Global Religions: An Introduction

by Mark Juergensmeyer (Editor)

Can Islam be located on a map? Is Europe the center of the Christian world? Is India a Hindu nation? While decades ago these questions were often answered in the affirmative, the truth has never been that simple. Not only are adherents of particular faiths spread across the globe, but there are many variations of a particular faith practiced side by side. This has only become more true in recent years as the pace of globalization has quickened.

The essays collected here provide brief and accessible introductions to the major world religions in their global contexts. The volume begins with an introduction to the globalization of religion by Mark Juergensmeyer, and is followed by individual essays on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and local religious societies. The book concludes with three essays reflecting on the global religious scene. Taken together, these essays provide a concise, authoritative, and highly readable introduction to the state of worldwide religion in the 21st century.

Genres: Religion

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mark Juergensmeyer is a professor of sociology and global studies, affiliate professor of religious studies, and the Kundan Kaur Kapany professor of global and Sikh Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was the founding director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, and is a pioneer in the field of global studies, focusing on global religion, religious violence, conflict resolution and South Asian religion and politics. He has published more than three hundred articles and twenty books, including the revised and expanded fourth edition of Terror in the Mind of God (University of California Press, 2017).

Reviews

[Bilal Anis · Rating 3 out of 5]

well.. I picked this book because Mark was the author on the cover.. but it turned out that he just wrote the introduction! .. I also expected that the book will give a brief about religious beliefs but that was also not the case since the book talks about the factors affecting behaviours in a picked slice of time ..

The book, in general, is OK.. so three stars..

[Darrah Meuret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though incredibly monotonous to read I found it very educational and intriguing, it provided a broad look on African cultures and religion

[Thomas Ray]

Library-of-Congress BL80.3 G56 2003 Memorial Library