This new edition explores the many dimensions of religion as a central reality of human life. It provides a functional definition of religion that suggests that religion is important to everyone because each person's life is shaped by, and all persons are concerned about, occasions in their lives that threaten or promote fulfillment of the individual's basic values and commitments.

FEATURES:

• A broad approach to defining religion in terms of value and commitment--Allows examination of traditional religious issues, beliefs, and patterns.
• A functional definition of religion--Provides several definitions of religion--with emphasis upon that which gives "pivitol value" to life.
• A variety of resource materials--Drawn from the Scriptures and classic literature of the world's great religions, as well as from classic and contemporary sources that seek to interpret religion in its various dimensions.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

• Updated contemporary examples from popular culture--Features poetry, drama, cinema, comics, news stories, and song lyrics.
• Expanded and revised content throughout--E.g., ecstatic religion, religion and gender, myth, religious understandings of evil, and postmodernism.
• Examination of recent world events--As they relate to religion.
• Fuller treatment of religious orientations and movements in simpler and contemporary society.

• NEW - Updated contemporary examples from popular culture—Features poetry; drama; cinema; comics; news stories; and song lyrics.

  • Supplies students with an interactive and interesting presentation, and discussion material they can readily identify.

• NEW - Expanded and revised content throughout—e.g., ecstatic religion; religion and gender; myth; religious understandings of evil; and postmodernism.

  • Provides students with more adequate and relevant material on a wide variety of topics, and introduces them to religious expression in the arts and beliefs in contemporary societies.

• NEW - Examination of recent world events—As they relate to religion.

  • Looks at terrorism and its relationship to conflicts arising from certain kinds of religious reactions or responses to globalization.

• NEW - Reorganized presentation—Arranges units to present related concepts and ideas in clearer order, and makes extensive use of cross-referencing.

  • Helps students relate different perspectives to a variety of issues.

• NEW - Student-friendly emphasis in presentation.

  • Eliminates some of the technical terms, and uses illustrations drawn from student experience.

• NEW - More closely integrated questions and points of discussion.

  • Encourages students' independent thought and classroom participation.

• NEW - Fuller treatment of religious orientations and movements in simpler and contemporary society.

  • Cults, shamanism, pluralism, etc.

• NEW - Rewritten introductory material in each chapter.

  • Makes material to be covered more accessible to students.

• A broad approach to defining religion in terms of value and commitment—Allows examination of traditional religious issues, beliefs, and patterns.

  • Enables students to consider “non traditional” secular commitments, and to see them through the lens of their religious connotations.

• A functional definition of religion—Provides several definitions of religion—with emphasis upon that which gives “pivitol value” to life.

  • Helps students formulate their own working definition of religion.

• A variety of resource materials—Drawn from the Scriptures and classic literature of the world's great religions, as well as from classic and contemporary sources that seek to interpret religion in its various dimensions.

  • Supplies students with a comprehensive presentation that incorporates the theological, sociological, philosophical, cultural, and practical aspects of religion.

• Coverage of six major world religions—Provides a brief outline of their beliefs and practices and uses them as principle examples throughout the text.

  • Gives students a more thorough treatment of traditional topics of religious concern.