Invitation to World Religions

Preface xxv

• Interactive maps of key locations for the world religions, accompanied by mul- tiple-choice questions • Access to Oxford Insight Study Guide OPTIMIZE STUDENT LEARNING WITH THE OXFORD INSIGHT STUDY GUIDE All new print and digital copies of Invitation to World Religions , Fourth Edition, in- clude access to the Oxford Insight Study Guide, a data-driven, personalized digital learning tool that reinforces key concepts from the text and encourages effective read- ing and study habits. Developed with a learning-science-based design, Oxford Insight Study Guide engages students in an active and highly dynamic review of chapter content, empowering them to critically assess their own understanding of course ma- terial. Real-time, actionable data generated by student activity in the tool helps in- structors ensure that each student is best supported along their unique learning path. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book has been a long time in the making. Along the way, family members, friends, and colleagues have supported us with love, patience, insights, and sugges- tions. We also are grateful to the people who kindly granted us interviews. Although there is no way we can adequately thank them here, we can at least acknowledge them: Edward Allen, Dr. Onkar Bindra, Jill Brodd, Jon Brodd, Mary Chapman, Linda Dekker, Tunay Durmaz, Lin Estes, Rev. Dr. Christopher Flesoras, Rustom Ghadiali, Avigayil Halpern, Dola Haque, George and Kausalya Hart, Kathleen Kelly, Hari Krishnan, Sammy Letoole, Ray and Marilyn Little, Terrie McGraw, Brian Melendez, Watanabe Minoru, Annie Nystrom, Festus Ogunbitan, Susan Orr, Mia Sasaki, Katherine Sei, Girish Shah, Taslima Shams, Kitty Shek, Davesh Soneji, Jason Ch’ui-hsiao Tseng, Archana Venkatesan, Krishna and Jayashree Ven- katesan, Father Art Wehr, S.J., Dr. Xinyu David Zhang, and members of the Sacra- mento Dharma Center. We have also benefited immensely from the hard work and good suggestions of colleagues across the country. In particular, we would like to thank:

Jeanine Viau, University of Central Florida Jason Sprague, University of Michigan–Dearborn Sharon Coggan, University of Colorado–Denver T. Christopher Hoklotubbe, Cornell College North Carolina–Pembroke Kenneth Claus, Miami Dade College Donald Stikeleather, Marian University PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Andrew Christian van Gorder, Relations, Baylor University Mordechai Inbari, University of