Religion in History
Explore 108 historical moments related to religion — from pivotal breakthroughs to world-changing events.
📅 19th Century(1)
📅 20th Century(32)
Łachwa Ghetto uprising against Nazis
Residents of the Łachwa Ghetto in occupied Poland fought unsuccessfully against their Nazi captors. This was possibly the first Jewish ghetto uprising during the Holocaust.
Buddhist Crisis in Huế
In Huế, South Vietnam, soldiers fired on Buddhist protesters. The protest was against a ban on flying the Buddhist flag on Phật Đản, resulting in nine deaths and sparking the Buddhist crisis.
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Four girls were killed and at least 14 others were injured.
Muhammad Ali Name Change Announcement
Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad announced in a radio broadcast that boxer Cassius Clay would change his name to Muhammad Ali.
Thích Trí Quang arrested
Vietnamese Buddhist activist leader Thích Trí Quang was arrested as the military junta of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ crushed the Buddhist Uprising.
Red Guards vandalize Jokhang Temple
During the Cultural Revolution, Red Guards vandalized the Jokhang Temple, the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet.
Death of Pope John Paul I
Pope John Paul I died just 33 days after his election, marking the first year with three popes since 1605.
Assassination of Mohammad Mofatteh
Mohammad Mofatteh, an Iranian philosopher, was assassinated by the Furqan Group on December 18, 1979.
Assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero
Archbishop Óscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador on March 24, 1980. This occurred one day after he pleaded with soldiers to stop government repression.
Attempted Assassination of Pope John Paul II
On May 12, 1982, Juan María Fernández y Krohn attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II with a bayonet in Fátima, Portugal. The Pope survived the attack.
Execution of Mona Mahmudnizhad
An Iranian teenager and nine other women were hanged in Shiraz for their membership in the Baháʼí Faith.
Rajneesh movement bioterror attack
Followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh deliberately infected people in The Dalles, Oregon, with Salmonella. This was the first and largest bioterrorist attack in United States history.
Jim Bakker Resigns from PTL Club
American televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as the host of The PTL Club in the midst of a sex scandal.
Khomeini Invites Gorbachev to Consider Islam
Representatives of Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini delivered a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev, inviting him to consider Islam as an alternative to communism. The letter predicted the dissolution of the Soviet Bloc.
Ali Khamenei becomes Supreme Leader of Iran
Following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Islamic group, began a coup attempt against the government of Trinidad and Tobago by taking hostages, including Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson.
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Consecrated
Pope John Paul II consecrated the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, one of the largest churches in the world.
Ram Rath Yatra begins
The Ram Rath Yatra, a political-religious rally, began in Gujarat, India. It was organized to erect a temple to the Hindu deity Rama on the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Meir Kahane assassinated
Israeli ultra-nationalist rabbi Meir Kahane was assassinated in a New York City hotel by an Arab gunman.
Introduction of Falun Gong
Li Hongzhi introduced the Falun Gong movement during a public lecture in Changchun, China.
Sinéad O'Connor tears up Pope's photo
Sinéad O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on live television.
Babri Masjid Demolished
The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, was demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks. The demolition occurred on December 6, 1992, as the demolitionists believed the mosque was built on the birthplace of the Hindu deity Rama.
Hebron massacre
Israeli physician Baruch Goldstein opened fire on Palestinian Muslims praying at the Cave of the Patriarchs, killing 29 and wounding 125.
Bombing at Imam Reza Shrine
A bomb explosion in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, left at least 25 dead and more than 70 injured.
Order of the Solar Temple mass murder-suicide
Swiss police discovered the bodies of 48 members of the Order of the Solar Temple. The victims had died in a cult mass murder-suicide.
11th Panchen Lama Kidnapped
Six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, was kidnapped by the Chinese government.
Rajneesh followers convicted of assassination plot
Two followers of the Indian mystic Rajneesh were convicted of a 1985 plot to assassinate Charles Turner. Turner was the U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon.
Construction begins on Dhammakaya Cetiya
Construction began on the Dhammakaya Cetiya, a giant stupa at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Buddhist temple in Thailand, on September 8, 1995.
Heaven's Gate Cult Suicide
Police discovered the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate religious group in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The deaths were ruled an apparent cult suicide.
Ugandan sect mass murder
Hundreds of followers of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, a Ugandan sect, died in a mass murder committed by its leaders.
Faustina Kowalska canonized
Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun whose apparitions of Jesus inspired the Divine Mercy devotion, was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Reopens
Three years after being hit by a mudslide, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Hong Kong fully reopened. The monastery had been significantly damaged by the natural disaster.
📅 21th Century(75)
Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation Incident
Five people attempted to set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, an act claimed to have been staged by the Chinese Communist Party to escalate persecution of Falun Gong.
Loyalists picket Catholic school in Belfast
Ulster loyalists resumed a picket outside a Catholic girls' primary school in the Protestant portion of Ardoyne, Belfast. This event is part of The Troubles.
Religious violence in Gujarat
During a period of religious violence in Gujarat, India, mobs of Hindus attacked Muslims in Naroda Patiya and in Chamanpura, resulting in 166 deaths.
Roy Moore suspended as Chief Justice
Roy Moore, Alabama's chief justice, was suspended for refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument.
Pope Benedict XVI begins beatification process for John Paul II
Pope Benedict XVI initiated the beatification process for his predecessor Pope John Paul II. He waived the standard five-year waiting period after the nominee's death.
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons published
The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published controversial cartoons depicting Muhammad, sparking international protests.
Archbishop of York Enthronement
John Sentamu was enthroned as Archbishop of York, becoming the first black archbishop in the Church of England.
Second Bombing at al-Askari Mosque
Insurgents carried out a second bombing at the al-Askari Mosque, a significant site in Shia Islam.
Shambo the bull slaughtered
Shambo, a black Friesian bull adopted by a local Hindu community, was slaughtered due to concerns about bovine tuberculosis. This followed widespread controversy throughout Wales.
St Mel's Cathedral fire
A fire destroyed Longford's 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral, a significant landmark in the Irish midlands.
Egyptian Court Ruling on Identity Documents
Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that individuals not adhering to recognized religions are eligible for government identity documents.
George Tiller Assassination
American physician George Tiller was shot and killed by an anti-abortion activist.
Karachi suicide bombing
A suicide bomber attacked a Shia procession commemorating the day of Ashura in Karachi, Pakistan, causing 43 deaths.
Nag Hammadi Coptic Christian Massacre
In Nag Hammadi, Egypt, Muslim gunmen opened fire on Coptic Christians leaving church after Christmas Liturgy. Eight Christians and one Muslim bystander were killed.
Jos Riots
The first spate of violence between Muslims and Christians began in Jos, Nigeria, resulting in over 200 deaths.
Kampala bombings
The Islamist militia group Al-Shabaab carried out multiple suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, killing 74 people and injuring 85 others.
Alexandria church bombing
A suicide bombing occurred outside a Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt, following a New Year service. The attack killed 23 people.
Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting
An American white supremacist carried out a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six people and wounding four others.
Pope Benedict XVI resigns
Benedict XVI became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the papacy.
Pope Francis Elected
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope Francis, becoming the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.
All Saints Church Peshawar bombing
In Peshawar, Pakistan, two suicide bombers attacked All Saints Church, killing 127 people.
Navaratri stampede in India
During the Hindu festival of Navaratri at a temple in Madhya Pradesh, India, rumours about an impending bridge collapse caused a stampede that resulted in 115 deaths.
Attacks in Kinshasa
Supporters of Congolese religious leader Paul-Joseph Mukungubila carried out a series of attacks on television studios, the airport, and a military base in Kinshasa.
Brussels Jewish Museum shooting
A gunman with ties to Islamic extremism opened fire at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels, killing four people.
Jerusalem synagogue attack
Two Palestinian men attacked praying congregants in a Jerusalem synagogue with axes, knives, and a gun. Eight people were killed, including the attackers.
Willie Barrow
Willie Barrow was an American minister and activist.
Execution of Nimr al-Nimr
Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, was executed by the Saudi government along with 46 other people. This event occurred on January 2, 2016.
Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill meet
In the first meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow signed the Havana Declaration at José Martí International Airport in Cuba.
Death of Mother Angelica
Mother Angelica, an American Roman Catholic religious leader and media personality, passed away.
Helena Kmieć
Helena Kmieć was a Polish Roman Catholic missionary.
Binyamin Elon
Binyamin Elon, an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and politician, has died. He was born in 1954.
Johan van Hulst
Johan van Hulst was a Dutch politician, academic, author, and a Yad Vashem recipient.
Kartarpur Corridor inaugurated
Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free border crossing connecting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib to the India–Pakistan border.
Ram Dass
Ram Dass, American spiritual teacher and author, died on 12-22-2019. He was born in 1931.
John Bathersby
John Bathersby, Australian Catholic bishop, died on March 9, 2020. He was born in 1936.
Jonathan Sacks
Jonathan Sacks was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth and a member of the House of Lords, born in 1948.
William Meninger
William Meninger was an American Trappist monk and a principal developer of Centering Prayer.
Meron crowd crush
A crowd crush killed 45 people during the annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Israel on April 30, 2021.
T. B. Joshua
T. B. Joshua was a Nigerian televangelist.
Abdalqadir as-Sufi
Abdalqadir as-Sufi was a Scottish Islamic scholar and writer.
Jean-Pierre Schumacher
Jean-Pierre Schumacher, French Trappist monk and survivor of the Thibirine monks, died on November 21, 2021. He was born in 1924.
Raşit Küçük
Raşit Küçük was a Turkish Islamic scholar.
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, and founder of the Plum Village Tradition.
Remi De Roo
Remi De Roo, a Canadian bishop of the Catholic Church, died. He was born in 1924.
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI, a German cardinal and theologian, has died. He served as Pope from 2005 to 2013.
Mary Lou Kownacki
Mary Lou Kownacki was an American Roman Catholic nun, peace activist, and writer.
Pat Robertson
American televangelist Pat Robertson died.
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was a Bangladeshi Islamic lecturer and politician.
Death of Thomas Gumbleton
Thomas Gumbleton, an American Roman Catholic prelate, died.
Mandisa
American gospel singer died on April 18, 2024. She was born in 1976.
Noël Treanor
Noël Treanor, an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, died on August 11, 2024. He was born in 1950.
Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanese politician and 3rd Secretary-General of Hezbollah, died.
Donal Murray
Irish Catholic bishop died.
Fethullah Gülen
Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish preacher and theologian.
Walter Jacob
Walter Jacob was an American Reform rabbi.
Gustavo Gutiérrez
Gustavo Gutiérrez was a Peruvian philosopher, theologian, and priest.
Renato Martino
Italian Roman Catholic cardinal. He was born in 1932.
Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo, an American sociologist and pastor, died on November 19, 2024. He was born in 1935.
Hal Lindsey
Hal Lindsey, an American evangelist and Christian writer, died. He was born in 1929.
Mike Rinder
Mike Rinder was an Australian-American former Scientologist and critic.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first U.S.-born pope and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. He is also the second pope from the Americas.
Muhsin Hendricks
Muhsin Hendricks, a South African imam, Islamic scholar, and LGBT activist, has died. He was born in 1967.
John MacArthur
American evangelical preacher, born in 1939, whose death is noted for this date.
Arthur Blessitt
Arthur Blessitt was an American Christian preacher known for carrying a cross around the world.
Richard Williamson
Richard Williamson was a British Catholic traditionalist bishop.
Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV was the 49th Imam of the Nizari Isma'ili community.
Gerald Ridsdale
Australian laicised Catholic priest and sex offender.
Theodore McCarrick
Theodore McCarrick, an American former cardinal, died.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis, born in 1936, has died.
Domingos Maubere
Domingos Maubere was an East Timorese Catholic priest and activist.
Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Swaggart, American pastor and television host, died.
Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died.
Alan McDonald
Alan McDonald, Scottish Church Minister, was born in 1951.
Bernardo Álvarez Afonso
Bernardo Álvarez Afonso, a Spanish Roman Catholic bishop, died. He was born in 1949.
Jesse Jackson
American civil rights leader, activist, and politician.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the most important religion events in history?
- Notable religion events include: Book of Mormon published (1830), Łachwa Ghetto uprising against Nazis (1942), Buddhist Crisis in Huế (1963).
- How many religion events are in the timeline?
- Our collection includes 108 historical entries related to religion, spanning centuries of human history.
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