Product Description
The Subcommittee on the Catechism (formerly the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism), has judged that the text falls outside the scope of the types of materials they review for conformity to the Catechism.*

The third edition of this highly acclaimed text continues to help young people unlock the doors to 11 of the world's major religious traditions. Updated references highlighting recent events in the history of the traditions, 50 new images, and revised chapter on Sikhism help eleventh and twelfth graders understand the people, dimensions, and religious principles of the world's major religions.

*The Subcommittee on the Catechism reviews only materials which are catechetical in nature and which teach the beliefs, practices, and doctrine of the Catholic Faith.World Religions falls outside the scope of the types of materials the Committee reviews. This text outlines the basic beliefs and practices of the major religions of the world, taking a comparative approach, as do most texts on this topic, to identify the distinctive elements of the various religions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

World Religions
The book cost just 99 cents and when I received it it was brand new.Excellent!

A top pick for any with curiosity in the religious views of the world
What people believe is a bedrock of who they are. "World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery" looks the many faiths of the world, ranging from the most primal religions of our prehistoric ancestors, to the gods of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, to modern Christianity and Islam. Profoundly educational with many lessons to learn for many readers, "World Religions" is a top pick for any with curiosity in the religious views of the world.

World Religions book
Our book arrived quickly, and it was in terrific condition!Thanks to our seller for her diligence!

poor product
This book was not in satisfactory condition.Pages were ripped.The cover was bent.There was all kinds of writing inside the book.We are sorry we bought this book. There were drawings or doodles on various pages.

It looked brand new
It's in really good condition. No writing or markings inside which is a plus. The first book to arrive. ... Read more

Product Description
The World's Religions offers a fascinating insight into a wide range of faiths, their history and their followers. In the richly illustrated new edition of this popular book, religions are described through their symbols, rituals, followers, architecture and art. References, statistics, maps and pictures have been updated and added. The text has been thoroughly revised to highlight recent developments, such as the spread of Islam, African-American and Hispanic-American religious experience, and women priests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent introduction to World Religion
In our time, when religion is often dominating our headlines and influencing politics, a sound understanding of religion is more important than ever.Ninian Smart in this book gives an excellent overview of the major world religions and their beliefs and ideas.He also organises religion into several dimensions into which religious behaviour and forms of belief can be understood.

Smart covers Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Zoarastrianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and also Greek mystery religion and secular systems which share some features with religion.

This work is an excellent introduction to world religions and essential reading for anyone interested in this subject.

Excellent Examination of World Faiths
Outside of Mircea Eliade, Smart is the one academic I would highly recommend for a very good overview of world faiths. He covers thisarea thoroughly, with respect, and with a detailedacademic fervour.
Having Met Professor Smart at a Seminar in the 80s, I found him to be an amazingly knowledgeable fellow.
Typical of many academics, his best form of expression seems to be in the written word.
Basically, any person with a broad interest in religion needs some of ProfessorNinian Smarts works in their collection since they are very comprehensive, and written in an accessible manner.
If you can get Mircea Eliade's collection of secondaryreference works and material, in 2 or 3 volumes, you will have an excellent reference source set.

An fair and intelligent account.
Perhaps the only rationale, fair, equal and balanced treatment of world religions. All are presented fairly and justly with a non judgemental attitude, just a balanced account of their origins and practices. Indispensible in a time of great misunderstanding and intolerance.

A very smart book indeed
Religion can be like sex and money, a touchy subject for many people. And like the other two, it provokes extremes in behaviour and is often difficult to make sense of. And many of us never read anything about religions other than our own, if we have one.

When I began religious studies at university three years ago, this remarkable book was not on the reading list and my set texts were biased towards Western Christianity and virtually ignored Eastern Orthodoxy. Then I discovered Ninian Smart's eloquent, accessible books and I cannot recommend this one highly enough as a place to start understanding religion, whether you are a student of philosophy, science, sociology or just looking for a good read. Understanding our world's religions and ideologies is a key to comprehending mankind's development and what propels many current global conflicts. Despite our increasingly secularised societies, religion still drives many human beings. Religions remain practices and ideas that move mankind, they are a window to understanding cultures and perhaps your next door neighbour. And in an age where globalization virtually rules, it is worth noting that religions are interacting in ways they never have before and out of this comes new faiths - as well as conflict.

Smart discusses the importance of understanding religions, the nature of them and of secular world views and the roots, formations and reformations of religions. So you think religions divide us in their dissimilarity? It is remarkable, Smart writes, that in doctrine, a number of faiths have a virtual similarity in regard to the idea of creation.

The book is well organized. Smart uses timelines to divide the book into two parts: The first from around 3000BC to around 1400AD, and the second from 1500AD. In the first part, Smart works his way from India's diversity of Buddhism, Brahmanism, classical Hinuism, Islam and Sramanic alternatives, to the confusion over what was and is religion in China, dimensions of Polynesian religion, the contribution of South-East Asia, the diversity of the Americas, the ancient Near East, spiritual values in the Ancient Greece and Roman worlds, classical and medieval Judaism, classical African religions to classical and medieval Islam. In part two, he examines the effects of science and secularism on religion, the reforming of Christianity, reactions to colonial intervention, developments in Islam including fundamentalism, the results of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union, new religious movements in Africa, Latin America's turmoil, China, Japan and Korea in modern times.

As the book was published towards the close of the 20th century, it contains a more comparitive view than was thought possible in the Western world half way through the 20th century. It is not easy to write of religion without bias but Smart, in my humble view, is refreshingly free of prejudice. I believe he encourages us to look at religion similarly and this is what makes The World's Religions such a joy to read. ... Read more

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"[Though] it did have its mythic dimensions, [the Parliament] was also a flesh-and-blood occasion that influenced the course of religion in several countries. Richard Seager has done an excellent job of sorting out the myths and the realities and showing why an understanding of both is essential to a proper assessment of the Parliament." -- Robert S. Ellwood, Church History

Customer Reviews (1)

A story still waiting for a writer
It's 1893 and the USA is throwing a party to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the "discovery" of America by Christopher Columbus.As part of the affair, a World Parliament of Religions is organized to showcase the enlightened, liberal protestant tradition.Representatives from the world's largest religions are invited to discuss and debate theology and philosophy for 17 days in Chicago.Native Americans and Black Americans are conspicuously absent from the event, but one can imagine them sharing in the delight of the outcome.The foreigners turn the tables and grab the lion's share of the headlines by using the forum to not only denounce Christian cultural and religious imperialism, but also to make culturally nuanced presentations asserting the intellectual equality (and even superiority) of their own religious ideals.Many of these Buddhist and Hindu visitors go on to make celebratory tours of the United States, establishing study circles and planting the first seeds of eastern traditions in western soil.

Even in outline form the story is quite dramatic.Fill it out with biographies of the main players and expositions on turn-of-the-century political and intellectual themes, and you've got the makings of a engaging epic-length book.Perhaps Hughes-Seager didn't have the time, or wasn't interested, and so what we get is a rather dry, academic recapitulation of the main themes and events with a particularly tedious emphasis in cataloging the various possible academic approaches to interpreting the events of the Parliament.It seems the author was less interested in the story and its players and more in demonstrating his scholarly prowess.

The story of the Parliament is still waiting for a great writer.

# ... Read more

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Product Description

The Facts On series has sold more than 1.9 million copies and continues to provide information, facts, and foundational truths to help Christians understand theirfaith and their world.

With their extensive knowledge of comparative religion, the Facts On creators explore and compare the basic teachings and practices of the world’s four major belief systems—

• Islam
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Christianity

The authors also discuss some less–widespread religions. Readers will discover that Christianity stands alone in the integrity of its divine revelation—the Bible—and in its consistency with history, the natural world, and human experience.

Rerelease with new cover and minor updates.

Customer Reviews (1)

Completely bias
I do not suggest that if your looking for a an honest, completely unbiased book that this is for you. It is bluntly obvious that this book was written by Christians and does not give you the taste of every religion that you should have. ... Read more

Product Description
Presenting both the histories and the prevalent worldviews of the major world religions, Matthews's WORLD RELIGIONS, Sixth Edition, methodically introduces you to the richness and diversity of these traditions. This book combines insightful, engaging prose with maps, photographs, timelines, excerpts from sacred books, and other helpful pedagogical aids, that provide a comprehensive yet accessible survey of world religions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Serious errorwith religous data
Author made use of wrong data for the World Religon distribution.
What does the author mean by 'Chinese religion'? Does it mean Confucianism?
If do, he is really making a big mistake. Even in China, there are no Confucian
religious adherents(believers). And in particular, in South Korea, referring to
the related statistics, Confucians are much lesser than 1% of whole population,
47 million. About 27% of 47 million have been Christians since 1970s, another
25% of it,Buddhist believers. North Korea has no religion as being a hard-line
communist country. Though I do not know about other countries, it is likely that
auther depended heavily upon very old statitics. I am afraid it is an example of
irresponsable research conduct. Hoping these to be corrected.

In great condition
Product was sold in great condition.Book is good for the material covered for a session.

did not receive the product
i contacted the seller, and he assured me the prodcut was sent to my address even though i sent him an email that i did not receive it.I had to purchase the book from a different seller

Very interesting view of religion
This is a must for everyone to read and not only college students. It gives a great historical view of religion, when, why and how it started. I read it over and over and sometimes look up when questions cross my mind. If people read this then they get the right picture of why things are happening around the world. War mainly.

world religions
I received my purchase in a very timely matter and it was in excellent condition.The book is for a class and it is very thought provoking. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent for class
I bought this for school, really wanted to keep it but sold it back. Very easy to read, very interesting information.

Did not get the book
Did not recieve this book at all paid for it but did not get it!1

Great Value
I needed this textbook for a class that I am taking this coming semester. I recieved this book earlier than expected and for being used, it was in good condition. It was in about the same condition that I would find a used book at my campus book store. However, this book came at a better price and fast. I am very happy with my purchase and will hopefully be returning to this seller for more.

A Comprehensive Textbook
I use this as the primary textbook for my REL 2011: Religion: Analysis & Interpretation at Florida International University. This book gives a clear-cut, precise understanding of all the major and relatively better known religions of the world. I recommend this for whomsoever needing background knowledge in religion, especially from a historical context.This is a comprehensive textbook, indeed. ... Read more

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An essential introduction to the world's living religions by experts from each tradition -- published in conjunction with the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions.

Customer Reviews (4)

good find
I found this book an interesting resource it gave a very good general idea of the concepts with in the Religions described in the text. A good starting point if one is interested in trying to understand the views of different Religions.

Mediocre
Merchandise arrived in very bad condition. Writing all over the book as well as the front cover half torn off. It also took a while to arrive.

Taoism
I've been trying to get a better understanding of Taoism.I was reading articles by Russell Kirkland at the University of Georgia and I came across a transcript of a speech he gave.In the speech he basically says that almost all western perceptions of Taoism are incorrect and spent a good deal of the speech tearing down different translations of ancient texts (such as Stephen Mitchell's translation of the "Tao Te Ching") and westernized interpretations that little resemble real Taoism (such as Benjamin Hoff's "Tao of Pooh").He did, however, mention the chapter in this book by Liu Xiaogan as being a pretty good treatment of Taoism.He was right.It was most excellent.

As well, I have recently been studying the concept of Zen.This led me to read the chapter in this book on Buddhism and once again I was not disappointed.So I decided just to read the whole book.

This is an excellent book written by knowledgeable experts.It manages to avoid the pitfall of cultural bias that afflicts so many other works on religion.If you want to begin understanding the "whys" and "hows" of the world's major religions, I strongly recommend this book.

Our Religions: The Seven World Religions Introduce
I received this book in less than a week. Very good service. The book was as I had expected it to be. Thank you ... Read more

Product Description
This series of lectures by eminent authors from Britain and Germany is an excellent grounding in a wide range of World Religions and their attitudes and approaches to war and peace. Suitable for all undergraduates of Biblical Studies, Religious Studies and Theology, this text would particularly suit second year students studying World Religions or Ethics.Split into three manageable sections, part one looks at war and peace in the Eastern Religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Classical Chinese Thought. Part two looks at war and peace in the Abrahamic Religions, i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The final forward looking part brings themes and commonalities together in a discussion of various developments towards peace, including a discussion of "The World Conference on Religion and Peace" as well as Hans Küng's excellent lecture on "Global Ethic - Development and Goals". With an Introduction by Perry Schmidt-Leukel, this is a rigorous, yet accessible text for anyone with an interest in the discussion of religion and international conflict. ... Read more

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With an emphaisis on communities of faith, this accessible book will introduce students to the classic texts, important events, key figures, defining rituals, essential creeds and symbols of world religions. 

Contents:  

Introduction by William Scott Green
Judaism 
      A.  Judaism: Beginnings: Religion of Ancient Israel  by Baruch A. Levine
      B.  Judaism: The Formation by Jacob Neusner 
      C. Judaism in Modern Times: Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism, 
             Zionism by Jacob Neusner  
2. Christianity
     A. Christianity: Beginnings by Bruce Chilton
     B. Christianity: Roman Catholicism by Lawrence S. Cunningham
     C. Orthodox Christianity by J. A. McGuckin
     D. Christianity: Protestantism by  Martin E. Marty
3. Islam 
    A. Islam: Beginnings by Th. Emil Homerin
    B. Islam: The Shiite Tradition by Liyakat Takim
    C. Islam: The Sunni Tradition by Th. Emil Homerin
4. Hinduism by Douglas Brooks
5. Buddhism 
    A. Buddhism: Beginnings by Mario Poceski
    B. Buddhism: The Theravada Tradition by Kristen Scheible
   C. Buddhism: The Mahayana Tradition by Mark L. Blum
6. Daoism by Mark Meulenbled
7. Confucianism by Mark A. Csikszentmihalyi
8. Shinto by James L. Ford
9. Indigenous Religions
    A. Indigenous Religious Tradition by Jualynne E. Dodson and Soyna Maria Johnson
    B. African Indigenous Religions by Jacob Olupona
10. New 19th Century American Religions by Danny L. Jorgensen
11. New 20th Century American Religions by Dell deChant ... Read more

Product Description
Scriptures of the World's Religions, third edition is an anthology that gathers together many of the world’s most influential sacred texts. This leading book includes chapters on the twelve major religious traditions today, plus two additional chapters on indigenous religious practices.With comprehensive introductions in each chapter, the selected writings emphasize the religion’s founders, central doctrines, and historical development. The translated texts in this collection are stylistically clear and up-to-date, many of which were translated specifically for this book.The selections vary in length from a few paragraphs to 10 pages. It can be used in a wide range of courses including introduction to religion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

speedy delivery, great condition
the book was delivered in timely manner and in wonderful condition,would buy again from this seller

very good shape.
The book was in very good shape. No rips or tears, binding good condition, no highlighting.

Great!
The shipping was very quick and the book was just as described.I would definitely order from this seller again!

excellent experience
Super fast shipping.Item exactly as described.Price on new book even better than on used through my college.Fantastic,positive experience.

Comprehensive study of sacred scripture
I am the registrar of a small educational institute that teaches courses on, among other topics, world religions. _Scriptures of the World's Religions_ is one of the two central texts that we use because of the highquality of the text. ... Read more

Product Description
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
A masterful survey for college and university courses, this wide-ranging introduction presents a clear and condensed portrait of the history, beliefs, and practices of specific eastern and western religions. Rich with definitions, it includes a helpful CD with a wealth of images and study aids.

• Provides a straightforward presentation of the history, beliefs, and practices of the major religious traditions

• Conveys the scope and importance of religion in the human experience

• Sidebars offer short, fast-grasp summaries of the major aspects of each religion

• Explains a vast number of terms throughout the text

• CD-ROM includes a full complement of supporting study aids including links, images, quizzes, and more ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Student's Dream!
This dual-resource of CD-ROM and text will be appreciated by the mobile student who appreciates practicality without sacrificing content. The text provides an easy-to-use introduction to the religions of the world, uncluttered and logically laid out for easy reference. Key details emphasized in sidebars assist with overall conceptual understanding, and the complete index helps the reader in exploration, making the text an excellent stand-alone tool. However, the included CD-ROM takes this tool to the next level with a dictionary that includes linked cross-references, quality photos, and sound files for precise pronunciation. The web interface provides additional material and resources for both students and instructors, including external links that can guide the insatiably curious The customizable self-testing feature is one of the best study aids of its kind that I've used, leaving flash-cards in the dark ages. A single volume with all of this material would break your back and your bank, and not be anywhere near as user-friendly.

Good Undergraduate Text
In the genre of books on world religions, Robinson and Rodriquez (editors) have created an excellent basic undergraduate level text. The text is well organized, easily understood and user friendly. The authors have included a CD with the text as well. While Huston Smith's book, The World's Religion, is the classic text on World Religions, this text is easier to use due to the sidebars which provide handy definitions for the reader.
I recommend anyone teaching World Religions in a college setting to consider this as an alternative text to Smith. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

A labyrinth of a book with poorly chosen case studies
In the conclusion of /Public Religions in the Modern World/, Jose Casanova states his thesis concisely: "It is my contention that the rejection ... of the privatized role [of religions] to which they were being relegated by secularist modernization theories ... can no longer be viewed as simply antimodern critiques of modernity." (221) In other words, "theories" are being imposed on religions from without; the "rejection" comes from within, and is therefore more relevant to the worldview of the religious community; in fact, they need not deny the secular idea of modernity. There's nothing wrong with this thesis. It's just executed badly, with heavy helpings of unacceptably obscure writing and blindness to important aspects of the topic at hand.

First, compare the conclusion to the way the question is initially posed by quoting Wolfgang Schluchter, which Casanova seems to consider an equivalent statement of the hypothesis he affirms even though the resemblance is only superficial: "Is there a legitimate religious resistance to secular world views that is more than a refusal to accept the consequences of the Enlightenment?" (38) The way Schluchter words this question, a secular modernity is being taken for granted before religion has a chance to reject it! The word "consequences" implies necessary effects, and the phrase "refusal to accept" implies stubbornness and willful ignorance of the facts. Even when Schluchter attempts to suggest some alternative to refusal, his use of the word "resistance" instead of "rejection" is a passive acceptance of secularization. Consider a parallel situation where a musician is told that "music is meaningless in modern society." If he laughs off this statement as absurd, he is rejecting it. It is only if the statement is true and he sees that as a problem that he finds a need to resist it. When Casanova meekly says "My answer to [this question] is an unconditional yes" without challenging the very language by which the question is posed it betrays a flaw in the way he is looking at his question, despite his careful reading of various critics.

Notice also Schluchter's use of the Enlightenment as the primary instrument of secularization. This is the second notable problem with the framework Casanova uses for his thesis: an assumption that one is discussing either Europe or the United States. Throughout most of the world, the primary force of secularization is either colonialism (e.g., India) or globalization (e.g., the Middle East). These are very good examples for talking about public religions in the modern world because the external nature of the secularizing force is far more clear. Yet not only does Casanova focus on Christianity, he proclaims that were he to study other religions, "such an immense task would have required a modification and expansion of my typology ... of the theory of ... differentiation, and of the general analytical framework employed in this study." (10) Such a disclaimer does not really reassure me about the stability of his thesis. Furthermore, his brief mentions of religions other than Christianity betray a lack of knowledge about non-Christian religions. One of his examples of other cases for further study is "the deprivatization of Hinduism in India" (10), but Hinduism is a category invented by India's British visitors, so that deprivatization may be more like an invention. One of his examples of the public role of religion is Brazil, one of the most fascinating examples of religious diversity and non-secular society in modern times, but his chapter is devoted almost entirely to the Catholic Church, with other religions dismissed only as a "problem" for church development. (129) More telling, he cites Japan as an example of a nation where religion shows no decline (27) due to widespread enrollment in temples, whereas in reality (according to a 2008 study) only 10 percent of Japanese think religion is important to their lives, compared to 59 percent of Americans. In a footnote to this statement he displays little recognition that official membership in a Buddhist temple in Japan, unlike membership in a Christian church, is a formality with no religious aspect. (242-3) It appears that his working definition of "religion" is simply a mapping of the world's various and complicated relationships between religious society and secular society onto the framework of Christianity.

Thirdly, his insistence on using sociology's traditional dichotomies of religious organizations limits his view of even the issues he discusses. The idea of resistance to secularization that goes beyond mere denial of religious pluralism is exemplified by the debate within Catholicism over the language of the liturgy. The key players of Casanova's chapter on Catholicism in America are here: the current Pope Benedict and his lay supporters, who wanted a "Catholic Restoration", and the liberal pastors with their supporters.Casanova is probably talking about this when he mentions "restorationist policies" (187), but it is interesting what exactly the conservatives wish to restore. Vatican II introduced a vulgar mass, that is, a mass delivered in the language of the laity, with room for liturgical variation according to local practices. Cardinal Ratzinger (in his more political role before he became Pope) and the traditionalists wished to restore the Tridentine Latin Mass, which was delivered in the same language and manner throughout the world before Vatican II. Both sides would claim their mass is truly "universal", but for different reasons. Liberals feel a universal mass is the one that is intelligible to the greatest number of people; to use the words of Berger, a mass that delivers "relevance" and "results" to its participants. For conservatives, the universal mass is more simply the mass that is performed in the same manner and with the same words throughout the world. Clearly the traditionalists reject Berger's "relevant", result-bringing, and psychology-focused religion, and for reasons that (without getting too involved here) are unrelated to anything secular.

But Casanova does not get into this debate. Why not? It could simply be an oversight on his part; perhaps the liturgy debate was not as prominent in the 1990s. Or maybe it would have been too hard to fit into his predetermined categories of religious organizations. For in this particular example, the traditionalists are clearly on the side of the "church type" with their definition of universality, and the liberals lean towards the "sect type" or "denomination type" with their Bergeresque acceptance of secularization, but the roles one would expect to be naturally issued from these types are not present here. The church type is meant to be an obligatory faith that belongs to the masses, no matter their level of education, but the traditionalists want a liturgy that only the most educated or religiously involved of the laity will be able to understand in its intended form. The sect type is supposed to be the community of "saints", to use Casanova's term, who have a special devotion, but the liberals want the liturgy to be (to put it bluntly) dumbed down from the unintelligible Latin so that anyone, no matter their level of devotion, can take it in somehow. Even if the liberals are aiming more towards the denomination type, they ought to have a focus on specific, institutionalized rituals. This debate just doesn't fit into the paradigm Casanova sets up for Christianity in the public world, and his argument is weaker for his insistence on these restrictions.

An invaluble contribution
In his widely acclaimed and cited book, Casanova provides a fruitful understanding of the continuing role of religion in modern societies. He develops a three dimensional definition of secularization that is quite innovative and clarifies many of the misconceptions associated with the concept. His main argument is that despite the fact that religion remains a vibrant and visible factor in modern public life, it no longer regulates the different aspects of social relationships such as economy, politics, sex, and ethics as it used to be before the Protestant Reformation, the rise of capitalism and Englihtenment. He argues the notion of "public religion" best describes the contemporary importance of religion to societies.

The book is very well written and reflects the substantial erudition of the author. Apart from its theoretical chapters, it is built on the case studies of five countries in Europe and American continent. In a time when most of the discussions on religious revivalism, religious fundamentalism, and religious terrorism lack coherent analytical frameworks, Casanova's rearticulation of the relationship between religion and modernity is an invaluable contribution.

A Thesis-less Trip Through Casanova's Consciousness
Are you looking for an interesting book about religion that has a cogent thesis?Well, don't look here.This is basically a random stroll through Casanova's stream of consciousness.Why bother having a tightly-constructed thesis when you can basically explain everything by describing it?!I will have two lumps of sugar with my extra thick tautology please. ... Read more

Product Description
Particularly suited for young people, this book brings spiritual laws to life through engaging stories and anecdotes. Wisdom from World Religions: Pathways toward Heaven on Earth is designed to offer people of all ages and all nations an opportunity to learn more about the laws, principles, and teachings of a variety of religions worldwide.

Every religion has an assemblage of acknowledged spiritual ideas or truths, often recorded in sacred scripture and literature and practiced in the accumulated teachings and traditions of many generations. This book offers a selection of readings from the teachings of Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Persian, Native American, Sikhism, Taoism, Zen, and Zoroastrianism. Included are modern-day and ancient parables, disciplines, and quotations that may advocate beneficial growth opportunities for inquiring and open minds.

Wisdom’s content and format can provide useful guidance and an orderly study program for individuals, families, study groups, business and professional organizations, schools, and colleges. The spiritual gleanings found therein may be used as effective, practical, and workable tools for creating a better life.

Wisdom from World Religions is a book whose contents can be read, considered, studied, absorbed, and practiced. It encourages readers to explore the spiritual life through thought-provoking questions, such as: How do we move toward experiencing “heaven on earth” as a way of life? What is the purpose for humans and what is human purpose? How can we be agents of divinity through unlimited love and creativity? Uplifting and instructional, Wisdom from World Religions will be treasured by all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Great Collection of Wisdom

World-wide wisdom...

This book is interesting, entertaining, and mind-opening-- especially for those with a fixation on the ritual and ceremony of a certain religion, and not humble enough to recognize continuing revelation.

WISDOM FROM WORLD RELIGIONS reveals how worship of tradition stagnates. But it does not challenge one believer against another, discuss different degrees of truth in theology, or the varied aspects of Wisdom toward better living. It is not provocative-- but a calming adventure of insights...

Anyone interested in religious history and philosophy will thoroughly enjoy the myriad quotes from all the different world religions.

A most profound book and highly recommended reading
Wisdom From World Religions: Pathways Toward Heaven On Earth by Sir John Templeton (Rhodes scholar and founder of the John Templeton Foundation and the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion) is an impressive and memorable collection of anecdotes, meaningful teachings, insights, and much more thoughts of spiritual enlightenment drawn from religions and religious individuals worldwide, ranging from Christianity and Islam to Hinduism and Confucianism. One does not necessarily need to practice a religion or hold to a particular belief system in order to incorporate fruits of this cornucopia of wisdom teachings into one's life. A broad, exhaustive, powerful compendium of tenets for self-improvement, morality, and love, Wisdom From World Religions is a most profound book and highly recommended reading for students of religion, spirituality, ethics, and morality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Ethics and World Religions
This is a great book.The cases are very interesting.Some of the cases are quite long.

Great Resource for Pastoral Care Providers
The cases in this book are very thought-provoking and help pastoral care students get into the thick of ethical issues. Each case study has two perspectives from different religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, which reveal both how each religion approaches ethical decision-making and how pastoral care providers can remain open to see the values and benefits of different religions. Christine Gudorf is an excellent scholar...see her other works for more insights into christian feminist ethics. Her arguments refuting agape as "distinterested love" are essential reading for divinity students.

MORE THAN ONE RIGHT ANSWER TO MORAL DILEMMAS
The book is a presentation of 18 moral dilemmas - problems faced by ordinary people from a variety of cultures and religions.Faced with these problems, the people involved have come to a moral crossroads. Each case study is presented in well-written, concise prose, resulting in compelling storytelling.After each case study, representatives of two relgions dissect the problem and explain how the situation would be viewed and handled in accordance with their religions.A young Indian must choose the life he wants in the U.S. to returning home to marry the wife who has been pre-selected.A chinese wife, learning that she is pregnant, must decide to have an ultrasound test that would almost certainly lead to an abortion if the fetus is determined to be female.A British nurse questions a surgeon's activity when she suspects operations are part of an organ selling scheme. The selling of an organ in one case means survival of the donor's family in the midst of great povery. What the reader comes away with is that there is more than one right answer.The viewpoints of different religions are interesting and sometimes surprising and the reader soon realizes that these issues of ethics are much more complex than they might seem to be at first.This is a book of conflicting loyalties - the stuff from which great drama springs. ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history millions have lived and died without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Despite vigorous missionary efforts, large populations of the world today have never been evangelized. And now religious pluralism has set up shop on Main Street. The question "Who can be saved?" forces itself on the minds of Christians like never before.

• Is there a wideness in God's mercy?
• Does God reveal himself in a way that invites all people to respond positively in saving faith?
• Does one have to be an Arminian to believe so?
• Or is there a way for Calvinists to see how God might reveal and save apart from the explicit "gospel" and yet exclusively through Jesus Christ?
• And if so, what does this say about the role of religions within the sovereign providence of God?

Customer Reviews (3)

A thoughtful work for a wider hope
Initially I thought 500 pages must be too long to make the case for the wider hope for the unevangelized. After reading the book I have changed my opinion as this book filled with thoughtful ideas and relevant observations. Along with Pinnock and Saunders, Tiessen posits a the case of hope for the unevangelized. His presuppositions are clearly described. Tiessen upholds a high view of scripture and the uniqueness of Christ in salvation and therefore is included in the evangelical camp. Interestingly, he shows how the wider hope is compatible with monergism. One strong area of the book is the area of how God can reveal himself in surprising ways to those who do not know the name of Jesus. God can even reveal himself through other religions even if those religions and fundamentally far away from the God of Israel and His revelation in Christ. I didn't agree with every point but the time I spent reading was very worthwhile. For those interested in this topic, this should be a must read along with "No Other Name" and "The Wideness of God's Mercy".

Saved without the Overt Gospel? -- A Deep Analysis
In 2004, I read the 30-page Internet précis version of this book, annotating it heavily as I read and interacted with the author.I later bought the book, and will now read more deeply in the full version of the book.This is an extremely thoughtful and excruciatingly detailed discussion of the state of people in cultures who have not heard the specific message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Tiessen evaluates everyone who has written anything on the topics, systematically going through every perspective, objection or proposal on each aspect of the question he considers.He includes a proposal of how the strict Calvinist [full determinist] view of election and predestination by God can accommodate the proposal that God has offered to every individual in every cultural setting, whatever the external knowledge or social situation, an adequate lopportunity to hear and understand the core meaing of God's call to himself in repentace and faith, while allowing for the rejection of so many.

Tiessen believes and lays out in extensive detail his beliefs that in every culture God has a way of working with every individual to present an adequate understanding of himself, to allow for an adequate opportunity to "be saved." This is based on the scriptural foundation of the relational, covenantal concept of salvation [commonly ignored or misunderstood in today's western individualism].I found his logic and analysis superb and his proposals on most fronts acceptable.

I found, however, that I got very frustrated with the nit-picking logic of his attempts to defend traditional Calvinism.He indeed developed levels of probability and causality that are not commonly dealt with, and his reformulations seem to overcome several traditional criticisms of Calvinism. His proposal likely seems hopeful and welcome to Calvinists.This new logical defense of an ultimate deterministic view of the final response of individuals to God's call irons out a few of the difficulties facing a reconciliation of the obvious free offer of reconciliation to God to every person and nation with the few statements that attribute to God a free and absolute sovereignty in all things, including the grace granted for forgiveness of sins and salvation-reconciliation to him.

I found the same problem in the final level of deep determinism I find with all deterministic forms of thought.No matter how thin you slice it, in the end, it skews the intent and meaning of the biblical declarations from the dynamic, experiential and relationship cultural worldview of the east in to into a western, philosophical worldview that required clear and stratified categories of logic and metaphysical structure.It is just inadequate to limit the statements of the biblical writers to a foreign set of logical and metaphysical categories that come from a whole different worldview.Calvinists just can't seem to handle the paradox this dynamic mindset causes in the strict Greek philosophical approach so beloved of even the modern Western mind.They just can't seem to leave it unresolved.

Tiessen's excellent detailing of logical possibilities in the metaphysic of election (predestination) still finally still came down to one declaration that contradicted another, when he says that there is a full and free opportunity to hear and understand, but in the final analysis, the Lord's prior free choice not to choose this person prevents the individual from making the final response, however or in what form he heard the call.

I enjoy the dynamic approach of the eastern thought, which is very similar to the African worldview of dynamic relational realities I have lived with all of my adult life.Even in the Western forms of thought, there are better ways to accommodate the apparent contradictions, even in western thought.An obvious one that has been productively used for over a century is called Process Theology.Another valiant attempt now under attack by retrenched thinkers who can't give up their Greek way of thinking to allow a real biblical culture to speak to them, is Open Theism.

I recommend this book to anyone serious about probing the problems and possibilities of the possibilities in Christian doctrine for the salvation of peoples who have not heard the overt message of the gospel as understood by the western Christian faith.Tiessen has done more than anyone I have read on this topic, and I feel he has admirably succeeded, despite the deep problem I mention in this one section attempting to accommodate traditional legalistic Calvinistic theology.

The bonus is that when you read Tiessen's book, you will be exposed to virtually every other contribution on this topic, from every other perspective, now and through history! An amazing work to have come from one man's mind and pen!

thinking beyond the box
the question of who can be saved from a "christian" point of view is considered in this book.Must someone be cognitively aware of the facts of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection to be saved?If so, just how many of the facts?And to what extent of accuracy?What about people in other relgions?What about babies?The mentally incapacitated?That's what this book is all about, and it is a detailed and very deep thought out work on the matter.This book requires some real mental effort,but it truly is a mind opening read for bible believing christians.The author goes beyond the typical conservative fundamentalist christian reaction to non-christians, and within this book, displays very careful and penetrating thought to the above mentioned sort of questions.One may not end up agreeing with some of his conclusions, and the author does come from a calvinistic perspective, (which is totally fine with me)however, if the author's calvinisic stance bugs you, don't let this one aspect of the book keep you from the immense value of this work in so many other areas that it deals with. This book will truly expand your mental horizons on this crucial subject.I have not come across very many works as valuable as this one pertaining to this subject.The main value of this large work is that it is a penetrating andstimulating read on this subject.It will really get your mental gears turning. This book helped to broaden my horizons concerning God's salvation amongst people in other cultures and religions without softening in any way the truth of Jesus as the pinnacle and apex of God's redeeming activity for humanity.Should be required reading for theologians and missions minded christians.A Tour de force.Another very interesting work somewhat related in concern is: The Gospel In A Pluralist Society by Leslie Newbigin.These sorts of books take seriously the biblical claim that the good news of Jesus as God's saving activity is indeed the true locus of God's saving activity, and yet these books seek to place that biblical truth in the wider scope of the global perspective of other cultures and/or religions.Must reading for christians in a cross culturally connected world that ours has become. ... Read more

Product Description
World Religions in Practice introduces five of the world’s great religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – and explores how they are lived and expressed in custom, ritual, and symbol.

• A major new textbook exploring the world’s great religions through their customs, rituals and everyday practices – by focusing on this ‘lived experience’ it goes beyond many traditional introductions to religious studies
  
• Adopts a directly comparative approach to develop a greater understanding of the nature of religion
  
• Each chapter engages with an individual theme, such as birth, death, food, pilgrimage and ethics, to illustrate how religious practices are expressed
  
• Broadens students’ understanding by offering an impartial discussion of the similarities and differences between each religion
  
• Includes chapter-by-chapter opening themes and summaries, and will be accompanied by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/gwynne featuring additional resources and study questions.