Protestantism, Third Edition is an informative introduction that explores the origins, customs, and history of Protestantism, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages to its role in today's world. Current issues, such as the development of new religious denominations, its stance on abortion, the ordination of gays and women, and the relationship between religion and politics, are explored within the framework of the fundamental moral tenets of the faith....

Today, Buddhism is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 576 million followers worldwide. Buddhists follow traditions and spiritual beliefs that were taught by Guatama Buddha, a revered wise man. Guatama Buddha lived in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent more than 2,400 years ago. Although born into a royal family, he became concerned with the problem of suffering in the world and spent years studying a variety of religions and philosophies....

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions. It originated in the beliefs and practices of various civilizations and cultures that lived in the Indus River Valley more than 3,000 years ago. Hinduism is also one of the world's most complex and diverse religions, and its followers, known as Hindus, have a great variety of core beliefs and revere millions of different deities. Today, around 1 billion people follow Hinduism, making it the world's...

Today Christianity is considered the world's largest religious faith, with around 2.2 billion followers. But Christianity is by no means a monolithic faith. Instead Christians are divided into a variety of denominations and sects-Roman or orthodox, Catholic or Protestant, Evangelical or Pentecostal, to name a few examples. All Christian sects share a belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe came to Earth to redeem humanity. This...

Philosophically Thinking about World Religions is different from other works in the discipline today. It deviates from the typical approaches used for the study of world religions. Its goal is to engage readers in thinking hard about world religions, not about the data surrounding those traditions. By focusing on philosophical questions, each reader should be challenged to do their own investigations that may reveal the heart of these traditions....

Understanding the Nonreligious examines the diverse set of people who hold no religious beliefs. In addition to atheist or agnostic, they have a variety of ways to label themselves, as well as opinions on how to find fulfillment in life and what values to hold. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing,...

Understanding Judaism covers the history of Judaism and explores how the religion has evolved and expanded. Readers learn about the branches of Judaism, Jewish beliefs, and the influence Jews have had on the world. This title also discusses anti-Semitism Jews have faced, both today and during history. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential...

This brief introduction to Buddhism is designed to help readers understand this important religious tradition. With both nuance and balance, this text provides broad coverage of various forms of Buddhism with an arresting layout with rich colors. It offers both historical overviews and modern perspectives on Buddhist beliefs and practices. The user-friendly content is enhanced by charts of religious festivals, historic timelines, updated maps, and...

Understanding Hinduism covers the history of Hinduism and explores how the religion has evolved and expanded. Readers learn about spiritual leaders, how Hindus perceive the world, and how Hindus live in the modern world. This title also discusses the complex interactions between Hinduism and Indian politics. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards....

This brief introduction to Christianity is designed to help readers understand this important religious tradition. With both nuance and balance, this text provides broad coverage of various forms of Christianity with an arresting layout with rich colors. It offers both historical overviews and modern perspectives on Christian beliefs and practices. The user-friendly content is enhanced by charts of religious festivals, historic timelines, updated...