Religion Matters

Religion Matters, 2nd Edition, written by Boston University professor Stephen Prothero and published by W. W. Norton & Company, is an introductory textbook designed to build religious literacy among college students. The volume organizes world traditions through a clear four-part framework while emphasizing the internal diversity of beliefs and practices found within each tradition.

The content progresses across four thematic groupings. Part I covers Indian religions of release, detailing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Part II examines Middle Eastern religions of repair, focusing on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Part III investigates religions of reversion, presenting Confucianism, Daoism, Yoruba religion, and Navajo religion. Part IV examines non-religious worldviews in a dedicated chapter on Atheism.

A new chapter on Yoruba religion traces its West African roots and diasporic developments across the globe. Each chapter also evaluates how historical traditions adapt to and face challenges from emerging technology in the digital age. This structure helps instructors present global traditions in introductory religious studies courses.