Religion

An editorial selection for comparing processes, events, and lives. The interval and counts describe selected records, not the historical boundaries or importance of the subject.

Canonical records: 381
Events: 212
People: 9
Processes and periods: 160

Compare in the atlas Selection criteria and limits

Topics represented

Religion (351) · Buddhist traditions (97) · Hindu traditions (62) · Chinese traditions (61) · Judaism (43) · Islam (42) · Christianity (34) · Empire and state (20) · Daoist traditions (19) · Catholic Christianity (17) · Sunni (16) · Roman Empire (14)

View distribution by region and period

Canonical records by regional label and start date. These are numerical analysis bins, not universal historical periods. A multi-region record appears in multiple rows; do not add rows as a unique-record total.
Region	Before 3000 BCE	3000–1 BCE	1–1499	1500–1799	1800–1899	1900–1999	Since 2000
Africa	2	1	18	1	2	3	0
Americas	0	2	1	3	3	7	0
Asia	2	55	154	12	15	39	25
Europe	1	5	32	17	5	16	2
Oceania	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Global / no specific region	0	0	2	1	4	14	14

Records and sources

Ordered by start date. Long lives and processes may begin before the period you want to study.

2011
Census and religious self-identification
The census publishes declared administrative counts, not an inventory of beliefs, castes, or practices.
2014
UN creates International Day of Yoga
Yoga has Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and secular genealogies that must not be erased.
2016
Nalanda inscribed by UNESCO
The inscription preserves archaeological remains of a monastic-scholastic tradition, not an uninterrupted modern institution.
2016
Ecumenical Reformation commemoration in Lund
Pope Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation jointly opened the 500th-anniversary commemoration of the Reformation. It shows a move toward dialogue without denying continuing differences.
2016
Yoga inscribed by UNESCO
The heritage inscription describes a broad practice, not exclusive religious ownership.
2017
Kumbh Mela inscribed by UNESCO
The inscription recognizes a major pilgrimage and gathering cycle with diverse sites, calendars, and authorities.
Feb 1, 2018
Revised religious-affairs regulation
The revised regulation took effect, asserting freedom of religious belief and protection for normal religious activities while maintaining registration, supervision and detailed restrictions.
2019
Supreme Court judgment on Ayodhya
The judgment decided a civil land dispute; it is not proof of an exclusive religious narrative.
2019
Document on Human Fraternity
Signed in Abu Dhabi by the Grand Imam of al-Azhar and Pope Francis; a milestone in contemporary interreligious dialogue.
2020
Ong Chun/Wangchuan inscribed
UNESCO inscribed a ceremony shared by China and Malaysia, connecting Ong Yah worship, memories of seafaring ancestors and Minnan communities in Xiamen, Quanzhou and Melaka.
2021–2024
Synod on Synodality
The Catholic Church conducted a worldwide consultation and two assembly sessions on synodality; the 2024 final document was presented to the pope and authorized for publication. It is an ongoing process, not an ecumenical council.
2021
Durga Puja of Kolkata inscribed
UNESCO recognized Durga Puja as living heritage, making contemporary urban Shakta traditions visible.
2022
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
The UN General Assembly designated 15 March and stressed that terrorism and extremism must not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization.
2023
Songkran inscribed by UNESCO
UNESCO inscribed Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year festival, in 2023. Its practices include bathing Buddha images and expressing respect for elders and ancestors.
2023
Garba of Gujarat inscribed
UNESCO inscribed Garba, a dance associated with Goddess festivals; its social practice exceeds one reading.
May 20, 2024
25 years of Vesak at the UN
The missions of Sri Lanka and Thailand hosted a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of resolution 54/115 in the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters. The General Assembly president’s speech documents the event.
2024
Qiang New Year on Representative List
The Qiang element from Sichuan moved from the Urgent Safeguarding List to the Representative List. Its recognition concerns a specific non-Han tradition with its own community history.
2024
Spring Festival inscribed
UNESCO inscribed traditional New Year practices including family reunions and offerings to heaven, earth and ancestors. Recognition of continuity and transmission does not imply identical practices in every community.
2024
Consecration of Ramlalla in Ayodhya
A documented contemporary ceremony; law, state, and religious interpretations remain distinct.
2024
UN measures against Islamophobia
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on measures against Islamophobia; recorded as an institutional response, not a quantitative measure of incidence.
2025
ICH periodic reporting
UNESCO records the state report submitted in 2024 and examined in 2025. It documents contemporary heritage administration rather than directly measuring religiosity or community vitality.