Until fairly recently, religion as a major influence on the nature of individual societies around the world seemed to be on the wane. Now, far from being marginalized, the relationship between faith and society has moved to the center of politics and global conversation. The former director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor brings an art historian's eye to this multifaceted, illustrated survey of the ways in which different societies have understood and articulated their places in the cosmic scheme. Examining how shared experiences shape cultures, MacGregor profiles how various faiths worldwide view prayer, music, sacrifice, the afterlife, festivals, and dissent.