Synopses & Reviews
A history of the great religions, told through their core beliefs, by the editor of The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions How did Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism come to be the world's dominant religions? What are the real beliefs of Islam, and the different branches within it? Who were the key figures of Judaism? And how are religious beliefs shaping today's world conflicts? This book will answer the key questions about the great religions, from Bahai to Unitarianism, via Jainism, Mormonism, Shinto, and the major branches of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Not only will this book explain what the disciples of each faith believe, but it will provide the reader with a greater understanding of the wider themes of religious and world history. Each chapter comprises an overview of the central tenets of each religion, key quotations from its core beliefs, and a historical depiction of each faith, from its earliest beginnings to its latest incarnations and impact on the modern world.
Synopsis
Religious beliefs have shaped the history of the world. Their effect can be seen in culture, philosophy and politics, and they have inspired people to serve others and to create great works of art, architecture and music. Yet differences in belief can cause bloodshed and war. Never before has it been more urgent to understand the great religions if we are to make sense of our 21st century world, its achievements and its conflicts.
This new, revised edition of Beliefs That Changed the World tells the story of the major faiths from their earliest beginnings to their present day impact.
About the Author
John Bowker is a former professor of theology at Cambridge University and the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, Dorling Kindersley Companion to the Bible, and World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored & Explained. His book The Meaning of Death received the HarperCollins Religious Book Award and his numerous other titles include What Muslims Believe and God: A Brief History.