The Right Hand Path (or RHP) is a term for classifying religious beliefs. Beliefs of this category share the following characteristics:
  • Belief in a higher power, deity, or deities.
  • Submission (in varying degrees) to the will of the higher power, deity, or deities.
  • Belief in the existence of Karma, Divine Retribution, Threefold Law, or something similar.
  • The goal of dissolution or absorption of the individual consciousness into a greater or cosmic whole.

For example, Christianity and Wicca are often classified as Right Hand Path religions, even though some Christians argue that their beliefs do not include the goal of dissolution or absorption of the individual.

Some people believe that the terms Right-Hand Path and Left-Hand Path and the philosophy relevant to them came from India.

See also: Left-Hand Path