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In the study of [[human geography]], an ''ethnic religion'' is one that appeals primarily to a specific group of people from a specific place, compared to a [[universalizing religion]] which attempts to appeal to a wide number of people throughout the world. Some ethnic religions have different denominations, but most don't. By far the most practiced ethnic religions in terms of the sheer number of adherents is [[Hinduism]], but the most geographically widespread ethnic religion is [[Judaism]]. About 24% of the world's population adheres to an ethnic religion, while about 62% belong to a universalizing religion and 14% belong to no particular religion at all.

In the study of [[human geography]], an ''ethnic religion'' is one that appeals primarily to a specific group of people from a specific place, compared to a [[universalizing religion]] which attempts to appeal to a wide number of people throughout the world.<ref>{{cite book |last= Rubenstein |first= James M. |coauthors=  |title= The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography |publisher= Pearson Prentice Hall |year= 2008 |month= |isbn= 0-13-134681-4}}</ref> Some ethnic religions have different denominations, but most don't. By far the most practiced ethnic religions in terms of the sheer number of adherents is [[Hinduism]], but the most geographically widespread ethnic religion is [[Judaism]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Rubenstein |first= James M. |coauthors=  |title= The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography |publisher= Pearson Prentice Hall |year= 2008 |month= |isbn= 0-13-134681-4}}</ref> About 24% of the world's population adheres to an ethnic religion, while about 62% belong to a universalizing religion and 14% belong to no particular religion at all.<ref>{{cite book |last= Rubenstein |first= James M. |coauthors=  |title= The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography |publisher= Pearson Prentice Hall |year= 2008 |month= |isbn= 0-13-134681-4}}</ref>

==Characteristics==

==Characteristics==

===Ceremonies===

===Ceremonies===

As opposed to the ceremonies in universalizing religions, which are primarily based around the lives of the founders, the ceremonies in ethnic religions tend to be based on the cycle of the harvest. For example, the Jewish holidays of [[Purim]] and [[Hanukkah]], even though they have elaborate origin stories, can be traced back to being celebrations of the stages of a harvest in the same vain as [[Celtic]] celebrations like Samhain (today better known and celebrated as [[Halloween]]). Because of this, the calendars of most ethnic religions begin in the [[autumn]] with harvest celebrations akin to the American tradition of [[Thanksgiving]], which itself can partly be traced to a [[Native American]] harvest feast.

As opposed to the ceremonies in universalizing religions, which are primarily based around the lives of the founders, the ceremonies in ethnic religions tend to be based on the cycle of the harvest.<ref>{{cite book |last= Rubenstein |first= James M. |coauthors=  |title= The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography |publisher= Pearson Prentice Hall |year= 2008 |month= |isbn= 0-13-134681-4}}</ref> For example, the Jewish holidays of [[Purim]] and [[Hanukkah]], even though they have elaborate origin stories, can be traced back to being celebrations of the stages of a harvest in the same vain as [[Celtic]] celebrations like Samhain (today better known and celebrated as [[Halloween]]). Because of this, the calendars of most ethnic religions are lunar (as opposed to the common Gregorian Solar calendar) and begin in the [[autumn]] with harvest celebrations akin to the American tradition of [[Thanksgiving]], which itself can partly be traced to a [[Native American]] harvest feast.

===Conversion===

===Conversion===

==List of Ethnic Religions==

==List of Ethnic Religions==

Because every indigenous religion is considered to be an ethnic religion, it is impossible to list them all; after all, there may yet be indigenous religions that have yet to be discovered and are practiced by the few remaining members of an ancient culture living isolated from the rest of the world. There are literally thousands of ethnic religions, but here are a few of the major ones.

Because every indigenous religion is considered to be an ethnic religion, it is impossible to list them all; after all, there may yet be indigenous religions that have yet to be discovered and are practiced by the few remaining members of an ancient culture living isolated from the rest of the world. There are literally thousands of ethnic religions, but here are a few of the major ones.<ref>{{cite book |last= Rubenstein |first= James M. |coauthors=  |title= The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography |publisher= Pearson Prentice Hall |year= 2008 |month= |isbn= 0-13-134681-4}}</ref>

*[[Hinduism]]

*[[Hinduism]]