This book is an easy-to-read resource focusing on the interrelationship of religious traditions and particular cultural contexts, including the political economy. It demonstrates the connection between social structure, class, caste, gender, ethnicity, and religion.Basic issues that provide insight into the anthropological perspective on religion are discussed, leading into the topics of mythology and folklore, ritual, shamanism, sorcery and witchcraft, aboriginal religions, African religions, classical Old and New World religions, Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and New Age religious trends.For anyone interested in an introduction to the religions of the world, and a glimpse into the future development of religion in the twenty-first century.