Death and Religion: The Basics provides a thorough and accessible introduction to dying. death. grief. and conceptions of the afterlife in world religions.

It leads readers through considerations of how we understand meanings of death and after-death. and the theories and practices attached to these states of being. with recourse to various religious worldviews: Judaism. Islam. Christianity. Hinduism. Sikhism. Buddhism. Chinese Religions. and Native American belief systems. This inter-religious approach provides a rich. dynamic survey of varying and evolving cultural attitudes to death. Topics covered include:

Religious perspectives of “the good death”
Grief. bereavement. and mourning
Stages and definitions of death
Burial. cremation. and disposition
Remembrance rituals
Religious theories of the afterlife
Death and technology
Featuring a glossary. suggestions for further reading in each chapter and key terms. this is the ideal text for students approaching the intersection of death and religion for the first time. and those in the fields of religious studies. thanatology. anthropology. philosophy. and sociology.

Buddhism: The Basics provides a thorough and accessible introduction to a fascinating religion. Examining the historical development of Buddhism and its presence today. this guide covers:

principal traditions
practices and beliefs
ethical guidelines and philosophy
religious texts
community
With helpful features including a detailed map of the Buddhist world. glossary of terms and tips for further study. this is an ideal text for students and interested readers wanting to familiarise themselves with the Buddhist faith.

Cathy Cantwell is an academic researcher at the Oriental Institute. University of Oxford. She specialises in Tibetan Buddhism. and has worked on eleventh century manuscripts. an eighteenth century scriptural collection. and contemporary Buddhist ritual manuals and practice. She has taught widely in UK Higher Education and is joint author of Early Tibetan Documents on Phur pa from Dunhuang.

Bahá’í Faith: The Basics provides a thorough and accessible introduction to a fascinating. independent world religion. Examining its historical development. current “community-building” efforts and the social contributions of the Bahá’í Faith in the world today. this introduction covers:

Beliefs: Bahá’í spiritual teachings
Principles: Bahá’í social teachings
History: Bahá’u’lláh and his covenant.
Scripture: Bahá’í sacred texts and inspired guidance
Institutions: The Bahá’í Administrative Order
Building community: What Bahá’ís do
Social action: Bahá’í social and economic development projects
Public discourse: The Bahá’í International Community
Vision: Foundations for a future golden age
With features including a glossary of terms. and references to the Bahá’í writings throughout. this is the ideal text for students and interested readers wanting to familiarize themselves with the Bahá’í Faith.