What is the least common religion in the world, not including cults, and what are the general beliefs of this religion?

yTHINKy

The majority of 'major' Religions today started out as what one would consider a "cult". cult n. 1. (1.) A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. (2.) The followers of such a religion or sect. 2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual. 3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual. 4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease. 5. (1.) Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. (2.) The object of such devotion. 6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. I know this does not answer your question thoroughly but it is what I know to be true concerning this topic. This site may be helpful. http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm Or this... http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2122.html Or this... http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html This site lists Scientology as the Smallest "major" religion. Apr 28 06, 5:21 AM

mementoflash

Zorastinism is quite small. Apr 28 06, 6:52 AM

zbeckabee

The answer is SCIENTOLOGY. http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html Scientology is an organization based on a system of beliefs and practices that originated as philosophy in 1952 by American fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. "Scientology would be a study of knowledge," Hubbard stated that year. [1] In the 1965 edition of Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, he added, "Scientology is that branch of psychology which treats or (embraces) human ability. It is an extension of Dianetics which is in itself an extension of old-time faculty-psychology of 400 years ago." In 1960 L. Ron Hubbard redefined Scientology as: "Scientology is a religion by its basic tenets, practice, historical background and by the definition of the word “religion” itself." [2] In 1969 he wrote that "It is fundamentally an applied religious philosophy." [3] and it is claimed that this was for tax exempt qualifications. Tax exempt was first granted in 1956 by the IRS, in 1958 this was withdrawn. Since then court battles had emerged between the IRS and the Church of Scientology. Various times tax exempt was granted and withdrawn again. Apr 28 06, 7:03 AM

lanfranco

There are many more Zoroastrians and Scientologists than there are adherents of Samaritanism, an ancient faith closely related to Judaism. Among other beliefs, Samaritans accept the Torah but reject the Mishnah and Talmud. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritanism Apr 28 06, 7:17 AM

mementoflash

There are fewer Shakers than there are Samaritans. Shakers are very similiar to the Quakers (believing in a quite Christian worship) but all members of its religion are required to be celibate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers#Modern-day_Shakers Apr 28 06, 8:22 AM