This monumental reference work covers the entirety of human religious belief and practice. The Encyclopaedia is divided into two main parts: the first examines different religions and their beliefs in a variety of sociocultural contexts; the second looks at different ethical systems and how they relate to religious beliefs. Covering topics as diverse as animism, Buddhism, Judaism, and humanism, this Encyclopaedia is an essential resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the world's religions.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.