The Universal History of World Religions

This edition provides an impartial overview of all modern and former religious teachings - from pagan cults and mysteries of the Ancient World to the most notable contemporary trends in spiritual and religious movements. Special attention is given to the fundamentals of world religions - Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism; significant attention is also devoted to other major doctrines - Judaism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, and others. The book is richly illustrated, allowing for a visual representation of the meaning and nature of religious rituals, an understanding of the symbolism of doctrines, and includes depictions of gods among different peoples, religious cult objects, relics, shrines, and temple structures.
This edition will be equally useful for students of higher educational institutions and for anyone interested in the history of world civilization.