Pocket Guide to World Religions

by Winfried Corduan

Overview

Have you ever wondered . . .

• what the red dot on an Indian woman's forehead means?
• whether all Buddhist monks practice martial arts?
• if the Emperor of Japan is still considered a god?

Here is a concise, informative guide for anyone looking for answers to basic questions about the world's varied religions. In short, incisive chapters, Winfried Corduan introduces readers to twelve of the world's major religions, including Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Parsi, Shinto and Sikhism. For each, he offers brief descriptions of its name, numbers and distribution, key symbols, history, Scriptures, major beliefs, subgroups, worship practices, home practices, clothing, diet and calendar. Also included are even briefer descriptions of sixteen new religious movements and traditional or tribal religions.

This book is for students, pastors and other busy people who want the quick, bare-facts scoop on current religions.

Designed for students and pastors alike, the short and accessible volumes in the IVP Pocket Reference Series will help you tackle the study of biblical languages, church history, apologetics, world religions, Christian spirituality, ethics, theology, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830827053
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	01/30/2006
Series:	The IVP Pocket Reference Series
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	1,008,602
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Winfried Corduan (Ph.D., Rice University) is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. He has led many undergraduate tours focusing on the lived religious traditions of various parts of the world. He is the author of several books, including Reasonable Faith, A Tapestry of Faiths and Pocket Guide to World Religions.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Baha'i
3. Buddhism
4. Christianity
5. Confucianism
6. Daoism
7. Hinduism
8. Islam
9. Jainism
10. Judaism
11. New Religions
Aleph
Ahmadiyya Islam
Cao Dai
Christian Science
Falun Gong
Iskcon (Hare Krishna)
Jehovah's Witnesses
Juce
Mormonism
Nation of Islam
Rastafarianism
Scientology
Soka Gakkai
Tenrikyo
Unification Church
Wahhabite Islam
Wicca
Parsiism (Zoroastrianism)
Shinto
Sikhism
Traditional and Tribal Religions

Editorial Reviews

Public and academic libraries looking to expand or supplement their religious reference collection will find this small guide useful.

Shannon Graff Hysell

This is a book all Christians can readily use. . . . Short and compact, this guide provides an excellent starting point for those wanting to know more about the new world of religions around them. It would be an excellent tool for churches wishing to educate and train their congregations to engage them in their own neighborhoods with some understanding.

David Ripley

Public and academic libraries looking to expand or supplement their religious reference collection will find this small guide useful.

--Shannon Graff Hysell, ARBAonline

This is a book all Christians can readily use. . . . Short and compact, this guide provides an excellent starting point for those wanting to know more about the new world of religions around them. It would be an excellent tool for churches wishing to educate and train their congregations to engage them in their own neighborhoods with some understanding.

--David Ripley, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, IL, EMQ April 2007

From the Publisher