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This article lists historical figures credited with founding religions or religious philosophies or people who first codified older known religious traditions. It also lists those who have founded a specific major denomination within a larger religion.
In many cases, one can regard a religion as a continuous tradition extending to prehistoric times without a specific founder (Hinduism, which is a synthesis of the Vedic religion, the shramanic movement, and Indian folk religion; animism), or with legendary founding-figures whose historicity has been widely questioned (such Rishabha). This notwithstanding, many historical expressions of such religions will still have founders. Religion often develops by means of schism and reform (motivated by theological speculation), and it becomes a matter of judgement at what point such a schism or reform should be considered the "foundation" of a new religious tradition. For example, Martin Luther and John Wesley worked for reforms but their efforts failed to influence the whole Church and the end result was a new tradition within Christianity.
Chronologically, foundations of religious traditions may sub-divide into:
Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Philosophy
Religion, Gnosticism, Iran, Hinduism, Ahura Mazda
Buddhism, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Digambara, Shaivism
Yoga, Mahabharata, Buddhism, Upanishads, Ramayana
Martin Luther, Anglicanism, Bible, Lutheranism, Protestantism
Religion, Gnosticism, Buddhism, Ancient Egyptian religion, Monotheism
Religion, Ancient Egyptian religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism
Religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sociology, God
Christianity, Crucifixion of Jesus, Miracles of Jesus, Christology, Resurrection of Jesus