Religions

The four religions at a glance

The four traditions covered here share a story that begins with Adam and, for three of them, runs through Abraham. Judaism is the oldest of the four as a continuous tradition; Mandaeism the smallest; Christianity and Islam the largest, together followed by more than half of humanity. Each page sets out a religion’s origins, beliefs, scripture and practice.

In this article

The four religions at a glance
Going further

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three largest traditions that trace their heritage to Abraham. Mandaeism, far smaller and older than Islam, belongs to the same family by descent and history. Each guide below introduces a tradition’s origins, scripture, beliefs and practice, and the communities that live it today.

Judaism
An introduction to Jewish history, scripture, practice and the movements of Jewish life today.
Christianity
An introduction to Christian origins, scripture, belief and the churches of the world today.
Islam
An introduction to Islamic history, the Qur’an, the Five Pillars and Muslim communities today.
Mandaeism
The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, their scriptures and rites, and their identification with the Sabians of the Qur’an.

Going further

The Reference section gathers material on sacred texts, key figures, sacred places and history.
Comparative studies sets out where the traditions agree and where they differ.
The Journal section offers longer explainers on single questions.