World Religions

by Robert Pollock

Religion is as old as humanity itself, and religious belief is a uniquely potent force that has molded nations, driven empires, and advanced civilizations. Many religions are an inextricable thread in the fabric of their believers’ cultural identities. Some have endured for centuries, standing the test of time, war, and social strife to determine the course of history and directly influence the way people live, love, fight, and govern. Now more than ever, as our world gets smaller and smaller, it is important to understand the diverse beliefs and traditions that make up the world’s great tapestry of faiths. No one knows exactly how many religions exist today, but it is in the thousands, and that number is always changing, as new religions continually evolve from old. World Religions is the perfect introduction to the world’s major (and many of the minor) faiths. Using clear, accessible language, author Robert Pollock outlines the histories, forms of worship, holy writings, and belief systems of each religion. Readers will also learn how the religions are practiced today, from significant festivals, rituals, and customs, to the roles important religious leaders and sacred places play, to the impact and influence each faith has had on society as a whole. Whether you’re interested in researching your own religion or you want to learn more about how other people worship, World Religions is a fascinating introduction to the beliefs that have shaped—and continue to shape—our world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[JessMaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up out of sheer curiosity, and can say that it satisfied a basic desire to learn more about religions. It was not in depth,by any stretch of the imagination. I found it lacking important details and the structure was odd.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick snapshot of different religions. Unique structure. Great supplement to anyone interested in exploring religions around the world.

[Dan Chisholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one you can judge by the cover. This book is a basic guide to most major religions, philosophies, and beliefs still active around the world. You will not find ancient mythology such as Greek, Roman, or Egyptian myths. Neither will you find individual details about Native American, African, or Pacific Island beliefs.
If you are just looking for a bare bones guide to active religions, you've come to the right place. I would not recommend this book for study on any one particular religion, although it does mention good source material to get more information, including holy books, scripture, and other religious material.

[Zezee · Rating 3 out of 5]

World Religions is a book to pick up if you want a crash course in world religions. It begins with a brief description, gives the history and founders of the religion, and details the gods and goddesses worshiped. It also lists the major holidays celebrated and includes any denominations or sects of a particular religion. The book is about 230 pages long, index included, but it is a quick read. The language is easy to follow, and the sections are not too long, unless a particular religion has many facets that need to be covered. Continued on Zezee with Books.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book served its purpose precisely: providing a concise, easy to read overview of many religions. Obviously, not all could be mentioned. The author sets a casual tone in the introduction that is carried throughout the book, making the read understandable and enjoyable. While some aspects of more complicated religions are fairly oversimplified, I learned a lot from this book. It acted for me as the perfect stepping stone toward further reading into specific religions.

[Angelo Gamez · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, makes one realize of how ignorant some people cane be. Great intro if you want to get to learn religion.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book and I really enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot - both about religions I was already familiar with, and religions I had never heard of. My only quibble is the evident lack of a copy editor. There were spelling errors, the occasional doubled word 'the the' for example and in at least one instance an entire skipped line that totally changed the meaning of a paragraph. Here is an exact quote (regarding the Yoruba religion). "Divination is done only by those who are trained objects such as cowrie shells, nuts, or seed pods." Clearly somewhere in there should be a line like ... "trained in the use of objects such as ..." however as written it indicates a religion centering around divination performed by trained nuts. (Ha ha sounds like some churches I have been to). So I call shenanigans on Fall River Press for sloppy work. But the book itself is excellent. I wish it had had photographs of some of the temples described and the clothes worn for rituals but then, if this book had lots of full color plates it wouldn't have been a 7.99 bargain at Barnes & Noble.