This high-quality illustrated reference book provides schools and families with accurate information and engaging glimpses of the variety of faiths that have existed and are current in the world today. Beginning with a discussion about what religion is, author David Self offers 60 double page articles which cover the origins, beliefs and daily lives of adherents of the 6 major world faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism) as well as Ancient, East Asian and modern religions. Combining touches of storytelling with prayers, extracts from scriptures, photos, maps, diagrams and call-out boxes, the result is an engaging reference work which gives an excellent grounding in this topic which is of increasing importance in today's multicultural society.