"Anything Carl Olson creates, and he has created a lot, is eagerly awaited. Here is another superb book from him. It is an essential text to anyone's understanding of cross-cultural religious ways of experiencing life." Sushil Mittal, James Madison University, USA "This book amazes by its comprehensiveness. Almost every domain of the religious phenomenon is surveyed with a discerning eye, from ancient times to the present. Professor Olson shows why religion must continue to be taken seriously by all who are interested in understanding the human condition. This wonderful achievement is truly a tribute to our globalized world." Julius Lipner, University of Cambridge, UK "Olson gives us the stories and their ongoing development within these religions, providing an extensive introduction of the assumptions and history of the threads of "religion" within the web of culture.

The focus is on the history and the content of the traditions, as well as some reflections on particular topics." Cathy Hasty MDiv ThM, ACPE Supervisor, AAPC Diplomate, BCC, LPCS, Director, Health Ministry and Pastoral Education, Novant Health: Presbyterian Medical Center, Charlotte, NC "Many textbooks have been written about world religions, but this book is unique in several ways. Having written about and studied religion extensively, Olson (Allegheny College) is aware of the complexity of religion and emphasizes its role as a component of the surrounding culture. He uses a narrative approach, discussing religion in an interesting and personal way and discussing people experiencing their religion. He devotes chapters to various world religions and to ancient, Native American, African, and new religious traditions. Each chapter includes a time line and a bibliography and discusses basic teachings, history, religious practice, cultural context, and religious expansion. The author's narrative approach serves well in bringing the various elements together in a coherent manner. Summing Up: Recommended.

" - J. Jaeger, Dallas Baptist University in CHOICE.