Graced with rich illustrations and written by a team of eminent scholars, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions presents a wealth of information on faiths around the world.

Each chapter in this volume examines one of seven major world religions--from Judaism to Christianity and from Islam to Buddhism--and contains information about its holidays and festivities, key historical and mythological figures, architectural styles, calendars, language, and important texts. The book deals with such issues as the afterlife, the role of women, the importance of saints, and the quest for higher wisdom. We discover, for instance, that Pure Land Buddhism--found mainly in China, Japan, and Tibet--holds that meditation on a particular deity at the moment of death will help insure rebirth into that deity's celestial domain. In Judaism, on the other hand, the concept of an afterlife has never played a central role. Uniquely organized in a manner that encourages comparative analysis, the book's lavish full-color art, maps, and photographs all focus on faith in practice, in both elaborate ritual and everyday life.

Religion continues to be a monumental force in a rapidly changing world. Whether tracing the origins of your own faith or attempting to satisfy a curiosity about religious practices an ocean away, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions will be a fascinating and indispensable guide to the complexity of the world's living religions.

"This book reminds us that religion today is, as it has always been, a central force in human culture.... Anyone who reads it will likely be far better educated at the end than when he starts."--Wisconsin State Journal

"The information included... is accurate and presented in lively prose, and the color photographs and maps greatly enhance reading pleasure. Recommended for public libraries."--Library Journal

"Impressive job of summing up in clear, precise, and easy-to-understand prose the precepts, history, and practices of the world's major faiths...beautifully illustrated.... The reference shelves have been lacking a good, comprehensie yet accessible religion guide. It's a pleasure to see such a concise, readable, and attractive piece of erudition address that need."--Amazon.com

"...this beautifully packaged book will be particularly useful to those seeking background information on major faith groups that is at the same time pertinent and fascinating." --Phil Anderson, The Capital-Journal

"This sumptuous guide to world religions is not only a delight to the eye but also serves a utilitarian purpose of giving us much needed information about seven major world religions.... Highly recommended!"--Christianity and the Arts

Michael D. Coogan, the co-editor of The Oxford Companion to the Bible, is Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, and director of publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum.