World Religions

by Michael D. Coogan (Editor)

Few topics are as complex as religion, and few educational references do as impressive a job of summing up in clear, precise, and easy-to-understand prose the precepts, history, and practices of the world's major faiths. Michael D. Coogan has all the background to tackle such a formidable task. Currently the director of publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum, he has taught at Harvard and Wellesley, excavated in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and edited both the Oxford Companion to the Bible and the Oxford History of the Biblical World. Beautifully illustrated with artwork, photography, maps, and graphs, this guide provides a lucid introduction to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as the religious traditions of China and Japan. Coogan explains each religion's origins and divine beliefs, sacred texts and individuals, the concepts of death and the afterlife, and how the religion is expressed in society, rites of passage, education, and gender roles. The reference shelves have been lacking a good, comprehensive yet accessible religion guide. It's a pleasure to see such a concise, readable, and attractive piece of erudition address that need. --Stephanie Gold

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Spirituality

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Michael David Coogan is Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum and Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College. For several decades, he has taught an introductory course on the Hebrew Scriptures at Harvard University, as well as at Wellesley College, Boston College, and Stonehill College. One of the leading biblical scholars in the United States, he is the author of The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, and editor of the acclaimed third edition of The New Oxford Annotated Bible.

Reviews

[Miguel Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luego de leer "Entender el Judaísmo" me percaté de que había una colección, y que ella había sido tomada de este libro, que trata de exponer los fundamentos básicos de las 7 religiones con más adeptos en el mundo. Me tardé bastante en leerlo por diferentes actividades que se me juntaron, y ahora que lo termino puedo decir que me agradó bastante porque al tener la oportunidad de acercarse al fenómeno religioso desde diversas perspectivas en espacios geográficamente separados, uno identifica ciertas diferencias, pero de fondo, encuentra las grandes semejanzas entre las distintas fes, y las interrelaciones entre una forma básica de pensamiento o creencia con los alcances que tiene en la vida cotidiana.

Todo el libro me pareció de interés, pero rescato especialmente las formas semejantes de religión entre los "pueblos del Libro" y por otro lado, los devenires y la convivencia pacífica entre distintas creencias, derivados en el sincretismo de las religiones del lejano oriente.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, my opinion of this book is that it is an interesting read with good attention to detail. Interesting to read, and had some info that wasn't featured in other books of a similar nature. Very good!

[Ethan Unklesbay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. It provides a quick surface level skimming of the world's religions.
Written by various authors of various levels of clarity and knowledge, it's occasionally oversimplified.
More on the blog:
https://tmysblog.wordpress.com/2017/0...

[Denese · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very brief overview. OK but not what I wanted.