The historical reality of religion cannot be denied. It has been a part of the human experience since the dawn of civilization and has had a significant impact on the way civilization has developed. Its beliefs and practices have played a major role in shaping human culture. The goal of Religions of the World is nor simply to study religions in order to know them better. Its goal is to understand people better. In this age a global awareness and increasing global tensions, it is imperative that we understand other people better. We can do so if we understand their religious orientation-which, to a large extent, determines their vision of life, their moral values, their motivations, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, their individuality and complexity.