Product Description

Major religious traditions of the world contain perspectives of perennial importance on the topic of death and afterlife. Such concepts are not only reflected directly in mortuary and funerary practices, but also inform patterns of beliefs and rituals that shape human lifestyles. Here thirteen scholars, each a specialist in a particular religious tradition, outline the beliefs and practices relating to death and afterlife. The volume introduction provides a framework for understanding the evolutionary relationships among world religions and the unity as well as the diversity of their quest for overcoming death.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #725530 in Books
• Published on: 1991-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
“The 13 short and necessarily selective, but nevertheless substantial chapters of this ably edited cross-cultural survey are to be recommended for being both authoritative (each contributor is an expert) and engagingly and enlighteningly written. The work is quite comprehensive, encompassing preliterate African, ancient Mediterranean, and the mainstream Western and Eastern traditions. It utilizes a variety of approaches--historical, sociological, anthropological, theological, etc. It intersects most notably with both Religious Encounters with Death, ed. by F.E. Reynolds and E.H. Waugh (CH, Apr '78) and Death, Afterlife, and the Soul, ed. by L.E. Sullivan (1989). In format, it is more akin to the former, but it differs from it in at least two main respects: (1) here the focus of each chapter is generally broader, less specialized; and (2) proportionately more attention is given to the major Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The new volume thus augments and complements its predecessors. Useful chapter notes, bibliography, and index. Appropriate for graduate students and upper-division undergraduates.”–Choice

About the Author
HIROSHI OBAYASHI is Professor of Religion at Rutgers University, where he teaches a course on Death and Afterlife.

Customer Reviews

Interesting book
The book contains information about different cultures' religions and their origins. You can get lost in the reading at times.

Other than that, the book came in perfect condition and on time.

Saved over 50%!!!
The cost of this textbook was over 50% lower than at my university bookstore. It was new and arrived in 3 days. I will definitely continue purchasing my college textbooks on Amazon.