Christopher Partridge is Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University, UK. His research and writing focuses on alternative spiritual currents, countercultures and popular music.

• Introduction Part One: Ancient and Medieval Sources Part Two: The Renaissance Part Three: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Part Four: Nineteenth Century Part Five: Twentieth Century and the Contemporary World Part Six: Popular Culture and the Arts Part Seven: Beliefs, Practices, Issues, and Approaches

"Partridge’s book should prove particularly valuable to undergraduate and graduate students, as the volume’s entries on their given subjects are in and of themselves scholarly treatments of the topics in question and also gateways to further and more in-depth research."- Christopher A. Plaisance, University of Groningen"Many of the essays include black-and-white illustrations that further elucidate the material. Written by international experts in religious and cultural studies, all the essays include comprehensive bibliographies for the benefit of those wishing to pursue topics in depth. Summing Up: Recommended."- S. P. Beiting, University of Notre Dame in CHOICE