List of founders of religious traditions

Yuya ŋan do gbunni ŋɔ nyɛla ninvuɣu shɛba ban zali taarihi di yi kana adiini nim gbub'bu bee deebu polo, . Bɛ nyɛla silimiingi ni bolishɛbi Religious Philosophies la. Bɛ lan nyɛla ninvuɣu shɛbi ban zali yuli bee taari adiini shɛŋa ni bɛ ni daa be puuni.

Legendary/semi-historical
 Traditional founder Religious tradition founded Historical founder(s) Life of historical founder No single Founder (Hinduism) Hinduism  The Saptarishi  c. 15th century BC to 10th century BC Abraham (covenant with God)Moses (religious law)  Judaism  YahwistsThe religion of the Israelites of Iron Age I was based on a cult of ancestors and worship of family gods, the "gods of the fathers". With the emergence of the monarchy at the beginning of Iron Age II the kings promoted their family god, YHWH (Yahweh), as the god of the kingdom, but beyond the royal court, religion continued to be both polytheistic and family-centered. As such, this founding group is referred to as "Yahwists". c. 13thAlbertz 1994, p. 61.Grabbe 2008, pp. 225–6. to 8th century BCIsrael emerges into the historical record in the last decades of the 13th century BCE, at the very end of the Late Bronze Age, as the Canaanite city-state system was ending. In the words of archaeologist William Dever, "most of those who came to call themselves Israelites … were or had been indigenous Canaanites". The worship of YHWH (Yahweh) alone began at the earliest with Elijah in the 9th century BCE, but more likely with the prophet Hosea in the 8th; even then it remained the concern of a small party before gaining ascendancy in the exilic and early post-exilic period. Laozi  Taoism  Zhuang Zhou  369 BC – 286 BC 

Ancient nima poi yuuni  500 Anabi Issah Kpibu nyaanŋa.

 Founder Name Religious tradition founded Life of founder Akhenaten  Atenism  c. 1353 BC – 1336 BC Zoroaster  Zoroastrianism  c. 1000 BCMelton 2003, p. 191. Parshvanatha  The penultimate (23rd) Tirthankara in Jainism  877 BC – 777 BC p. 115 Numa Pompilius  Roman Religion c. 753 BC – 672 BC Nebuchadnezzar II  built the Etemenanki, established Marduk as the patron deity of Babylon  c. 634 BC – 562 BC Ajita Kesakambali  Charvaka  6th century BCJohn M. Koller (1977), Skepticism in Early Indian Thought, Philosophy East and West, 27(2): 155-164Dale Riepe (1996), Naturalistic Tradition in Indian Thought, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 53-58 Mahavira  The final (24th) tirthankara in Jainism  599 BC – 527 BC"Mahavira." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2006. Answers.com 28 Nov. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/mahavira Gautama Buddha  Buddhism  563 BC – 483 BC Confucius  Confucianism  551 BC – 479 BC. Pythagoras  Pythagoreanism  fl. 520 BC Mozi  Mohism   470 BC – 390 BC Makkhali Gosala  Ājīvika  5th century BCJames Lochtefeld, "Ajivika", The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing. , page 22 Ezra  Second Temple JudaismBrueggemann 2002, pp. 75, 144.  fl. 459 BChistoricity disputed but widely considered plausible.  Gosta W. Ahlstrom argues the inconsistencies of the biblical tradition are insufficient to say that Ezra, with his central position as the 'father of Judaism' in the Jewish tradition, has been a later literary invention. (The History of Ancient Palestine, Fortress Press, p.888) Epicurus  Epicureanism  fl. 307 BC Zeno of Citium  Stoicism  333 BC – 264 BC Pharnavaz I of Iberia  Armazi  326 BC – 234 BC Valmiki  Valmikism  c. 3rd century BC Patanjali  Rāja yoga sect of Hinduism  2nd century BC Jesus (and the Twelve Apostles) Christianity  c. 4 BC – c. 30/33 AD  Paul the Apostle  Pauline Christianity  c. 33 AD James the Just  Jewish Christianity   c. 33 AD Lakulisha  Pashupata Shaivism sect of Hinduism  1st century AD Judah the Prince  Rabbinic Judaism  2nd century AD Montanus  Montanism  2nd century AD Marcion of Sinope  Marcionism  110–160 Elkesai  Elkesaism  170–230 Nagarjuna  Madhyamaka  150–250 Plotinus  Neoplatonism  205–270 Mani  Manichaeism  216–274 AriusThe teaching of the traditional "founding father" of a "heresy" is may well have differed greatly from the contents of the heresy as generally understood.  For references see following notes.  ArianismAcc. to Rowan Williams, 'Arianism' was essentially a polemical creation of Athanasius in an attempt to show that the different alternatives to the Nicene Creed collapsed back into some form of Arius' teaching. (Arius, SCM (2001) p.247) 250–336 Pelagius  PelagianismPelagius' thought was one sided and an inadequate interpretation of Christianity, but his disciples, Celestius and, to a greater extent, Julian of Eclanum pushed his ideas to extremes.(Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines A & C. Black (1965) p.361)  Pelagius himself was declared orthodox by the synod of Diospolis in 415, after repudiating some of Celestius' opinions. (Frend, W.H.C. Saints and Sinners in the Early Church DLT (1985) p.133)  354–430 Nestorius  NestorianismNestorius specifically endorsed the repudiation of "Nestorianism" reached at Chalcedon in 451 (Prestige, G.L. Fathers and Heretics SPCK (1963) p.130) 386–451 Eutyches  MonophysitismMonophysitism represents an advanced type of Alexandrian Theology; it emerged in a distinctive form in 433 as a result of the agreement between John of Antioch and Cyril of Alexandria.  The exaggerated form held by Eutyches was condemned in 451 by the Council of Chalcedon.  In its moderate forms the divergence from orthodoxy may be simply terminological. Alexandrian Theology stressed both divine transcendence and a marked dualism between the material and the spiritual and so tended to nullify the humanity of Christ.(Cross & Livingstone. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (1974) arts. Monophysitism, Alexandrian Theology) 380–456

Medieval to Early Modern (500–1800 AD)
 Name  Religious tradition founded Life of founder Mazdak Mazdakism died c. 526 Bodhidharma  Zen, more specifically Ch'an  5th or 6th century Muhammad  Islam  c. 570–632 Songtsen Gampo  Tibetan Buddhism  7th century En no Gyōja  Shugendō  late 7th century Huineng  East Asian Zen Buddhism  638–713 Padmasambhava  Nyingma  8th century Han Yu  Neo-Confucianism  8th or 9th century Saichō  Tendai (descended from Tiantai)  767–822 Kūkai  Shingon Buddhism  774–835 Adi Shankara  Advaita Vedanta  788–820 Ibn Nusayr  Nusayrism  late 9th century Matsyendranath  Nath  10th centuryRamanuja  Vishishtadvaita  1017–1137Great Peacemaker  Great Law of Peace  Between the 10th and 15th centuries Hamza ibn ‘Alī ibn Aḥmad  Druze  11th century Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir  Yazidism  12th century Basava  Lingayatism  12th century Peter Waldo  Waldensianism  1140–1205 Hōnen  Jōdo-shū (descended from Pure Land Buddhism)  1131–1212 Eisai  Rinzai Zen (descended from the Linji school)  1141–1215 Shinran  Jōdo Shinshū (descended from Jōdo-shū) 1173–1263 Dōgen  Sōtō Zen (descended from the Caodong school)  1200–1253 Haji Bektash Veli  Bektashi Order of Sufism  1209–1271 Nichiren  Nichiren Buddhism  1222–1282 Abraham Abulafia  Prophetic Kabbalah, a.k.a. ecstatic Kabbalah  1240–1290sDyaneshwar  Varkari  1275–1296 Madhvacharya  Dvaita  1238–1317 John Wycliffe  Lollardy  1320s–1384 Fażlu l-Lāh Astar-Ābādī Hurufism  14th century  Mahmoud Pasikhani  Nuqṭawism  late 14th century  Jan Hus  Hussitism  1372–1415 Tlacaelel  Cult of Huitzilopochtli  1397–1487 Ramananda  Ramanandi Vaishnavism  15th century Kabir  Kabir Panth  1398–1448 Pachacuti  Cult of Inti  1418–1472 Sankardev  Ekasarana Dharma  1449–1568 Ravidas  Ravidassia  c. 1450–1520 Guru Nanak  Sikhism, Nanak Panth  1469–1539 Sri Chand  Udasi  1494–1629 Vallabha Acharya  Shuddhadvaita   1479–1531 Martin Luther  Lutheranism and Protestantism in general  1483–1546 Chaitanya Mahaprabhu  Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Achintya Bheda Abheda  1486–1534 Thomas Cranmer  Anglicanism (Church of England)  1489–1556 Menno Simons  Mennonite  1496–1561 Conrad Grebel  Swiss Brethren, Anabaptists  1498–1526 Jacob Hutter  Hutterite  1500–1536 Isaac Luria  Lurianic Kabbalah  1534–1572 Guru Angad  Sikhism  1539–1552 Sultan Sahak  Yarsanism  early 15th century Guru Amar Das  Sikhism  1552–1572 John Calvin  CalvinismMelton 2003, p. 67.   1509–1564 Michael ServetusMelton 2003, p. 128.  Unitarianism  1511?–1553 John KnoxMelton 2003, p. 69.  Presbyterianism  1510–1572 Guru Ram Das  Sikhism  1534–1581 Akbar  Din-i Ilahi  1542–1605 Jacobus Arminius  Arminianism  1560–1609 John SmythMelton 2003, p. 102.  Baptists  1570–1612 Guru Arjan  Sikhism  1571–1606 Guru Hargobind Ji  Sikhism  1606–1644 Avvakum  Old Believers of Russian Orthodox Church  1620–1682 Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji  Sikhism 1621–1675 George FoxMelton 2003, p. 95.  Quakers  1624–1691 Philipp SpenerMelton 2003, p. 73.  Pietism  1635–1705Sikhism 1644–1661 Jakob Ammann  Amish  1656–1730Guru Har Krishan JiSikhism1661–1664 Guru Gobind Singh  Sikhism, Khalsa Panth  1666–1708 Emanuel Swedenborg  The New Church  1688–1772 Yisroel ben Eliezer "Baal Shem Tov"Melton 2003, p. 183.  Hasidic Judaism  1698–1760 John Wesley,Melton 2003, p. 75. Charles Wesley, George Whitefield  Methodism  1703–1791 Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab  Wahhabism  1703–1792 Ann LeeMelton 2003, p. 724.  Shakers  1736–1784

Adiini pala din daa kpa yuuni 1800 nyaan ga

 Name Religious tradition founded Life of founderShaykh Ahmad al-Ahsá'íShaykhism, precursor of Bábism1753–1826 Ram Mohan Roy  Brahmo Samaj  1772–1833 Swaminarayan  Swaminarayan Sampraday  1781–1830 Auguste Comte  Religion of Humanity  1798–1857 Nakayama Miki  Tenrikyo  1798–1887 Ignaz von Döllinger  Old Catholic Church  1799–1890 Phineas Quimby  New Thought  1802–1866 Allan Kardec (founder of the religion) Holy Spirit (made the teachings)  Spiritism  1804–1869 Joseph Smith  Mormonism, also known as the Latter Day Saint movement 1805–1844 John Thomas  Christadelphians  1805–1871 Abraham Geiger  Reform Judaism  1810–1874 Jamgon Kongtrul  Rimé movement  1813–1899 Hong Xiuquan  Taiping Christianity  1814–1864 Bahá'u'lláhMelton 2003, p. 992.  Baháʼí Faith  1817–1892 Báb  Bábism, precursor of the Baháʼí Faith 1819–1850 James Springer White  Seventh-day Adventist Church  1821–1881 Wang Jueyi  Yiguandao  1821–1884 Mary Baker EddyMelton 2003, p. 741.  Christian Science  1821–1910 Ramalinga Swamigal  Samarasa Sutha Sanmarga Sangam  1823–1874 Dayananda Saraswati  Arya Samaj  1824–1883 Ellen G. WhiteMelton 2003, p. 621.  Seventh-day Adventist Church  1827–1915 John Ballou Newbrough  Faithism  1828–1891 Helena Blavatsky  Theosophy  1831–1891 Ayya Vaikundar  Ayyavazhi  1833–1851 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad  Ahmadiyya  1835–1908 Guido von List  Armanism (Germanic mysticism)  1848–1919 Charles Taze RussellMelton 2003, p. 637.  Bible Student movement   1852–1916 Wovoka  Ghost Dance  1856–1932 Rudolf Steiner  Anthroposophy  1861–1925 Swami Vivekananda  Ramakrishna Mission  1863–1902 William IrvineChryssides 2001, p. 330.  Two by Twos and Cooneyites  1863–1947 Max Heindel  The Rosicrucian Fellowship  1865–1919 Tsunesaburo Makiguchi  Soka Gakkai  1871–1944 Sri Aurobindo  Integral yoga  1872–1950 Mason Remey  Orthodox Baháʼí Faith  1874–1974 Aleister Crowley  Thelema  1875–1947 Charles Fox Parham  Pentecostalism  1873–1929 "Father Divine"  International Peace Mission movement  c. 1876–1965 Edgar Cayce  Association for Research and Enlightenment  1877–1945 Ngô Văn Chiêu  Caodaism  1878–1926 Guy Ballard  "I AM" Activity  1878–1939 Frank Buchman  Oxford Group/Moral Re-Armament  1878–1961 Alfred G. Moses  Jewish Science  1878–1956John SlocumIndian Shaker Church1881 Mordecai Kaplan  Reconstructionist Judaism  1881–1983 Gerald Gardner  Wicca  1884–1964 Felix Manalo  Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)  1886–1963 Frank B. Robinson  Psychiana  1886–1948 Noble Drew Ali  Moorish Science Temple of America  1886–1929 Marcus Garvey  Rastafari  1887–1940 Ernest Holmes  Religious Science  1887–1960 Sadafaldeo  Vihangamyoga  1888–1954 Aimee Semple McPhersonMelton 2003, p. 451.  Foursquare Church  1890–1944 Zélio Fernandino de MoraesSmith and Prokopy 2003, p. 279-280.  Umbanda  1891–1975 Ida B. Robinson  Mount Sinai Holy Church of America  1891–1946 B. R. Ambedkar  Navayana Buddhism  1891–1956 Wallace Fard Muhammad  Nation of Islam  1891–1934 (absentia) Paramahansa Yogananda  Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Self-Realization Fellowship  1893–1952 A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada  International Society for Krishna Consciousness  1896–1977 Ruth Norman  Unarius  1900–1993 Swami Muktananda  Siddha Yoga  1908–1982 Paul Twitchell  Eckankar  1908–1971 Ikurō Teshima  Makuya  1910–1973 L. Ron Hubbard  Dianetics and Scientology   1911–1986 Chinmayananda Saraswati  Chinmaya Mission  1916–1993 Victor Henry Anderson  Feri Tradition  1917–2001 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi  Transcendental Meditation  1918–2008 Samael Aun Weor  Universal Christian Gnostic Movement  1917–1977 Mark L. Prophet  The Summit Lighthouse  1918–1973 Ben Klassen  Creativity  1918–1993 Ahn Sahng-hong  World Mission Society Church of God  1918–1985 Huỳnh Phú Sổ  Hòa Hảo  1919–1947 Yong (Sun) Myung MoonBeit-Hallahmi 1998, p. 365.  Unification Church  1920–2012 Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar  Ananda Marga  1921–1990 Clarence 13X  Five-Percent Nation  1922–1969 Mestre Gabriel  União do Vegetal  1922–1971 Nirmala Srivastava  Sahaja Yoga  1923–2011 Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson  Ásatrú  1924–1993 Sathya Sai Baba  Sathya Sai Organization  1926–2011 Michel Potay  Pilgrims of Arès  1929– Anton LaVey  Church of Satan (LaVeyan Satanism)  1930–1997 RajneeshMelton 2003, p. 1051.  Rajneesh movement  1931–1990 Mark L. Prophet; Elizabeth Clare ProphetBeit-Hallahmi 1998, p. 97.  Church Universal and Triumphant  1918–1973;1939–2009 Adi Da  Adidam  1939–2008 Claude Vorilhon  Raëlism  1946– Marshall Vian Summers  New Message from God  1949– Li Hongzhi  Falun Gong  born 1951 or 1952 Ryuho Okawa  Happy Science  1956–2023 Vissarion  Church of the Last Testament  1961– Chris Korda  Church of Euthanasia  1962– Tamara Siuda  Kemetic Orthodoxy  1969– Olumba Olumba Obu  Brotherhood of the Cross and Star  1918– Isak Gerson  Missionary Church of Kopimism  1993– Erdoğan Çınar  Ishikism  21st century Abdullah Hashem  Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light  1983– J.R. "Bob" Dobbs  Church of the SubGenius  1972– 

A ni tooi la lɛhi bo;
Burial places of founders of world religions
List of Buddha claimants
List of messiah claimants
List of people who have been considered deities
List of religions and spiritual traditions
Lists of religious leaders by century
Timeline of religion

Notes

Kundivihira

Bibliography











Category:History of religion
Category:Lists of religious leaders
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