Striving to be the most student-friendly textbook in this field, WAYS TO THE CENTER: AN INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS, Seventh Edition, weaves together rich historical, cultural, and theological detail into structural and philosophical sections that analyze each of the world's major religions in terms of its views on nature, society, self, and ultimate reality. The readily accessible text is designed for today's students and places a premium on the development of critical thinking. Combining both historical and systematic analyses, the book takes as its focus the theme of personal centeredness--a primary goal of each featured religion.