In the modern world, there are many religions. Conventionally, they can be divided into the following groups: world, national, tribal. The latter are common within one community, a group of people. This is the oldest form of religion. Today it has survived in parts of Africa and Asia. Servants of tribal religions are priests, shamans, sorcerers. They are respected and endowed with some power.
The main religions of the world are also global. 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 related to world religions. Because of them there were conflicts, wars for many centuries.
The oldest world religion Buddhism originated in the VI century. BC e. in India. The reason for this was the indignation of the simple population that had reached its limits and the caste system and slavery that existed at that time.
Islam arose in the VII century. n e. It was a period of disintegration of the existing society and the formation of a new one. As the world's youngest religion, Islam has been influenced by pre-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 appeared as a result of the development of society, states and the relations between them. All of them took shape in a unique historical environment and certain socio-economic conditions. This led to the presence of features and differences between them: religious norms, rules, rituals, and so on. They, throughout the history of mankind, have served as the main cause of disagreement between peoples.
In a later period of time, national religions formed. These include Hinduism (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka), Shintoism (Japan), Confucianism (China). Their distinguishing feature can be called state-national character. The period of tribal fragmentation ended and was replaced by states with centralized power. Class society arose and the forms of beliefs gradually changed.
National religions supplanted tribal ones, replacing many deities with one single. Judaism is an example. The god Yahweh, whose life was given by the religious imagination of the tribe of Judah, gradually became a god for all Jewish tribes, i.e. the national one.
Adapting to constantly changing conditions, national religions, as before, have a great influence on customs, morals, personal and family life. This is especially true of population reproduction.
For example, in Protestant countries, marriage is permitted from a later age, and getting a divorce is quite simple. On the one hand, this does not allow young people to commit rash acts. But on the other - it does not contribute to the preservation of marriage. National religions of Latin America and Spain allow women to marry from 12 years old, and men from 14 years old. Even 30 years ago, it was almost impossible for a Catholic to get a divorce. Today it is a normal process that does not require significant effort and time.
In Muslim countries, religion encourages early marriage, polygamy, and large families. In contrast, Judaism prohibits secondary marriages and, accordingly, divorces.
Some time ago, most teenage girls in India were 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 current situation in this country, promotes and supports demographic policy.