March 30, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – The fascinating panorama of the world's religious traditions invites and even commands attention today. Not only has religion contributed to the foundation of civilizations and the lives of millions, it has also directly influenced contemporary international relations and significant world events.

Fortress Press is happy to announce the release of Introduction to World Religions with CD-ROM. Accessible and engaging, this highly acclaimed and lavishly illustrated text now appears in a substantially revised and rewritten edition. With over 300,000 copies of the earlier editions sold, Introduction to World Religions builds on a rich heritage.

Drawing on a team of over 80 contributors from around the world and including a high proportion of fresh material, this edition edited by Christopher Partridge has a number of key features:

• separate chapters on each of the principal religions

• "insider' articles giving a flavor of what it is like to live as an adherent to each of the major faiths

• sections on understanding religion, religions of antiquity, indigenous religions and the religions of East Asia

• a final section on key developments in the modern world such as the emergence of new religions and alternative spiritualities

Objective, authoritative and lavishly illustrated with nearly 200 full-color photographs, maps and diagrams, Introduction to World Religions will be widely welcomed by all those seeking to understand the complexity and diversity of the world's religious landscape.

"A sumptuous handbook. Profusely illustrated in full color . . . a guide to the past and present faiths of the world." –The Times Educational Supplement

"A moving and illuminating book. I am aware of nothing on the market remotely comparable in scope, balance, readability and sensitivity." –Church Times

"Positive, thoughtful and sympathetic treatment of a very wide range of faiths . . . " –Religious Education Press

General Editor: Christopher Partridge is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at University College Chester, Cheshire, England. He is editor of New Religions: A Guide (2004) and the Dictionary of Contemporary Religion in the Western World (2002).

The contributing editors include Diana L. Eck, Robert Kisala, Nicholas de Lange, Mikael Rothstein, Lamin O. Sanneh, Garry W. Trompf, and Linda Woodhead.

System requirements for CD-ROM Computer/Processor: Pentium 133 MHz (Pentium 300 MHz processor recommended); CD-ROM drive. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 or later – will run on Windows 98/98SE/Me/NT 4.0 (SP6a)/2000/XP. Memory: Windows 98/Me/NT: 64 MB; Windows 2000/XP: 64 MB (128 MB recommended). Hard Drive Space: 60 MB minimum. Monitor Resolution: 800 x 600 or larger.

Format: Hardcover & CD-ROM; 496 pages; Item No: 0800637143; Publisher: Fortress Press; Price: $45.00.

To order Introduction to World Religions with CD-ROM please call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press