The Sacred Paths: Understanding the Religions of the World (3rd Edition)
By combining a historical-descriptive presentation of individual religions with a comparative-thematic approach, this text accomplishes two important goals. First, it allows students to examine each of the world's major religions as a unique system of meaning. At the same time, it lets them to explore the inner nature of sacred experience by comparing basic themes and issues common to all religions and pertinent to their own personal lives. An introductory chapter discusses the basic human questions and concerns behind religion, such as origin and identity, ultimate reality, human nature, and the good life. These essential concepts are then used to help describe the beliefs, practices, and historical development of each religion. This new edition has been streamlined in several key areas, while including more material on sacred art and the role of women in religion. As the work of a single scholar--much of it based on original research--this book offers a consistency and depth missing in many of the texts in this field.--This text refers to an alternateHardcoveredition.