In addition to abridging the contents of the two best-selling World Religions volumes (Eastern Traditions and Western Traditions), contributors to this concise-volume text have reworked the original material to focus on six specific areas of analysis: the major origins of the movement; the crystallization of its teachings; the major divisions within the tradition; how adherents practice their faith; cultural expressions; and how the tradition has responded to the various changes - intellectual, social, technological - of modern times. This more structural approach will make it easier for students to compare and contrast traditions, resulting in a solid, well-rounded introduction to the study of world religions.
