Description: "THE WORLD'S RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS have offered answers to the weightiest questions of human existence, contributed to the formation of political and social institutions, inspired masterpieces of art and literature, and provided many of the cultural values and ideals on which entire civilizations have been based. Today, religions continue to play a powerful role in shaping the ways in which people understand themselves, the world they live in, and how they should live. Invitation to World Religions welcomes students to the study of religion. In these pages, we open the doors and invite the reader to explore with wonder and respect. We describe the essential features of the world's major religions and show how they have responded to basic human needs and to the cultural settings in which they developed. We also compare the answers religions have offered us regarding some of the most essential human questions: Why are we here? What is the nature of the universe? How should we live? Our aim has been to balance concision and substance in an introductory text that is accessible, as well as challenging"--
Review Quotes: "This textbook provides a very comprehensive and concise overview of the study of religion as is."--Christopher Hoklotubbe, Cornell College
"The book is strong in its visual layout and the questions, glossary terms, and inserted boxes are good. Generally, the content is strong and it is nice to begin each section with some relatable stories to draw in undergrads."--Andrew Christian van Gorder, Baylor University"This is a very comprehensive text. Its strengths are in the depth of research about each religion, the fair and unbiased way it is offered, and the readability."--Donald Stikeleather, Marian University"This book is high quality. There are several strengths related to content. It is easy to read, covers the relevant components of religious traditions, and is thoroughly relevant to the discipline."--Kenneth Bass, Central Texas College"Few introductory texts manage to be both rigorous and inviting; Invitation to World Religions does so with rare success, setting the standard for how world religions should be taught." --Textbook & Academic Authors Association Award Judge