Examines the faith founded by Siddhartha Gautama, which is now being embraced by people around the world.

The volumes in the new series Religions of the World surveys religions that have had a major impact on the history of the world and that continue to play a role in relationships between nations and ethnic groups. All aspects--including roots and founding, primary beliefs and cultural activities, the way the faiths are viewed by the rest of the world, and the experience of growing up as a member of the religion--are be examined. Often considered more a philosophy or system of social ethics than a religion, Confucianism has its roots in ancient China. Although today, under the Communist Chinese...

Although the polytheistic religion of India has had a limited influence outside its native nation, it has none-the-less always been a subject of interest to both scholars and lay people alike. With its controversial caste system and its pantheon of unusual deities, Hinduism is very different from most faiths common in the West.

A number of indigenous religions, including those of the Lakota (North America), Maya (Central America), and the descendents of the Inca (South America) are examined.

Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and came into being after a number of tribal religions were combined over 2,500 years ago.

The roots of Sikhism lie in India, where it was founded approximately 1500 A.D. by Guru Nanak, who was critical of the blind rituals of Hindus and Muslims.

A Chinese mystical philosophy, Taoism was founded by Lao-tzu in the sixth century B.C. Taoism is a way of life promoting the Tao as a force that flows through all sentient beings. When the Tao is in balance, perfect happiness is possible.