Adherence to a single body of religious teaching has played a role in the early global era as a way to mark cultural distinctiveness, to resist colonialism and to construct personal meaning in a global society which can seem to be merely an alienating commercial market.
Each religious tradition, as it matures, develops multiple layers — the most accessible characterised by adherence to some core ideas and a felt allegiance to the community. Deeper layers require an understanding of the body of thought in the tradition.
At a depth of any tradition lies a heritage of disciplined practice, which often sees itself as the practice of the founder or of his or her closest disciples.
