List of Religions and Spiritual Traditions

Major groupings

• Abrahamic traditions: e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and related movements.
• Dharmic traditions: e.g., Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism.
• East Asian and indigenous systems: e.g., Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism, and local animist practices.
• New religious movements and syncretic faiths: modern or blended traditions emerging from contact and reform.
• Non-religious spiritualities and secular worldviews: forms of spiritual practice or ethical life not centered on theism.

These categories are heuristic; many traditions cross boundaries, and naming conventions differ between regions and scholars. For curated lists and registries see religions catalog or broader compilations of spiritual traditions.

Characteristics and how lists are built

Lists commonly record names, origins, core texts or teachings, major denominations, geographic presence, and approximate historical period. Distinctions often separate beliefs (doctrines), practices (rituals, liturgy), institutions (places of worship, clergy), and communal identity. Some entries are movements, others are rituals or philosophical schools that function religiously for adherents.

Because terms vary across languages and cultures, compilers must decide whether to include local variants, sects, or only broadly recognized traditions. A useful list balances breadth with clear criteria and notes overlap or contested classifications.

Importance and uses

Enumerations of religions serve reference, comparative study, interfaith dialogue, and cultural preservation. They help educators, researchers, and the public understand religious diversity while reminding readers that lived religion often resists tidy lists.