Religions play a major role in today's world. This book gives you a simple and accessible introduction to the main beliefs and practices of significant and influential faiths. Joanne O'Brien and Sandra Palmer provide key facts about religions their histories and stories, their beliefs and rituals, their literature and festivals, their people and places. This book also recognises the major differences within each religion. This is a valuable guide for quick reference and offers a glimpse of the world of beliefs. The religions covered are Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.

Quick reference to the major religions of the world. With World Religions at Your Fingertips, readers can quickly learn anything they need to know about Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and more. From reincarnation to resurrection, the Four Noble Truths to the Ten Commandments, this book covers the gamut of religious concepts and beliefs throughout the world in concise but complete bites that are easy to find and simple to understand. • Allows readers to dip in quickly to get the information they need immediately • Thumb tabs and other navigational aids make this the quintessential reference book on world religion • Content is thorough and even-handed

Can Islam be located on a map? Is Europe the center of the Christian world? Is India a Hindu nation? While decades ago these questions were often answered in the affirmative, the truth has never been that simple. Not only are adherents of particular faiths spread across the globe, but there are many variations of a particular faith practiced side by side. This has only become more true in recent years as the pace of globalization has quickened. The essays collected here provide brief and accessible introductions to the major world religions in their global contexts. The volume begins with an introduction to the globalization of religion by Mark Juergensmeyer, and is followed by individual essays on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and local religious societies. The book concludes with three essays reflecting on the global religious scene. Taken together, these essays provide a concise, authoritative, and highly readable introduction to the state of worldwide religion in the 21st century.

From Islam and Judaism to Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormonism, quickly get a handle on 30 different belief systems and how they compare to Christianity with this pocket-sized book! Packed with clear overviews of world religions, World Religions Made Easy also compares the key beliefs of each world religion. With billions of people around the world believing in a religion other than Christianity, it is important to understand what they believe, how it compares to Christianity, and how to address common misunderstandings. See key information at a glance on each religion and cult, including: Each religion's origins and foundersKey writingsKey beliefsCommon practices and symbolsPerspective on salvation, Trinity, and the afterlife Some belief systems use similar terms, but define them in a totally different way. Strengthen your understanding of Christianity and get practical insight into different faiths so that you can be a more effective witness. 6 Key Features of Rose's World Religions Made Easy Handbook Solid and Up-to-Date Research. Researched by one of the top apologists and scholars in the field, this quick handbook was compiled by expert Paul Carden. Easy-to-Read and Scannable. With colorful sidebars and pull outs, it's easy to see dozens of facts at a glance. Highly Visual and Illustrated. See over 100 full-color pictures making it easier for you to understand each religion's beliefs, symbols, places of worship, founders, key texts, and more. Short and Concise. Includes brief summaries of the beliefs and basic history of 30 world religions, sects, cults, and new religious movements. Fascinating Facts. Packed with interesting insights on Christianity and other religions. Addresses Common Misconceptions. Includes a side-by-side chart that shows what other religions teach and how their beliefs compare to what the Bible teaches. Perfect for individual and group study, church libraries, Sunday school classes, missionaries, and more!

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.

This is the first study to bring space into conversation with religious competition, conflict and violence in the contemporary world. Lily Kong and Orlando Woods argue that because space is both a medium and an outcome of religious activity, it is integral to understanding processes of religious competition, conflict and violence. The book explores how religious groups make claims to both religious and secular spaces, and examines how such claims are managed, negotiated and contested by the state and by other secular and religious agencies. It also examines how globalisation has given rise to new forms of religious competition, and how religious groups strengthen themselves through the development of social resilience, as well as contribute to resilient societies. Throughout the book, case studies from around the world are used to examine how religious competition and conflict intersect with space. The case studies include topical issues such as competing claims to the Temple Mount/Haram el-Sharif in Jerusalem, opposition to the “Ground Zero mosque” in New York City, and the regulation of religious conversion in India and Sri Lanka. By helping readers develop new perspectives on how religion works in and through space, Religion and Space: Competition, Conflict and Violence in the Contemporary World is an innovative contribution to the study of religion.

Chinese gods: Who are they? Where did they come from? And what do they do? Chinese folk religion is the underlying belief system of more than a billion Chinese people. This title helps us understand the building blocks of this religion for which even the Chinese have no name.