Religious Studies

Billions of people continue to place their faith in a god or gods, in spirits, or in some form of divinity. Many others adhere to alternative beliefs outside the major faith traditions, while for others science and secular modernity provide the basis for a meaningful life. This illustrated reference includes more than 3,200 entries ranging from Catholicism to sharia law, doomsday cults to eco-paganism, and yogic flying to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

"[C]overage of all aspects of this vast and often complex subject, from theology; churches and denominations; patristic scholarship; and the bible; to the church calendar and its organization; popes; archbishops; saints; and mystics." (from publisher's summary"

A Bible dictionary providing information about biblical terms, themes, people, and places.

Bringing together perspectives from the principal social sciences of religion, this encyclopedia give an overview of the globalization of religious culture and society around the world in both its historical and contemporary aspects.

Covering historical and contemporary figures, arguments, and terms, it offers an overview of the vital themes that make philosophy of religion the growing, vigorous field that it is today. It covers world religions and sources from east and west.

Written by Clarke (emeritus, history and sociology of religion, King's College, U. of London, UK) and an international group of specialists, the entries of this engagingly written encyclopedia describe the history, impact, and defining ideas of over 300 movements worldwide. The various forms of Buddhism and evangelical Christianity, New Age Movement-related spirituality, Wicca, the Muslim Brotherhood, Nipponzan Myohoji, and the Raëlian Church are some of the religions described.