A Concise Introduction to World Religions

Based on the best-selling two-volume World Religions: Eastern and Western Traditions, this concise, contributed second edition is a survey of faiths throughout the world. Renowned scholars trace the origins and evolution of the major traditions, explain their essential teachings, outline their practices, and examine their interactions with modern culture and society, while insightful introductory and concluding essays suggest countless avenues for further reflection and study. With extracts from each tradition's most important thinkers, both ancient and modern, along with timelines, maps, glossaries, guides to key geographic sites, annotated reading lists, vibrant color photographs, handy "Tradition at a Glance" summaries, and a brand-new chapter on new religious movements, A Concise Introduction to World Religions, Second Edition, offers a rich introduction to the subject.


NEW TO THIS EDITION:

* Contemporary issues. A section in each chapter addresses the modern challenges unique to each tradition, including fundamentalism and extremism, religious violence, abuse, bioethics, and interaction with politics.

* A new chapter on "New Religious Movements." Highlighting the changing face of religious expression, Chapter 12 examines movements that have emerged out of established faiths--Hare Krishna (Hindu), Kabbalah (Jewish), Baha'i (Islam), and the Church of Latter Day Saints (Christian)--as well as new religions that have formed in response to changing spiritual needs--Wicca, Scientology, the Rael movement, the New Age movement, New Thought, and Spiritual Ecology/Green Religion.

* More coverage of women and religion. This edition offers expanded treatment of the contributions of women to the development of each tradition and to the practice and performance of rituals. Examples include women as religious leaders in the Sufi tradition and female participation in the ascetic tradition of renunciation.

* Additional scriptural excerpts. Passages from the Book of Mormon and a Baha'i prayer are new to this edition.

* Full-color redesign. A revamped, full-color art program more effectively illustrates the practices, rituals, and symbols characteristic of each faith.

* "Sacred Texts" tables outline the process of compiling and revising the fundamental texts for each faith as well as their oral, legal, and ritual uses.

* End-of-chapter study questions ask students to review and recall key concepts and themes.

* Recommended websites and further readings provide an excellent starting point for additional research and study.

* A "Religions of the World" map on the inside front cover helps students situate each faith within a geographical setting.

* A "Religions" timeline on the inside back cover offers students a historical context for understanding key events in each religion's development.


ENGAGING PEDAGOGY: A wealth of learning tools throughout help students appreciate and understand world religions:

* "Focus" boxes provide insight into rituals or practices that are specific to each religion, such as going to temple in the Jain tradition, the daily routine of liturgical prayers for Sikhs, and taboo words for male and female Shinto priests in Japan.

* "Tradition at a Glance" sidebars offer an insightful overview of each tradition--covering founders, noteworthy doctrines, and distribution of adherents--facilitate comparative analysis, and serve as quick review references.

* "Major Branches of" boxes break down the internal divisions and sects within each faith.

* Chapter timelines highlight key events in each religion's history.

* Detailed maps depict locations of important reference points for each tradition.

* "Sites" boxes indicate locations of special significance to each tradition.

* "Document" boxes highlight key passages from each tradition's sacred texts.

* End-of-chapter glossaries serve as quick-reference guides that help students learn and review key terms.

INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES:

Instructor's Manual:
Chapter overviews and notes
Classroom discussion questions

Test Generator:
For each chapter:
50 multiple-choice questions
20 true/false questions
10 short-answer questions
5 essay questions
Answer key with page references for all questions

PowerPoint-based Slides:
Fully revised and updated for the second edition


STUDENT STUDY GUIDE:
Chapter summaries
List of learning objectives
For each chapter:
20 multiple-choice questions
5 short-answer questions
10 research paper questions
5 reflection questions
List of 5-8 additional resources
Field trip guidelines