're 28% compatible with Christian beliefs. It might surprise you to learn that Christianity also has a good amount in common with Judaism and Islam. Here's why: All three religions embrace the Old Testament and trace their roots back to Abraham, which is why they're known as the Abrahamic Faiths. Isn't it interesting how these three share roots (and more!), and they are still constantly in conflict with each other? God Christians believe in the single, all-powerful God of the Abrahamic Faiths, just as the Jews and the Muslims do. However, Christians differ on one point; they see God as the Holy Trinity — God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But like their fellow Abrahamic believers, they accept that God has delivered a series of moral codes and laws that will guide them toward living a good and holy life. At some point, they expect God to flush the world of sin and bring peace. Christianity traces its lineage back to Abraham through Jesus, born the Son of God in the line of David, who was a descendant of Abraham. Origin of the world The Abrahamic Faiths also have very similar beliefs about how the world was created. Here's the creation story from the book of Genesis: Long ago, before the Earth existed, there was nothing and all was dark. Then God created Heaven and the Earth in six days. On the first day, God said "Let there be light" and a flash of light drove away the darkness, creating the day and the night. On the second day, God created the beautiful sky. On the third day, God gathered the water together to form oceans, rivers, and lakes and covered the land of the Earth with many varieties of plants, including trees and grasses. On the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day, God created many types of fish and birds. On the sixth day, God created all of the rest of the animals on Earth. Then He created the first man and the first woman, named Adam and Eve, in his own image to be the rulers of Earth. On the seventh day, God rested. Afterlife The Abrahamic Faiths believe that after death all souls will be judged by God, who will then decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell, but not all Christians believe in Hell as a literal place of suffering in the Afterlife. Some believe that Hell is purely metaphorical — that it represents a state of suffering even here on Earth — and some reject the concept of Hell completely. What makes it unique? There are literally thousands of Christian denominations, which have widely varying beliefs about many things, including the historical validity of the Bible, the existence of Hell, and the Immaculate Conception. However, all Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who lived on Earth and that he died on the cross to save people from "original sin," which is the concept that all people have inherited the first sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Your religion report Core religious beliefs and you What's your spiritual style? History behind the test For More Reading Now that you know your compatibility with the world's major religions, you need the next important ingredient, your spiritual style, or the way you like to worship. Put the two together — your beliefs and your style — and you should be able to find the best environment to express your faith. As you've seen, within each of the world's religions there's a lot of variety — from major theoretical differences between branches to more subtle differences in congregations, so it's important to be clear on what you need from a religious community. Based on your test results, Tickle can explain where you stand on three very important spiritual style points: community (group worship or lots of alone-time), openness (level of flexibility), and political point of view (liberal or conservative). How much community do you want in your religious community? You tend to enjoy spending time reflecting on your spiritual beliefs in solitude. This is not to say that you wouldn't be open to joining a loose-knit community of people who are also on a similar spiritual path, you probably just don't need the kind of structure or congregation an organized religion offers. How open do you want your religious community to be? The religious community you become involved with will probably need to be somewhat open and accepting of other religious traditions and beliefs, and it should support your individual pursuit of spiritual truth. You're likely to be put off by the extreme contention that any single religious organization can hold the key to truth and salvation, leaving all who don't believe to suffer for eternity. Make sure you begin your search for the right community by asking the difficult questions such as, "Does this community assume its religion is the only true one?" or "Who does this community believe can ascend to Heaven, Nirvana, or Enlightenment?" If the answers fit your values and beliefs, then you're probably on the right track. Where do you want your religious community to lean politically? You're likely to believe in equality for all people, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. Because of this core belief, you may want to find a religious community that's active in social and human rights causes. You also tend to believe that people should be allowed to make their own decisions without official church involvement when it comes to matters of individual lifestyle and major life choices. Make these important distinctions when choosing a religious community, so that you're sure to find a congregation that's at least somewhat aligned with your political views. As you consider your spiritual style and the religious community that's right for you, here's some basic information on the world's five major religions. Began Sacred Texts Spiritual Leader Worship Center Believer % World population Judaism c. 2000 BCE The Torah Rabbi or Cantor Synagogue Jew <1% Hinduism c. 1500 BCE The Vedas Priest Temple Hindu 15% Buddhism c. 560 BCE The Tripitaka Bhiksu and Bhikuni Temple Buddhist 6% Christianity c. 30+ CE The Christian Bible Priest, Minister, Monk, or Nun Church Christian 33% Islam c. 622 CE Qur'an Imam Mosque Muslim 22% Your religion report Core religious beliefs and you What's your spiritual style? History behind the test For More Reading To develop Tickle's Religious Compatibility Test, our experts researched the world's major religions to find the 10 with the largest number of believers and the clearest ideologies. The 10 that appear in this report are the top 10 organized religions in the United States, based on the results of the American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) conducted by the Graduate School of the City University of New York in 2001. The chart below shows the estimated numbers and percentages of Americans that identify as believers in each of the top 10 American religions. Religion Estimated Number of Believers in U.S. Adult Population Percentage of Believers in U.S. Adult Population Christianity 159,030,000 76.50% Judaism 2,831,000 1.30% Islam 1,104,000 0.50% Buddhism 1,082,000 0.50% Hinduism 766,000 0.40% Unitarian Universalism 629,000 0.30% Neo-Paganism 307,000 0.10% Spiritualism 116,000 -- Native American 103,000 -- Baha'i 84,000 -- After selecting the religions, our experts researched each one intensively, drawing distinctions between them and taking note of similarities. A preliminary survey of 3,000 persons with varying religious identities revealed the questions that helped us identify your religious compatibility.