Synopses & Reviews
From the Aboriginal Cult of Maria Lionza in Venezuela to Zionist and Apostolic churches in South Africa and Zimbabwe, Religions of the World brings you the only comprehensive, AZ compilation of the world's presently existing major religious communities. More than 200 worldwide experts contributed the 1,200+ entries, each of which covers a group's origin, history, organization, ecumenical contacts, and present status.
An extraordinary survey, in three volumes, of the religious belief and practice in all 276 of the world's nations and territories.
Renowned world religion scholars J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann have performed nothing less a miracle of scholarship. Their Religions of the World brings together more than 200 international specialists to report on the state of worship around the world. No significant active faith remains unexamined. No corner of the globe goes unexplored. The results are staggering. The three-volume illustrated set offers more than 1,200 A Z entries, examining the religious history and key religious communities in all 276 recognized nations and territories. Each entry covers a group's origin, history, organization, ecumenical contacts, and present status with address and website. Other entries focus on each individual country as a whole, surveying the current state of religious practice, supported by statistical data from the country's leading religious statistician, David B. Barrett. Among the A Z entries are core essays covering the major world religious traditions. With cross-references and a general index, this phenomenal set is sure to become the primary reference source on everything religious everywhere.
Features
numerous black-and-whiteillustrations
16 core essays
Up to date statistical information including future projections
Review
· 1,200+ A-Z entries including individual religious groups, country-by-country entries, and core entries that address major world religions
· 200+ contributors including top religious scholars from around the globe
· Photographs of religious leaders, ceremonies, sacred structures, and artifacts such as an Aboriginal sacred Churunga and the Gurujem Monastery in Tibet
· Statistical data on the projected status of religions for 2000 to 2050 broken down by country and by type of religion
· Cross references and end-of-entry bibliographic citations
" ... comprehensive ... unique encyclopedia ... This remarkable work is recommended for academic and larger public libraries ... "Library Journal
"With comprehensive coverage and an innovative approach to the study of religion, Religions of the World is an excellent addition to public and academic library reference collections. It supplies the pieces missing from traditional encyclopedias of religion."Booklist
"... this is one of the few religious encyclopedias that highlights the western esoteric tradition (commonly known as New Age), the topic of 'unbelief,' as well as 'ethnoreligions' and traditional African religions ... This particular encyclopedia is useful due to its inclusion of many of the New Age spiritual movements, along with its essays related to atheism and agnosticism."American Reference Books Annual
"In an unusual, creative, and effective approach, this encyclopedia surveys religion by country, as well as by individual entries for each sect or faith ... impressive ..."School Library Journal
"... quick overviews and excellent basic information regarding the major religions and number of followers in each country. Recommended for public, college, and university reference collections."Choice
"Relentlessly objective and brimming with facts ... about one thousand articles on religious bodies and organizations that are significant either in size or influence ... there are no other works that bring this information together in on place. There are also few that attempt to treat the topic of religion so dispassionately ... a fascinating survey of world religions ... an invaluable reference work. It will be useful in libraries from secondary schools through universities, as well as in the libraries of religious organizations."Reference & User Services Quarterly
Review
" … comprehensive … unique encyclopedia … This remarkable work is recommended for academic and larger public libraries … " - Library Journal
Review
"With comprehensive coverage and an innovative approach to the study of religion, Religions of the World is an excellent addition to public and academic library reference collections. It supplies the pieces missing from traditional encyclopedias of religion." - Booklist
Review
"… this is one of the few religious encyclopedias that highlights the western esoteric tradition (commonly known as New Age), the topic of 'unbelief,' as well as 'ethnoreligions' and traditional African religions … This particular encyclopedia is useful due to its inclusion of many of the New Age spiritual movements, along with its essays related to atheism and agnosticism." - American Reference Books Annual
Review
"In an unusual, creative, and effective approach, this encyclopedia surveys religion by country, as well as by individual entries for each sect or faith … impressive …" - School Library Journal
Review
"… quick overviews and excellent basic information regarding the major religions and number of followers in each country. Recommended for public, college, and university reference collections." - Choice
Review
"Relentlessly objective and brimming with facts … about one thousand articles on religious bodies and organizations that are significant either in size or influence … there are no other works that bring this information together in on place. There are also few that attempt to treat the topic of religion so dispassionately … a fascinating survey of world religions … an invaluable reference work. It will be useful in libraries from secondary schools through universities, as well as in the libraries of religious organizations." - Reference & User Services Quarterly
Review
"…unique approach persists as a welcome addition to the field…Recommended." - Choice
Synopsis
From the Aboriginal Cult of Maria Lionza in Venezuela to Zionist and Apostolic churches in South Africa and Zimbabwe,
Religions of the World is the only comprehensive compilation of the world's existing major religious communities. This extraordinary four-volume survey examines the religious history and key religious communities in all 240 recognized nations and territories. More than 200 international experts contributed the 1,200+ entries covering each group's origin, history, organization, ecumenical contacts, and present status.
Other entries focus on individual countries, surveying the current state of religious practice, supported by statistical data from leading religious statisticians David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson. The volumes place African independent churches, Japanese new religions, and surviving indigenous beliefs alongside Catholicism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Illustrated and indexed, and including cross-references and end-of-entry bibliographic citations, this remarkable set is destined to become the primary reference source on religious issues throughout the world.
Synopsis
An extraordinary survey, in four volumes, of the religious belief and practice in all 276 of the world's nations and territories.
Synopsis
• First reference work to undertake a true worldview of religious communities
• Editors and contributors include the biggest names in world religion studies
• Individual religious groups are documented and current religious practices are surveyed on a country-by-country basis
• Entries are supported by addresses, websites, and statistical data furnished by David Barrett, America's leading religious statistician
Synopsis
Renowned world religion scholars J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann have performed nothing less than a miracle of scholarship. Religions of the World brings together more than 200 international specialists to report on the state of worship around the world. No significant active faith remains unexamined. No corner of the globe goes unexplored.
Synopsis
• 1,200+ A-Z entries including individual religious groups, country-by-country entries, and core entries that address major world religions
• 200+ contributors including top religious scholars from around the globe
• Photographs of religious leaders, ceremonies, sacred structures, and artifacts such as an Aboriginal sacred Churunga and the Gurujem Monastery in Tibet
• Statistical data on the projected status of religions for 2000 to 2050 broken down by country and by type of religion
• Cross references and end-of-entry bibliographic citations