Following Isms: Understanding Art and Isms: Understanding Architecture comes a handy visual guide that offers synopses of the religions of the world and highlights their artistic and architectural manifestations. This one-stop resource to understanding human spiritual belief is organized into familiar groupings (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), each of which is then further broken down into individual sects, denominations, or branches-in short, the "isms." Each ism gets a two-page spread that distills the basic tenets of the creed, identifies how it differs from other religions, highlights important historical figures (from popes to prophets and political or cultural notables) associated with the ism. In any culture, religion has always inspired art, architecture, and design. Each religion featured here is illustrated by the outstanding aesthetic achievements for which it is known, and it concludes with a helpful timeline that puts all the religions included into chronological context. - Publisher. This book is a handy guide to a wide variety of the world's religious beliefs. From the major religions to specific sects and denominations, it gives a practical introduction to all the significant isms that have shaped world religion. Each major religion has a four-page spread n which there is an introduction to the ism which explains when the movement first emerged and thee major tenets and beliefs it holds. Then each specific sect and denomination has a two-page spread which discusses the particular beliefs and teachings of that religion. All the religions are illustrated with images of the art and architecture representative of the religion. In the reference section there is a glossary, a world map showing where the religions originated, a chronology of their development and a list of all the major people connected with the various religions. All in all, this is a handy ready reference book that is a must for anyone interested in learning more about the religions of the world. - Dust jacket.