Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto

Eastern Religions with General Editor Michael D. Coogan is a basic guide to the salient points of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. It is a very informative book with lovely pictures that display people in worship and various places connected to the religion in question. As the blurb on the back says, “The book looks at each religion in terms of nine key themes,” and goes on to list those themes. So it covers the origins of the religion if they are known, the sacred times and sacred sites, important people within the religion, how worship is carried out, and so on and so forth. At the end of each theme is a section that looks at the essential writings of that religion and has a little commentary on what it means show more and the context for which it applies. While this book might seem long at first glance, I was able to get through it pretty quickly. show less

Currently reading ...........but do not own.......so far this book is interesting. It gives great details of each Religion that it discusses the traditons, along with some history. I really like the way the author at the end of each chapter gave some of that religions sacred text and then did the commentary on it....really helped me in understanding the text.