Altruism has been said to be a primary element in virtually every religious tradition, and yet scholars are hard-pressed to be able to reconcile the concept of altruism with modern thought and practice. After a fine introduction by William Scott Green noting the difficulties inherent in objective analysis and argument, contributors of these nine essays examine the current condition of altruism within a variety of belief systems, including Greco-Roman philosophy, classical Judaism, Christianity, Islam, classical and contemporary Buddhism (including the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh), Nichiren Buddhism, classical Hinduism, and Chinese religions. Articles cover scholarly theological interpretations as well as practice within the clergy and laity. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)