John R. Hinnells is Professor of Comparative Religion at London University and head of the Department for the Study of Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

"It is good to see this classic volume reappear in an updated form. It belongs in the canon of standard works that anyone interested in the study of religion should posses. The updating of the original chapters was desirable and has been accomplished extremely well."Damien Keown, Royal Asiatic Society Journal

• Introduction: John R. Hinnells (SOAS, University of London). Section A: The Religions:.1. Judaism: Alan Unterman (University of Manchester).2. Christianity: Andrew Walls (University of Edinburgh).3. Islam: Alford T. Welch (Michigan State University).4. Zoroastrianism: Mary Boyce (SOAS, University of London).5. Hinduism: Simon Weightman (SOAS, University of London).6. Sikhism: W. Owen Cole (Chichester Institute of Higher Education).7. Jainism: Kendall W. Folkert revised and expanded by John E. Cort (Denision University, Ohio).8. Buddhism: L. S. Cousins (formerly University of Manchester).9. Chinese Religions: Michael Saso (Beijing).10. The Mystic Tradition in China: Michael Saso (Beijing).11. Japanese Religions: David Reid (Tokyo University).12. Religions in Primal Societies.i. Native North American Religions: Armin W. Geertz (University of Aarhus).ii. Pacific Religions: B. Colless and P. Donovan (Massey University).iii. African Religions: Aylward Shorter (Freelance Writer).iv. New Religious Movements in Primal Societies: Harold W. Turner (formerly Selly Oak College).13. Modern Alternative Religions in the West: J. Gordon Melton (Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara).14. Baha'ism: Denis MacEoin: (formerly University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne).Section B: Cross Cultural Issues:.15. Religion and Gender: Ursula King (University of Bristol).16. Spirituality: Ursula King (University of Bristol).17. The Study of Diaspora Religion: John R. Hinnells (SOAS, University of London).18. African Diaspora Religion: Ossie Stuart (St Anthony's College, Oxford).19. The Australian South Asian Diaspora: P. Billimoria (Deakin University).20. The Religions of South Asian Communities in Britain: Kim Knott (University of Leeds).21. The Religions of the South Asian Diaspora in Canada: Harold Coward (University of Victoria, British Columbia).22. South Asian Religions in the United States: Raymond Brady Williams (Wabash College).23. Comparative Reflections on South Asian Religion in International Migration: John R. Hinnells (SOAS, University of London).Index.