Understanding The Religions Of The World

A comprehensive, visually rich introduction to the world's major religious traditionsNow in its second edition, Understanding the Religions of the World: An Introduction provides an essential framework for analyzing and understanding the world's major religions. Rather than simply presenting a series of facts, this innovative textbook provides an insightful lens through which students examine how and why religions appeal to their followers. Contributions from leading scholars who have conducted fieldwork in the traditions they discuss focus on the contemporary beliefs and practices of Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Chinese Religion, and others.Each chapter contains detailed analysis, up-to-date scholarship, review and discussion questions, and multiple informational boxes that discuss topics in greater depth across five analytical categories. More than 150 carefully curated images, diagrams, and maps that enhance student comprehension and retention are integrated...