REL 1850 – World Religious Traditions

A groundbreaking new volume which represents the first sustained effort to fully explain the development of American religious history and its creation within evolving political and social frameworks. Spans a wide range of traditions and movements, from the Baptists and Methodists, to Buddhists and Mormons. Explores topics ranging from religion and the media, immigration, and piety, though to politics and social reform. Considers how American religion has influenced and been interpreted in literature and popular culture. Provides insights into the historiography of religion, but presents the subject as a story in motion rather than a snapshot of where the field is at a given moment.

The multi-volume Encyclopedia of Global Religion provides a comprehensive overview of the globalization of religious culture and society around the world in both its historical and contemporary aspects. The encyclopedia includes topics related to the diaspora of cultures and dispersions of peoples; the transitional aspects of religious ideas and practices; the cultural diversity of religious traditions; and the responses of religion—both negative and positive—to multicultural society. The volumes include essays on the contemporary religious society of every country in the world.

Encapsulating Jewish language, laws, literature, arts, theology, ritual, land, culture, and personalities, this authoritative volume offers readers access to Judaism from both a historical and contemporary perspective.

A reference of world religion encompasses schools of thought and practice, religious concepts and terms, doctrinal issues, and denominational views, ritual and practice.

The contributors are drawn from leading authorities the world over, and the editors, who are eminent scholars with Orthodox, Conservative and Reform backgrounds have ensured that, where relevant, the viewpoint of each trend is accurately rendered. The book also reflects the attitudes and customs of different communities.

This encyclopedia demonstrates how varied cultures express the relationship between people and the supernatural world. Readers learn which convictions are worldwide phenomena. Along with aspects of religion, the book offers cross-referenced articles explaining the philosophies, dogma, practices, and origins of 16 religions with a worldwide following. In addition, articles probe explanations for similarities and differences among religious tenets, and many of the entries describe possible reasons for behavior patterns and beliefs.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Religion takes a three-pronged look at this, namely investigating the role of religion in society; unpacking and evaluating the significance of religion in and on human history; and tracing and outlining the social forces and influences that shape religion. This encyclopedia covers a range of themes from: • fundamental topics like definitions • secularization • dimensions of religiosity to such emerging issues as civil religion • new religious movements This Encyclopedia also addresses contemporary dilemmas such as fundamentalism and extremism and the role of gender in religion.