LCCN2002-022067
Reviews" Very comprehensive in terms of topics covered. " Anne Wetherilt, Emmanuel College "I find the selections introducing the world's religions very helpful and one of the strongest parts of the book .... I find it very helpful to have this stretched all through the texts and it offers a way to teach this class that allows it to be an interesting introduction." Jeffrey C. Pugh, Elon University, " Very comprehensive in terms of topics covered. " — Anne Wetherilt, Emmanuel College "I find the selections introducing the world's religions very helpful and one of the strongest parts of the book .... I find it very helpful to have this stretched all through the texts and it offers a way to teach this class that allows it to be an interesting introduction." — Jeffrey C. Pugh, Elon University, "Very comprehensive in terms of topics covered." Anne Wetherilt, Emmanuel College"I find the selections introducing the world's religions very helpful and one of the strongest parts of the book .... I find it very helpful to have this stretched all through the texts and it offers a way to teach this class that allows it to be an interesting introduction." Jeffrey C. Pugh, Elon University, " Very comprehensive in terms of topics covered. " -- Anne Wetherilt, Emmanuel College "I find the selections introducing the world's religions very helpful and one of the strongest parts of the book .... I find it very helpful to have this stretched all through the texts and it offers a way to teach this class that allows it to be an interesting introduction." -- Jeffrey C. Pugh, Elon University, "Very comprehensive in terms of topics covered." — Anne Wetherilt,Emmanuel College"I find the selections introducing the world's religions very helpful and one of the strongest parts of the book .... I find it very helpful to have this stretched all through the texts and it offers a way to teach this class that allows it to be an interesting introduction." — Jeffrey C. Pugh,Elon University
Table Of ContentPreface. I. RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. 1. Toward a Definition of Religion. 2. Religious Traditions. II. EXPERIENCING RELIGION. 3. Religious Experience. 4. Elements of Religious Experience. 5. Religion in Artistic Expression. III. THE DIVINE. 6. Knowledge, Belief, AUTHORity, and Tradition. 7. Ways of Conceiving the Divine. IV. THE SELF AND RELIGION. 8. Evil: Its Reality and Meaning. 9. Understanding the Self. 10. Freedom and the Self. 11. Sin and Guilt. 12. Death and the Self. 13. Salvation and Redemption. V. RELIGION AND THE SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT. 14. The Religious Matrix of Interpersonal Relations. 15. Corporate Expressions of Ethical Concerns. 16. Religious Traditions and Social Stability. 17. Religious Traditions and Social Change. VI. RELIGION AND THE NATURAL ORDER. 18. Human Response to the Natural Process. 19. Order and Origins. Index of Religious Traditions. Index of Names and Subjects.
SynopsisFor courses in Introduction to Religion and Religion and Culture. This text provides the tools and resources for exploring the many dimensions of religion as a central reality of human life. It was designed for introductory courses in religion, religion and culture, religion and society, and the humanities. It can also been used as a main or supplementary text for courses in comparative religion, sociology of religion, and philosophy of religion ., This book provides readers with the tools and resources for exploring the many dimensions of religion as a central reality of human life., This book provides readers with the tools and resources for exploring the many dimensions of religion as a central reality of human life. It provides a functional definition of religion that suggests that religion is important to everyone because each person's life is shaped by, and all persons are concerned about, occasions in their lives that threaten or promote fulfillment of the individual's basic values and commitments. Chapter coverage includes the six major world religions as they relate to: traditions, artistic expression, ways of conceiving the divine, the problem of evil, understanding the self, sin and guilt, death and the self, salvation and redemption, interpersonal relations, corporate expressions of ethical concerns, social stability and social change, human response to the natural process, and order and origins. For anyone interested in the formal study of religion.