Ten Great Religions: An Essay in Comparative Theology (1871) by James Freeman Clarke is a foundational 19th-century comparative study that analyzes the doctrines, history, and customs of major world faiths. It aims to foster understanding by comparing Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and others with Christianity, viewing them as evolving steps in humanity's spiritual progress. The book was highly influential in developing the study of comparative religion, often comparing the development of religion to other comparative sciences emerging in the 19th century.