This book focuses upon those religions that continue to demand the attention of the Western world.

The Evolution of Major Faiths World Religions looks at the beliefs and practices of many different religions, from the ancient Egyptians to Zoroastrianism -- the oldest "living" religion -- and the great faiths practiced today. Each of the major faiths -- Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam -- is examined in detail through its sacred texts, epic imagery, key beliefs, and religious artifacts. The distinctive identities of different faiths are explored in World Religions by studying the main principles and thinking of each religion. The book's superb reproduction allows the symbolism and meaning in religious imagery and iconography to be revealed in great detail. Accessible and far-reaching, World Religions will engage the whole family as much as the serious student. Book jacket.

Understanding other religions is no longer an academic, ivory tower exercise. In this timely and important book, Dr, Braswell provides an introduction to the major world religions, as well as many of the minor ones.

An introduction to the worlds major faiths.

Illustrated with black-and-white and full-color photographs. ""Today, most religious people in the world practice one of these seven religions [Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism]."All have had a deep effect on the laws and customs of every country. They have shaped art, literature, music, and education. They have given the world magnificent stories, songs, buildings, holy objects, ceremonies, and festivals." From the Introduction to "Many Religions, One World. Best-selling children's author Mary Pope Osborne presents an accessible and elegantly crafted volume that introduces young readers to the world's seven major religions. Six short readable chapters--perfectly targeted to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders--detail the history, beliefs, and practices of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Handsomely designed and featuring fifty oversized color photographs and a full complement of reference materials, including a map, time line, and bibliography, this book provides a thorough and thoughtful presentation of the diverse ways people worship around the world.

Globalization and high-speed communication put twenty-first century people in contact with adherents to a wide variety of world religions, but usually, valuable knowledge of these other traditions is limited at best. On the one hand, religious stereotypes abound, hampering a serious exploration of unfamiliar philosophies and practices. On the other hand, the popular idea that all religions lead to the same God or the same moral life fails to account for the distinctive origins and radically different teachings found across the world’s many religions. Understanding World Religions presents religion as a complex and intriguing matrix of history, philosophy, culture, beliefs, and practices. Hexham believes that a certain degree of objectivity and critique is inherent in the study of religion, and he guides readers in responsible ways of carrying this out. Of particular importance is Hexham’s decision to explore African religions, which have frequently been absent from major religion texts. He surveys these in addition to varieties of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

'Of ways you may speak, but not the Perennial Way; By names you may name, but not the Perennial Name.' The best-loved of all the classical books of China and the most universally popular, the Daodejing or Classic of the Way and Life-Force is a work that defies definition. It encapsulates the main tenets of Daoism, and upholds a way of being as well as a philosophy and a religion. The dominant image is of the Way, the mysterious path through the whole cosmos modelled on the great Silver River or Milky Way that traverses the heavens. A life-giving stream, the Way gives rise to all things and holds them in her motherly embrace. It enables the individual, and society as a whole, to harmonize the disparate demands of daily life and achieve a more profound level of understanding. This new translation draws on the latest archaeological finds and brings out the word play and poetry of the original. Simple commentary accompanies the text, and the introduction provides further historical and interpretative context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

The world is a very religious place. Wherever you look, people are worshipping, praying, believing, following, even dying for their faith. But are all faiths the same? Do they all call on the same God using different names? Are their beliefs and practices simply cultural expressions of the same spiritual longings? In this timely book, John Dickson presents each of the world's major religions in its best light. He carefully outlines the history, belief systems and spiritual practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam so that the interested 'spectator' can explore their similarities and differences. For sceptics, believers and students of religion the book provides a fair and friendly introduction to this ultimate subject.

Contains nearly 600 brief entries on the world's religious traditions.

The major religions of the world are a mystery to many high school teens. Now you can help them unlock the doors of these traditions with our new text, World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery. The book is an introductory survey that helps eleventh and twelfth graders understand the people, dimensions, and religious principles of the world's major religions. The textbook includes a chapter on each of eleven major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and others. The text offers the Catholic perspective on interreligious dialogue, an overview of basic questions that religions address, and Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of religion. A glossary and word pronunciations in each chapter help students learn unfamiliar terms. In addition, the second edition of this text incorporates the following new features: a new chapter on modern trends in religion; new, more detailed maps; a new section on the Aztec religion of Mesoamerica; a sidebar in each chapter offering examples of the seven dimensions of religion; and review questions at the end of each chapter.