List of founders of religious traditions

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These are historical figures credited with founding religions or religious philosophies, or who codified older known religious traditions. The list includes those who have founded a specific major denomination within a larger religion.

Legendary/semi-historical

Not including protoplasts(like Adam and Eve)

More information Traditional founder(s), Historical founder(s) ...
Traditional founder(s) Historical founder(s) Life of historical founder Religious tradition founded Comparative Religion
Hayk Kura–Araxes culture alive during 2492 BC Armenian Mythology, later incorporated into Abrahamic Mythology Paganism
Abraham (covenant with God)
Moses (religious law)		Yahwists[n 1]c. 13th[1][2][3] to 8th century BC[n 2]Judaism and Samaritanism Abrahamic religions
LaoziZhuang Zhou369 BC – 286 BCTaoism East Asian religions, Chinese Religion
Dido Phoenicians alive during 814 BC Punic religion Canaanite religion
Aeneas
Romulus
Numa Pompilius		Ancient Latinsc. 8th to 7th century BCRoman Religion Paganism, Interpretatio graeca, Roman Mythology
Simon Magus no traditional founder, was claimed by the Church Fathers to have founded the movement. Mentioned in Acts of the Apostles unknown some time in AD Gnosticism more specifically the Simonians Abrahamic, Christianity
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Ancient (before AD 500

  1. See culture hero for legendary founders of doubtful historicity. For figures that fall into that category, please add them to the Legendary section, not here.
More information Founder name, Life of founder ...
Founder name Life of founder Religious tradition founded Comparative Religion
Akhenatenc. 1353 BC – 1336 BC[4]Atenism Monotheism[5]
Zoroasterc. 1000 BC[6]Zoroastrianism Iranian religions
Parshvanatha877 BC – 777 BC[7][8][9][10][11]The penultimate (23rd) Tirthankara in Jainism Indian religions
Nebuchadnezzar IIc. 634 BC – 562 BC[citation needed]built the Etemenanki, established Marduk as the patron deity of Babylon[citation needed] Paganism,Ancient Mesopotamian religion, Babylonian Religion
Ajita Kesakambali6th century BC[12][13][14]Charvaka Indian religions, Hinduism,
Mahavira599 BC – 527 BC[15][16][17]The final (24th) tirthankara in Jainism Indian religions, Jainism
Gautama Buddha563 BC – 483 BC[18][19]Buddhism Indian religions
Confucius551 BC – 479 BC[20][21]Confucianism East Asian religions, Chinese Religion
Pythagorasfl. 520 BCPythagoreanism Ancient Greek philosophy
Mozi470 BC – 390 BCMohism East Asian religions, Chinese Religion
Zamolxis5th century BCZamolxism possibly Monotheistic?[22]
Makkhali Gosala5th century BC[23]Ājīvika Indian religions, Hinduism
Ezrafl. 459 BC[n 3]Second Temple Judaism[24] Abrahamic religions
Epicurusfl. 307 BCEpicureanism Ancient Greek philosophy
Zeno of Citium333 BC – 264 BCStoicism Ancient Greek philosophy
Pharnavaz I of Iberia326 BC – 234 BCArmazi Monotheism
Valmikic. 3rd century BC[25]Valmikism Indian religions, Hinduism
Patanjali2nd century BCRāja yoga sect of Hinduism Indian religions, Hinduism
Augustus 63 BC - 14 AD Roman imperial cult Paganism, Imperial cult
John the Baptist c. 6 BC – c. AD 30 Mandeaism Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism
Jesus (and the Twelve Apostles)c. 4 BC – c. 30/33 ADChristianity Abrahamic religions
Paul the Apostlec. 33 ADPauline Christianity Abrahamic religions, Christianity
James the Justc. 33 ADJewish Christianity Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity
Lakulisha1st century ADPashupata Shaivism sect of Hinduism Indian religions, Hinduism
Judah the Prince2nd century ADRabbinic Judaism Abrahamic religions, Judaism,
Montanus2nd century ADMontanism Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Marcion of Sinope110–160Marcionism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Gnosticism
Elkesai170–230Elkesaism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Gnosticism
Nagarjuna150–250Madhyamaka Indian religions, Buddhism
Plotinus205–270Neoplatonism Monotheism, Ancient Greek philosophy
Mani216–274Manichaeism Religious syncretism, Gnosticism
Arius[n 4]250–336Arianism[n 5] Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Pelagius[n 4]354–430Pelagianism[n 6] Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Nestorius[n 4]386–451Nestorianism[n 7] Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Eutyches380–456Monophysitism[n 8] Abrahamic religions, Christianity
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Medieval to Early Modern (500–1800 AD)

More information Name, Life of founder ...
Name Life of founder Religious tradition founded Comparative Religion
Mazdakdied c. 526Mazdakism Monotheism
Bodhidharma5th or 6th centuryZen, more specifically Ch'an Indian religions, Buddhism
Muhammadc. 570–632Islam Abrahamic religions
Gaudapadac. 6th century CEAdvaita Vedanta Indian religions, Hinduism
Songtsen Gampo7th centuryTibetan Buddhism Indian religions, Buddhism
En no Gyōjalate 7th centuryShugendō East Asian religions
Huineng638–713East Asian Zen Buddhism Indian religions, Buddhism
Padmasambhava8th centuryNyingma Indian religions, Buddhism
Han Yu8th or 9th centuryNeo-Confucianism East Asian religions, Chinese Religion, Confucianism
Saichō767–822Tendai (descended from Tiantai) East Asian religions, Buddhism
Kūkai774–835Shingon Buddhism Indian religions, Buddhism
Ibn Nusayrlate 9th centuryAlawites Abrahamic religions, Islam
Matsyendranath10th centuryNath Indian religions
Khadafi 876-948Shawawanism Islam Abrahamic religions
Ramanuja1017–1137Vishishtadvaita Indian religions, Hinduism
Great PeacemakerBetween the 10th and 15th centuriesGreat Law of Peace Native American religions, Iroquois mythology
Hamza ibn ‘Alī ibn Aḥmad[26]11th centuryDruze Abrahamic religions, Greek Philosophy, Atenism
Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir12th centuryYazidism Abrahamic religions, Iranian religions
Basava12th centuryLingayatism Indian religions
Peter Waldo1140–1205Waldensianism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Proto-Protestantism[27]
Hōnen1131–1212Jōdo-shū (descended from Pure Land Buddhism) East Asian religions, Indian religions
Eisai1141–1215Rinzai Zen (descended from the Linji school) East Asian religions
Shinran1173–1263Jōdo Shinshū (descended from Jōdo-shū) East Asian religions
Dōgen1200–1253Sōtō Zen (descended from the Caodong school) East Asian religions
Haji Bektash Veli1209–1271Bektashi Order of Sufism Abrahamic religions, Islam
Nichiren1222–1282Nichiren Buddhism Indian religions, Buddhism
Abraham Abulafia1240–1290sProphetic Kabbalah, a.k.a. ecstatic Kabbalah Abrahamic religions, Judaism,
Dyaneshwar1275–1296Varkari Indian religions, Hinduism
Madhvacharya1238–1317Dvaita Indian religions, Hinduism
John Wycliffe1320s–1384Lollardy Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Proto-Protestantism
Fażlu l-Lāh Astar-Ābādī14th centuryHurufism Abrahamic religions, Islam
Mahmoud Pasikhanilate 14th centuryNuqṭawism Abrahamic religions, Islam
Jan Hus1372–1415Hussitism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Proto-Protestantism
Tlacaelel1397–1487Cult of Huitzilopochtli Native American religions, Mesoamerican religion, Aztec religion
Ramananda15th centuryRamanandi Vaishnavism Indian religions, Hinduism
Kabir1398–1448Kabir Panth Indian religions, Hinduism
Pachacuti1418–1472Cult of Inti Native American religions, Inca mythology
Sankardev1449–1568Ekasarana Dharma Indian religions, Hinduism
Ravidasc. 1450–1520Ravidassia Indian religions
Guru Nanak1469–1539Sikhism, Nanak Panth Indian religions
Sri Chand1494–1629Udasi Indian religions, Sikhism
Vallabha Acharya1479–1531Shuddhadvaita Indian religions, Hinduism
Martin Luther1483–1546Lutheranism and Protestantism in general Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu1486–1534Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Achintya Bheda Abheda East Asian religions
Thomas Cranmer1489–1556Anglicanism (Church of England) Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Menno Simons1496–1561Mennonite Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anabaptism
Conrad Grebel1498–1526Swiss Brethren, Anabaptists Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Jacob Hutter1500–1536Hutterite Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anabaptism
Isaac Luria1534–1572Lurianic Kabbalah Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Kabbalah
Sultan Sahakearly 15th centuryYarsanism Abrahamic religions, Iranian religions
John Calvin1509–1564Calvinism[28] Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Michael Servetus[29]1511?–1553Unitarianism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Nontrinitarianism
John Knox[30]1510–1572Presbyterianism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Calvinism
Akbar1542–1605Din-i Ilahi Religious syncretism Abrahamic religions
Jacobus Arminius1560–1609Arminianism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Calvinism
John Smyth[31]1570–1612Baptists Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Avvakum[citation needed]1620–1682Old Believers of Russian Orthodox Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity
George Fox[32]1624–1691Quakers Abrahamic religions, Christianity,Protestantism, Anglicanism
Philipp Spener[33]1635–1705Pietism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Lutheran
Jakob Ammann1656–1730Amish Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Emanuel Swedenborg1688–1772The New Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Yisroel ben Eliezer "Baal Shem Tov"[34]1698–1760Hasidic Judaism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
John Wesley,[35] Charles Wesley, George Whitefield1703–1791Methodism Abrahamic religions, Christianity,Protestantism, Anglicanism
Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab1703–1792Wahhabism Abrahamic religions, Sunni Islam
Ann Lee[36]1736–1784Shakers Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Quakers
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New religious movements (post-1800)[37]

Further information: List of new religious movements
More information Name, Life of founder ...
Name Life of founder Religious tradition founded Comparative Religion
Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsá'í[38][39] 1753–1826 Shaykhism, precursor of Bábism[40][41] Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions,Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Nicolas François de Neufchâteau 1750-1828 Decadary Cult Secular religion
Antoine-François Momoro 1756-1794 Cult of Reason Secular religion
Maximilien Robespierre 1758-1794 Cult of the Supreme Being Secular religon
Jean-Baptiste Chemin-Dupontès 1760-1852 Theophilanthropy Deist
Ram Mohan Roy1772–1833Brahmo Samaj Indian religions, Hinduism
Swaminarayan1781–1830Swaminarayan Sampraday Indian religions, Hinduism
Auguste Comte1798–1857Religion of Humanity Secular religon
Nakayama Miki1798–1887Tenrikyo East Asian religions, Japanese new religions
Ignaz von Döllinger1799–1890Old Catholic Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Phineas Quimby1802–1866New Thought Spirituality
Allan Kardec (founder of the religion)
Holy Spirit (made the teachings)		1804–1869Spiritism Spiritualism (movement)
Joseph Smith1805–1844Mormonism, also known as the Latter Day Saint movement Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Nontrinitarianism, Restorationism
John Thomas1805–1871Christadelphians Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Nontrinitarianism, Restorationism
Abraham Geiger1810–1874Reform Judaism Abrahamic religions
Jamgon Kongtrul1813–1899Rimé movement Indian religions, Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism
Hong Xiuquan1814–1864Taiping Christianity Religious syncretism, Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Bahá'u'lláh[42]1817–1892Baháʼí Faith Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions, Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Karl Marx 1818-1883 Marxist–Leninist atheism Irreligion, State atheism
Báb1819–1850Bábism, precursor of the Baháʼí Faith Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions,Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Azriel Hildesheimer1820–1899Modern Orthodox Judaism Abrahamic religions
James Springer White1821–1881Seventh-day Adventist Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Millerism
Wang Jueyi1821–1884Yiguandao East Asian religions, Chinese Religion, Chinese salvationist religions
Mary Baker Eddy[43]1821–1910Christian Science Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Ramalinga Swamigal1823–1874Samarasa Sutha Sanmarga Sangam Indian religions, Hinduism
Dayananda Saraswati1824–1883Arya Samaj Indian religions, Hinduism
Ellen G. White[44]1827–1915Seventh-day Adventist Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Millerism
John Ballou Newbrough1828–1891Faithism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Spiritualism (movement)
Helena Blavatsky1831–1891Theosophy Spiritualism (movement)
Subh-i-Azal1831–1912Azalism Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions,Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Ayya Vaikundar1833–1851Ayyavazhi Indian religions, Hinduism
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad1835–1908Ahmadiyya Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions,Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Nao Deguchi1837–1918Oomoto East Asian religions, Japanese new religions
John Slocum1838–1897Indian Shaker Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Quakers, Shakers
Guido von List1848–1919Armanism (Germanic mysticism) Occult
Charles Taze Russell[45]1852–1916Bible Student movement Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Nontrinitarianism, Restorationism
Wovoka1856–1932Ghost Dance Native American Religions, Spiritualism (movement)
Rudolf Steiner1861–1925Anthroposophy Occult
Swami Vivekananda1863–1902Ramakrishna Mission Indian religions, Hinduism
William Irvine[46]1863–1947Two by Twos and Cooneyites Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Evangelicalism
Max Heindel1865–1919The Rosicrucian Fellowship Occult
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi1871–1944Soka Gakkai Indian religions, Buddhism
Sri Aurobindo1872–1950Integral yoga Indian religions, Hinduism
Mason Remey1874–1974Orthodox Baháʼí Faith Abrahamic religions
Aleister Crowley1875–1947Thelema Occult
Charles Fox Parham1873–1929Pentecostalism Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Holiness Movement
Rudolf von Sebottendorf 1875-1945 Thule Society Occult, Esoteric Nazism
"Father Divine"c. 1876–1965International Peace Mission movement Monotheism
Edgar Cayce1877–1945Association for Research and Enlightenment Spiritualism
Ngô Văn Chiêu1878–1926Caodaism East Asian religions, Vietnamese Religion
Guy Ballard1878–1939"I AM" Activity New Age
Frank Buchman1878–1961Oxford Group/Moral Re-Armament Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism
Alfred G. Moses1878–1956Jewish Science Abrahamic religions, Judaism
Ōnishi Aijirō1881–1958Honmichi East Asian religions, Japanese new religions
Mordecai Kaplan1881–1983Reconstructionist Judaism Abrahamic religions, Judaism
Gerald Gardner1884–1964Wicca Neo-Paganism
Felix Manalo1886–1963Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Nontrinitarianism, Restorationism
Frank B. Robinson1886–1948Psychiana Spiritualism
Noble Drew Ali1886–1929Moorish Science Temple of America Abrahamic religions, Islam
Marcus Garvey1887–1940Rastafari Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Ernest Holmes1887–1960Religious Science Spiritualism
Sadafal Deo Ji Maharaj1888–1954Vihangamyoga Indian religions, Hinduism
Aimee Semple McPherson[47]1890–1944Foursquare Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Evangelicalism
Zélio Fernandino de Moraes[48]1891–1975Umbanda Syncretism
Ida B. Robinson1891–1946Mount Sinai Holy Church of America Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Holiness Movement
B. R. Ambedkar1891–1956Navayana Buddhism Indian religions, Buddhism
Wallace Fard Muhammad1891–1934 (absentia)Nation of Islam Abrahamic religions, Islam, Moorish Science Temple of America
Paramahansa Yogananda1893–1952Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Self-Realization Fellowship Indian religions, Hinduism
Masaharu Taniguchi1893–1985Seicho-no-Ie East Asian religions, Japanese new religions
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada1896–1977International Society for Krishna Consciousness Indian religions, Hinduism
Ruth Norman1900–1993Unarius UFO Religions
Ross Nichols1902-1975Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids Druidry
Swami Muktananda1908–1982Siddha Yoga Indian religions, Hinduism
Paul Twitchell1908–1971Eckankar Monotheism
Ikurō Teshima1910–1973Makuya East Asian religions, Japanese new religions
L. Ron Hubbard1911–1986Scientology Dianetics
Kim Il Sung 1912-1994 North Korean cult of personality Imperial cult
Chinmayananda Saraswati1916–1993Chinmaya Mission Indian religions, Hinduism
Victor Henry Anderson1917–2001Feri Tradition Neo-Paganism
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi1918–2008Transcendental Meditation Indian religions, Hinduism
Samael Aun Weor1917–1977Universal Christian Gnostic Movement Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Gnosticism
Mark L. Prophet1918–1973The Summit Lighthouse Religious syncretism: Abrahamic religions,Iranian religions, Indian religions,East Asian religions
Ben Klassen1918–1993Creativity Atheisim, White Supremecey
Ahn Sahng-hong1918–1985World Mission Society Church of God Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Huỳnh Phú Sổ1919–1947Hòa Hảo East Asian religions, Vietnamese Religion
Yong (Sun) Myung Moon[49]1920–2012Unification Church Abrahamic religions, Christianity
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar1921–1990Ananda Marga Indian religions, Hinduism
Clarence 13X1922–1969Five-Percent Nation Abrahamic religions, Islam, Moorish Science Temple of America, Nation of Islam
Mestre Gabriel1922–1971União do Vegetal Syncretism
Nirmala Srivastava1923–2011Sahaja Yoga Indian religions, Hinduism
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson1924–1993Ásatrú Neo-Paganism
Sathya Sai Baba1926–2011Sathya Sai Organization Indian religions, Hinduism
Michel Potay1929–Pilgrims of Arès Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Restorationist
Anton LaVey1930–1997Church of Satan (LaVeyan Satanism) Abrahamic religions, Atheist
Rajneesh[50]1931–1990Rajneesh movement Indian religions, Hinduism
Mark L. Prophet;
Elizabeth Clare Prophet[51]		1918–1973;
1939–2009		Church Universal and Triumphant Religious syncretism
Adi Da1939–2008Adidam Spiritualism
Claude Vorilhon1946–Raëlism UFO Religions
Marshall Vian Summers1949–New Message from God Spiritualism
Li Hongzhiborn 1951 or 1952Falun Gong East Asian religions, Chinese Religion, Chinese salvationist religions
Ryuho Okawa1956–2023Happy Science Japanese new religions
Vissarion1961–Church of the Last Testament Abrahamic religions
Chris Korda1962–Church of Euthanasia Apocalyptic
Tamara Siuda1969–Kemetic Orthodoxy Neo-Paganism
Olumba Olumba Obu1918–2003Brotherhood of the Cross and Star Abrahamic religions
Erdoğan Çınar21st centuryIshikism Abrahamic religions
J.R. "Bob" Dobbs1972–Church of the SubGenius parody religion
Bobby Henderson 1980- Pastafarianism parody religion
Abdullah Hashem1983–Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Abrahamic religions, Islam
Isak Gerson1993–Missionary Church of Kopimism Cybersectarianism
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See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    The religion of the Israelites of Iron Age I was based on a cult of ancestors and worship of family gods, the "gods of the fathers". With the emergence of the monarchy at the beginning of Iron Age II the kings promoted their family god, YHWH (Yahweh), as the god of the kingdom, but beyond the royal court, religion continued to be both polytheistic and family-centered. As such, this founding group is referred to as "Yahwists".
  2. [2]
    Israel emerges into the historical record in the last decades of the 13th century BCE, at the very end of the Late Bronze Age, as the Canaanite city-state system was ending. In the words of archaeologist William Dever, "most of those who came to call themselves Israelites … were or had been indigenous Canaanites". The worship of YHWH (Yahweh) alone began at the earliest with Elijah in the 9th century BCE, but more likely with the prophet Hosea in the 8th; even then it remained the concern of a small party before gaining ascendancy in the exilic and early post-exilic period.
  3. [3]
    historicity disputed but widely considered plausible. Gosta W. Ahlstrom argues the inconsistencies of the biblical tradition are insufficient to say that Ezra, with his central position as the 'father of Judaism' in the Jewish tradition, has been a later literary invention. (The History of Ancient Palestine, Fortress Press, p.888)
  4. [4]
    The teaching of the traditional "founding father" of a "heresy" is may well have differed greatly from the contents of the heresy as generally understood. For references see following notes.
  5. [5]
    Acc. to Rowan Williams, 'Arianism' was essentially a polemical creation of Athanasius in an attempt to show that the different alternatives to the Nicene Creed collapsed back into some form of Arius' teaching. (Arius, SCM (2001) p.247)
  6. [6]
    Pelagius' thought was one sided and an inadequate interpretation of Christianity, but his disciples, Celestius and, to a greater extent, Julian of Eclanum pushed his ideas to extremes.(Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines A & C. Black (1965) p.361) Pelagius himself was declared orthodox by the synod of Diospolis in 415, after repudiating some of Celestius' opinions. (Frend, W.H.C. Saints and Sinners in the Early Church DLT (1985) p.133)
  7. [7]
    Nestorius specifically endorsed the repudiation of "Nestorianism" reached at Chalcedon in 451 (Prestige, G.L. Fathers and Heretics SPCK (1963) p.130)
  8. [8]
    Monophysitism represents an advanced type of Alexandrian Theology; it emerged in a distinctive form in 433 as a result of the agreement between John of Antioch and Cyril of Alexandria. The exaggerated form held by Eutyches was condemned in 451 by the Council of Chalcedon. In its moderate forms the divergence from orthodoxy may be simply terminological. Alexandrian Theology stressed both divine transcendence and a marked dualism between the material and the spiritual and so tended to nullify the humanity of Christ.(Cross & Livingstone. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (1974) arts. Monophysitism, Alexandrian Theology)

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