J. Gordon Melton

From sacred mountains and places of pilgrimage to visions and out-of-body travel, this reference explores unusual and unexplained physical events, apparitions, and other phenomena rooted in religious beliefs. Each entry features a balanced presentation and includes a description of the phenomenon, the religious claims surrounding the occurrence, and a scientific response. Touring the world and history, this comprehensive reference includes entries on angels, comets, Marian apparitions, and religious figures such as Jesus, Mohammad, and Lao Tzu

"For the past 500 years, the United States has provided a unique environment for unfettered worship and religious expression, supported by government guarantees of religious liberty. Today, the republic is the most religiously diverse nation in history. To orient yourself in this maze of religious groups, movements, practices, rites, conflicts, celebrations, crusades, pioneers, and martyrs, you need a practical guide.". "Here it is: American Religions: An Illustrated History is generously enhanced with more than 200 illustrations - many of them rare - that portray the people, times, buildings, and visual evolution of American religious life. Free of scholarly jargon, this history takes you through the complexities of North American religious life from the fifteenth century to the present."--BOOK JACKET.

Covers the history, founders, beliefs, and literature of over five hundred nonconventional and alternative religious movements.