Religions around the world differ in many ways, but the vast majority of them have their own set of holy writings and relics. Many of them are ancient, and they have been handed down or preserved for millennia. Those that are more recent are often looked upon as fakes, and many ignore them as nothing more than the basis to begin a religious cult. Those relics that have been carefully cared for throughout the many turbulent and trying centuries of mankind are often revered by those within the religion, and they are also the subject of study by those who were interested in gaining historical insights into the subject.

Every culture has its unique way of expressing their religion, and some of the institutions contracted artists to do it for them. Others were dependent upon their leaders to supply the means to create monuments, and some of the most important documents were written by those who were closely aligned with the religious institutions of their time.