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 (Vedic religion or Dharmic religion, 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:
- the Axial Age, with foundations to Hinduism, Zorastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confusianism, Judaism and with the earliest known major founding figures such as Zoroaster, Confucius, and Buddha.
- Hellenism to Late Antiquity, with foundations of classical religious traditions and schools such as various sects of Early Christianity,Stoicism, Gnosticism.
- the medieval to early modern period, with the rise of Islam, the Bhakti movement, Zen Buddhism, and the Protestant Reformation.
- new religious movements, since c. 1800.
Ancient (before AD 500)[edit]
- See culture hero for legendary founders of doubtful historicity.
Medieval to Early Modern (500–1800 AD)[edit]
New religious movements (post-1800)[edit]
Further information: list of new religious movements