We all know what religion is - or do we? Confronted with religious pluralism and cultural diversity, it manifests itself in many forms. What is Religion? serves not only as an introduction to the different belief systems flourishing throughout the modern world, but asks us to consider how the very boundaries of faith might be drawn now and in the future. How might religion interact with political ends, or permeate culture, society and everyday life? Is the post-secular world in thrall to 'religions' of its own kind - materialism, humanism, medicine, science? And what logic separates...

We all know what religion is-or do we? Confronted with religious pluralism and cultural diversity, it manifests itself in many forms. "What is Religion?" serves not only as an introduction to the different belief-systems flourishing across the modern world, but asks us to consider how the very boundaries of faith might be drawn now and in the future. Looking in depth at six separate religious traditions, the book takes a comparative rather than isolationist approach to each faith, and focuses on crucial moral and sociological questions.

Why is there a world? Does it reflect the presence of God in any way? Did the world spontaneously come into existence or is there a creator? How will it end? Does God Exist? Do religions give a coherent view of His existence and nature? Can we enter into relation with Him? Robert Crawford tries to answer these and other questions by arguing that religion and science complement one another and, while they use different sources and methods, insights can be gleaned from both concerning our nature, the world, and God. Major attention is given to Christianity because modern science arose in that...