A child's development includes learning the important distinction between things that go away and come back, and things that go away never to return. Life, or rather death, is one thing that the world in unable to agree upon in this respect. Belief that life in some way continues beyond the grave may be described as man's oldest religious conviction, and we find pre-historic figures buried with tools and ornaments for use in a supposed after-life. But attitudes to death and what lies beyond, as well as the funeral liturgies and burial customs that accompany death vary greatly according to faith and culture. 'Death' presents these differences in attitudes and customs, providing an example of the variation in world religions in a quest for inter-faith understanding and respect. Death is one of three books in the 'Living Faiths' series, which includes 'Marriage and the Family' (ISBN 9780718824440) and 'Initiation Rites' (ISBN 9780718830878), this series aims to promote a comprehensive Inter-faith understanding by outlining the diverse attitudes and ceremonies related to rites of passage in different faiths. The series has close links with the Standing Conference on Inter-Faith Dialogue in Education, of which the series editor was former Publications Secretary.

Learning about one another's faiths provides the key to respect and tolerance. 'Initiation Rites' provides one angle from which to develop knowledge of different faiths, by focusing on the huge diversity in the customs and attitudes underlying initiation ceremonies in the world's religions. The collection includes notes and comments from senior figures of the faiths in question, and is an invaluable resource for teachers preparing their pupils for life in the multi-faith 'global community' of which we are already members 'Initiation Rites' is one of a series of three books in the Living Faiths series. The other titles are 'Marriage and the Family' (ISBN 978-0718824440), and 'Death' (ISBN 9780718830861). The series promotes a comprehensive inter-faith understanding by outlining the diverse attitudes and ceremonies found in different faiths. The series has close links with the Standing Conference on Inter-Faith Dialogue in Education, of which the series editor was former Publications Secretary.