Taking a thematic and comparative approach, this book provides a clear, concise introduction to the study of religion. The Sacred Quest examines the main ideas that characterize all religious thought and practice, with particular emphasis on such fundamental topics as ritual, sacred language, ethics, salvation, and the problem of evil.
The Second Edition features a number of new thought experiments. Topics include the Supreme Court rulings on religious holiday displays, the relationships between religion and environmental attitudes, and more. In addition, the authors now include a brief survey of the history of religious studies in the introduction, present a streamlined discussion of ethics, and update all terms and references.