Syncretism

Attempts to fuse the characteristics of different religions are common and natural where cultures meet. The search for a common truth behind different systems has lead to the widening of worship of particular deities to include similar deities in other cultures; to the combination of Christianity with native elements in many parts of the world; to Hindu-Buddhist, Hindu-Islam (for example, Sikh), Hindu-Christian combinations; to combinations of Buddhism with Confucianism or Shinto; and to theosophical and anthroposophical movements.