12 Major World Religions: The Beliefs, Rituals, and Traditions of Humanity's Most Influential Faiths

Covers the high points of the 12 named religions. Good place to start research and points to other resources.

I purchased 12 Major World Religions: The Beliefs, Rituals, and Traditions of Humanity's Most Influential Faiths both out of personal interest and to support my lesson planning for middle school History. The book has proven to be an invaluable resource, particularly when teaching about religions of ancient cultures of the eastern hemisphere.The content is well-researched, balanced, and written in a clear and engaging style, making it easy to understand and reference. Its thoughtful organization allows for quick access to specific information, which is perfect for educators needing to design lessons or clarify details for students.What I appreciate most is how the book presents each religion with respect and accuracy, highlighting the unique beliefs, rituals, and traditions of each faith without bias. This approach fosters cultural understanding and helps grasp the historical and modern significance of these religions.This is an excellent resource. Highly recommended!

I was looking for a "101" knowledge of the world's major religions, from a fairly objective humanist perspective, and this book delivers. While there are surely things within each chapter that persons of all these religions will take varying degrees of exception to, I find the claim that Christianity was responsible for the Third Reich to be asinine. (But such absurdities must expected from the humanist's perspective, as the humanist's perspective is itself an absurdity.) Overall, for me, the book well served its purpose.

Most books I buy for my writing I sell after I get what information I need but this one is staying on the book shelf! Love this book!

Simple and pleasant

I love it. I was raised Catholic and no longer practice, and just wanted something that taught me the overview of each religion. It’s well organized with time tables, has a very clean layout so that if you don’t want to read on every single god of every religion you can skip to the part you do wish to know like religious texts, beliefs, practices. It isn’t overwhelming because it’s so well organized to allow you to take in what you need to know, and if you want to dive deeper you can. My dog ate the back cover and some of the front so I’m not sure if he’s an atheist or a devout Christian who denies the study of other religions. 9/10.

This book is great in the way the author breaks down each religion and the traditions and beliefs. I thought it was exactly what I was looking for for a general description of the various religions. However, there are areas in which the author inserts his options, and was too direct as such. I was very disappointed and will be returning this book. It would have been a great reference otherwise.

After reading this book, you will understand how connected we all are in the commonalities of our faiths, beliefs and values. We share and build on each other, making me wonder why we only see our differences. It would be an excellent primer for all seminaries and religious teaching. Although indigenous belief systems are not included, it is apparent to those who have studied or practiced that we all share the wisdom of creation, nature and the universe.