History of the World's Religions, A (11th Edition) [Hardcover]

David S. Noss (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130991651 | ISBN-13: 978-0130991652 | Publication Date: July 21, 2002 | Edition: 11

For one-, two-semester, three-quarter, and upper-level undergraduate courses in World Religions. Refined by over 40 years of dialogue with religious experts/practitioners around the world, this text is widely regarded for its fairness and accuracy. It is also the most thorough, yet concise history of world religions available in a single volume, treating many subjects neglected in other texts. The book's depth, breadth, and organization free instructors from having to "cover" everything in lectures, enabling them to use class time for questions, discussion, and their own favorite materials.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Refined by over forty years of dialogue and correspondence with religious experts and practitioners around the world, this text is widely regarded as the hallmark of fairness and accuracy in its field. It is also the most comprehensive history of world religions available in a single volume, treating many subjects largely neglected in other texts. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 644 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 11 edition (July 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130991651
• ISBN-13: 978-0130991652
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alive, October 31, 2001

By 

Dapperdobbs (FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A History of the World's Religion (10th Edition) (Hardcover)

A truly excellent, penetrating, work. David Noss provides an opportunity for the reader to personally shake hands with each major religion: each is introduced with unobtrusive eloquence and exactitude; each is treated with the utmost respect; and so is the reader accorded this same, unpretentious, sacred reverence. One might gain the impression that a very sane and learned scholar in each religion covered is laying out for you the fundamentals and origins of his beliefs and faith, in a non-proselytizing way, for you to see. Excellent!

33 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book about religions!, June 10, 1999

By 

"diet_and_body" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of the World's Religions (Hardcover)

The key words for the book could be as the following -- Tactful, sophisticated, academic, reader's friendly, accurate, intriguing, inspiring, comprehensive. One can get proud of the Mankind history - not only wars and dirty politics did we have but the heights of spiritual life, in many forms and manifestations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good text, March 20, 2008

By 

Giamatti fan (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: History of the World's Religions, A (11th Edition) (Hardcover)

Another good text from a top notch class I decided to keep for reference. The class did use supplemental materials but this is a good overall source for info on the historic origins and development of world religions.