Billions of people around the world place their faith in the power of the divine. Many others adhere to alternative beliefs outside the major religious traditions, while for others science and secular modernity provide the basis for a meaningful life. The new Chambers Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions includes more than 3,200 entries covering all areas of faith, from sharia law to purgatory, eco-paganism to yogic flying. There are in-depth articles on current issues and controversies, including how subjects such as divorce, death and evolution are viewed in different cultures. What do followers of the world’s great religions actually believe? What are the origins of major faiths and minor cults? What happens when ancient faiths and the modern world collide, as in stem cell research or the teaching of creationism in school? This fascinating and illuminating book is an essential reference work for anyone interested in the history and outlook of the world’s key faiths, both ancient and modern.