States of ecstasy (from the ancient Greek ekstasis, meaning ‘standing outside’) are moments when you lose your ordinary sense of self and feel connected to something greater than you. It can be euphoric, but it can also be terrifying, says the philosopher Jules Evans. Here he selects five books that explore the significance and power of these surprisingly common experiences.

Heroes are universal to human culture and, in Christian culture, they manifested themselves as saints. Historian Simon Yarrow recommends the best books to understand the saints, from their widespread appearance in late antiquity to their continuing influence in modern America.

The British writer, A.N. Wilson, recommends books that have helped him understand what Christianity means and to truly believe.

How can one get to grips with a subject as huge as the history of Christianity, a 3000 year-old religion with adherents in every corner of the globe? The popular and distinguished Oxford historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, recommends books that will help you make a start.

Embracing a scientific worldview excludes the possibility of also believing in God, says evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne. He picks five non-accommodationist books.

Religion has an ability to create groups and communities that has yet to be surpassed, argues the author of And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus.

The former bishop of Oxford tells us about books that explore what it means to be a Christian – from St Augustine and medieval mysticism to grappling with Dostoyevsky and more modern dilemmas. He picks the best books on Christianity.

What is the Buddhist equivalent of the Bible? What is the Dalai Lama’s favourite book? Buddhist scholar Donald Lopez picks the best books on Buddhism.

The professor of religious history says that though the world may seem to be increasingly secular, the growth of Christianity and Islam in some places disproves it. He chooses five books that fuel the debate

Where does one start if one wants to know about Buddhism? Professor and practitioner, Elizabeth Harris, recommends some of the best books to get you going on the path to Enlightenment.