Teleological development of religion

From a religious viewpoint, there are several possibilities to account for the historical development of religion. Religions can consider themselves founded, with a founding figure establishing a doctrine based on revelation or enlightenment. Folk religions on the other hand are primarily based in and justified by tradition. Further development can be based on theological speculation, or at least partly guided by further revelation (c.f. claims of divine inspiration of the LXX and KJV Bible translations). Development away from the tenets of one's own school (schisms) will be characterized as heresy, failure to abandon more archaic stages of worship as idolatry or superstition.

According to a "progression of revelation" is accepted regarding most world religions: The patriarchs and prophets (Nevi'im) in Abrahamic religions, beginning with Abraham , the Rishis in Hinduism, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Buddhism, the Tirthankars in Jainism, the Saoshyants in Zoroastrianism, etc.

In the Bahá'í view, religion develops through a series of divine interventions from God, in the form of a Manifestation of God, extending that progression indefinitely into the future (see Progressive revelation).