A World Religions Reader

A COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TEXTBOOK EXPLORING THE TRADITIONS AND BELIEFS OF THE WORLD'S LIVING RELIGIONS - THE FULLY UPDATED AND REVISED NEW EDITION A World Religions Reader, Fourth Edition is an inclusive, student-friendly examination of the history, teaching, practices, and appeal of the world's major religions. Covering both the fundamentals and the complexities of each religious tradition, this popular textbook brings together significant texts from scriptures and scholars as well as writings from philosophers and significant thinkers throughout history. Students are provided with an overview of the tradition, taken through its primary texts, and presented with a text which seeks to persuade the student of the tradition's merits. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to be more accessible for students new to interreligious engagement, reflecting current trends and developments in religions worldwide. New content examines areas such as the Rastafarian tradition, while revised chapters cover secular humanism and indigenous and emerging religious traditions. The methodology of the book focuses on an empathetic approach - representing each tradition from the perspective of a conventional adherent - enabling students to develop understanding of each tradition and appreciate similarities and differences in their most typical forms. Invites students to study each tradition from the perspective of a follower, aiming to understand why the tradition is popular and powerful Explores representative passages, world-views, rituals and institutions, ethical expressions and modern outlooks for each religion Features discussions on the role of women in religious traditions and the impact of world events and politics on interfaith communication Encourages students to consider questions of truth, the relation of religion and society, and the changing nature of a tradition in the modern world Includes a complete set of pedagogical tools and instructor resources, including end-of-chapter fact sheets, topic summaries, key term sections, essay and discussion questions A World Religions Reader, Fourth Edition is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in religion as well as general readers wishing to increase their knowledge of the world's religious traditions.