Which two religions are explicitly identified as ethnic religions in the material?

Which two religions are explicitly identified as ethnic religions in the material?

• A. Hinduism and Judaism
• B. Hinduism and Buddhism
• C. Judaism and Islam
• D. Buddhism and Hinduism

Answer: (A)

Ethnic religions are tied to a specific people and place, with a strong cultural or ancestral connection and less emphasis on converting others. Hinduism fits this pattern because it is deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent's culture, language, and social structures, and its practice is closely linked to a regional community rather than a universal mission to convert the world. Judaism also embodies this ethnic character, as it blends religious practice with a shared ancestry, cultural heritage, and historical homeland, where identity and tradition are passed down through generations more than through mass proselytizing. By contrast, religions that spread widely through missionary efforts and seek converts are typically described as universalizing. That’s why Buddhism (in many contexts) and Islam are viewed more as universalizing traditions, and why pairing those with Hinduism or Judaism would not fit the material’s labeling of ethnic religions.

Ethnic religions are tied to a specific people and place, with a strong cultural or ancestral connection and less emphasis on converting others. Hinduism fits this pattern because it is deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent's culture, language, and social structures, and its practice is closely linked to a regional community rather than a universal mission to convert the world. Judaism also embodies this ethnic character, as it blends religious practice with a shared ancestry, cultural heritage, and historical homeland, where identity and tradition are passed down through generations more than through mass proselytizing.

By contrast, religions that spread widely through missionary efforts and seek converts are typically described as universalizing. That’s why Buddhism (in many contexts) and Islam are viewed more as universalizing traditions, and why pairing those with Hinduism or Judaism would not fit the material’s labeling of ethnic religions.