Theravada Buddhism started 25 and a half centuries ago, 19 days after the Buddha passed away. It is the more conservative of the two major traditions of Buddhism, and the original doctrine of Buddhist teachings. Today, it is strongly practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, but is also known in smaller communities around the world. The word Theravada comes from Thera meaning Elders, and Vada meaning Doctrine, thus, the Doctrine of Elders. It is a name for the School of Buddhism that draws its information strictly from the Pali Canon, or Tipitaka, which most scholars accept as the oldest record of the Buddha’s teachings. The later sutras that emerged from Mahayana Buddhism are simply not recognized.

The focus of Theravada is based largely on the 4 noble truths, and the 8 fold path. While the 4 noble truths were previously covered in the Mainstream Buddhism video, the 8 fold path are 8 qualities to develop in one’s life: right view, right resolve,...

Voodoo is a fusion of religious practices from Africa that is a derivative of the world’s oldest known religions. It has been around in Africa since the beginning of human civilization. There is no single founder of voodoo and there is no determinant date for the origin of this spirituality.

It did come to America with the advent of slavery and would play a huge role in bringing freedom to the slaves. However, because of the fears of the European and American Slavers, the idea was spread far and wide that the practice was a primitive, barbaric practice based on superstition and spectacle. This was an attempt to suppress and distort a legitimate and unique religion. When slavers brought these people to the Americas, the Africans brought their religion with them, and voodoo continued evolving from there.

According to their beliefs, and much like Shinto, there are thousands of Spirits that interact with humanity. These Spirits, called Lwa were once human. Some of them are...

Wicca is the most commonly known strain of New Pagan faiths, also known as Contemporary, Modern, or Neo-Paganism. It is a group of new spiritual movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe. The underlying basis surrounding all of them is that humans should live in harmony with nature.

Within Modern Paganism, there are many diverse sets of beliefs, practices, and texts, but none that are followed by them all. For this reason, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make a claim describing what “Modern Pagans” believe. To this group, the diverse practices are considered as denominations, and further, not all members of these faiths or beliefs even self-identify themselves as Pagans, Wiccans, or what have you.

The very word Pagan was a title given to them by Catholics in the 3rd century AD when the Roman state declared them heretics and killed anyone who did not convert to Christianity. The word Pagan...

The Faith of Yoruba is comprised of the traditional religious concepts and practices of the people found primarily in southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin, and Togo, commonly known as Yorubaland. It is a vibrant way of seeking inspiration and energy from deities, ancestors, and other beings so that people can live fulfilled lives. The essence of it is a divine journey to the inner self and to God-consciousness. The tenants revolve around this: Oneness with the Creative Essence brings about a wholeness in the potential of the human essence.

In the Yoruba faith, there is one supreme God, named Olodumare, also called Olorun, who is the creator of all things, and responsible for the creation and upkeep of what he has made. Yoruba is Animistic in nature, and thus many of God's creations are Spirit Deities which inhabit different aspects of life and reality. They do the supreme work of Olodumare and keep and maintain the cosmos in perfect order and harmony.

These deities...