Religions of the World

by Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, Brett Hendrickson

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book.

For courses in World Religions

Discover the importance of religion in the world’s cultures – yesterday and today
The histories, deep-seated beliefs, and ethical systems that make up the world’s religions are some of the most important forces at play on our incredibly diverse planet. Religions of the World, Thirteenth Edition guides students as they explore each of the world’s major faiths, imparting the knowledge they need to better understand today’s world. By explaining religious diversity and complex themes within a historical context, Religions of the World helps students relate to cultures very different from their own.

Religions of the World, Thirteenth Edition is also available via REVEL™, an immersive learning experience designed for the way today's students read, think, and learn.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Textbooks, School, Reference, History, Philosophy

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2011

Reviews

[Erwin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, & Brett Hendrickson’s Religions of the World is a comprehensive text that deals with many aspects of world religions. The book considers the following: 1) What culture produced a particular religion? 2) What’s the name of its religious founder? 3) What is the religion’s sacred text? 4) What are the major historical developments of the faith? 5) How do the participants practice their religion? 6) What rituals and behaviors shape the lives of the believers?
The authors explored various regions of the world, and explained they are conceivably thousands of religions. They focused on religions originating in Africa and the Americas, India, China and Japan, and the Middle East. They brought to light many of these faith traditions that have been neglected, and demonized in the studies on the world religions, especially in Africa and the Americas. The authors have therefore attempted to correct this imbalance by including these neglected religious traditions, rituals, and customs.

[Sarah Jensen]

Book Review: Religions of the World by Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, & Brett Hendrickson

In “Religions of the World,” Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, and Brett Hendrickson present a comprehensive exploration of the rich tapestry of global religious traditions. This book does not merely catalog various religions; instead, it delves into the cultural contexts that shaped each faith, its founders, sacred texts, significant historical developments, and the diverse rituals and practices that define them. The authors’ objective is clear: to illuminate the complex interplay between religion and culture while addressing the historical neglect and often misrepresented narratives of certain traditions, particularly those originating from Africa and the Americas.

From the outset, the authors establish an inclusive framework, highlighting the existence of thousands of religions across the globe. This expansive approach broadens the reader’s understanding of spirituality beyond the dominant faiths often discussed in mainstream discourse. By focusing on religions from continents such as Africa and South America, as well as India, China, Japan, and the Middle East, the authors not only honor the diversity of religious expression but also challenge the implicit biases that can accompany the study of religion.

One of the book’s most commendable aspects is its commitment to examining the cultural and historical contexts that produced each religion. By placing each belief system within its specific societal framework, the authors help readers grasp how cultural nuances inform religious practices and beliefs. This contextualization is particularly important when discussing indigenous religions, which often face misinterpretation and marginalization. The inclusion of rituals and customs that have been overlooked in traditional academic approaches serves to validate the experiences and histories of these faith traditions.

The authors’ sensitivity towards the often-demonized aspects of lesser-known religions is a notable strength of the book. By rectifying the neglect of African and indigenous American religions, they contribute to a more balanced and respectful representation of diverse spiritual practices. This approach fosters empathy and understanding, encouraging readers to appreciate the complexity and depth of faith traditions that differ from their own.

However, while the book is ambitious in its scope, the breadth of content can sometimes lead to a lack of depth in certain areas. Some readers may find that the overview of specific religions, while informative, does not delve as deeply into the intricacies of individual belief systems as they might prefer. A more focused exploration of select traditions could enhance the reader’s comprehension and engagement with the material. Nevertheless, the authors’ intention to provide an introductory overview makes sense given the vast subject matter.

The writing is engaging and accessible, making it suitable for both academic audiences and general readers interested in the topic. The structured layout, which organizes religions by region and includes key themes in each chapter, allows for easy navigation and understanding. Additionally, the inclusion of illustrations and maps would further enrich the text, offering visual context to the discussions.

In conclusion, “Religions of the World” by Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, and Brett Hendrickson is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of global religions. The authors’ commitment to highlighting the cultural contexts, rituals, and practices of diverse faith traditions fosters a more inclusive and respectful discourse in the study of religion. While there is room for deeper exploration in certain areas, the book successfully serves as a vital introduction to the richness and diversity of religious life around the world. It is a reminder that, amidst the differences, there exists a profound commonality in the human search for meaning, connection, and understanding.

[Kayla_451 · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a tendency to disregard religion--either all of them or all of them but for one's own. But I think where you fall on the religio-graphic world scheme should hardly influence your willingness to learn about other beliefs. Even in our age, religion is an extremely pertinent topic, as it influences politics and worldviews of individuals, governments, and would-be governments. Religious understanding is fundamental to harmony and understanding and, most importantly, education. Beyond that, even if one is not religious, there is a lot of value to be taken from reading the literature of various civilizations and hold in one's hands a literary compilation in an appreciation of what Carl Jung called the "collective subconscious." All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the major world religions, especially Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Baha'i (having mostly been exposed to Abrahamic monotheism beforehand).

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve often wondered about other religions. Not that I might want to change my own, but so I could better understand those religions and possibly the people that follow them. I read this for an elective course in college. It was interesting and informative. I found common threads with my own beliefs and the world seemed just a little smaller… less “foreign”. Handed down to my daughter when she took the course a couple years later.

[Jane Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book; focuses not only on the more common world religions but also on indigenous religions and regional variations to be found in different cultures. Really good introductory book on religions. (Read for World Religions class in college)

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best comparative religion book I have seen. I taught comparative religions and used this book for 12 years. Each edition got better. I reviewed many other books for the class but none of them was as good or better then Hopfe's.

[亮君 · Rating 5 out of 5]

《世界宗教》开的坑终于在今天结束了。在印第安宗教崇拜中我看到了DND中德鲁伊的真实影子；在非洲原始宗教中我明白了为啥非洲人愿意给中国人封酋长；在耆那教中我看到了太宰治的遗憾；在儒家思想中我体会到了什么叫“子不语怪力乱神”；在伊斯兰教中我看到了为什么会有恐怖分子……
感谢这本专业而且客观的书让我解开了自己多年未解之谜。
美洲原始宗教：我即自然
非洲原始宗教：我即权力
印度教：我即命运
耆那教：我即解脱
佛教：我即开悟
锡克教：我即力量
道教：我即平衡
儒教：我即文化
神道教：我即忠诚
琐罗亚斯德教：我即道德
犹太教：我即智慧
基督教：我即救赎
伊斯兰教：我即真理
巴哈伊教：我即乌托邦

[Leo Cipkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the words themselves are not writ with much artistic taste, it is not read with much of a drag either; for those looking to build a basic foundational knowledge on world religions, this textbook is a fantastic tool.

[Luís Branco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading this book and learned many things especially about the Native American Religions and also of the African Religions. The way the book is written is easy to read and I found very interesting the inclusion in the whole book sections "From the Source". It was very interesting also to learn about the Zoroastrianism, especially after a long time outside of India where I served as missionary. 

I would point as a weakness to the book the lack of more information about Latin American Religions such as the Spiritism in Brazil, which holds components very particular to them and I’m not sure that just identify them as African Religion is totally correct. In Brazil, many of the Spiritism followers are white people and very influenced by Allan Kardec. Just taking the opportunity to say that it is a very expensive book, too expensive for regular students. I will guess that suggesting other sources would really be helpful to students of this subject.

Personally I gained a lot of new insights about religion in general and it will help me in becoming more tolerant and respectful to the other faiths knowing that people are being truly sincere in their practice even though I believe that there is no salvation without Christ. It is very concerning that violence has affected and followed almost all religions in the world. I believe that knowing more about each other and respecting everyone’s beliefs is a very strong step towards world peace. 

[Arwa Aburizik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to read by one of my students a few years ago. I was reluctant to read the section about my religion as I felt that it would likely trash my religion and my culture. I was very relieved to see how it really highlighted the positive aspects of every religion as if each part of it was written by an advocate of the respective religion it was describing. I have a lot of respect for that since religion is a sensitive issue and there is no value in highlighting the differences between religions rather than similarities, hence ruining each others' morale. Religions aim to raise the integrity of people and the humans in large. No need to use it to hurt each other. I think this book does just that. I have used it as a reference to remain informed and sensitive to other religions.

[Jacob Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great help as far as understanding the basics of other religions. It helped me come to understand how people can take an idea and run with it when it comes to their view of religion; by revealing the corrupt history of many religions and their impacts on different societies and cultures. I read the book as a part of my World Religions course during my Junior year in high school and it was a good complement to the course.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written text on several of the major religions. It's broken into regions and offers maps and snippets of scared text to illustrate the information. Information not only is given on the formation of the religion and it's founder but on the history of its beginnings and on to present times as well as someof it's major festivals and holidays.

[Al Gritten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good general survey text for world religions. It has even handed coverage and a balanced approach to religion, covering the major religions in a very broad and general sense. As I said, it is an overview, intended for use in undergrad courses. I have read other books by Hopfe, the lead author, and find him to be both knowledgeable and thorough in his coverage.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding, comprehensive work of the major world religions. Excellent non-assuming, non-intrusive style of writing as well. PLEASE read this and expand your horizons.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was one of my textbooks for a year long course in World Religions. There was some inaccurate information, but the text is fairly easy to read, not too dry.

[Amber]

1 copy available

[Statikpulse]

had some boring parts but pretty educational

[Cynbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book for getting a basic understanding of other religions

[Qian Xiaoyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I encounter an new religion, I refer to it. Even the religion I familiar with, I am always find something new and something deeper than my previous knowledge.

[Margaret Carpenter]

Ehh. It served its purpose, not great but not terrible as far as textbooks go.

[Inez Beall]

Intrigue.