religion has played a crucial role in both the everyday lives of individuals
both the everyday lives of individuals
both the everyday lives of individuals and the history of the world
and the history of the world
and the history of the world welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 influential religious figures for this
influential religious figures for this
influential religious figures for this list we’re focusing on people who had a
list we’re focusing on people who had a
list we’re focusing on people who had a profound impact on religion or religious
profound impact on religion or religious
profound impact on religion or religious followers either as founder inspiration
followers either as founder inspiration
followers either as founder inspiration or influential follower however we’ve
or influential follower however we’ve
or influential follower however we’ve excluded those figures who are more
excluded those figures who are more
excluded those figures who are more known as philosophers rather than
known as philosophers rather than
known as philosophers rather than religious leaders number 10 Joseph Smith
religious leaders number 10 Joseph Smith
religious leaders number 10 Joseph Smith Jr this 19th century American religious
Jr this 19th century American religious
Jr this 19th century American religious leader founded the Latter day Saints
leader founded the Latter day Saints
leader founded the Latter day Saints movement whose most famous followers are
movement whose most famous followers are
movement whose most famous followers are the Mormons in 1830 Smith published the
the Mormons in 1830 Smith published the
the Mormons in 1830 Smith published the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon a translation of a set of golden plates
a translation of a set of golden plates
a translation of a set of golden plates he was said to have been shown by an
he was said to have been shown by an
he was said to have been shown by an angel which detailed an ancient
angel which detailed an ancient
angel which detailed an ancient judeo-christian civilization in America
judeo-christian civilization in America
judeo-christian civilization in America that was visited by Jesus after his
that was visited by Jesus after his
that was visited by Jesus after his resurrection
resurrection
resurrection thanks to Smith’s teachings the various
thanks to Smith’s teachings the various
thanks to Smith’s teachings the various churches of the LDS movement have over
churches of the LDS movement have over
churches of the LDS movement have over 15 million followers today number 9 the
15 million followers today number 9 the
15 million followers today number 9 the Dalai Lama Gindin drub Gindin drupe was
Dalai Lama Gindin drub Gindin drupe was
Dalai Lama Gindin drub Gindin drupe was the first of the Dalai Lama’s a line of
the first of the Dalai Lama’s a line of
the first of the Dalai Lama’s a line of holy Buddhist men believed to be the
holy Buddhist men believed to be the
holy Buddhist men believed to be the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of
reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of
reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of compassion though they began as mystical
compassion though they began as mystical
compassion though they began as mystical leaders many of the Dalai Lama’s have
leaders many of the Dalai Lama’s have
leaders many of the Dalai Lama’s have also been considered the heads of the
also been considered the heads of the
also been considered the heads of the Tibetan government denden droop himself
Tibetan government denden droop himself
Tibetan government denden droop himself was a highly regarded monk whose
was a highly regarded monk whose
was a highly regarded monk whose meditations revealed visions from a
meditations revealed visions from a
meditations revealed visions from a female guardian spirit these visions
female guardian spirit these visions
female guardian spirit these visions established the lineage of the Dalai
established the lineage of the Dalai
established the lineage of the Dalai Lama’s drop and the subsequent
Lama’s drop and the subsequent
Lama’s drop and the subsequent incarnations have influenced Buddhist
incarnations have influenced Buddhist
incarnations have influenced Buddhist thought for centuries
thought for centuries
thought for centuries number 8 st. Peter one of the Twelve
number 8 st. Peter one of the Twelve
number 8 st. Peter one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ Saint Peter is
Apostles of Jesus Christ Saint Peter is
Apostles of Jesus Christ Saint Peter is the rock upon which the Christian church
the rock upon which the Christian church
the rock upon which the Christian church was built and is considered the first
was built and is considered the first
was built and is considered the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church st.
Pope of the Roman Catholic Church st.
Pope of the Roman Catholic Church st. Peter and all subsequent popes have
Peter and all subsequent popes have
Peter and all subsequent popes have wielded enormous power and authority
wielded enormous power and authority
wielded enormous power and authority over all aspects of the Catholic Church
over all aspects of the Catholic Church
over all aspects of the Catholic Church whether initiating Crusades to reclaim
whether initiating Crusades to reclaim
whether initiating Crusades to reclaim land
land
land or as pope john xxiii famously did
or as pope john xxiii famously did
or as pope john xxiii famously did instituting the landmark vatican ii
instituting the landmark vatican ii
instituting the landmark vatican ii reforms the heirs of st. peter have
reforms the heirs of st. peter have
reforms the heirs of st. peter have profoundly affected the lives of
profoundly affected the lives of
profoundly affected the lives of billions of all faiths number seven
billions of all faiths number seven
billions of all faiths number seven Zoroaster though it’s unclear when
Zoroaster though it’s unclear when
Zoroaster though it’s unclear when exactly this ancient persian prophet
exactly this ancient persian prophet
exactly this ancient persian prophet lived
lived
lived what’s more evident is that the concept
what’s more evident is that the concept
what’s more evident is that the concept of monotheism may have had its origins
of monotheism may have had its origins
of monotheism may have had its origins with Zoroaster his teachings emphasized
with Zoroaster his teachings emphasized
with Zoroaster his teachings emphasized both free will and the importance of
both free will and the importance of
both free will and the importance of good deeds in life and these ideas
good deeds in life and these ideas
good deeds in life and these ideas influenced judeo-christian and Vedic
influenced judeo-christian and Vedic
influenced judeo-christian and Vedic Hindu religions as well as some Greek
Hindu religions as well as some Greek
Hindu religions as well as some Greek philosophers for millennium
philosophers for millennium
philosophers for millennium Zoroastrianism was one of the world’s
Zoroastrianism was one of the world’s
Zoroastrianism was one of the world’s most powerful religions though today it
most powerful religions though today it
most powerful religions though today it has split into two groups
has split into two groups
has split into two groups the parsy’s and Iran ease which are
the parsy’s and Iran ease which are
the parsy’s and Iran ease which are culturally and linguistically distinct
culturally and linguistically distinct
culturally and linguistically distinct from one another
from one another
from one another number six Martin Luther Martin Luther
number six Martin Luther Martin Luther
number six Martin Luther Martin Luther is the seminal figure behind the
is the seminal figure behind the
is the seminal figure behind the Protestant Reformation of the 16th
Protestant Reformation of the 16th
Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and thus laid the groundwork for
century and thus laid the groundwork for
century and thus laid the groundwork for what became today’s Protestant churches
what became today’s Protestant churches
what became today’s Protestant churches originally a Catholic monk Luther
originally a Catholic monk Luther
originally a Catholic monk Luther rebelled against what he saw as
rebelled against what he saw as
rebelled against what he saw as corruption and immorality among Catholic
corruption and immorality among Catholic
corruption and immorality among Catholic Church leaders for their practice of
Church leaders for their practice of
Church leaders for their practice of selling indulgences his famous 95 theses
selling indulgences his famous 95 theses
selling indulgences his famous 95 theses were a call to action which set the
were a call to action which set the
were a call to action which set the stage for the eventual Reformation x’
stage for the eventual Reformation x’
stage for the eventual Reformation x’ within the catholic church and his
within the catholic church and his
within the catholic church and his translation of the Bible into colloquial
translation of the Bible into colloquial
translation of the Bible into colloquial speech made it accessible to the masses
speech made it accessible to the masses
speech made it accessible to the masses number 5
number 5
number 5 Krishna in Hinduism Krishna is regarded
Krishna in Hinduism Krishna is regarded
Krishna in Hinduism Krishna is regarded as the eighth incarnation of the god
as the eighth incarnation of the god
as the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu his story encompasses centuries
Vishnu his story encompasses centuries
Vishnu his story encompasses centuries but part of it involves time spent as a
but part of it involves time spent as a
but part of it involves time spent as a flute playing youth and as a human
flute playing youth and as a human
flute playing youth and as a human Prince Vishnu story includes many
Prince Vishnu story includes many
Prince Vishnu story includes many exciting adventures but his teachings
exciting adventures but his teachings
exciting adventures but his teachings had a significant impact on the
had a significant impact on the
had a significant impact on the development of Hinduism through his role
development of Hinduism through his role
development of Hinduism through his role in the epic poem the Mahabharata and his
in the epic poem the Mahabharata and his
in the epic poem the Mahabharata and his well known message the Bhagavad Gita
well known message the Bhagavad Gita
well known message the Bhagavad Gita followers of Vishnu also have influenced
followers of Vishnu also have influenced
followers of Vishnu also have influenced Buddhism Jainism and Ahmadiyya Islam
Buddhism Jainism and Ahmadiyya Islam
Buddhism Jainism and Ahmadiyya Islam among other religions thus affecting
among other religions thus affecting
among other religions thus affecting billions of followers worldwide
billions of followers worldwide
billions of followers worldwide number four Moses while the biblical
number four Moses while the biblical
number four Moses while the biblical figure Abraham established the first
figure Abraham established the first
figure Abraham established the first covenant between God and what became the
covenant between God and what became the
covenant between God and what became the Jewish people the later figure of Moses
Jewish people the later figure of Moses
Jewish people the later figure of Moses is arguably of even greater significance
is arguably of even greater significance
is arguably of even greater significance to Judaism for his role in liberating
to Judaism for his role in liberating
to Judaism for his role in liberating the Jewish slaves and leading them to
the Jewish slaves and leading them to
the Jewish slaves and leading them to the promised land the author of the
the promised land the author of the
the promised land the author of the Torah
Torah
Torah Moses is also a major figure in Islam
Moses is also a major figure in Islam
Moses is also a major figure in Islam and Christianity the Ten Commandments
and Christianity the Ten Commandments
and Christianity the Ten Commandments which Moses brought to the people from
which Moses brought to the people from
which Moses brought to the people from God is the basis of Western religious
God is the basis of Western religious
God is the basis of Western religious belief and his heavily shaped Western
belief and his heavily shaped Western
belief and his heavily shaped Western political thought as well number three
political thought as well number three
political thought as well number three Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was a prince
Siddhartha Gautama was a prince
Siddhartha Gautama was a prince sheltered from life’s problems who lived
sheltered from life’s problems who lived
sheltered from life’s problems who lived for sensual pleasures and luxury but
for sensual pleasures and luxury but
for sensual pleasures and luxury but after discovering the poverty that
after discovering the poverty that
after discovering the poverty that afflicted his subjects the prince
afflicted his subjects the prince
afflicted his subjects the prince underwent a transformation eventually
underwent a transformation eventually
underwent a transformation eventually meditating for 49 days until he achieved
meditating for 49 days until he achieved
meditating for 49 days until he achieved a state of elevated awareness this led
a state of elevated awareness this led
a state of elevated awareness this led him to discover the four noble truths
him to discover the four noble truths
him to discover the four noble truths which formed the basis of what became
which formed the basis of what became
which formed the basis of what became Buddhism and if followed can lead to
Buddhism and if followed can lead to
Buddhism and if followed can lead to peace of mind or Nirvana Gautama also
peace of mind or Nirvana Gautama also
peace of mind or Nirvana Gautama also promoted the middle way which is a happy
promoted the middle way which is a happy
promoted the middle way which is a happy medium between living to excess and
medium between living to excess and
medium between living to excess and total abstinence number two Mohammed
total abstinence number two Mohammed
total abstinence number two Mohammed considered the last prophet of God by
considered the last prophet of God by
considered the last prophet of God by the Muslims Mohammed was said to have
the Muslims Mohammed was said to have
the Muslims Mohammed was said to have received revelations from God through
received revelations from God through
received revelations from God through the angel Gabriel he shared these
the angel Gabriel he shared these
the angel Gabriel he shared these revelations in the form of the Quran a
revelations in the form of the Quran a
revelations in the form of the Quran a sacred text of the Islamic religion that
sacred text of the Islamic religion that
sacred text of the Islamic religion that preaches monotheism as a central theme
preaches monotheism as a central theme
preaches monotheism as a central theme as a military leader as well as a
as a military leader as well as a
as a military leader as well as a religious figure Muhammad unified and
religious figure Muhammad unified and
religious figure Muhammad unified and changed the shape of the Arab world
changed the shape of the Arab world
changed the shape of the Arab world during his lifetime and has made a
during his lifetime and has made a
during his lifetime and has made a lasting contribution to the religious
lasting contribution to the religious
lasting contribution to the religious lives of billions through the ages
lives of billions through the ages
lives of billions through the ages before we reveal our top pick
before we reveal our top pick
before we reveal our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one Jesus Jesus of Nazareth is
number one Jesus Jesus of Nazareth is considered the Son of God by Christians
considered the Son of God by Christians
considered the Son of God by Christians and an important prophet by the Islamic
and an important prophet by the Islamic
and an important prophet by the Islamic and Baha’i faiths
and Baha’i faiths
and Baha’i faiths and today Christianity is considered the
and today Christianity is considered the
and today Christianity is considered the world’s largest religion with some two
world’s largest religion with some two
world’s largest religion with some two billion followers though he only had a
billion followers though he only had a
billion followers though he only had a few years with which to preach his
few years with which to preach his
few years with which to preach his gospel of kindness compassion and mercy
gospel of kindness compassion and mercy
gospel of kindness compassion and mercy before he was betrayed arrested and
before he was betrayed arrested and
before he was betrayed arrested and crucified his teachings have profoundly
crucified his teachings have profoundly
crucified his teachings have profoundly affected religious political and moral
affected religious political and moral
affected religious political and moral thought over the past two millennia and
thought over the past two millennia and
thought over the past two millennia and are sure to have a considerable
are sure to have a considerable
are sure to have a considerable continued impact in the future do you
continued impact in the future do you
continued impact in the future do you agree with our choices what other
agree with our choices what other
agree with our choices what other influential religious figures should we
influential religious figures should we
influential religious figures should we have added to this list for more
have added to this list for more
have added to this list for more enthralling top 10s published every day
enthralling top 10s published every day
enthralling top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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