World Religion Database: glossary

Data source: Gina A. Zurlo, ed., World Religion Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2025).

Glossary item Definition
Theravadins (Theraveda). The Teaching of the Elders or the Hinayana school of Buddhists (qv), or Southern Buddhism (in Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos).
tribal religionists Ethnic religionists (qv).
unaffiliated Christians Persons professing allegiance and commitment to Christ but who have no church affiliation. 
urbanites urban dwellers; persons residing in a city, town, or recognised urban area.
Vaishnavites Worshippers of Vishnu in any of his forms or incarnations, in several schools, including Sri Sampradayins, Vadagalai, Tengalai, Ramanandis, Vallabhacharins, Chaitanyas, Nimbarkas, Madhvas and others.
Yazidis Members of a monotheistic religion that has elements of ancient Mesopotamian religions and also combines aspects of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Zoroastrians Followers of a religion founded in Persia in BC 1200 by the prophet Zoroaster teaching the worship of Ahura Mazda.
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Religions

Data on 18 categories of religion, including non-religious, by country, province, and people.

Countries and regions

Data on all religions, Christian activities, and trends.

Denominations

Membership data, year begun, and rates of change.

Cities & provinces

Population and religion data on all major cities & provinces.

Peoples & languages

Detailed information covering religion, culture, and geography.

Archive

A repository of historical data, including a chronology of Christianity from the 1st to 21st centuries.