This book offers a succinct and comprehensible presentation of what religion is about and how it is related to other intellectual areas (particularly to science). It emphasizes the practical side of religion (religious experience, Zen-meditation, personal growth) and considers Buddhism in addition to Christianity. The resulting view of religion leaves behind skeptical misgivings but at the same time is open for interreligious dialogue.

Hans Julius Schneider, Universität Potsdam.