Publisher's Synopsis
This Reader brings together primary material from the major religions of the world. It combines passages from the scriptures with classic statements from major thinkers and institutions and includes the words of John Lennon and Martin Luther King. To enable cross–religious comparison, each chapter is organized around five headings: The Religious Mind, World Views, Institutions and Rituals, Ethical Expression (with a special emphasis on the role of women), and Modern Outlook (including a text that describes a conversion, or defense of the tradition.)
The Reader is written for students who are coming to the study of world religions for the first time. At the end of each chapter, fact sheets are provided to give a clear summary of major beliefs, significant historical events and festivals, and a glossary. The volume also includes an annotated bibliography, summary statistics, and discussion and essay questions.
