The Atlas of Religion: Mapping Contemporary Challenges and Beliefs

by Joanne O'Brien, Martin Palmer

The world's religions have emerged as one of the greatest geopolitical forces now shaping our lives. Now available in an updated edition, this authoritative atlas is an essential resource for understanding the powerful role of religion around the globe. In an accessible text packed with information, it maps the current nature, extent, and influence of each of the major religions and shows, country by country, how religions are spread through broadcasting, missionary work, schooling, and banking; how they relate to government, laws, and world hunger; and the role they play in wars. It traces the emergence of new religious movements, the survival of traditional beliefs, and the presence of atheism and agnosticism. The Atlas of Religion also locates the origin, the heartland, and the sacred places of each of the major religions and provides essential background with a valuable table showing the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism.

Myriad Editions Limited

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2007

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. It's incredible how much insight we can gain into the world from a book like this: just the very, very basics of sociology, history, and geography of major religions in the world. I was repeatedly struck by how poor my education was in terms of religion and its influences on the modern world. This book provided many new (though admittedly basic) insights into Middle Eastern, European, and Asian war and unrest, and I was struck again and again by how little I know: Benin boasts a population of nearly 10 million people--how have I never heard of this country? 34% of the population ages 15-49 in Swaziland is HIV positive--and 24% in Lesotho and Botswana. Why do we not know this, not talk about this? An estimated 100,000 monks were killed in Mongolia after the Communist regime took over in 1924. China went from 738,000 Buddhist monks and nuns in 1930 to 28,000 by 1986. Islamic, non-interest banking is a major--and wildly successful--social force in many countries. Less than 10% of Norwegians attend regular church services, but over 50% of them listen to Sunday services on radio and television. I could go on and on.

My only critique is that the vast majority of the useful and interesting text comes in the Notes and Sources section--the various maps are so overly simplified that it's a bit frustrating that they're the real focus of the book. Overall, a very, very interesting read.

[Lanny Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intresting and informative.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book, more valuable for the maps than the text. Good stuff for class, though.