E-Book Overview
* Accessible and accurate surveys of mainstream religions * All aspects - including roots and founding, primary bellefs, and cultural activities, the ways in which the faiths are perceived by the rest of the world, and the experience of growing up as a member of the religion - are examined * Excellent introductions to the world's major faiths A timely introduction to the multifaceted religion of the Muslim world and the scared Koran.
E-Book Content
CH.RoW.Isl.aFM.Final.q 1/30/04 7:20 PM Page i RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD BUDDHISM CHRISTIANITY CONFUCIANISM HINDUISM ISLAM JUDAISM CH.RoW.Isl.aFM.Final.q 1/30/04 7:20 PM Page ii CH.RoW.Isl.aFM.Final.q 2/5/04 2:10 PM Page iii RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD ISLAM Masoud Kheirabadi Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Issues Portland State University Series Consulting Editor Ann Marie B. Bahr Professor of Religious Studies, South Dakota State University Foreword by Martin E. Marty Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago Divinity School CH.RoW.Isl.aFM.Final.q 2/5/04 2:10 PM Page iv FRONTIS This map of the Middle East shows Saudi Arabia, the country in which Islam originated, along with many of the nations where it has become the dominant faith. CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS VP, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Sally Cheney DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Kim Shinners CREATIVE MANAGER Takeshi Takahashi MANUFACTURING MANAGER Diann Grasse Staff for ISLAM EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lee Marcott SENIOR EDITOR Tara Koellhoffer PRODUCTION EDITOR Megan Emery ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Noelle Nardone SERIES AND COVER DESIGNER Keith Trego LAYOUT 21st Century Publishing and Communications, Inc. ©2004 by Chelsea House Publishers, a subsidiary of Haights Cross Communications. All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the United States of America. ww