World Religions Reader

A comprehensive and accessible textbook which explores the traditions and beliefs of the world’s living religions – the fully updated and revised new edition

The World Religions Reader is an inclusive, student-friendly examination of the history, teaching, practices, and appeal of the world’s major religions. Covering both the fundamentals and complexities of each religious tradition, this popular textbook brings together significant texts from scriptures and scholars, as well as writings from philosophers and other significant thinkers throughout history. Students are provided with an introduction and overview of the tradition, taken through its primary texts, and presented with a text which seeks to persuade the student of the tradition’s merits.

This new edition has been thoroughly updated to be even more accessible for students new to interreligious engagement and to reflect current trends and developments in religions worldwide. Every chapter opens with a substantial overview which orients the new student and then flows into a carefully chosen set of texts - a regular textbook is now combined with a Reader. New content examines areas such as the Rastafarian tradition, while revised chapters cover secular humanism and indigenous and emerging religious traditions. The methodology of the book focuses on an empathetic approach – representing each tradition from the perspective of a conventional adherent – enabling students to develop understanding of each tradition and appreciate similarities and differences in their most typical forms.

• Invites students to study each tradition from the perspective of a follower, aiming to understand why the tradition is popular and powerful
• Explores representative passages, world-views, rituals and institutions, ethical expressions and modern outlooks for each religion
• Features discussions of interfaith perspectives on the role of women in religious traditions and the impact of world events and politics on interfaith communication
• Encourages students to consider questions of truth, the relation of religion and society, and the changing nature of a tradition in the modern world
• Includes a complete set of pedagogical tools and instructor resources, including end-of-chapter fact sheets, topic summaries, key term sections, and essay and discussion questions

The World Religions Reader, Fourth Edition is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in religion, especially for liberal arts and non-affiliated colleges, as well as general readers wishing to increase their knowledge of the world’s religious traditions. 

IAN S. MARKHAM is Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and Professor of Theology and Ethics. He has written extensively in the areas of interreligious dialogue and social ethics. His work includes Understanding Christian Doctrine and Do Morals Matter?

CHRISTY LOHR SAPP is Pastor of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC – the "College Church" of Lenoir-Rhyne University. She has held various staff and leadership positions in international interfaith organizations and local ecumenical networks.