World Religion Day is celebrated every January on the third Sunday of the month.
History
World Religion Day was initially started by followers of the Bahá’í faith in October 1947 in Maine, USA with an aim to host an annual event “World Peace through World Religion”. It was designed to encourage that all religions have common features and therefore should be respected equally.
By 1950, it became known as World Religion Day aiming to promote understanding and peace between all religions as mutual understanding and tolerance between peoples from different backgrounds and is now celebrated in over 80 countries across the globe. It is estimated that there are over 4,200 types of different religions and beliefs in the world, however the six main religions are:
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
How do I observe World Religion Day?
- Attend an interfaith event
- Engage with other religions
- Try a different religious experience
Why is it important?
- Its purpose is to unite people irrespective of religious or cultural beliefs
- A chance to experience something different and learn more about different beliefs
- Commune with those who practice a different religion