Final answer:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have contributed to the rise of democracy primarily by promoting equality and justice for all individuals. Their teachings and the ethical principles derived from them laid the groundwork for democratic values, later interacting with Greek and Roman ideas to support the development of democratic thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all contributed to the rise of democracy in various ways. Considering the options presented, the most appropriate would be 'A' - By promoting the idea of equality and justice for all individuals, regardless of their social status or background. This is evidenced by the principles within these religions that assert the essential equality of all human beings before God, an idea notably radical for its time in the case of Judaism. Equally, the ethical systems that arose from these religions were underpinned by democratic values, such as justice for all.
The introduction of monotheism through Judaism brought forward the concept of spiritual equality, which in the long term affected attitudes towards the secular concept of equality. In Christianity, the teachings of Jesus highlighted the importance of individuals, and in Islam, the principles espoused by Muhammad touched upon issues of community welfare and justice. Over centuries, as these religious ideas intermingled with Greek and Roman intellectual traditions, they influenced thinkers who sought to balance revelation with rational exploration, fostering an environment where democratic ideals could later flourish. In summary, these religions contributed to the underpinnings of democracy, not by directly encouraging governmental systems or individual rights, as suggested by choices 'B', 'C', and 'D', but by establishing a foundational belief in the intrinsic value and equality of every person, an important step towards the later development of democratic thinking.