Sean O'Callaghan (1) (1918–2000)

Sean O’Callaghan’s The Compact Guide to World Religions surveyed 12 faith traditions, viz., Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Baha’i, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. With each religion the author looked at its history and development, founder and significant figures, branches, sacred writings, core beliefs, worship and festivals, family and society, contemporary issues, and provides further reading guides.
What was apparent was the diversity of beliefs. The Abrahamic faith traditions believed in mono-theism. While Eastern traditions’ beliefs tended to range from monotheism to polytheism. Buddhism and Confucianism don’t believe in a Supreme Being. And God in various religions is known by different names e.g., Muslims - Allah, Hindus - Brahman, and Chinese – Dao. While other traditions like Buddhism stresses the need for their practitioners to attain Enlightenment. The religions remain patriarchal with some concessions given women by the hierarchical structure.
Distinct differences were noted when celebrating religious festivals and holidays. These celebrations depended on the religious entities’ calendar of founders and holy days were in part based on cosmic characteristics of particular seasons. And noteworthy were the beliefs in the “afterlife” of traditions in the East as opposed to the West. Faith traditions in the East’s central focus were on “reincarnation” – karma, samsara, and moksha, while the West stressed sins, judgment, heaven, and hell.… (more)