This cool, clear-sighted comparative study has no theological axe to grind. It offers a trusty thematic guide to the figureheads of three of the largest religions in the world. * The comparative approach is descriptive and even-handed, highlighting both similarities and differences across a range of major areas. * The thematic chapters cover: early life, followers, the core message, political attitudes, relations with women, and death. * The engaging writing and descriptive approach make this an ideal text for students, instructors and general readers.

A new and expanded edition of a highly successful textbook on world religions with a comparative approach which explores how six major religions are lived and expressed through their customs, rituals and everyday practices. * A new edition of this major textbook, exploring the world's great religions through their customs, rituals and everyday practices by focusing on the 'lived experience' * This comparative study is enriched and broadened with the inclusion of a sixth religion, Daoism * Takes a thematic, comparative and practical approach; each chapter explores a series of key themes including birth, death, ethics, and worship across all six religions at each time * Broadens students' understanding by offering an impartial discussion of the similarities and differences between each religion * Includes an increased range of student-friendly features, designed to allow students to engage with each religion and extend their understanding

This cool, clear-sighted comparative study has no theological axe to grind. It offers a trusty thematic guide to the figureheads of three of the largest religions in the world. * The comparative approach is descriptive and even-handed, highlighting both similarities and differences across a range of major areas. * The thematic chapters cover: early life, followers, the core message, political attitudes, relations with women, and death. * The engaging writing and descriptive approach make this an ideal text for students, instructors and general readers.

World Religions in Practice introduces the world's great religions through their customs, rituals and everyday practices. By focusing on this 'lived experience' it goes beyond many traditional introductions to religious studies, providing an in-depth, comparative study, and an understanding of the broader context in which these religions should be understood.
* Explores the five major religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, adopting a directly comparative approach to develop a greater understanding of the nature of religion
* Each chapter engages with an individual theme, such as birth, death, food, pilgrimage and ethics, to illustrate how religious practices are expressed
* Broadens students' understanding by offering an impartial discussion of the similarities and differences between each religion
* Includes chapter-by-chapter opening themes and summaries, and is accompanied by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/gwynne featuring additional resources and study questions.