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.

Philosophically Thinking about World Religions is different from other works in the discipline today. It deviates from the typical approaches used for the study of world religions. Its goal is to engage readers in thinking hard about world religions, not about the data surrounding those traditions. By focusing on philosophical questions, each reader should be challenged to do their own investigations that may reveal the heart of these traditions. Another stance that this project takes that distinguishes it from other texts in the discipline is that it advocates an inclusivist perspective regarding the world religions. Pluralism, which is the predominate assumption today, ends either in contradiction or in the development of a metatheory that dismisses crucial distinctions between the various traditions or eliminates some ancient religions because they do not fit the metatheory. By taking an open inclusivist approach, all religious traditions may engage at the table of dialogue. The final essay is about justice and social affairs. While that discussion is couched within the context of a particular tradition, each religious tradition must have the discussion. But it must be more than an intrareligious dialogue; it must become an interreligious dialogue.

Evangelical theology strives to be evangelical, conservative, and contemporary. In a world in which everyone is "Christian," evangelical theology provides a balanced position between fundamentalism and liberalism. While theological debates within the family will occur, to be evangelical is a breath of fresh air for many. However, we do not live in such a world. We do find ourselves living in a secular, global society. It is secular because no religious organization dictates how we live our lives. It is global for at least two reasons. First, our technology brings us immediately in contact with those faraway places. Second, and of more importance, we can simply step outside our front doors and encounter our neighborhoods that reflect a global pluralism. This raises the question, how shall we then live? The intent of An Evangelical Theology of Religions is to suggest a direction for evangelicals to think about the secular, global society in which they live in a way that is not only conservative but also evangelical and contemporary. The final essay strives to address the evangelical aspect of our tradition that places an emphasis on the Great Commission and the law of love.

In our pluralistic world, it's not sufficient to simply learn about other religions: we must learn from them. World Religions in Dialogue: A Comparative Theological Approach, Enhanced Edition, provides an opportunity to do just that. Exploring the five major world religions--Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism--this text offers both insider and outsider perspectives on each religious tradition, creating a dialogical approach that combines scholarship with lived experience. Equipped with glossaries, research questions, and suggestions for experiential learning, World Religions in Dialogue invites students to study world religions--and investigate their own inherited traditions--in a way that reflects our pluralistic world. Pim Valkenberg is an ordinary professor of religion and culture in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

A richly illustrated guide to the 6 great religions of the world.

Looks at the history and beliefs of ancient and modern religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam