Understanding Religion

Perfect for students, experts or the interested general reader, this is an innovative, thematic presentation of the role of religion in human society, from traditional cultures to the modern world. Arranged into three main fields of enquiry – religious experience and its expression; conceptual aspects of religion; and religion in society – this study draws from all major religious traditions in the world, as well as a variety of non-religious disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and sociology. Covering everything from art and history to theology and the World Wide Web, this comprehensive account features nearly four hundred illustrations, and will prove invaluable for anyone seeking an understanding of the overwhelming diversity of world faiths and a clarification of the nature and significance of religious experience.