What Is Religion: An Introduction
With an ecumenical sensitivity, Haught examines those elements common to the major religions and to religion generally. In language accessible to the lay reader, Haught first looks at the many ways in which religion has manifested itself by considering what he perceives as the four key elements of all religions: sacramentalism, mysticism, silence, and activism. He then discusses the value of religion and also considers the aims of religion, which he sees as reassurance, mystery, adventure, and morality, and the various challenges to religion: secularism, skepticism, and nihilism. Haught is familiar enough with all the major traditions so that he is able to make cogent comparisons, offering a good deal of basic information.-Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey,Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.