There are many reasons or motives which may lead someone to study religion or particular religions.

One may simply be interested in the subject, or in some aspect of it. Alternatively one may be engaged ‘existentially’ with some of the questions to which religion and religions offer answers: that is to say one may be looking for a belief or set of beliefs.

To focus upon the reasons or motives however is at this stage not very helpful. What is more important is to try to grasp what the successful outcome of the study of religion or religions should be. In one sense this is a straightforward matter, for the successful outcome of anything worth studying ought to be an extension of knowledge and understanding. This obvious answer, however, raises as many questions as it settles. There are three main types of question which arise, and they are all central to the nature and rationale of this book:

1. What will one know if one knows more about religion(s) and what is it that one will understand if one has a greater understanding of religion(s)?

2. If one seeks such knowledge or understanding where should one focus one’s attention?

3. What methods should one use to increase knowledge or understanding?

Let us answer these questions in turn, recognising at the outset what will become even more apparent as we proceed: the answer to any one of these questions is ultimately dependent upon the answers given to the other two.