The scientific study of religious facts in and of itself, just as human made accessible to human observation, rejecting prejudice and refraining from value judgments inevitably brings into play and ultimately ends up calling into question the religion itself . This is undoubtedly the ultimate explanation and threatened eventful career that has followed here the history of religions. Institutionalized long ago at all levels and in all countries the histories of art, literature, philosophy, history of religions has lived in precarious, and today, when it seems as if the apprehension or fear that inspired declared in another knowing that unnecessary time had already passed, another major obstacle stands in their way: the skepticism about the theoretical viability, given the autonomy of the history of religions. The constant awareness of the precariousness of their autonomy is not the least of the merits of the History of Religions which today presents XXI Century. Others have mentioned. It is complete and accurate: examines one by one all past and present religions in their full complexity and uniqueness. Comes in greater depth and detail of what they have come so far works of its kind: with proven and reliable information, incorporates the latest findings, discusses the reviews, puts forward new hypotheses. At the same time, offers a charming view of the now current trends in the field of historical and religious studies. Not a manifesto of school: each of the authors who contributed to this work goes its own way, expresses the views that inspired him practicing his specialty. But all agree on one thing: framing studying religion in social material, political and your time. In other words: all strive to reconstruct the history of religions in the framework of general history. The assumptions of prehistory. The religion of black Africa. Religions of Oceania. Religions of the American Indians. The religions of the great pre-Columbian civilizations. Indigenous religions of South America. Religions of Arctic peoples. The religions of the Altaic peoples of Siberia