This definitive volume presents an overview of all thirty-three of the world's principal religions. Renowned religion scholar Mircea Eliade based this compact volume on his three volume History of Religious Ideas and on the sixteen volume Encyclopedia of Religion, the ultimate reference in the field, which he edited. The HarperCollins Concise Guide to World Religion gives the key insights into the leading figures, essential teachings, histories, sacred texts, and mythologies of the major religions around the world and throughout time. Including: African Religions Australian Religions BuddhismCeltic ReligionHinduismIslamMystery ReligionsNorth American ReligionsPrehistoric ReligionsSouth American ReligionsShamanismTaoismTibetan ReligionsZoroastrianismAnd many more!Author Biography: Mircea Eliade founded the modern study of the history of religions and wrote many books, including Essential Sacred Writings from Around the World and The Sacred and the Profane. Ioan P. Couliano was the professional heir to Mircea Eliade and the author of Out of This World and The Tree of Gnosis.