Viewing standard material from a fresh perspective, and presenting new and innovative research by current scholars as well as the work of female religious scholars of the past, the Encyclopedia's 600 articles, in this 2 volume set, places all aspects of religious thought and experience in a new light. Major themes explored include comparative study of issues such as mythology, ordination and afterlife; wide ranging perspectives including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and others; relationship of religion to study of art, literature, and science; historical perspectives on religions both new and prehistoric; biographies of religious leaders and scholars; methods and theories for study of women in religion.