Carl Olson is Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College. He is the author of 18 books, including Indian Asceticism: Power, Violence, and Play (2015), The Allure of Decadent Thinking: Religious Studies and the Challenge of Postmodernism (2013), and Religious Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge 2011).

• Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Ancient Mediterranean Religions; Chapter 3 Native American Traditions; Chapter 4 African Religious Traditions; Chapter 5 Hinduism; Chapter 6 Jainism; Chapter 7 Buddhism; Chapter 8 Sikhism; Chapter 9 Chinese Traditions; Chapter 10 Japanese Traditions; Chapter 11 Zoroastrianism; Chapter 12 Judaism; Chapter 13 Christianity; Chapter 14 Islam; Chapter 15 New Age and New Religious Movements;

"Anything Carl Olson creates, and he has created a lot, is eagerly awaited. Here is another superb book from him. It is an essential text to anyone’s understanding of cross-cultural religious ways of experiencing life."Sushil Mittal, James Madison University, USA"This book amazes by its comprehensiveness. Almost every domain of the religious phenomenon is surveyed with a discerning eye, from ancient times to the present. Professor Olson shows why religion must continue to be taken seriously by all who are interested in understanding the human condition. This wonderful achievement is truly a tribute to our globalized world."Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK

Carl Olson is Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College. He is the author of 18 books, including Indian Asceticism: Power, Violence, and Play (2015), The Allure of Decadent Thinking: Religious Studies and the Challenge of Postmodernism (2013), and Religious Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge 2011).

• Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Ancient Mediterranean Religions; Chapter 3 Native American Traditions; Chapter 4 African Religious Traditions; Chapter 5 Hinduism; Chapter 6 Jainism; Chapter 7 Buddhism; Chapter 8 Sikhism; Chapter 9 Chinese Traditions; Chapter 10 Japanese Traditions; Chapter 11 Zoroastrianism; Chapter 12 Judaism; Chapter 13 Christianity; Chapter 14 Islam; Chapter 15 New Age and New Religious Movements;

"Anything Carl Olson creates, and he has created a lot, is eagerly awaited. Here is another superb book from him. It is an essential text to anyone’s understanding of cross-cultural religious ways of experiencing life."Sushil Mittal, James Madison University, USA"This book amazes by its comprehensiveness. Almost every domain of the religious phenomenon is surveyed with a discerning eye, from ancient times to the present. Professor Olson shows why religion must continue to be taken seriously by all who are interested in understanding the human condition. This wonderful achievement is truly a tribute to our globalized world."Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK

Carl Olson is Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College. He is the author of 18 books, including Indian Asceticism: Power, Violence, and Play (2015), The Allure of Decadent Thinking: Religious Studies and the Challenge of Postmodernism (2013), and Religious Studies: The Key Concepts (Routledge 2011).

• Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Ancient Mediterranean Religions; Chapter 3 Native American Traditions; Chapter 4 African Religious Traditions; Chapter 5 Hinduism; Chapter 6 Jainism; Chapter 7 Buddhism; Chapter 8 Sikhism; Chapter 9 Chinese Traditions; Chapter 10 Japanese Traditions; Chapter 11 Zoroastrianism; Chapter 12 Judaism; Chapter 13 Christianity; Chapter 14 Islam; Chapter 15 New Age and New Religious Movements;

"Anything Carl Olson creates, and he has created a lot, is eagerly awaited. Here is another superb book from him. It is an essential text to anyone’s understanding of cross-cultural religious ways of experiencing life."Sushil Mittal, James Madison University, USA"This book amazes by its comprehensiveness. Almost every domain of the religious phenomenon is surveyed with a discerning eye, from ancient times to the present. Professor Olson shows why religion must continue to be taken seriously by all who are interested in understanding the human condition. This wonderful achievement is truly a tribute to our globalized world."Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK