Series: World Cultures Series.
Subject Areas: Religion, World Cultures, Geography.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Encyclopedia, Internet-Linked


Since the Washington, D.C. area where we live is multi-cultural, we’ve found this book very helpful in understanding and reaching out to neighbors and other people we meet. There is a beautiful impish child on the cover, and the book is packed with photos and drawings of people and the places they worship. Usborne Encyclopedias are totally unlike any encyclopedias I used as a child! Usually I sit down to look at one of these and lose all track of time with them. The Internet Links are a great addition to this title because you need to see and hear from those who actually practice the religions to get a feel for what their culture is like.

The book begins with “What is Religion?,” defines worship, prayer, meditation and scriptures, then goes on to explain what sacred places are, the many functions of religion, and a section on the various viewpoints people take on religion. I found the section on the future of religion fascinating, especially these two quotes:

“Over the world as a whole, religions are growing … some experts predict that there will be a swing away from a materialistic outlook and that people will turn back to the more spiritual values of religion.” and

“Since the discovery of DNA, much more is known about how living things reproduce. This does not stop people from feeling that the creation of new life is miraculous.”

Each of the major religions is subdivided into sections on the founding of the religion, who or what their God or gods are, sacred writings, birth and death rituals, wedding customs, places of worship, festivals, and popular sayings. The book covers Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Shinto, Jainism, Chinese Religions, the Baha’i faith, Zoroastrianism, Rastafarianism, a myriad of local religions and some now defunct religions. There are no opinions given as to the validity of the practices or beliefs; it's "just the facts".

The Encyclopedia is filled with history and geography moments too! There’s a particularly interesting section on ancient religions that have mostly died out. Keep a globe or world map nearby, especially if you choose to use this book with its perfect companion book, Peoples of the World.

Here are a few of the many websites we found intriguing:
- One that takes you around the world to view holy places.
- An archaeological site
- Learn Hebrew online
- A guided tour of a Buddhist temple
- Muslim wedding rituals
- Aboriginal and Maori cultures

You'll want to try these sites and explore others, too. The book concludes with maps and a time chart.

Take a Look Inside This Book

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers, Homeschoolers

Nancy,
Thank you for your insightful comments on the book. It gives me a clearer picture and I believe we'll be adding this to our homeschool library.
Nancy W.

And don't forget the World cookbook, for making dishes from all these places and peoples we are learning about!