Refined by over forty years of dialogue and correspondence with religious experts and practitioners around the world, Noss's A History of the World's Religions is widely regarded as the hallmark of scholarship, fairness, and accuracy in its field. It is also the most thorough yet manageable history of world religion available in a single volume, treating many subjects largely neglected in other texts. The book's depth, breadth, and, organization free instructors from having to "cover" everything in lectures, enabling them to select specific assignments and use class time for questions, discussion, and their own favorite materials.

NEW TO THE ELEVENTH EDITION!

• Updated coverage on Islam--In central Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia.
• New material on quasi-religious movements--Includes the Wahhabi-derived agencies of terrorism in the Islamic world; the Falun Gong in China; and "spirituality" on the American scene.
• Enhanced interior design, including new categories of illustrations and generous, color-highlighted primary source materials throughout--integrates a wealth of original short passages quoted from sacred texts and accompanied by explanatory comments.

STANDARD CONTENT AND PEDAGOGIC FEATURES OF A HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS

• Comprehensive, in-depth coverage in concise presentation, offering the most detailed treatment of world religions available in a single-volume text.
• Demonstrates historical influences of religions on social, political, and ethical arenas.
• Updates material on the contemporary relevance of world religions.
• Attention to differing varieties of Islamic fundamentalism.
• Appropriate attention to female divinities and the role of women.
• Includes complete chapter on Zoroastrianism, often absent in other texts.
• Detailed table of contents and extensive subheads.
• In-text highlighted terms which are keyed to chapter-end glossaries.
• Brief boxed quotations.
• Special color inserts to highlight key quotations.
• Comprehensive index and current list of further readings.

FROM THE PREFACE:

"My elder brother, John B. Noss, spent ten years preparing the first edition of this book (published in 1949). His preface to the first edition spoke of two special needs to be met: to include descriptive and interpretative details from the original source materials, and to bridge the interval between the founding of religions and their present state ....The study of world religions needs to encompass the immediate and the existential as well as the rational; the empathic as well as the analytical. Serving as the editor of John's book has been, on the one hand, a challenge to emend each inaccuracy and enhance each strength, but also a profound experience of what it is like to look out on the world through the eyes of a wise person."

-- DAVID S. NOSS

• NEW - Updated coverage on Islam—In central Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia.

  • Profiles religious and social strife in these parts of the world.

• NEW - Added categories of illustrations.

  • Provides students with pop art selections from materials actually used in the religious education of children and lay people, and depicts ceremonial practices with “teaching captions” to explain rituals.

• NEW - Added material on quasi-religious movements—Includes the Whahabbi-derived agencies of terrorism in the Islamic world; the Falun Gong in China; and “spirituality” on the American scene.

  • Resonates with students' current interest in religious extremism.

• Enhanced generous, color-highlighted primary source materials throughout—Integrates a wealth of original short passages quoted from sacred texts and accompanied by explanatory comments.

  • Draws students into interpretive discussions that introduce them to this important content.

• Comprehensive, in-depth coverage.

  • Offers students the most detailed treatment of world religions available in a single-volume text

• A concise but thorough approach—Refined by over forty years of research, correspondence, and classroom use.

  • Allows students to benefit from the comments of many users, and supplies them with exceptionally accurate, balanced coverage.

• Focus on the contemporary relevance of world religions.

  • Explains the role of religion in today's international conflicts and tensions.

• An introductory chapter.

  • Discusses prehistoric and primal religions and basic religious terminology.

• A chapter devoted to past religions that have influenced the modern world.

  • Shows students the historical influences of religions on social political, and ethical arenas today.

• In-text highlighted terms—Keyed to chapter-end glossaries.

  • Introduces terms in their original language forms and defines each at first appearance, then provides students with more precise and detailed definitions, along with pronunciation tips.

• Detailed table of contents and extensive subheads.

  • Provides students and instructors with an excellent reference, and enables them to easily choose selected chapters for specific areas of study.

• In-depth coverage of Muslim fundamentalism.

  • Teaches students about Shi'ism and the distinctions between Pan-Arabic and PanIslamic aspirations.

• Strong emphasis on female divinities and the role of women.

  • Showcases prominent female figures in the history of religions.

• Comprehensive index and current list of further readings.

  • Encourages students to obtain additional and advanced information and material on subjects covered in the text.

• In-text clarifications and cross-references.

  • Enhances learning and concept-connecting without interrupting the flow of the narrative.

• Brief boxed quotations.

  • Epitomizes and emphasizes the key ideas of historical personalities.