Religions of the World [6 volumes]: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices [6 volumes]

Religions of the World, Second Edition: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices is an extraordinary work, bringing together the scholarship of some 225 experts from around the globe. The encyclopedia's six volumes offer entries on every country of the world, with particular emphasis on the larger nations, as well as Indonesia and the Latin American countries that are traditionally given little attention in English-language reference works. Entries include profiles on religion in the world's smallest countries (the Vatican and San Marino), profiles on religion in recently established or disputed countries (Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh), as well as profiles on religion in some of the world's most remote places (Antarctica and Easter Island).Religions of the World is unique in that it is based in religion "on the ground," tracing the development of each of the 16 major world religious traditions through its institutional expressions in the modern world, its major geographical sites, and its major celebrations. Unlike other works, the encyclopedia also covers the world of religious unbelief as expressed in atheism, humanism, and other traditions. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 A–Z List of Entries......Page 10 Preface: An Overview of the World’s Religions......Page 36 Acknowledgments......Page 42 Basic Bibliography......Page 44 Introduction: The Study of Religion......Page 48 A Statistical Approach to the World’s Religious Adherents, 2000–2050 CE......Page 56 Religious Adherents of the World by Continent and Region......Page 60 About the Editors and Contributors......Page 74 Editorial Board......Page 116 Entries......Page 118 Abd al-Aziz ibn Sa’ud......Page 120 Abduh, Muhammad......Page 121 Abeel, David......Page 122 Aboriginal Cult of Maria Lionza......Page 123 Aboriginal Religions......Page 125 Abraham/Abram......Page 127 Abu Hanifa......Page 130 AD2000 and Beyond Movement......Page 131 Adidam......Page 132 Advent......Page 133 Adventism......Page 135 Afghani, Jamal al-Din al-......Page 136 Afghanistan......Page 137 Africa Inland Church......Page 141 African Apostolic Church of Johane Marange......Page 142 African Brotherhood Church......Page 143 African Christian Church and Schools......Page 144 African Church of the Holy Spirit......Page 145 African Independent Pentecostal Church......Page 146 African Initiated (Independent) Churches......Page 147 African Israel Church, Nineveh......Page 153 African Methodist Episcopal Church......Page 154 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church......Page 156 African Orthodox Church......Page 158 African Protestant Church......Page 160 Agnosticism......Page 167 Agonshu......Page 168 Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius......Page 170 Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam Hazrat......Page 171 Ahmadiyya Anjuman Islaat Islam, Lahore......Page 173 Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam......Page 174 Aivanhov, Omraam Mikhael......Page 176 Aladura Churches......Page 177 Albania......Page 178 Albania, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of......Page 182 Alchemy, Daoist......Page 184 Alevism......Page 186 Algeria......Page 189 Ali ibn Abi Talib......Page 193 All Africa Conference of Churches......Page 194 All Ceylon Buddhist Congress......Page 195 Alliance World Fellowship......Page 197 Amarnath......Page 202 Ambedkar Buddhism......Page 203 American Atheists......Page 205 American Baptist Association......Page 206 American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.......Page 207 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions......Page 210 American Samoa......Page 211 Amish......Page 214 Amitabha Buddhist Societies......Page 215 Amitabha’s Birthday......Page 217 An Najaf......Page 218 Anabaptism......Page 220 Ananda Marga Yoga Society......Page 221 Ancestors......Page 222 Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis......Page 226 Ancient Church of the East......Page 227 Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church......Page 228 Andorra......Page 229 Angels......Page 231 Angkor Wat......Page 235 Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia......Page 237 Anglican Church in Japan......Page 238 Anglican Church of Australia......Page 239 Anglican Church of Canada......Page 240 Anglican Church of Hong Kong and Macao......Page 242 Anglican Church of Kenya......Page 243 Anglican Church of North America......Page 244 Anglican Communion/Anglican Consultative Council......Page 246 Anglican Diocese in Angola......Page 248 Angola......Page 249 Anguilla......Page 253 Anthroposophical Society......Page 257 Antigua and Barbuda......Page 260 Apostles of In. nite Love......Page 263 Apostolic Assembly of Faith in Jesus Christ, U.S.A.......Page 264 Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East......Page 268 Apostolic Church......Page 270 Apostolic Church of Faith in Jesus Christ of Mexico......Page 272 Apostolic Faith......Page 276 Apostolic Faith Mission......Page 277 Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa......Page 278 Apostolic Sabbath Church of God......Page 279 Ararat, Mount......Page 280 Arcane School......Page 282 Arès Pilgrims......Page 284 Argentina......Page 285 Arius......Page 295 Armenia......Page 297 Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Etchmiadzin)......Page 303 Armenian Apostolic Church (See of the Great House of Cilicia)......Page 305 Armenian Catholic Church......Page 306 Arminius, Jacob......Page 308 Army of Mary......Page 310 Arnold, Gottfried......Page 311 Arsha Vidya Gurukulam......Page 313 Art of Living Foundation......Page 314 Aruba......Page 316 Arunachala......Page 319 Arya Samaj......Page 320 Ascension Day......Page 322 Asceticism......Page 323 Ashoka......Page 326 Ashura......Page 327 Assemblies of God......Page 329 Assemblies of God Incorporated......Page 331 Assemblies of Yahweh......Page 334 Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand......Page 335 Association for Research and Enlightenment......Page 336 Association of Baptist Churches in Rwanda......Page 337 Association of Evangelical Reformed Churches of Burkino Faso......Page 338 Association The Church of God......Page 340 Astrology, Hindu......Page 343 Athanasius......Page 345 Atheism......Page 346 Athens......Page 348 Athos, Mount......Page 352 Atisha......Page 353 Augustine of Hippo......Page 354 Augustinians......Page 356 Aum Shinrikyô/Aleph......Page 357 Aumist Religion......Page 359 Australia......Page 360 Austria......Page 365 Austrian Buddhist Association......Page 369 Avebury......Page 370 Azerbaijan......Page 372 Baal Shem Tov......Page 376 Baha’i Faith......Page 377 Bahamas......Page 384 Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Education Convention......Page 390 Bahá’u’lláh......Page 391 Bahrain......Page 392 Bailey, Alice Ann......Page 394 Bangladesh......Page 395 Baptist Association of El Salvador......Page 399 Baptist Bible Fellowship International......Page 400 Baptist Convention of Haiti......Page 402 Baptist Convention of Kenya......Page 403 Baptist Convention of Nicaragua......Page 404 Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec......Page 405 Baptist Convention of Western Cuba......Page 406 Baptist Union of Denmark......Page 407 Baptist Union of Great Britain......Page 408 Baptist Union of Hungary......Page 410 Baptist Union of New Zealand......Page 411 Baptist Union of South Africa/Baptist Convention of South Africa......Page 413 Baptists......Page 414 Barbados......Page 417 Basel Mission......Page 422 Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro......Page 423 Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida......Page 424 Bear Butte......Page 426 Bektashi Order (Bektashiye)......Page 428 Belarus......Page 430 Belgium......Page 434 Belize......Page 438 Benares......Page 449 Bene Israel......Page 450 Benedictines......Page 451 Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention......Page 453 Benin......Page 454 Bermuda......Page 456 Besant, Annie......Page 458 Beta Israel......Page 460 Bhutan......Page 462 Bible Sabbath Association......Page 464 Bilal......Page 465 Birth......Page 466 Birth of the Báb......Page 469 Birth/Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh......Page 470 Blavatsky, Helena P.......Page 472 Bodh-Gaya......Page 474 Bodhisattva......Page 476 Bohras......Page 478 Bolivia......Page 479 Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church......Page 488 Bon Religion......Page 489 Borobudar......Page 491 Bosnia and Herzegovina......Page 493 Botswana......Page 495 Bradlaugh, Charles......Page 498 Brahma Kumaris......Page 500 Brahmo Samaj......Page 501 Branch Davidians......Page 502 Branham Tabernacle and Related Assemblies......Page 504 Brazil......Page 505 Brazil, Japanese Religions in......Page 515 Brethren......Page 518 Brethren in Christ......Page 519 British Forest Sangha......Page 520 British Indian Ocean Territory......Page 521 British Israelism......Page 523 British Virgin Islands......Page 524 Brotherhood of the Cross and Star......Page 526 Bruderhof......Page 527 Brunei, Islam in......Page 530 Buddha, Gautama......Page 532 Buddhasasananuggaha Association......Page 535 Buddhism......Page 536 Buddhist Association of Thailand......Page 553 Buddhist Association of the Republic of China......Page 555 The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Association......Page 556 Buddhist Institute......Page 557 Buddhist Missionary Society......Page 558 Buddhist Society, The......Page 559 Builders of the Adytum......Page 560 Bukhara......Page 561 Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai......Page 562 Bulgaria......Page 563 Bulgarian Alternative Orthodox Church......Page 567 Bulgarian Orthodox Church......Page 568 Burkina Faso......Page 570 Burma......Page 572 Burundi......Page 573 Bwiti......Page 576 Byakko Shinko Kai......Page 577 Cairo......Page 580 Calendars, Religious......Page 583 Calvin, John......Page 594 Calvinism......Page 596 Cambodia......Page 598 Cameroon......Page 601 Cameroon Baptist Convention......Page 604 Canada......Page 605 Canada (Quebec)......Page 610 Canadian Baptist Ministries......Page 613 Canadian Baptists of Western Canada......Page 614 Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends......Page 615 Candomblé......Page 616 Canterbury......Page 617 Caodaism......Page 619 Cape Verde Islands......Page 620 Capuchins......Page 622 Carey, William......Page 624 Caribbean Conference of Churches......Page 626 Cathedral of Christ the Savior......Page 627 Cathedral of St. Sava......Page 628 Cathedrals„Christian......Page 629 Catholic Apostolic Church......Page 636 Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany......Page 637 CAUX-Initiatives for Change......Page 638 Cayman Islands......Page 640 Celebration of the Guru Granth Sahib......Page 643 Celestial Church of Christ......Page 644 Central African Republic......Page 646 Chad......Page 649 Chajang......Page 652 Chaldean Catholic Church......Page 653 Channel Islands......Page 655 Charismatic Movement......Page 657 Chen Tao......Page 660 Cherubim and Seraphim/Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim......Page 662 Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia......Page 663 Chile......Page 664 China......Page 676 China: Hong Kong......Page 682 China: Macao......Page 685 China: Taiwan......Page 686 China: Tibet......Page 690 China Islamic Association......Page 694 Chinese Buddhist Association......Page 696 Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association......Page 697 Chinese New Year s Day......Page 699 Chinese New Year s Day (Preliminary Festival)......Page 701 Chinese Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement/China Christian Council......Page 702 Chinese Religions......Page 704 Chinul......Page 712 Chistiniyya Su“ Order......Page 713 Chogye Order......Page 715 Chondogyo......Page 717 Christ Apostolic Church......Page 718 Christ Community Church of Zion/ Christian Catholic Church......Page 719 Christadelphians......Page 720 Christian and Missionary Alliance......Page 721 Christian Brethren......Page 723 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)......Page 728 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada......Page 729 Christian Church in Central Sulawesi......Page 730 Christian Church of Sumba......Page 732 Christian Churches and Churches of Christ......Page 733 Christian Churches of Java......Page 734 Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A.......Page 735 Christian Community (Movement for Religious Renewal)......Page 736 Christian Conference of Asia......Page 738 Christian Evangelical Church in Bolaang Mongondow......Page 739 Christian Evangelical Church in Halmahera......Page 740 Christian Evangelical Church of Sangihe Talaud......Page 741 Christian Holiness Partnership......Page 742 Christian Life Churches International......Page 743 Christian Outreach Centre......Page 746 Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia......Page 747 Christian Reformed Church in North America......Page 748 Christian Reformed Church of Brazil......Page 749 Christianity......Page 750 Christmas......Page 764 Christmas Island......Page 766 Church Communities International......Page 768 Church in the Province of Melanesia......Page 769 Church in the Province of South Africa......Page 770 Church in the Province of Sudan......Page 771 Church in the Province of Tanzania......Page 772 Church in the Province of West Africa......Page 773 Church in Wales......Page 775 Church Missionary Society......Page 776 Church of Bangladesh......Page 777 Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (General Synod)......Page 778 Church of Christ in Thailand......Page 779 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Baptist Community of Congo......Page 780 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Baptist Community of the Western Congo......Page 781 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Community of Baptist Churches in the Eastern Congo......Page 782 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Community of Disciples of Christ......Page 783 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Community of Light......Page 784 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Community of Presbyterians......Page 785 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Mennonite Community......Page 786 Church of Christ in the Congo„ Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa......Page 787 Church of Christ, Scientist......Page 788 Church of England......Page 790 Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)......Page 794 Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)......Page 795 Church of God in Christ......Page 796 Church of God, International......Page 798 Church of God of Prophecy......Page 799 Church of Ireland......Page 800 Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar......Page 802 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints......Page 803 Church of Moshoeshoe......Page 806 Church of Nigeria......Page 807 Church of North India......Page 809 Church of Norway......Page 811 Church of Pakistan......Page 813 Church of Satan......Page 815 Church of Scientology......Page 818 Church of Scotland......Page 820 Church of South India......Page 822 Church of Sri Lanka......Page 825 Church of Sweden......Page 826 Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine......Page 827 Church of the Brethren......Page 828 Church of the Brethren in Nigeria......Page 829 Church of the Kingdom of God......Page 830 Church of the Lamb of God......Page 831 Church of the Lord......Page 832 Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith......Page 833 Church of the Nazarene......Page 834 Church of the Province of Burundi......Page 835 Church of the Province of Central Africa......Page 836 Church of the Province of Melanesia......Page 837 Church of the Province of Myanmar......Page 838 Church of the Province of Southeast Asia......Page 839 Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean......Page 840 Church of the Province of Uganda......Page 841 Church of the Province of West Africa......Page 842 Church of the White Eagle Lodge......Page 844 Church Universal and Triumphant......Page 845 Churches of Christ (Non-Instrumental)......Page 848 Churches of Christ in Australia......Page 850 Cistercians......Page 851 Clan of Ausrans......Page 853 Clapham Sect......Page 854 Claver, Pedro......Page 855 Cochin Jews......Page 856 Colombia......Page 857 Common Era Calendar......Page 870 Communalism......Page 871 Community of Christ......Page 874 Community of Protestant Churches in Europe......Page 876 Comoros......Page 877 Companions of the Prophet......Page 879 Conference of European Churches......Page 880 Confucianism......Page 881 Confucius......Page 886 Confucius s Birthday......Page 887 Congo (Brazzaville), Republic of the......Page 888 Congo (Zaire), Democratic Republic of the......Page 891 Congregational Christian Church in Samoa......Page 896 Congregationalism......Page 897 Conservative Judaism......Page 898 Constantine the Great......Page 900 Continued Reformed Churches in the Netherlands......Page 902 Convention Baptiste de Haiti......Page 903 Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches......Page 904 Cook Islands......Page 905 Cook Islands Christian Church......Page 908 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship......Page 909 Coptic Catholic Church......Page 910 Coptic Orthodox Church......Page 911 Cordoba......Page 913 Costa Rica......Page 915 Cote d Ivoire......Page 927 Council for a Parliament of the World s Religions......Page 930 Council for Secular Humanism......Page 931 Council of Baptist Churches in North East India......Page 932 Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe......Page 933 Course in Miracles, A......Page 935 Covenant of the Goddess......Page 936 Creationism......Page 937 Croatia......Page 941 Crowley, Aleister......Page 944 Cuba......Page 946 Cumberland Presbyterian Church......Page 957 Cyprus......Page 959 Czech Republic......Page 963 Czechoslovak Hussite Church......Page 966 DahnHak......Page 968 Damanhur......Page 969 Damascus......Page 971 Daoism......Page 973 Darby, John Nelson......Page 979 Days of Awe......Page 981 Death......Page 982 Dee, John......Page 992 Deeper Life Bible Church......Page 993 Denmark......Page 994 Devotion/Devotional Traditions......Page 999 Dhammakaya Foundation......Page 1002 Dharma Drum Mountain Association, The......Page 1003 Diamond Sangha......Page 1004 Diamond Way Buddhism......Page 1006 Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council......Page 1008 Divine Life Society......Page 1009 Divine Science Federation International/United Divine Science Ministries International......Page 1010 Diwali......Page 1012 Djibouti......Page 1014 Dogen......Page 1016 Dogon Religion......Page 1017 Dominica......Page 1019 Dominican Republic......Page 1022 Dominicans......Page 1026 Double Ninth Festival......Page 1028 The Double Seventh Festival......Page 1029 Doukhobors......Page 1030 Dragon Boat Festival......Page 1031 Druidism......Page 1032 Druze......Page 1034 Dutch Reformed Church......Page 1035 East Africa Yearly Meeting of Friends......Page 1040 Easter......Page 1041 Easter Island......Page 1043 Eastern Orthodoxy......Page 1044 ECKANKAR......Page 1046 Ecuador......Page 1047 Ecumenical Patriarchate/Patriarchate of Constantinople......Page 1058 Eddy, Mary Baker......Page 1059 Egypt......Page 1061 Egypt in Western Religious Imagination......Page 1066 Eid al-Adha......Page 1068 Eisai......Page 1069 Ekalesia Niue......Page 1070 El Salvador......Page 1071 Elan Vital/Divine Light Mission......Page 1083 Elim Pentecostal Church......Page 1084 Elizabeth I......Page 1085 Emei Shan......Page 1087 The Emissaries......Page 1088 Energy......Page 1089 Enlightenment......Page 1094 Ennôkyô......Page 1097 Epiphany......Page 1098 Episcopal Church......Page 1099 Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East......Page 1102 Episcopal Church in the Philippines......Page 1103 Epworth......Page 1104 Equatorial Guinea......Page 1105 Eritrea......Page 1108 Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church......Page 1110 Espiritismo......Page 1111 Estonia......Page 1113 Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church......Page 1116 Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church......Page 1117 Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad......Page 1118 Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate......Page 1119 Ethiopia......Page 1120 Ethiopian Catholic Church......Page 1124 Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus......Page 1125 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church......Page 1126 Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church......Page 1128 Ethnoreligions......Page 1129 European Buddhist Union......Page 1133 Evangelical Baptist Church in Angola......Page 1134 Evangelical Baptist Union of Italy......Page 1135 Evangelical Church in Germany......Page 1136 Evangelical Church in Kalimantan......Page 1139 Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands......Page 1140 Evangelical Church of Chad......Page 1141 Evangelical Church of Gabon......Page 1142 Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions in Austria......Page 1143 Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland......Page 1144 Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania......Page 1145 Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic......Page 1146 Evangelical Church of the Congo......Page 1147 Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren......Page 1148 Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil......Page 1149 Evangelical Church of the West Indies......Page 1151 Evangelical Church of West Africa......Page 1152 Evangelical Churches of Vietnam......Page 1153 Evangelical Confederation of Latin America......Page 1154 Evangelical Covenant Church......Page 1158 Evangelical Free Church of America......Page 1159 Evangelical Friends International......Page 1160 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America......Page 1161 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada......Page 1163 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile......Page 1164 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo......Page 1165 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark......Page 1166 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Iceland......Page 1167 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya......Page 1170 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia......Page 1171 Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Romania......Page 1172 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa......Page 1173 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania......Page 1174 Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia......Page 1175 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe......Page 1176 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland......Page 1177 Evangelical Lutheran Church of France......Page 1178 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana......Page 1179 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea......Page 1182 Evangelical Mennonite Conference......Page 1183 Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands......Page 1184 Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina......Page 1185 Evangelical Methodist Church of Bolivia......Page 1186 Evangelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica......Page 1187 Evangelical Methodist Church of Italy......Page 1188 Evangelical Methodist Church of Uruguay......Page 1189 Evangelical Pentecostal Mission of Angola......Page 1190 Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa......Page 1191 Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal......Page 1192 Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana......Page 1193 Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola......Page 1194 Evangelicalism......Page 1195 Evola, Julius......Page 1201 Exorcism......Page 1203 Faeroe Islands......Page 1208 Falkland Islands/Malvinas Islands......Page 1210 Fall Equinox......Page 1212 Falun Gong......Page 1213 Family International, The......Page 1216 Fatima......Page 1219 Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches......Page 1222 Fellowship of Isis......Page 1224 Fiji Islands......Page 1225 Fiji Islands, Hindu Community of the......Page 1228 Finland......Page 1230 Finnish Orthodox Church......Page 1234 Flagellation......Page 1236 Fludd, Robert......Page 1239 Foguangshan......Page 1240 Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition......Page 1242 Fox, George......Page 1243 France......Page 1244 Francis of Assisi......Page 1249 Francis Xavier......Page 1252 Franciscans......Page 1253 Fraternité Blanche Universelle......Page 1255 Fraternity/Society of Saint Pius X......Page 1256 Free Churches......Page 1258 Free Methodist Church of North America......Page 1260 Free Pentecostal Missions Church of Chile......Page 1261 Freemasonry......Page 1262 Freethought......Page 1264 French Guiana......Page 1266 French Polynesia......Page 1268 Friends General Conference......Page 1271 Friends United Meeting......Page 1272 Friends World Committee for Consultation......Page 1273 Friends/Quakers......Page 1274 Fuji, Mount......Page 1276 Fundamentalism......Page 1277 G12 Vision......Page 1284 Gabon......Page 1285 Gambia......Page 1287 Ganesh Chaturthi......Page 1290 Gardnerian Wicca......Page 1291 Garifuna Religion......Page 1293 Gaudiya Math......Page 1296 Gedatsu Kai......Page 1298 Geiger, Abraham......Page 1299 Gelugpa......Page 1300 General Baptist Evangelical Convention of Egypt......Page 1302 General Church of the New Jerusalem, The......Page 1303 Georgia......Page 1306 Georgian Orthodox Church......Page 1312 Gerizim, Mount......Page 1316 German Buddhist Union......Page 1317 Germany......Page 1318 Germany, Hinduism in......Page 1322 Germany, Islam in......Page 1323 Ghana......Page 1325 Ghazali, Abu Hamid al-......Page 1329 Ghost Dance......Page 1330 Gibraltar......Page 1332 Glastonbury......Page 1334 Global Country of World Peace......Page 1337 Globalization, Religion and......Page 1339 Gnostic Catholic Church......Page 1342 Gnostic Churches......Page 1343 Gnostic Movement......Page 1345 Gnosticism......Page 1346 God, Existence of......Page 1348 Goddess Spirituality......Page 1351 Golden Temple......Page 1352 Grail Movement, The......Page 1354 Granada, Spain......Page 1355 Grand Mosque, Damascus......Page 1358 Great Mosque, Djenné, Mali......Page 1359 Great White Brotherhood......Page 1360 Great Zimbabwe......Page 1362 Greece......Page 1363 Greek Catholic Church......Page 1367 Greek Evangelical Church......Page 1368 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa......Page 1369 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East......Page 1370 Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem......Page 1371 Gregory VII Hildebrand......Page 1374 Grenada......Page 1376 Guadeloupe......Page 1378 Guam......Page 1380 Guan Yin s Birthday......Page 1383 Guatemala......Page 1384 Guinea......Page 1396 Guinea-Bissau......Page 1398 Gurdjieff Foundations......Page 1401 Gurdjieff, George Ivanovitch......Page 1404 Guru Gobind Singh s Birthday......Page 1406 Guru Purnima......Page 1407 Gush Emunim......Page 1408 Gutenberg, Johann......Page 1409 Guyana......Page 1410 Haein-sa Temple......Page 1416 Hagia Sophia......Page 1417 Haiti......Page 1418 Hana“ te School of Islam......Page 1422 Hanbalite School of Islam......Page 1424 Hanukkah......Page 1425 Hanuman Jayanti......Page 1427 Harrist Church......Page 1428 Hasidism......Page 1429 Healing Tao......Page 1431 Helena, Flavia Iulia......Page 1432 Heng Shan......Page 1434 Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn......Page 1435 Hiei, Mount......Page 1437 Hildegard of Bingen......Page 1438 Hinduism......Page 1439 Hirsch, Samson Raphael......Page 1450 His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council......Page 1451 Hoa Hao Buddhism......Page 1452 Holi......Page 1454 Holiness Movement......Page 1456 Holy Orthodox Church in Japan......Page 1457 Holy Week......Page 1459 Homosexuality......Page 1460 Honduras......Page 1462 Honen......Page 1473 Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China......Page 1474 Honmichi......Page 1475 Hossoshu......Page 1476 Hua Shan......Page 1477 Hubbard, L. Ron......Page 1478 Hui Neng......Page 1479 Hui Si......Page 1480 Human-Etisk Forbund i Norge......Page 1481 Humanism......Page 1482 Hungarian Reformed Church in America......Page 1483 Hungary......Page 1484 Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib Al-......Page 1489 Hutterites......Page 1491 I AM Religious Activity......Page 1496 Ibadhi Islam......Page 1497 Iceland......Page 1499 Ife......Page 1503 Iglesia ni Cristo......Page 1504 Ignatius of Loyola......Page 1505 Independence, Missouri......Page 1506 India, Contemporary Religion in: Asian Religions......Page 1508 India, Contemporary Religion in: Middle Eastern Religions......Page 1518 India, Hinduism in: Ancient Vedic Expressions......Page 1524 India, Hinduism in: Classical Period......Page 1533 India, Hinduism in: Medieval Period......Page 1540 India, Hinduism in: Modern Period......Page 1546 India in Western Religious Imagination......Page 1553 Indian Pentecostal Church of God......Page 1555 Indonesia......Page 1556 Indonesia, Buddhism in......Page 1564 Indonesia, Confucianism in......Page 1567 Indonesia, Hinduism in......Page 1569 Indonesian Christian Church......Page 1571 Indonesian Gospel Tabernacle Church......Page 1572 Initiatives for Change/Moral Rearmament......Page 1573 Integral Yoga International......Page 1574 International Association of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches......Page 1576 International Church of the Foursquare Gospel......Page 1577 International Churches of Christ......Page 1578 International Coalition for Religious Freedom......Page 1580 International Conference of Reformed Churches......Page 1581 International Congregational Fellowship......Page 1582 International Council of Christians and Jews......Page 1583 International Council of Community Churches......Page 1584 International Council of Unitarians and Universalists......Page 1585 International Evangelical Church......Page 1587 International Evangelical Church, Soldiers of the Cross......Page 1588 International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews......Page 1589 International Humanist and Ethical Union......Page 1590 International Lutheran Council......Page 1591 International Meditation Centres......Page 1592 International New Thought Alliance......Page 1593 International Old Catholic Bishops Conference......Page 1594 International Pentecostal Church of Christ......Page 1595 International Pentecostal Holiness Church......Page 1596 International Society for Krishna Consciousness......Page 1597 International Su“ Movement, The......Page 1599 International Yoga Fellowship Movement......Page 1600 International Zen Association......Page 1601 Internet and Religion......Page 1602 Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace......Page 1606 Iran......Page 1607 Iraq......Page 1613 Ireland......Page 1619 Iroquois Confederacy......Page 1624 Ise Shrine, The......Page 1627 Islam......Page 1628 Islamism......Page 1641 Isle of Man......Page 1647 Ismaili Islam......Page 1649 Israel......Page 1651 Istanbul......Page 1656 Italian Assemblies of God......Page 1658 Italo-Albanian Catholic Church......Page 1659 Italy......Page 1660 Izumo Ôyashirokyô......Page 1666 Jainism......Page 1668 Jamaat-e-Islam......Page 1672 Jamaica......Page 1675 Jamaica Baptist Union......Page 1679 Japan......Page 1680 Japan Baptist Convention......Page 1688 Japan Buddhist Federation......Page 1689 Javanism......Page 1690 Jehovah s Witnesses......Page 1691 Jerusalem......Page 1692 Jesuits......Page 1694 JeungSanDo......Page 1696 Jiu-Hua Shan......Page 1697 Jodo-shinshu......Page 1698 Jodo-shu......Page 1700 John of God Movement, The......Page 1702 John XXIII, Pope......Page 1703 Johnston Island......Page 1705 Jordan......Page 1706 Judaism......Page 1710 Kabbalah Learning Centre......Page 1722 Kagyupa Tibetan Buddhism......Page 1723 Kailas, Mount/Lake Manasarovar......Page 1724 Kamakura......Page 1726 Kanaky......Page 1727 Kaplan, Mordecai Menahem......Page 1729 Karaites....

This masterful six-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive, global coverage of religion, emphasizing larger religious communities without neglecting the world's smaller religious outposts.

Library Journal

This comprehensive, four-volume work details the history, development, organization, current status, and contact information for major organizations associated with various living world faiths. Edited with the requisite authority by Melton (director, Inst. for the Study of American Religion) and Baumann (history of religions, Univ. of Lucerne), this unique encyclopedia is not concerned with defining and analyzing the major world religions but rather with presenting the constitutive communities, groups, and associations within each religion. The result is a sort of encyclopedia of associations for world religions with superb commentary. The 1200 alphabetically arranged entries have been contributed by 200 international scholars reflecting diverse research interests and religious affiliations. Some 16 core essays provide the framework for the listed organizations, covering the major religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, as well as traditional African religions, Western esoteric traditions, and a general consideration of unbelief. In the remaining entries, readers will encounter information on the Circle Sanctuary in Wisconsin, Freemasonry, the Legion of Mary, Santer!a, serpent handlers, the Reformed Church in America, and Satanism, to name a few. Another major feature is the inclusion of entries for 276 recognized nations and territories, assessing the distinctive role of religion and religious practice within each and offering statistical tables as well as maps provided by David. B. Barrett, author of World Christian Encyclopedia. The book is fully indexed and cross-referenced, and all the entries are signed and include relevant addresses, web sites, and bibliographies. This remarkable work is recommended for academic and larger public libraries, which might also consider Barrett's work as a companion volume.-John-Leonard Berg, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Platteville Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

This masterful six-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive, global coverage of religion, emphasizing larger religious communities without neglecting the world's smaller religious outposts.Religions of the World, Second Edition: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices is an extraordinary work, bringing together the scholarship of some 225 experts from around the globe. The encyclopedia's six volumes offer entries on every country of the world, with particular emphasis on the larger nations, as well as Indonesia and the Latin American countries that are traditionally given little attention in English-language reference works. Entries include profiles on religion in the world's smallest countries (the Vatican and San Marino), profiles on religion in recently established or disputed countries (Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh), as well as profiles on religion in some of the world's most remote places (Antarctica and Easter Island).Religions of the World is unique in that it is based in religion'on the ground,'tracing the development of each of the 16 major world religious traditions through its institutional expressions in the modern world, its major geographical sites, and its major celebrations. Unlike other works, the encyclopedia also covers the world of religious unbelief as expressed in atheism, humanism, and other traditions. Religions of the World, Second A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices is an extraordinary work, bringing together the scholarship of some 225 experts from around the globe. The encyclopedia's six volumes offer entries on every country of the world, with particular emphasis on the larger nations, as well as Indonesia and the Latin American countries that are traditionally given little attention in English-language reference works. Entries include profiles on religion in the world's smallest countries (the Vatican and San Marino), profiles on religion in recently established or disputed countries (Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh), as well as profiles on religion in some of the world's most remote places (Antarctica and Easter Island). Religions of the World is unique in that it is based in religion "on the ground," tracing the development of each of the 16 major world religious traditions through its institutional expressions in the modern world, its major geographical sites, and its major celebrations. Unlike other works, the encyclopedia also covers the world of religious unbelief as expressed in atheism, humanism, and other traditions.