This page groups religions by broad type, such as whether scholars classify them as a universal religion actively seeking converts or an ethnic religion identified with one people. Wikipedia describes universal religions as those that "seek worldwide acceptance and actively look for new converts, such as the BaháΚΌí Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Jainism," in contrast to ethnic religions tied to a single group. Browsing by kind of tradition lets a visitor compare missionary faiths against traditions bound to one culture.
Facts
Overview
What Defines This GroupingTraditions that trace their descent from the covenant with Abraham and hold that there is one transcendent God who acts in history and addresses humanity through prophets and revealed scripture. What each of them holds Abraham to be differs sharply. 2 Status
Standing as a Comparative CategoryA standard family grouping. The label marks a shared ancestry, a shared cast of figures and a shared moral vocabulary; it does not mark a shared theology, and the traditions divide over who the final prophet or messiah is. 2 Learn More
The Abrahamic monotheisms
This group gathers the Abrahamic religions, the monotheistic traditions that trace their spiritual descent to the patriarch Abraham and share a common Near Eastern root, a linear view of history, and belief in one transcendent God who reveals a moral law through prophets and scripture.
The browser will find Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the three great Abrahamic faiths, together with related traditions that share this heritage. The entries describe each religion's scriptures, beliefs and history in its own terms, noting both the deep family resemblance and the real theological differences that divide them.
Kind of Tradition
Sources
1. Divinity Atlas Directory Taxonomy, First Edition Category Tree
2. Encyclopedia of Religion
Mircea Eliade (ed.); Lindsay Jones (ed., 2nd ed.), Macmillan Reference, 2005s.v. AbrahamView the Source Divinity Atlas Directory Prose, First Edition Category Descriptions
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