Ninian Smart Bücher

This book is a revised and updated edition of a popular work, which looks at the world's religions in terms of world history, and as constantly developing systems of belief. Religions are described through their symbols, rituals, followers, architecture and art. References, statistics, maps and pictures have been updated and added, illuminating the true nature of each religion. The text has been thoroughly revised to highlight recent developments in world religion.

A well-annotated, impartial anthology of key texts from world religions--including the primitive, ancient, and esoteric alongside the living faiths of both Western and Eastern cultures ... The excerpts are grouped by faiths and subclassified by type: sacred narratives, doctrines, rituals, institutional expressions, experience, and ethics

The book explores the scientific study of religion, distinguishing it from theological practice. Ninian Smart advocates for a phenomenological approach to examining religious attitudes without assuming divine existence. He critiques projectionist theories, particularly those of Berger, and analyzes rationality within both religious and anthropological contexts. This work addresses key issues regarding the academic status of religion, aiming to establish a more rigorous framework for its study.