Little History of Religion

For curious readers of all ages and beliefs, this rich and colorful history explores religion from humanity's earliest days to our own contentious times. Richard Holloway illuminates the beliefs of major and minor religions, the sources of religiously motivated violence, the place of faith in a secular world, and much more.

"For readers in search of a thoughtful, thorough, and approachable survey of the history of religion, this book is an excellent place to start."--Booklist

Written for those with faith and for those without--and especially for younger readers--A Little History of Religion sweeps us through the story of religion in our world, from the dawn of religious belief to the present.

An emphathetic yet discerning guide to the enduring importance of faith, Richard Holloway introduces us to the history and beliefs of the major world religions--Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism. He also explores where religious belief comes from; the search for meaning through the ages; how differences in belief sometimes lead to hostility and violence; what is a sect and what is a cult; and much more. Throughout, Holloway encourages curiosity and tolerance, accentuates nuance and mystery, and calmly restores a sense of the value of faith.