The main design of the present Work is, as its title indicates, to exhibit an accurate, comprehensive, and impartial view of the "Faiths of the World". These are in themselves so numerous, intricate, and often obscure, that fully and satisfactorily to set forth their peculiar doctrines and principles, as well as their rites, ceremonies and customs, has been a task of extreme difficulty, requiring much laborious investigation and careful discrimination.
The aim of the present work is to depict the great leading systems of religion, not in their main features only, but in their particular and even minute details. In addition to the great religions of the world, the work includes a view of the numerous religious sects into which the leading systems have from time to time branched out, and a full explanation of the peculiarities, whether in doctrines or ceremonies, by which they have been or still are specially characterized. The book thus covers almost every aspect of religious study in fascinating detail.
This five-volume work is illustrated with numerous engravings to highlight the important articles. The book is thus a reference work of great detail and topicality, accessible to the general reader, as well as the scholar and academic.
|
