Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures

(Hardback)

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Description

This engaging encyclopedia covers the religions and religious traditions of various Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In this unprecedented profile of the religions of Southeast Asia, scholars from around the world explore the faiths, spiritual practices, and theological dogmas of the region. The book contains a fascinating collection of accurate, detailed articles; informative sidebars; and an extensive list of reference materials, all of which uncover beliefs in that part of the world. Discussions of ancient religions, combined with a look at contemporary trends, feature topics such as religious fundamentalism, secularism, and globalization. Through 150 alphabetically arranged entries, this encyclopedia investigates the religions and religious traditions of countries such as Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines, among others. Written in an accessible style, this comprehensive reference looks at a variety of belief systems, including Buddhism, Confucianism, tribal practices, Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. A selected, general bibliography offers a listing of the most important print and electronic resources on the topic.

Reviews

Presenting a topic that is riddled with nuances so it is accessible to nonspecialist readers is not an easy task. From this perspective, this single-volume reference is a welcome edition for high school students and general readers. * Booklist *
[T]he volume certainly fills a void in reference works dealing exclusively with the concerns of faith and culture. The treatment is especially appropriate for reference collections serving high school students and undergraduates. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduate students and general readers. * Choice *

Author Bio

Jesudas M. Athyal, PhD, is visiting researcher at the Center for Global Christianity & Mission, Boston University School of Theology.