This page groups religions by whether they are open to anyone who wishes to join or reserved for a closely defined community. Wikipedia notes that while some religions claim to be universal, "others are intended to be practiced only by a closely defined or localized group." Browsing this way separates missionary faiths that actively seek converts from traditions that restrict who may take part.
Facts
Overview
What Defines This GroupingThe many-deity religions of the ancient world, known from their own texts, temples, inscriptions and art, and no longer carried on as public state religion in their original form. 2 Peoples and Traditions CoveredAncient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Etruria, the Hittites, Mesopotamia and Canaan, together with the Aztec, Maya and Inca religions of the Americas - whose descendant peoples are living communities today. 2 Status
Standing as a Comparative CategoryA standard historical grouping, with one thing worth saying about the word: polytheism was coined by monotheists for other people's religion, and none of the religions here thought of itself as a member of a class. 2 Learn More
Historical Polytheisms
This group holds the historical polytheistic religions, the many-god religions of the ancient world that were once the established faiths of great civilisations and are no longer practised in their original form. They are known through their texts, monuments and the records of their neighbours.
The browser will find the religions of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia and other vanished worlds. The atlas describes each as a historical religion, reconstructed from the sources, and distinguishes it from any modern revival, which is classed separately.
Closed Practice Status
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. PolytheismView the Source Divinity Atlas Directory Prose, First Edition Category Descriptions
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