Living Religions (5th Edition) (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: new religious movements, sacred ways, New York, United States, Ahura Mazda (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For one/two-semester courses in World Religions; and Comparative Religions and Introduction to Religion courses.This clearly written survey of the modern religious world explores the development, doctrines, and practices of today's major faiths--both traditional and modern religious movements. Sensitive and thought-provoking, it explores contemporary socio-political issues such as religion and materialism, the role of women, and fundamentalism. The extensive illustrations bring each religion to life, emphasizing the personal consciousness of believers.

From the Publisher

This exceptionally readable survey of the modern religious world explores the development, doctrines, and practices of today's major faiths -- both traditional faiths and new religious movements. Throughout, it emphasizes the personal consciousness of believers and their own account of themselves, their religion, and reality at large. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (July 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130992283
• ISBN-13: 978-0130992284
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,598 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best I've Seen, February 17, 2000

By	Patricia Y. Mumme (OSU Mansfield, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Religions (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I teach world religions and have used many different textbooks. This book has always been among the best, and the fourth edition is definitely the best--has made a lot of substantial improvements over earlier editions. Fisher is sympathetic, engaging, accessible and yet scholarly, up-to-date, thorough, and accurate. Many great pictures and side box interviews really help students understand the material, and so does the website with on-line tests and web links associated with the book chapters. If you saw an earlier edition and weren't terribly impressed, you need to take a new look at the 4th edition! Finally, a world religion survey to please both students and professors! Hard to improve on.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for religion survey courses, June 13, 2002

By	Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Living Religions (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This textbook not only looks at the history of different religions, but it also shows you the contemporary version/manifestation of each religion. As an instructor, I found this very easy for my students to understand and relate to.

One of the strongest points of this text is the interviews with different contemporary people to explain religious belief. An example of this would be an interview with Ann-Ping Chin on Confucianism in today's society. This is much easier for students to relate to than using discussions of ancient religious leaders only.

Each chapter has a list of suggested readings, which I found very useful in preparing discussions. The publisher also has a web-site with exercises and links for each chapter to assist students in studying the different religions.

I would recommend this book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Living Religions w/CD (6th Edition), March 21, 2006

By	L. Heldt (Omaha, Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Religions w/CD (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I found Living Religions to be very interesting and informative. Before reading this book, I knew very litte about religions other than my own. After reading this text, I discovered the beauty in each religion presented and was able to erase the stereotypes and stigmas that I once held. I recommend this book to anyone who has little understanding of world religions and would like to become educated or for someone who may just need a reminder. It is an easy read, with the exception of some of the vocabulary associated with the different religions.