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Synopsis The main purpose of this work is to provide the general reader with an account of the history of the various religions of the world. The writers have therefore tried to avoid all unnecessary technicalities of expression, and have refrained from enlarging on unessential details. They have preferred to confine themselves to the main features of the various religions, and have emphasized chiefly those aspects of them which are really important for their adherents. It is, after all, by these that a religion must be judged. The contributors selected for the work are all specialists in the subjects that have been assigned to them, and have therefore been able to add something not easily found elsewhere. This best-selling introduction to world religions is ideal for readers with no previous exposure to the subject. Offering accurate, comparative descriptions of a broad range of religious theory and study, while exploring living religious in terms of the historical and cultural factors that produced them. The book concentrates on the lives of the founders of different religions, their basic teachings, and their current status in the world. Unlike other books, Religions of the World includes chapters on Native American and African religions as well as the “smaller” text-based religions, such as Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroa-strianism, and Baha’i.