general

For those wanting to understand the core beliefs of world religions, this book is an excellent place to start. Author Smith includes chapters on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the "Primal Religions," or early tribal beliefs. While each section is remarkably detailed, this book remains an introduction, not a comprehensive examination. The explanations are straightforward and clear without being overly simplified. The illustrations and photographs, most in color, illuminate moments of each religion's faithful.

For students and scholars and the curious, this is a good reference book to own, if for no other reason than to expand your understanding of world beliefs. If you are looking for in-depth analysis, you would be better off looking elsewhere.

In his intro he writes that the book "respects" religion. He does a great job of explaining the beauty of the different religions and the underlying rationale for them and what we might take away from each (even if you don't care to practice that religion per se -- he gets to each's "wisdom").

He steers away from the ways in which actual implementation of the religions cause problems. For instance, he covers why a caste system could theoretically make sense, if implemented the way the religion had intended it to be -- but points out only briefly that it is not.

In all this is an excellent overview of the major religions, put in a way that an adherent to any religion would likely like seeing their religion explained to others.

He does seem to have a view that there are a few common themes among the religions (e.g., achieving happiness by losing the separate self in compassionate service to others).

Having been raised and schooled as a Christian in both public and secular schools I am at this stage of my life surprised that I know so little about comparitve faith around the world and how they all fit into the overascheme of things ....

I bought this book to give me an isnsight of the major world religions, and, most importantly I wanted an unbiased insight not subjected to the spin and washing of the established churches ...

Considering the events of the day the section about the Muslim faith was of course the first that I had read and found it to be very informative. I am certain that each religion could fill numerous volumes but that is not what I was looking for here ......