The text encourages direct experiences with each religion; every chapter begins with a "First Encounter" that animates some lived aspect of a religion, and ends with a feature entitled "Religion Beyond the Classroom," which suggests ways to experience individual religions at home and while traveling.
Art, music, and architecture related to religions are emphasized; for example, the book provides descriptions of paradise in Islamic art, the development of vocal treatments of the Mass, and Shinto shrine design.
Major religious figures, such as Jesus, Luther, Mohammed, the Buddha, and Gandhi, are examined as real people, not simply historical figures.
Key religious sites described include the bathing ghats of Benares, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Saint Peter's Basilica, the Great Mosque of Mecca, and the Meiji Shrine.
Pedagogy at the end of each chapter includes a list of defined key terms, a pronunciation guide, and individual and group study projects.
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