Pocket Guide to World Religions - (IVP Pocket Reference) by Winfried Corduan (Paperback)

About the Book

Winfried Corduan offers brief, basic descriptions of twelve of the world's major religions. He also includes shorter descriptions of sixteen newer religions, and an overview of tribal and traditional religions.

Book Synopsis

Have you ever wondered . . .

• what the red dot on an Indian woman's forehead means?
• whether all Buddhist monks practice martial arts?
• if the Emperor of Japan is still considered a god?

Here is a concise, informative guide for anyone looking for answers to basic questions about the world's varied religions. In short, incisive chapters, Winfried Corduan introduces readers to twelve of the world's major religions, including Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Parsi, Shinto and Sikhism. For each, he offers brief descriptions of its name, numbers and distribution, key symbols, history, Scriptures, major beliefs, subgroups, worship practices, home practices, clothing, diet and calendar. Also included are even briefer descriptions of sixteen new religious movements and traditional or tribal religions.

This book is for students, pastors and other busy people who want the quick, bare-facts scoop on current religions.

Designed for students and pastors alike, the short and accessible volumes in the IVP Pocket Reference Series will help you tackle the study of biblical languages, church history, apologetics, world religions, Christian spirituality, ethics, theology, and more.

Review Quotes

Public and academic libraries looking to expand or supplement their religious reference collection will find this small guide useful.

This is a book all Christians can readily use. . . . Short and compact, this guide provides an excellent starting point for those wanting to know more about the new world of religions around them. It would be an excellent tool for churches wishing to educate and train their congregations to engage them in their own neighborhoods with some understanding.

About the Author

Winfried Corduan (Ph.D., Rice University) is professor of philosophy and religion at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. He has led many undergraduate tours focusing on the lived religious traditions of various parts of the world and is the author of the textbook on world religions Neighboring Faiths.