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
Status
Standing as a Comparative CategoryContested: non-theistic is accurate about a creator god and misleading about everything else. Buddhas, bodhisattvas and devas are central to most practice, and the label describes a comparison with monotheism rather than the tradition itself. 2 Overview
What Defines This GroupingTraditions of Indian origin that work within dharma, karma and rebirth without a creator god: liberation comes through practice, discipline and insight, and where gods appear they are inside the cycle of rebirth rather than above it. 2 Learn More
Dharmic Traditions Without a Creator God
This group gathers Dharmic religions of a nontheistic character, Indian-origin traditions that operate within the karma-and-rebirth framework without a creator god at the centre. Buddhism and Jainism are the classic examples, seeking liberation through insight and ethical discipline rather than divine grace.
The browser will find the traditions the atlas classes here. The entries describe each, noting that the absence of a creator does not mean the absence of the sacred, the venerated or the transcendent goal.
Kind of Tradition
Sources
1. Divinity Atlas Directory Taxonomy, First Edition Category Tree
2. The Foundations of Buddhism
Divinity Atlas Directory Prose, First Edition Category Descriptions
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