Combining sound scholarship with clarity, this text takes students on a journey of discovery, introducing the profound ideas and practices of religions around the world, form the Americas and Africa, India, China, and Japan. Every chapter includes sections on the history and the "worldview" of each religion. Quotes and scriptures from different religious texts appear throughout. Maps, timelines, photos and a running glossary to assist student comprehension.
There are much better textbooks out there for an introductory World Religions course. Matthews's style has an annoying Dick-and-Jane quality; there are also factual errors here and there. The organization of the chapters is probably the biggest challenge--material is presented haphazardly, and the isolation of "Worldview Topics" at the end of chapters is strange. I'm switching to Molloy's Experiencing the World's Religions for my world religions course.