For courses in Religions of the World, History of Religions, Comparative Religion, and Introduction to Religious Studies in departments of Religion, Religious Studies, Theology, and Philosophy.

This text combines study of the dynamic historical development of each religious tradition with a comparative thematic structure. Students are encouraged to discover and explore the nature of religious experience by comparing basic themes and issues common to all religions, finding connections with their own personal experiences. By sensitively introducing descriptive material within a comparative thematic structure, this text helps students to understand how each religion provides, for its adherents, patterns and meanings that make up a full way of life.

Features

• NEW�Revised throughout--The material has been brought up to date, particularly in the light of recent world events that affect people of all the religions.
  • Provides the most current coverage available, incorporating new scholarly work on the religions.
• NEW�Section describing healing practices and medicine--For each religious tradition.
• NEW--Revised first chapter--The introductory chapter includes more discussion of theories of religion and approaches to studying religion.
  • Introduces the key dimensions of religious experience, outlining the basic human concerns that give rise to religious experience, such as origin and identity, ultimate reality, human nature, and the good life.
• NEW�Revised discussion questions--At the end of each chapter.
  • Encourage more student reflection on the concerns and themes of the particular religion.
• NEW--A listing of key terms and definitions--For each religious tradition.
  • Assists students in reviewing the key ideas and features of that religion.
• NEW�Updated Suggestions for Further Reading--Revised to include recent publications.
  • Guides students in thinking about the material in each chapter and provides them with convenient review guides.
• NEW--Media and Research Update!--This includes the CD-ROM, The Sacred World: Encounters With the World's Religions, a multimedia icon throughout this text referring students to relevant videos on the CD. Further, bundled with each text is TIME: Special Edition: World Religions. And, with this text, the reader is given the opportunity to access Research Navigator.
• A thematic and empathic approach�Presenting historical and descriptive material within a comparative thematic structure, this book explores the personal meanings and experiences of people of different faiths.
  • Gives students a starting place in their own experience (with similar questions and concerns) for understanding the religions of others; they can more easily see why each religion's sacred story, teachings, and rituals are so important to the people who live by that religion.
• Comprehensible and accurate portraits of the religions�Focuses on the mainstream of each religion, showing how each religion "holds together" through careful use of key sacred texts, beliefs, artistic practices, healing rituals, and the like.
  • Provides a kind of "roadmap" of the vast landscape of the world's religions, making sense of the overwhelming mass of seemingly unrelated historical events, teachings, practices, sects, etc.
• Consistent approach, emphasis, and style throughout�Uses a uniform pattern of presentation to explore each of the very different religions in the book
  • Reinforces the main themes and helps students see both the commonalities and the uniqueness of each religion, eliminating the bafflement caused by many different approaches and styles.
• Geographical groupings of religions�Looks at religions geographically�from India, China-Japan, and the Mediterranean World�and according to families of religions within that overall structure.
  • Helps students understand relationships between faiths.
• Discussion of artistic expression�In each of the different religious traditions.
  • Helps the reader see that each religion or culture has its own unique aesthetic sense.
• Attention to the role of women in each tradition�Based on the greater awareness of women's experiences and leadership roles.
  • Demonstrates new understandings and insight into how women have influenced and been impacted by their faiths.

I. EXPLORING THE SACRED PATHS.

1. Perspectives on the Religious Path.
2. Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure.
3. Sacred Paths Among Indigenous Peoples.

II. RELIGIONS ARISING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD.

4. Religions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece.
5. The Zoroastrian Tradition.
6. Jewish Sacred Story and Historical Context.
7. Jewish Worlds of Meaning.
8. Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Jews.
9. Christian Sacred Story and Historical Context.
10. Christian Worlds of Meaning.
11. Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Christians.
12. Muslim Sacred Story and Historical Context.
13. Muslim Worlds of Meaning.
14. Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Muslims.

III: ONGOING EXPLORATIONS ON THE SACRED PATHS.

15. New Religious Movements.
16. Guideposts and Crossings on the Paths.

Notes.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
Acknowledgments.
Index.