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Never before has there been such an acute need to understand and respect the religious beliefs of other people. If we are to show respect and courtesy to our neighbor who has a different religious faith, if we are to share the insights of our own faith, if we engage in evangelism, then we need to have a basic understanding of the different world religions. The four largest world religions--Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism--account for almost 87% of all those who have any religious faith. The nearly 50 million adherents of Judaism, Sikhism, the Baha'i Faith, Jainism, and Shintoism--though smaller in numbers--are not overlooked. This book looks at the history, the founder, the teachers, the worship, and the influence of all the major religions in the world. They are presented in a concise way with examples from their sacred writings and quotations from their spiritual leaders. Primal religions, New Age Beliefs, and even atheism are analyzed. Each religion seeks for the truth in its beliefs and worship. No religion worthy of the name of religion is frightened of the truth. Believers in every religion or worldview have the right to promote (but not force) their beliefs. Today we have sufficient information about all the religions in the world that enable us to make informed, intelligent decisions about what we should believe.
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