Beliefs That Changed The World

A history of the great religions, told through their core beliefs, by the editor of The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions

How did Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism come to be the world's dominant religions? What are the real beliefs of Islam, and the different branches within it? Who were the key figures of Judaism? And how are religious beliefs shaping today's world conflicts? This book will answer the key questions about the great religions, from Bahai to Unitarianism, via Jainism, Mormonism, Shinto, and the major branches of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Not only will this book explain what the disciples of each faith believe, but it will provide the reader with a greater understanding of the wider themes of religious and world history. Each chapter comprises an overview of the central tenets of each religion, key quotations from its core beliefs, and a historical depiction of each faith, from its earliest beginnings to its latest incarnations and impact on the modern world.