The World's Religions:

'Understanding the Living Faiths' (1993)

The World's Religions: Understanding the Living Faiths (1993)
Peter B. Clarke (Consultant Editor)

In one magnificent volume 'THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS' examines the great living faiths of the world, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Shinto and China's religious tradition. It tells how the major religions began and traces their development from their origins to the present day. More than 400 photographs plus maps and diagrams illustrate the distinctive richness of the world's living religions. The readily understandable text explains doctrines and beliefs, elucidating sacred writings and analysing the roles of saints, missionaries and reformers.

- What were the seeds of the Protestant Reformation in the Christian Church?
- Why do Muslims pray facing towards Mecca?
- What is the significance of meditation in Buddhism?
- How do Hindus worship?

Individual features focus on temple architecture, death and the afterlife, the essential creeds, festivals, forms of worship, pilgrimages and a host of other topics. The Micropedia details the smaller and lesser-known religions and movements that form part of today's spiritual mosaic.

Throughout the centuries religious beliefs have shaped not only individual lives but also the destiny of nations. Selfless acts of devotion have often wielded great social power, and profound belief in religion has inspired people to create some of the world's greatest art and architecture. THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS reviews these beliefs, discusses heroic deeds and reproduces some of the magnificent art they have inspired.

Today religion continues to bear an extraordinary influence on society. Behaviour that may appear bizarre to one group in a multi-ethnic society may be for some believers a symbolic ritual honouring ancestors. Understanding the living faiths provides a key to cultural enrichment and an insight into one's life and the lives of other people.

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Peter B. Clarke (Consultant Editor)
Hardback: 220 pages
ISBN: 0-276-42116-7
Published by Reader's Digest, London (1993)