Understanding the Religions of the World: An Introduction (1st Edition) – eBook

Understanding the Religions of the World: An Introduction offers a new approach to the study of religions which moves away from the purely descriptive and instead helps college students understand how religions actually ‘work’. Covering all the main faith traditions, it combines contemporary beliefs and practices, historical context, and original theory, with numerous study features and valuable overviews.

• A major new student-focused PDF ebook concentrating on contemporary practices and beliefs of world religions
• Integrates original theory by arguing that each religion operates according to its own logic and order, and that they fulfill our need for a point of orientation
• Brings together a team of experts to provide a uniquely comprehensive coverage of religious traditions, including religions of Oceania, and African religions which are rarely covered in detail
• Incorporates extensive student features including ‘did you know?’ sections, chapter introductions, boxed examples/material, numerous images and maps, conclusions, study questions and teaching plans, available on publication at www.wiley.com/go/deming

REVIEWS

“Recent trends in religious studies tend to analyze religions with attention to historical change and consciousness. Understanding the Religions of the World An Introduction pulls off the huge accomplishment in this respect and distinguishes itself among its competitors by exhibiting an awareness to these dual perspectives throughout the etextbook. Each chapter is presented by experts, filled with unusual insights and the editor Will Deming has produced a piece of work that is easily readable yet thought-provoking, but, more importantly, one that articulates big conceptual ideas of each religion in a practical way which make it highly recommendable to all first year undergraduate students.”
Mehmet Karabela, Queen’s University, Canada

“Religion is an important topic in today’s world. To know the basics of the world’s religions is to gain access to some of the greatest thinkers of all time about some of the most significant matters to all people everywhere. To learn the history of the great faith traditions is to become acquainted with the history of the human race and to see where it has come from. And by becoming familiar with the beliefs of these faith traditions, one can become a citizen of the world and see where we, as a race, might someday be. But where can one find an adequate guide to this important subject? The answer is now clear. In this ebook!”
Erik W. Larson, Florida International University ​