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This title presents an introduction to the spiritual pathways of the major world religions, exploring the core beliefs, values and practices of each tradition. "Spiritual Pathways of the World Religions" is an insightful guide to the diverse ways that religious faith is practiced and spirituality is understood. Discussing contemporary issues such as post-modernism and the emergence of a 'new paradigm', the new realities of geopolitics, globalization and global warming, this book explores the importance of religion in people's lives to provide direction in the society today. This book demonstrates the common quest among the world religions for a deeper and more profound spirituality. Describing the spiritual pathways of the various world religions, it assesses the ways that the beliefs, values and practices of these traditions can be life-giving, leading to personal and social responsibility and transformation, but also sometimes harmful and divisive, even used for dangerous purposes. Promoting constructive engagements between the world's religions, this book will connect social justice and ethical engagements with core religious practices and spiritualities.This is an ideal introductory text for students of world religions, spirituality and interfaith relations, broadening their understanding of these lived faiths. ... Read more

Product Description
This book presents a portrait of African religious historyframed in the religious themes common to the rest of the world. It looks at the traditional religions that provided the philosophical, religious, and ethical basis of African culture.Focusing primarily on traditional African religions and their related myths, rituals, authorities , ethics , and artwork,the book also includes substantial treatment on nationalism, African Islam and Christianity.For anyone who wants to gain an understanding ofthe relationship between African religion and culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of Benjamin Ray's African Religions
In this text Ray discusses the myths and ritual beliefs behind various native African religions. He does so respectfully and in enough depth to explain and provide background for those who are uneducated in this particular area. If you are looking for a great reference for papers or a religion class, this is it. ... Read more

Product Description
Witchcraft, astrology, divination and every kind of popular magic flourished in England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, from the belief that a blessed amulet could prevent the assaults of the Devil to the use of the same charms to recover stolen goods. At the same time, the Protestant Reformation attempted to take the magic out of religion, and scientists were developing new explanations of the universe. Keith Thomas' classic analysis of beliefs held on every level of English society begins with the collapse of the medieval Church and ends with the changing intellectual atmosphere around 1700, when science and rationalism began to challenge the older systems of belief. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An astonishing book in every way
RELIGION AND THE DECLINE OF MAGIC is one of the greatest works of history that I have ever read. It is one of those books that is both highly entertaining and massively informative. It is also infuriating, because it is a book that is so full of detail, that it doesn't seem as if one person could have produced it. It makes me feel as if I have been wasting my life.
Thomas's subject is--as the title proclaims--the prevalence of and subsequent decline in magical beliefs in the Great Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries. He surveys magic in a myriad of forms: magical elements within religious practice, village wizards and cunning men, astrology, prophecies, and--in the most famous and frequently referred to section--witches. My favorite sections were those dealing with astrology and witchcraft, as well as the beginning chapter dealing with "nasty, brutish, and short" quality of life at the time in England. The book is filled to the brim with fascinating bits of information, such as the fact that most of the caloric intake of men, women, and even children at the time came from beer, and that at sea an allotment of a gallon of beer a day was made! The inescapable conclusion was that Britain was a nation of alcoholics.

I find it difficult to overpraise this book. Since reading it during the summer, I have found dozens of references to it in various works, and always with the highest praise attached. One of the blurbs on the back of the beautiful new paperback edition recently put out by Oxford University Press claims that it is one of the two or three greatest works of history in the past thirty years, and I have no reason to doubt it. As testament to how highly I esteem this book, I plan on buying a new copy, since the old Scribner's paperback I read barely managed to hold together til the end.

Keith Thomas's other book, MAN AND THE NATURAL WORLD, is also a work of the highest order. My one complaint with Thomas is that he has not written enough books. My hope is that he is working on another.

Note:

Since writing that review Keith Thomas has come out with another work that I just found out about and just ordered.Due to a very heavy reading/writing schedule I'm not going to be able to read it for a while, but I look forward to doing so with enthusiasm.The title is THE ENDS OF LIFE: ROADS TO FULFILLMENT IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND.

Complementary readings to this gem
There are already several fine reviews, so I will only suggest reading the following works (all of them sound anthropology, good to understand ourselves) in addition to this masterful book: a) "Shamans, Sorcerers, and Saints: A Prehistory of Religion" by Brian Hayden (great overview of religion origins and development); b) "Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath" by Carlo Ginzburg (it delivers more that its title promises); and c) "When They Severed Earth from Sky: How the Human Mind Shapes Myth" by Paul and Elizabeth Barber (myths lest we forget natural disasters).

A very large undertaking, but a successful one
Keith Thomas is known for his groundbreaking historical and religious scholarship.This book is a MUST for anyone studying the subjects of religion, heresy, magic, witchcraft, and early modern Christianity.Although a number of books have followed this one, this is a classic.It is obvious that Thomas spent a number of years on this book by the sheer amount of information it contains. He draws on a diverse amount of sources and utilizes them to their fullest.The only drawback, it is over 700 pages.If that doesn't deter you (it didn't me), it's a great book!

A Powerful and Well-documented History Magic and Religion
Note: Some immature Mormon has been slamming my reviews because I wrote some negative reviews of books attempting to defend the Book of Mormon.

So your "helpful" votes are greatly appreciated. A short review is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to a fascinating book. In this review, I have just noted the general theme. Thanks

"Religion and the Decline of Magic" is full of insights that help us understand the appeal of magic and our intellectual heritage. Why isn't magic as popular today as religion? What happened?

In his massive study, Keith Thomas says of the occult beliefs in astrology, witchcraft, magical healing, divination, ancient prophecies, ghosts, and fairies that:

"In offering an explanation for misfortune, and a means of redress at times of adversity, they seemed to be discharging a role very close to that of the established Church and its rivals. Sometimes they were parasitic upon Christian teaching; sometimes they were in sharp rivalry to it."

I won't attempt a detailed review, but this book is highly recommended as background for the emergence of Mormonism (not the subject of Thomas' book, however). But Joseph Smith's claims clearly had a genealogy going back to 16th century Europe.

Paul Slack in "History Today" (1981) said: "Few historians have that ability to surprise and convince with unfailing regularity, to say something absolutely original and make it seem self-evident. That is why "Religion and the Decline of Magic" remains a commanding work, one of the three or four outstanding pieces of historical writing to have appeared in the last thirty years."

For a detailed review, read the other reviewer's excellent posting. I would only add that Thomas' book should have been given five stars. What a praiseworthy work of scholarship!

A must read to understand religion and magic in England
Thirty-five years ago Keith Thomas made a considerable contribution to the historical literature on religion and magic in England from the medieval period to around 1700.Whether or not one agrees with all of his conclusions, historians today can no longer treat these topics without reference to Thomas.Thomas's central argument revolves around the shifting interactions between religion and magic and the emergent rationalism that displaced magic and tempered religious belief.However, no authority or sectarian group completely purged magic from English religious or popular beliefs.

The vast majority of the book focuses on the epic battle waged between religion and magic.Thomas recounts attempts by the medieval Church in England to control the blurred line between religion and magic.The medieval Church's accommodation with magic gave it the image of possessing "a vast reservoir of magical power." (p. 51)He argues with persuasion that Church officials fought against magic with one hand, while accommodating--perhaps exploiting--magic with the other.

Thomas details with vigor Protestant attempts to stamp out magic.The Reformers' opposition to magic was proportional to their degree of antagonism toward the medieval Church.The Anglicans' affinity for Catholic ritual left room for magic.Conversely, Protestants attacked Catholicism just as ardently as they assaulted magic.They relegated sacraments, demystified clerical powers, and eliminated popular festivals.Protestant efforts not only chipped away at magic's appeal; they also created a new concept of religion: one centered on faith rather than practices (p.88)--a feat whose significance was not lost on Thomas.

Despite clerical efforts to eradicate it, magic persisted as people continued to seek answers to existential questions, such as sickness and prosperity, beyond Providence.After the Anglicans rejected Catholic paraphernalia for exorcisms and the Protestants eliminated the mechanical efficacy of rituals , only prayer remained as a viable remedy.According to Thomas, "it is no small wonder that the sorcerer's claim...proved more attractive than stern clerical insistence that all must be left" to God. (p. 314)He notes that the absence of protective ecclesiastical magic led to an increase in the number of witch prosecutions. (p. 594, 595)He also suggests that as societal tensions increased between communal generosity and individualism, witchcraft "helped to uphold the traditional obligations of charity and neighborliness." (p. 674)

In the final analysis, however, Thomas concludes that "it was the general social importance of religion [not any tangible spiritual value] which enabled it to outlive magic." (p. 766)The battles between the two "practices" left them both bloodied, with rationalism as the real winner.Or as Thomas puts it, "when the Devil was banished to Hell, God himself was confined to working through natural causes."(p. 765)Neither religion nor magic has held primacy in shaping thought since the advent of mechanical philosophy.An alternate title for the book could be Religion, the Decline of Magic, and the Rise of Rationalism.

Thomas advances the current understanding of the interaction of religion, magic, and socio-economic changes through the combination of documentary research and social scientific analysis.He marshals a wealth of primary sources.However, he leans at times on Protestant clergy like Hugh Latimer (p. 51) for medieval Church descriptions and he drafts the magical sections using dismissive sceptic writers like Reginald Scot (p. 624).Thomas's method and detachment falter in certain areas.The extent to which religion reduced magic's hold on the English population remains elusive after 853 pages.Comparing medieval and post-Reformation practitioners and clients of religion and magic could have provided benchmarks by which to assess magic's decline.The lack of some quantitative measure diminished the work's evaluative value.Despite his caveat that it would "be a gross travesty to suggest that the medieval Church deliberately held out to the laity an organized system of magic" (p. 52), Thomas proposed that Church leaders did not "discourage attitudes which might foster popular devotion.If a belief in the magical efficacy of the Host served to make the laity more regular church-goers, then why should it not be tacitly tolerated?" (p. 56)He dismissed Christian prayer as thief-magic, a psychological process that "helped the client know his own mind and gave him the resolution to act accordingly." (p. 138)By the end of the book it is difficult to understand if phrases as "primitive beliefs" (p. 774) refer to magic, religion, or both.Nevertheless, Religion and the Decline of Magic is so well crafted and its ambition so admirable that the limitations of its method and sourcing do not reduce its utility. ... Read more

Product Description
After the reelection of George W. Bush in 2004, the "God Gap" became a hotly debated political issue. Religious voters were seen as the key to Bush's victory, and Democrats began scrambling to reach out to them. Four years later, however, with the economy in a tailspin on election day, religion barely seemed to register on people's radar screens. In this book, a team of well-regarded scholars digs deeper to examine the role religion played in the 2008 campaign. They take a long view, placing the election in historical context and looking at the campaign as a whole, from the primaries through all the way through election day. At the heart of their analysis is data gleaned from a national survey conducted by the authors, in which voters were interviewed in the spring of 2008 and then re-interviewed after the election. ... Read more

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This book takes a unique perspective as it looks at how people engage in everyday religious practices , such as prayer, sacrifice, pilgrimage, and dress, as well as investigates major issues of gender, nation-states, and laws with respect to religion. No other text examines the full spectrum of religions from small-scale societies to full-blown "world religious movements." The in-depth treatment of Islam and Christianity is of particular interest to students, and is easily expanded to include field projects directly related to material covered in the text.The revised edition includes up-to-the-minute examples and high-interest news stories from today's headlines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

PERFECT
Book was in Perfect Condition. As described. New. The good thing was that I ordered the book Yesterday! August 19, 2010. The Book Arrived today (August 20th). The next day!!!!! The estimated delivery date was September 13, 2010!!!! I need this book for school so, the delivery time was great. I paid for regular shipping. I didn't have to pay extra shipping for next day nor two day delivery!!! I am very happy and I will definitely keep buying from this seller again. Thank You, Mentorsbook.

textbook anthropological approach to religion
John Bowen, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, wrote this as a college textbook for anthropology of religion. For this it is excellent. It is also really good for lay readers looking for an introduction to this field. It includes a review of religious studies theories from Hegel and Edward Tylor to Clifford Geertz. It includes examples from many religious traditions commonly studied--Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Umbanda, Native American traditions, Cargo cults, Japanese New Religions, Quakers, Mormonism, Hinduism; a good breadth indeed.

His chapters are: 1) Elements and Theories of Religion; 2) Doctrine and Practice in Tension; 3) Transitions in Life and Death; 4) Extending Our Powers: "Magic" and Healing; 5) Explaining Misfortune: Witchcraft and Sorcery; 6) Sacrifice Contested; 7) Prohibitions and Boundaries; 8) Objects, Images, and Worship; 9) Sacred Speech and Divine Power; 10) Places and Pilgrims; 11) Religious Authority and Religious Movements; 12) The Place of Religions in Modern Nation-States.

The book is expensive, so unless you find it used or really want it, I wouldn't buy it. But I really wanted it, and wasn't at all disappointed. ... Read more

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This is the only newly revised book on themarket to target the mid-level undergraduate student. Providing awell-balanced and thorough look at the psychological literature, this book ismeant to be “an invitation to the psychology of religion, not anencyclopedia of it,” and therefore, particular emphasis has been placed onwriting style as well as scholarship. ... Read more

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Keep looking......Very boring!
This book was utilized in a psychology of religion class I just took and it is boring beyond belief.Much of the research that was used in the examples were questionable. (Sample sizes were too small and control of extraneous variables in some seemed non-existant).This field of psychology is very young and needs books that can present credible research in a way that can stimulate interest.This book constantly says more research is needed in this or that area, but does little to show that the field has any credibility to it.

A smooth intro to the psychology of religion
The psychology of religion, unlike such well entrenched divisions in psychology as developmental or social psychology, is in its infancy. So much so that it is only beginning to establish itself in the institutions of higher learning.

Thus, one of Dr. Paloutzian's objective in writing this book is to encourage students to see the value of doing psychological studies in religion. Surveying the various research undertaken in the past and present, the author gives a summary of the accomplishments of the discipline as well as the areas in which further studies are needed.

Responding to the clamor for an introductory material to the psychology of religion, Paloutzian has written this readable overview of the field. Being introductory in nature the author does not give lengthy discussions of the theories and empirical studies he cites. His goal is not to expound on these but to whet the appetite of reader and then lead him to the pertinent authors and works. On the other hand in the first few chapters Paloutzian elucidates on the various methodologies employed in the psychology of religion, as well as defining what the psychology of religion is and is not.

For those interested in the psychological aspects of religion, or even for those simply curious to know what this seldom heard of area of study is, Paloutzian's work offers a smooth and enlightening entry into this most fascinating field. ... Read more

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In this ground breaking book, Daniel Helminiak provides a crucial spiritual option for the many who feel the need to go beyond the secular materialism of modern society and the beliefs of traditional religious faith. Helminiak gives us a compelling vision of a global spirituality that downplays beliefs and emphasizes the essential spiritual dynamics of the common human quest for wholeness, goodness, freedom and community. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Thinking beyond religion
This book is so important for the person who has moved beyond the dogma of the various religions but still is drawn to the spiritual life.Daniel Helminiak puts into words what many of us are experiencing these days as we see the violence resulting from religious clashes while we long for a way to celebrate and honor our common humanity. Helminiak provides a blueprint for a way to move beyond our differences but remain a spiritual people whether we are believers or non-believers.

A Path to More Sane World
In his usual well-researched and well-presented way, Daniel Helminiak has given us a more accessible elucidation of spirituality than his The Human Core of Spirituality.And further, he has pointed the way toward creating a more sane world by acknowledging and living out the spirituality common to all of us as human beings.I highly recommend reading this book.

Spirituality for Our Global Community
I'd recommend this book especially to those who have read The God Delusion (or a similar "anti religious" book) and who are bent on rejecting anything religious or spiritual. Daniel Helminiak makes a strong case to take a more calibrated approach. Yes, we need to see through the religious delusions and doctrines. But we also ought to be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water--the baby is our human spiritual capacity, and it is not the same thing as the bath water of religion and holy books. We are paying a huge price for our relentless materialistic pursuits in a secular society - our isolation and loneliness. I agree with Daniel that Pluralistic tolerance is a flimsy screen for protecting community.

Instilling a sense of community and providing personal guidance from cradle to grave used to be the traditional domain and strength of religions. Most of us who don't belong to church or temple no longer know or even remember what it is like to be part of a nurturing community firing on all cylinders. Being a part of a Virtual Internet community is not the same. We need physical closeness, touching, hugging, sharing ...

Daniel grew up in a Christian integrated community and remembers the security and sense of belonging. He invites readers to notice that we do have a spiritual core in our minds. It manifests as flashes of insight, intuition...the "inner voice." Our inner life is very real. Spirituality = personal growth. Why attribute something to other-worldly entities and powers when there is a simpler and better explanation? It is not the existence of super natural beings but the validity of our insights that matters. "Regardless of the truth or falsehood of metaphysical claims, we still have to live out our lives together here on planet Earth." This emphasis is the base for building our new global community.

The extraordinary part about this book is its simple, rational language. It works even for us jaded types.

Spirituality for Our Global Community
This book is tremendously valuable.It is a powerful synthesis of many of the ideas Helminiak has shared before, but it goes well beyond the limits of the more focused work on theology, psychology and meditation that have been the subjects of his previous writings.The most important thing about this book is that it does indeed provide a reason to hope that if we can indeed begin to develop the built-in spiritual potential that comes with being human, we might indeed be able to go beyond the divisive and destructive effects of fanatical and fundamentalist religions that threaten our world.

Spirituality for Our Global Community
Review of Spirituality for a Global Community by Daniel Helminiak

Years ago, I abandoned the destructive criticism that I had learned in graduate school and began appraisal of any work by asking, what has the author turned me onto that I had previously not entertained.Helminiak has given me a new appreciation for the meaning of spirituality and its possible contribution to developing community and peace in our pluralistic world.That may seem quixotic to some readers.Helminiak is only like Don Quixote in that he longs for community as he had experienced it in the past.Instead of turning backward, as Quixote did, he finds direction in the contemporary interpretation of spirituality by Bernard Lonergan.That spirituality grows out of the ability of human beings to transcend themselves.By that, Helminiak and Lonergan mean that we become static by being controlled by biological make-up and restraints built into our psyche.While these factors are important for development, they are also limiting, and we become fully human by transcending them.
Helminiak contends that both traditional religious faith and secular materialistic ideology contribute to the lack of community and spiritual fulfillment in our pluralistic postmodern world.He contends that spirituality arises out of human being in the world.Since all humans share it, it can lay a foundation for community, unlike religions with their doctrinal and metaphysical differences or social systems that are directed toward conflicting ends. He confirms that his approach to spirituality is merely one approach and requests that he be given an open hearing. Those who accept his challenge will find themselves richly rewarded.
Before I read this book, I had read some of Helminiak's articles and was delighted to find someone working on the same issue I had been pursuing for years. Like him, I had been seeking a spirituality that speaks to life in the secular world where most of us live most of the time.Even though we share a common quest and similarities in the way we approach spirituality in the world, I found myself challenging some of his affirmations. For instance, his contention that Lonergan's four-part structure of the human spirit is adequate for all spirituality.However, when I became fully open to Helminiak's interpretation of spirituality, I found myself transcending my previous interpretation of spirituality and began to see promising new directions for understanding and pursing spirituality in the world.That's what I call a good read!



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Product Description
This anthology provides each of the major world religions with an opportunity to explain itself in its own terms, creating a sensitive and accurate picture of its teachings and beliefs. It allows readers to gain an “inside” understanding of origins, founders, and practices–and presents the religions as living faiths. Selected extracts relate religion to such current issues as gender, environment, and politics. Chapters explore indigenous sacred ways, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and more. For individuals desiring to learn more about the major world religions, and their impact around the world today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Highly Pleased =]
The book was in excellent conditions. It was new just like promised. Quick shipping, too.

Well Rounded Presentation
This anthology offers a well-rounded reading list from the world's religion and wisdom traditions. It does, however, provide very few of the troubling texts, instead focusing on the "kinder, gentler" readings that are -- happily -- the majority of religious writings. This book coupled with Living Religions (by the same author) provide a solid study in the world's religions.

it has good selections from various religions... but
It is baptized in feminist views.That would be okay except it isn't supposed to be a platform for feminists; it is suppose to show the richness of the various religions.

It is overly concerned with defending or proving the importance of women; this often takes up to much space pushing out writing that would be more informative of the actual heart of the religion (which would be better then the dispute over women which is such a small fraction of what religion is about.I would be just as unnerved if it focused on how important men where to religions.... it seems to miss the point; the point being the religion itself be it female or male.)

That said; it does have some good excerpts.Many worth reading again and again.But there is to much of it that comes across as feminist propaganda(can you be truly sympathetic to a religion if you take modern feminist propaganda to say Islam or past Christian monasteries where women were not allowed or where at least kept separate from the males?)

The book is corrupted by (as written on the back of the book)"Coverage of important issues such as the role of women and the relationship between religion and politics."

Your expecting a loving look into religion on the religions own terms... then why, I ask, is their a reading included dedicated to the idea of God as a female within the Christian Religion?It might as well be including excerpts from the writings of Martin Luther as representative of Catholicism; they are clearly not apart of the Religion except as fringes that are better understood as protesting what is taught in the religion itself.

A Great Survey of Religions of the World
In "An Anthology of Living Religions," Fisher and Bailey provide the reader with a great survey of the religions of the world.Each of the traditional religions, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism,Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, and Sikhism are explained in great detailthrough contemporary writers who are experts in the religion they arewriting about.Other religions, such as New Religious Movements and TheInterfaith Movement, are also dealt with generally. This is a great text ifyou are looking for a survey of religions.It also satisfies the needs ofthose who wish to have a reference guide which outlines the basics of worldreligions readily available for easy reference.After explaining thebasics of each religion, and including writings of those familiar with thereligion, Fisher and Bailey include a reference to pertinent terms, holydays, a historical outline, and a section listing further readings. Thereis also a chapter which specifically deals with The Religious Response,defining the philosophy of religion and the need to have religion in ourworld today. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

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This commentary by members of the Catholic Academy of Liturgy provides thoughtful analysis of the theological, pastoral, and ecclesial implications of the 2002 Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani (IGMR). Several prefatory chapters reflecting on the overall significance of the current Instruction are followed by a concise and meaningful chapter-by-chapter commentary. In addition to the full text of the Instruction in Latin and English, readers will find a varied and rich commentary by top liturgical scholars. No single author's viewpoint dominates, and yet the authors offer a consistent, readable text for everyone interested in the current state of liturgy in the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Commentary on the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
This text completes and covers what the GIRM does not.It goes into more detail and explanations for different circumstances. It is a great asset to any Parish, DRE, Director of Liturgy and Pastor. ... Read more

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From its introduction by Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu to the epilogue by the Dalai Lama, Geography of Religion encourages new understanding of the world's great religions and of their evolution from ancient roots to vital roles in modern life. With a text as fascinating as it is authoritative; vivid photographs that evoke the reverence, rituals, and rewards of each spiritual tradition; and a rich variety of essays, sidebars, and maps, this magnificent book charts the many paths that guide us to God.

Chapters on each of the 5 major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—explore the landscapes and cultures where they took hold and flourished. Eminent scholars share the faiths they live and study, revealing their sacred scriptures and rites. Every page offers new insights into religious history and doctrine, along with stunning images of believers at prayer, the holy places they cherish, and their houses of worship—from soaring cathedrals and magnificent mosques to humble shrines infused with a blessed simplicity.

Fittingly, each chapter closes with a photo-essay on pilgrims and their devotional journeys—a wonderful visual reminder that no matter which faith we may embrace, we are all fellow travelers in our search for the truth.

"The 200 photographs demonstrating the diversity of architecture, people, and terrain, are stunning in their beauty and simplicity." —Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Must Read
This book is a must read for anyone who hasn't had a formal introduction to the world's five largest religions. The book is loaded with concise and relevant information and beautiful photography. A basic understanding of these religions goes along way.

Beautiful
This book has absolutely beautiful pictures.We gave it as a gift to someone that is very knowledgable about different world religions and he enjoyed it.I was proud to have found such a nice, complete book, and I will be buying one for my own family.

A model for visual history of the faithful
This is a collection of visuals on a) the religions - east and west - and b) about religious experiences - past and present.

Herein, the two academic experts as editors, i.e., Hitchcock &Esposito, have added-value to the visual history with a foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter the Rev. Mpho Tutu and an epilogue by H.H. The Dalai Lama.

In the 416 pages, Geography of Religion is focused on five religions, viz., Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. "For each of 5 major religions, explore the landscapes, areas, and cultures where these faiths took hold and flourished. See them spread around the world, survive conflict, and translate into other enduring faiths based on their geographic location and cultures. Learn what it means to be a Hindu and bathe in the sacred Ganges; for a Buddhist to revere a statue of the Enlightened One; for a Muslim to trek to Mecca; for Christian martyrs to welcome death. Beautiful maps, photographs, and art illuminate the history of each religion."

This book is, then, useful resource for public libraries, as well specialized libraries, in the areas of art, architecture, etc. More specifically, high school students will find interesting content in this visual geography and its related discussions.

A gorgeous blend of history, culture, and religious insight
National Geographic's lovely Geography Of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk opens with a bang - an introduction by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter the Rev. Mpho Tutu - and continues to present astounding detail and revelations all the way to the Epilogue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. Here are 200 illustrating ranging from photos and examples of sacred art from around the world to maps, discussions of great leaders and faiths of the five great religions, and a timeline of events following their spread around the world. A gorgeous blend of history, culture, and religious insight.
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Customer Reviews (3)

Informative But Extremely Dry Academic Work
Some highly respected scholars, like Karen Armstrong and Bernard Lewis, are able to write serious books that are also readable enough to attract a broad audience. But "Strong Religion" is unlikely to have much appeal outside of academic circles.

I'm an atheist with a strong interest in religious fundamentalism. So I had high expectations for this book. It does cover a wide cross section of fundamentalist sects, including not only Christian evangelicals, Islamic extremists and radical Jews but also Hindu nationalists, Sikh separatists and even militant Buddhists. I appreciated how this book demonstrated the underlying similarities between these fundamentalist groups and how they all represent a potential threat to modern, secular society as well as religious pluralism and tolerance.

But, unfortunately, the book is so full of academic jargon and repetitious examples that I found it a struggle to get through. I was expecting a serious and challenging read. But the consistently dull analysis of structure, organization and methodology caused a very compelling subject to become quite boring. This book accomplishes it's academic goals. But the dry writing style will turn off many readers.

Well-documented descriptions of fundamentalist movements
Frankly, I couldn't put the book down.Although it is somewhat academic in its organization and writing style, I found it totally engaging.The authors outline the incredible rise and spread of fundamentalism in the 20th century and the similarities and differences among the movement as it is found in the various religions: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and even Buddhism. Having encountered fundamentalism at different times in my own life, I could relate to the whys and hows of people being pulled into such a movement.The authors do not leave us without hope.By understanding how fundamentalism rises, what the leaders are like, and the stages of such a movement, there are ways that we can work with this to bring these people back into the mainstream.Not easy, but also not impossible.
Read more at http://www.gettingtomaybe.com. Essays on Tolerance, Compassion, Wisdom, and Courage.

Beautifullywritten, thoughtful book
Well written and carefully researched book, timely thinking on the rise of global religious fundamentalism. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm finding it fascinating. I got it out of the library, now I'm here to buy it. ... Read more

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This book is the first to present new medical research establishing a connection between religion and health and to examine the implications for Eastern and Western religious traditions and for society and culture.
The distinguished list of contributors examine a series of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) topics that relate to religious faith and behavior.PNI studies the relationships between mental states and the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.Among the issues it focuses upon are how mental states, in general, and belief states, in particular, affect physical health.The contributors argue that religious involvement and belief can affect certain neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms, and that these mechanisms, in turn, susceptibility to cancer and recovery following surgery. This volume is essential reading for those interested in the relationship between religion and health. ... Read more

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Nord's thoughtful book tackles an issue of great importance in contemporary America--the proper place of religion in our public schools and universities. Nord's comprehensive study encompasses American history, constitutional law, educational theory and practice, theology and ethics. ... Read more

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The Definitive Introduction To
The Relationship Between
Religion And Science

Product Description
Over the course of the twentieth century, thinkers from Marx and Weber toFreud, Jung, and Campbell have transformed the way we understand the religious experience.Within the field of religious studies, various intellectual approaches—from feminism tophenomenology—have further shaped the ways in which scholars examine rituals, symbols, andbelief systems. In Religion: The Modern Theories, Seth D. Kunin provides an accessibleyet comprehensive introduction to the social-scientific theories of religion that developed duringthe twentieth century, explaining the most significant theories of religion and their precursors.

Kunin begins with a detailed discussion of the century's major theorists of religion, their ideas,and their influence, among them Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Freud, Jung, and Otto. He nextexplores how various disciplines—sociology, psychology, phenomenology, gender studies, andanthropology—have affected the study of religion. Kunin then analyzes the constituent elementsof religion itself: ritual, symbolism, and myth. Throughout, the author emphasizes the need toquestion and reassess accepted theories and definitions of religion, and he concludes withsuggestions for framing new definitions of religion that provide more culturally sensitive andopen-ended ways of understanding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Terrible Book.
I have never read anything that resembled utter junk than this. I must congratulate the author on his esoteric-convoluted writing style, because it has made understanding the concepts that much more difficult.

This book has absolutely no merit what so ever. In fact, this book is so bad, I will burn my book rather then selling it to fool some other prospecting buyer into thinking this is a good book.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!

Review of Religion
This is an excellent book for both Undergraduate students and the educated lay reader. It comprehensively covers the major approaches to the study of religion in a clear and understandable manor. ... Read more

Product Description
Exploring the major religions of South and Southeast Asia, China, and Northeast Asia, Introduction to Asian Religions surveys Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, Islam, and the newer religious movements to bring the religious traditions of Asia to life. Introduction to Asian Religions encourages readers to develop their own interpretation of each tradition. Its geographical organization helps students learn how the traditions interrelate and its historical approach helps them understand how each tradition has developed and changed over time. This text places traditions within a wider global context and examines modern expressions of each tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A note from the classroom
I use this book as a text in my Asian Religions courses. I particularly like the fact that it was written specifically as an Asian Religions text and not derived from a pre-existing World Religions text. I also like the fact that one can utilize the (significantly less expensive) trade edition of this book as a text. (The only difference is that the selection of excerpts from different Asian scriptures in the back of the textbook edition have been deleted from the trade edition.)

Well- Designed Intro to Asian religions
Introduction to Asian Religions by Bradley K. Hawkins (Longman) Introduction to Asian Religions provides a straightforward and accessible overview of the religions of Asia, including Islam.
Features of Introduction to Asian Religions
* Geographically organized into three major areas: South and Southeast Asia (including Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia); China; and Northeast Asia (including Japan and Korea).
* Covers all major Asian religions found in these regions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, Islam, and newer religious movements.
* Includes extensive coverage of Islam and its historical and contemporary place in Asia.
* Primary source material from each major religion gives students familiarity with the religious literature of each tradition.
* Numerous full-color photos and art-both historical and contemporary-provide insight into the artistic expressions, sacred architecture, and people of the various traditions.
* Photographs of contemporary rituals and practices give a feel for each tradition as a living religion.
* Numerous maps provide valuable geographical and historical context. Relevant Web site URLs are provided at the end of each chapter, directing students to the Web for further research and information.
* A combined glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book further help make the religions of Asia accessible to students.
Excerpt: I must admit at the outset that I am old-fashioned. While I applaud the myriad of new teaching materials such as audio-visual material, computer programs, the Internet, and the like that are now available to teachers of religion, I firmly believe in the Asian concept that the most meaningful educational experiences are the result of a personal interaction between student and teacher. It is this philosophy that has guided the writing of the present text. It is self-evident that no textbook of any manageable size could be written that would exhaustively treat the magnificent diversity of Asian religious experience. Choices of methodological emphasis, what topics are to be included or excluded, to what depth these topics should be treated, and to what extent one should involve the beginning student in an examination of the many still unresolved scholarly debates associated with the study of Asian religions are all questions that need to be considered when deciding how to structure the tremendous mass of data available on the religions of Asia. Clearly, instructors of the subject will hold different opinions on all of these issues.
Moreover, every class is unique in the mix of its students and the specific expertise of its instructor, not to mention the necessity of contending with the numerous unexpected factors that affect the conduct and evolution of each individual class from term to term. It is impossible to predict what aspects of the study of the Asian traditions will fire the imagination of the students and emerge at any given point as a living concern in the classroom, either for an individual or the group at large. Instructors must be the facilitators and sculptors of this educational experience, since they mediate between the purely intellectual facts of the study and the dreams, aspirations, and concerns of the students. It is through the teacher's inspiration and technical knowledge that students transcend the dry facts of Asian religion and come to understand it for what it truly is-a vital and living force in the lives of much of the human race.
This text, then, is designed to support the instructor's efforts in bringing the Asian religions to life for the students who will use it. As such, it makes no pretense of being exhaustive in its treatment of Asian religious phenomena, nor of being "inspirational" in its own right. Rather it aims at providing a framework within which instructors are free to develop their exposition of the material in the manner most appropriate to their own expertise and inclinations, and the conditions of their individual classrooms. With this goal in mind, I have chosen to present the religions of Asia in a primarily historical manner. As a historian of religion I believe that, far from being a static ahistorical phenomenon, religion is a living and evolving organ-ism, and that examination of the overall historical development of the Asian religions is the clearest way for the beginning student to gain an overview of these thought systems and their place in their societies. Readers of this text will also find that my presentation is conditioned by the assumption that religions are both influenced by the physical and social environments in which they develop and in turn influence those environments.
This should not be taken to mean that I hold the reductionist viewpoint that all religion is nothing more than an outgrowth of human society and the human psyche. But given the intellectual boundaries within which the process of academic analysis takes place, scholars are committed to working with data as it presents itself, and it must be recognized that data can often be interpreted from a secular materialist point of view as well as in a spiritual manner. Nor does this method of interpretation necessarily negate the transcendental origins and possibilities advocated by the religious traditions themselves. As my grandfather used to observe, "The Lord moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform."
Even though the text is primarily structured along historical lines, the tremendous mass of information demands further organization. Consequently, I have divided the book into three main sections-South and Southeast Asia, China, and Northeast Asia. The pan-Asian religions such as Shamanism and Islam are examined at appropriate points throughout the narrative.
Such wide diversity of geographic and cultural areas creates considerable challenges in transliterating the various languages of Asia into English. Since this is a textbook for beginners, I have chosen to use simple phonetic transliteration for the Indic languages. (In more advanced texts, Indic terms and names are transliterated using the excellent system that has been developed for these languages.) Likewise, I have simplified the transliteration of most of the other Asian languages encountered in the text. For Korean, I have adhered to the McCune-Reischauer system with the exception of using "ö" and "ü" to indicate the short sounds of those vowels. In the case of Chinese, I have used Pinyin; however, since so many seminal books on Chinese religion use the significantly different Wade-Giles system, I have also given that form of transliteration when words or names are encountered in the text for the first time.
We live in a world full of electronic information resources, and present-day instructors and students of Asian religions have an immense volume of multimedia material no further away than their computers. I have chosen to use some of these newly available resources to construct what one might describe as a "counter text." Whereas the printed text concentrates primarily on the systematic presentation of the historical and intellectual development of the Asian religions-subjects that are treated very unevenly in the Internet material that I have reviewed-most of the electronic sources quoted in the text are linked to sites that give the students the "feel" of the various religions. This material will hopefully convey a fuller under-standing and appreciation of the non-intellectual components of the various Asian traditions that make them so appealing to their devotees. It is where phenomenological information on festivals, rituals, and so forth is to be found, and here many of the literary and artistic expressions of the various religions are presented. Writings drawn from the various religious traditions of Asia are also printed at the end of this text, to provide immediate access to a representative selection of primary sources.
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Product Description
This accessible introduction to the study of Chinese religion presents religious expression as a manifestation of Chinese culture. Like other books in Wadsworth's Religious Life in History Series, this text explores religion as a means to 'ultimate transformation.' ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive and informative, The New Penguin Handbook of Living Religions has been completely revised, with all chapters updated to include discussion of modern developments and recent scholarship. Compiled by a team of leading international scholars, it is an authoritative guide to understanding the religious beliefs and practices of the world today.

* Explains the sources and history of the world's religions
* Describes the doctrines, practices and teachings of different religions
* Explores the role of gender in modern religion ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Comparative Religion Resource
This Handbook is an invaluable resource in the studies of World Religion, sociology, and anthropology, either academic or individual. A comprehensive, easy to follow reference for anyone interested in learning more about the living religions/worldviews/traditions of the world for the purpose of creating a more harmonious coexistence. Think World Peace, folks. The Handbook covers all of Ninian Smart's Worldview Dimensions: Experiential, Ritual, Doctrinal, Mythic, Ethical and Social. A must-have for students of Comparative Religion.

Do a good deed.....Buy This Book!
Most books these days have a pretty short shelf-life.(Excluding literary classics, of course).If you want a thorough, no-nonsense compendium of information about World Religions - this is the Book.There simply isn't anything else (In English) like it on the market.So, do your bit for humanity, tolerance and education by buying this book and getting your friends to buy it also!Perhaps we can get enough people to buy it so Penguin will have at least a token financial interest in keeping this book on the market!
Here's why we need to keep it in print:
Each religion is summarized and analyzed by an expert in the scholarship of that religion.While this could result in a great unevenness in both style and/or content delivered...the beauty of this work is its consistency.Each religion is reated fairly, and there is more content - fascinating and informative - between the covers of this paperback than in the major textbooks on Religions that retail for 4 times the price!
First issued in 1984...this is the updated version.Changing what was already a really good reference work is a mixed blessing: most of the new material (almost 1/3 of the book!) is extremely well done, but owners of the previous version will miss some of what needed to be left out of the 1984 ed. in order to keep this book down to a manageable size.Overall, the changes since 1984 are great improvements to what already was the standard reference one volume work for lay persons.Kudos to Hinnell for sticking with the project.
As someone who teaches world religions at the college level, I can think of no substitute for this work...it is affordable and belongs on the bookshelf of any well-informed reader (college graduate or not) who wants a ready and accurate guided tour ofboth the beliefs and practices of religion world-wide.
I can't promise you good karma, less time in purgatory, or more stars in your crown...if you buy this - but you will be doing yourself an enormous service and your fair share to keep the best of scholarship in religion alive!Enjoy!
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