LibGuides: World Religions: Books

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Recommended Books

Scriptures of the World's Religions by James Fieser; John Powers This anthology of scriptures in English translation from the world's living religions offers approximately 80 selections that vary in length from a few paragraphs to 15 pages. Sections and subsections contain brief editor's introductions which discuss the nature and scope of scripture within each religion, and the history of the scripture presented.
Call Number: BL70 .S37 1998
ISBN: 9780070209787
Publication Date: 1997-11-01
Introduction to World Religions by Christopher Partridge A leading textbook for world religion, this new edition is designed to help students in their study and research of the world's religious traditions. Known and valued for its balanced approach and its respected board of consulting editors, this text addresses ways to study religion, provides broad coverage of diverse religions, and offers an arresting layout with rich illustrations. The second edition has new and extended primary source readings, a stronger section on the religions of South Asia, additional maps, a new full-color, student-friendly format, and more. It can be purchased individually or as part of a course pack which includes the Study Companion. Authoritative content, comprehensive scope, arresting four-color illustration, and innovative learning aids, now in multiple formats for complete versatility. Also available as an Inkling Interactive Textbook: the full content of the textbook PLUS!
Call Number: BL80.3 .I58 2013
ISBN: 9780800699703
Publication Date: 2013-11-01
Introduction to World Religions by Jacob Neusner 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
Call Number: BL80.3 .I59 2010
ISBN: 9780687660001
Publication Date: 2010-05-01
Astrology and Cosmology in the World's Religions by Nicholas Campion When you think of astrology, you may think of the horoscope section in your local paper, or of Nancy Reagan's consultations with an astrologer in the White House in the 1980s. Yet almost every religion uses some form of astrology: some way of thinking about the sun, moon, stars, and planets and how they hold significance for human lives on earth. Astrology and Cosmology in the World’s Religions offers an accessible overview of the astrologies of the world's religions, placing them into context within theories of how the wider universe came into being and operates. Campion traces beliefs about the heavens among peoples ranging from ancient Egypt and China, to Australia and Polynesia, and India and the Islamic world. Addressing each religion in a separate chapter, Campion outlines how, by observing the celestial bodies, people have engaged with the divine, managed the future, and attempted to understand events here on earth. This fascinating text offers a unique way to delve into comparative religions and will also appeal to those intrigued by New Age topics.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0814708420
Publication Date: 2012-05-01
The World's Religions: the Study of Religion, Traditional and New Religion by Peter Clarke (Editor); Stewart Sutherland (Editor) Examines the `primitive' (traditional) non -mainstream religion and also 20th century sects such as the Moonies and Scientology. Looks at the `nature' of religion - the general philosophical issues. Written by international specialists.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1134922221
Publication Date: 2002-11-01
Spiritual Masters of the World's Religions by Victoria Kennick (Editor); Arvind Sharma (Editor) Discusses the notion of a spiritual master and looks at examples in a variety of world religions. What is a spiritual master? Spiritual Masters of the World's Religions offers an important contribution to religious studies by addressing that question in the context of such themes as charismatic authority, role models, symbolism, and categories of religious perception. The book contains essays by scholar-practitioners on the topic of spiritual masters in Judaic, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist traditions. It provides a full spectrum of exemplars, including founders, spiritual masters who highlight cultural themes, and problematic figures of modern times. To define spiritual master, the work of Max Weber, Mircea Eliade, Daniel Gold, and Bruce Lincoln is referenced to provide a balanced notion that includes both religionist and reductionist perspectives. This book takes readers from the past spiritual masters to the future of masters of any sort, posing food for thought about the future of master-disciple relationships in an emerging age of egalitarian sentiments. Victoria Kennick is Professor of Humanities at the University of Maryland University College and the author of Introducing World Religions. Arvind Sharma is Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University. His many books include Hinduism as a Missionary Religion; One Religion Too Many: The Religiously Comparative Reflections of a Comparatively Religious Hindu; and Religious Studies and Comparative Methodology: The Case for Reciprocal Illumination, all published by SUNY Press.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1438444990
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Religion and Revelation by Keith Ward Since first Thomas Aquinas defined theology as revelation, or the rational elucidation of revealed truth, the idea of revelation has played a fundamental role in the history of western theology. This book provides a new and detailed investigation of the concept, examining its nature, sources, and limitations in all five of the major scriptural religions of the world: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.The first part of the book discusses the nature of theology, and expounds the comparative method as the most useful and appropriate for the modern age. Part Two focuses on the nature of religion and its early historical manifestations, whilst the third part of the book goes on to consider the idea of revelation as found in the great canonical traditions of the religions of the world. Part Four develops the distinctively Christian idea of revelation as divine self-expression in history. Thefinal part of the book discusses how far the idea of revelation must be revised or adapted in the light of modern historical and scientific thought, and proposes a new and positive theology of revelation for the future. The book includes discussions of the work of most major theologians andscholars in the study of religion - Aquinas, Tillich, Barth, Temple, Frazer, and Evans Pritchard - and should be of interest to many scholars and students of comparative religion and theology, and anthropologists.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 019158844X
Publication Date: 1994-01-01
Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions by Encyclopaedia Britannica Publishers Religious faith takes many forms. Throughout the centuries and around the globe, the human response to the divine has given rise to a large number of important religions. This encyclopedia provides an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the religions of the world and to the concepts, people and events that shaped them.
Call Number: E-BOOK AND REF BL31 .B75 2006
ISBN: 9781593392666
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
World Religions by Jeff Hay; Linda Holler (Consultant Editor) This encyclopedia provides numerous entries covering world religions including gods and other holy figures, concepts, historical figures, places, rites, and festivals. Entries cover major and less prominent religions around the world, describing their histories, tenets, customs, and world views. Readers will view entries that describe the lives of fifty significant figures in the histories of various religions. Also presented are excerpts from eighteen religious writings, speeches, and sacred texts.
Call Number: REF BL80.3 .W643 2007
ISBN: 9780737732177
Publication Date: 2006-12-13

Christianity by Ann Marie B. Bahr As the world's largest and most widespread religion, Christianity impacts the lives of believers and nonbelievers alike. Its calendar has become the one used internationally. Its history has profoundly shaped Europe and the United States, and its future growth is projected to take place primarily in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This book introduces the reader to Orthodox, Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, and evangelical Christians. It discusses the life of Jesus of Nazareth, and the writings of Paul, Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. Christian beliefs, practices, culture, history, holidays, and the future of Christianity are highlighted. Professor of religion Ann Marie B. Bahr presents Christianity as a global faith that will continue to be the world's largest religion well into the foreseeable future. Book jacket.
Call Number: BR125.5 .B34 2004
ISBN: 0791078566
Publication Date: 2004-02-01
Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch The National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of The Reformation returns with the definitive history of Christianity for our time Once in a generation a historian will redefine his field, producing a book that demands to be read-a product of electrifying scholarship conveyed with commanding skill. Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity is such a book. Breathtaking in ambition, it ranges back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and covers the world, following the three main strands of the Christian faith. Christianity will teach modern readers things that have been lost in time about how Jesus' message spread and how the New Testament was formed. We follow the Christian story to all corners of the globe, filling in often neglected accounts of conversions and confrontations in Africa and Asia. And we discover the roots of the faith that galvanized America, charting the rise of the evangelical movement from its origins in Germany and England. This book encompasses all of intellectual history-we meet monks and crusaders, heretics and saints, slave traders and abolitionists, and discover Christianity's essential role in driving the enlightenment and the age of exploration, and shaping the course of World War I and World War II. We are living in a time of tremendous religious awareness, when both believers and non-believers are deeply engaged by questions of religion and tradition, seeking to understand the violence sometimes perpetrated in the name of God. The son of an Anglican clergyman, MacCulloch writes with deep feeling about faith. His last book, The Reformation, was chosen by dozens of publications as Best Book of the Year and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. This awe-inspiring follow-up is a landmark new history of the faith that continues to shape the world.
Call Number: BR145.3 .M33 2010
ISBN: 9780670021260
Publication Date: 2010-03-18
A Short Introduction to the History of Christianity by Tim Dowley (Editor) Tim Dowley's masterful one-volume survey of church history is now available in a new concise format designed with today's student in mind. Each section of Dowley's Introduction to the History of Christianity has been reviewed and content edited to create a more compact summary of Christian history. This new, shorter introduction retains the full-color format of the popular full edition, including the third edition's new images and maps.Dowley has assembled a global cast of respected scholars to write the full story of the rise of the Christian faith and to provide a rounded picture of the worldwide development of Christianity. The volume has been praised as accurate, scholarly, and balanced. Its writers are committed to Christianity but also to the unhindered pursuit of truth that does not avoid the darker aspects of the varied story of Christianity.The accessible text is supported by detailed timelines, maps, profiles of key figures in Christianity, colorful images, and a complete glossary. Each section includes questions for discussion.
Call Number: BR145.3 |i .H57 2018
ISBN: 9781506445977
Publication Date: 2018-04-01
Christianity and Revolutionary Europe, C.1750-1830 by Nigel Aston; William Beik (Contribution by); T. C. W. Blanning (Contribution by) Christianity and Revolutionary Europe, 1750-1830, first published in 2003, provides a comprehensive and accessible summary of the role of the churches during this turbulent period in European history. How did the churches survive the political and intellectual challenges posed by the French Revolution, despite institutional upheaval and the widespread questioning of dogma and tradition? Nigel Aston answers this question by drawing on three decades of research, and argues that pre-Revolutionary Christianity had a vitality and resilience that should not be underestimated. Aston takes the story forward to 1830, dealing with both the immediate aftermath of the Revolution and its longer-term impact and offering comprehensive guidance to the complicated strands of change and continuity. The text is supported by illuminating illustrations, and a glossary of unfamiliar terms gives further help to the student reader. It will be of key interest to all those following courses on religious history and the French Revolution.
Call Number: BR735 .A77 2002
ISBN: 9780521460279
Publication Date: 2003-01-09
Christian Mission by Dana L. Robert Exploring how Christianity became a world religion, this brief history examines Christian missions and their relationship to the current globalization of Christianity.A short and enlightening history of Christian missions: a phenomenon that many say reflects the single most important intercultural movement over a sustained period of human historyOffers a thematic overview that takes into account the political, cultural, social, and theological issuesDiscusses the significance of missions to the globalization of Christianity, and broadens our understanding of Christianity as a multicultural world religionHelps Western audiences understand the meaning of mission as a historical processContains several new maps that illustrate demographic shifts in world Christianity
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1282116533
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Religious Studies in Contemporary China Collection by Zhuo Xinping (Editor); Chi Zhen (Translator) Although Chinese Christianity can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty it has not been extensively researched by Chinese academics. This volume is devoted to this topic and consists of twelve chapters, written mostly by leading mainland Chinese scholars.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 904742798X
Publication Date: 2013-08-08
Women and Christianity by Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan (Editor); Karen Jo Torjesen (Editor) "Women and Christianity" explores the experiences of women and how their daily lives interface with their spirituality and faith. Beginning with a historical overview, the book presents essays grouped under five broad headings: women, family, and environment; socioeconomics, politics, and authority; body, mind, and spirit; sex, power, and vulnerability; and women, world view, and religious practice. These essays focus on multiple aspects of women's experiences and contemporary Christian realities, involving the interrelatedness of faith, thought, and activism across many strata of global society. They wrestle with the daily experiences and challenges women face integrating their lives as women of faith as they are advocates, experience agency, and work for mutuality. It shows how in all these roles, women must negotiate power, injustice, and the impact of sexism as they work within systemic oppression amid a patriarchal system, nevertheless championing change and refusing to be severely compromised."
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1282535013
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Christianity Today by George D. Chryssides A series of case studies illustrate the contemporary issues facing Christianity in contemporary society. This new introduction aims to present Christianity through the lens of contemporary issues. Illustrated throughout with examples and case studies taken from lived religion, each chapter looks at Christianity in a modern context, and modern issues relevant to the religion. After an initial chapter providing an overview of the faith, its history and basic theological tenets, George Chryssides moves through key contemporary themes: sources of authority in Christianity, science and Christianity, fundamentalism, mission and ecumenism, ethics, and women and Christianity. This title concludes with a final section looking at the future for Christianity in the face of secularism, secularisation and materialism, and its relative growth and decline worldwide. These useful guides aim to introduce religions through the lens of contemporary issues, illustrated throughout with examples and case studies taken from lived religion. The perfect companion for the student of religion, each guide interprets the teachings of the religion in question in a modern context and applies them to modern day scenarios.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1441101063
Publication Date: 2010-06-01
Spirits of Protestantism: Medicine, Healing, and Liberal Christianity by Pamela E. Klassen "Spirits of Protestantism" reveals how liberal Protestants went from being early-twentieth-century medical missionaries seeking to convert others through science and scripture, to becoming vocal critics of missionary arrogance who experimented with non-western healing modes such as Yoga and Reiki. Drawing on archival and ethnographic sources, Pamela E. Klassen shows how and why the very notion of healing within North America has been infused with a Protestant "supernatural liberalism." In the course of coming to their changing vision of healing, liberal Protestants became pioneers three times over: in the struggle against the cultural and medical pathologizing of homosexuality; in the critique of Christian missionary triumphalism; and in the diffusion of an ever-more ubiquitous anthropology of "body, mind, and spirit." At a time when the political and anthropological significance of Christianity is being hotly debated, "Spirits of Protestantism" forcefully argues for a reconsideration of the historical legacies and cultural effects of liberal Protestantism, even for the anthropology of religion itself.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1283278553
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Christianity by Linda Woodhead At a time when Christianity is flourishing in the Southern hemisphere but declining in much of the West, this very short introduction offers an important new overview of the world's largest religion. Exploring the cultural and institutional dimensions of Christianity, and tracing its course over two millennia, this book provides a fresh, lively, and candid portrait of its past and present. Addressing topics that other studies neglect, including the competition for power between different forms of Christianity, the churches' uses of power, and their struggles with modernity, Linda Woodhead concludes by showing the ways in which those who previously had the least power in Christianity - women and non-Europeans - have become increasingly central to its unfolding story.
Call Number: E-BOOK AND BR121.3 .W66 2004
ISBN: 1280752599
Publication Date: 2005-01-01

The Joy of Sects by Peter Occhiogrosso Covers the history, terms, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, and "New Age" religions. Awards: BL Editors' Choice.
Call Number: BL80.2 .O281994
ISBN: 0385425643
Publication Date: 1994-10-01
The Practice of Perfection by Robert Aitken America's most senior Zen Roshi presents the "Transcendental Perfections": Giving, Morality, Patience, Zeal, Meditation, Wisdom, Compassion, Aspiration, Spiritual Power, and Knowledge. These 2,000-year-old ideas serve as both methods and goals to develop one's spiritual and moral life. Includes question and answer sections.
Call Number: BQ4336 .A371994
ISBN: 0679435107
Publication Date: 1994-09-06
Understanding Zen by Benjamin Radcliff; Amy Radcliff An accessible, logical introduction to Zen philosophy for the uninitiated Western reader. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Call Number: BQ9268.5 .R331993
ISBN: 0804818088
Publication Date: 2030-12-31
Zen Action/Zen Person by Thomas P. Kasulis
Call Number: BQ9268.6 .K37
ISBN: 9780824807023
Publication Date: 1981-02-01
Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh; Elaine Pagels (Introduction by) A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions.
Call Number: BR128.B8 N43 1995
ISBN: 9781573225687
Publication Date: 1997-09-01
Philosophy of the Buddha by Christopher Gowans Philosophy of the Buddha is a philosophical introduction to the teaching of the Buddha. It carefully guides readers through the basic ideas and practices of the Buddha, including kamma (karma), rebirth, the not-self doctrine, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, ethics, meditation, non-attachment, and Nibbâna (Nirvana). The book includes an account of the life of the Buddha as well as comparisons of his teaching with practical and theoretical aspects of some Western philosophical outlooks, both ancient and modern. Most distinctively, Philosophy of the Buddha explores how Buddhist enlightenment could enable us to overcome suffering in our lives and reach our full potential for compassion and tranquillity. This is one of the first books to introduce the philosophy of the Buddha to students of Western philosophy. Christopher W. Gowans' style is exceptionally clear and appropriate for anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction to this growing area of interest.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0415278570
Publication Date: 2003-06-24
The Spirit of the Buddha by Martine Batchelor In this slim, enlightening volume, internationally recognized Buddhist teacher Martine Batchelor presents the basic tenets and teachings of the Buddha through a selection of essential texts from the Pali canon, the earliest Buddhist scriptures. Viewed by scholars as the actual substance of the historical teachings (and possibly even the words) of the Buddha, these texts are essential to an understanding of the Buddhist faith, and Batchelor illuminates them with her lucid analysis and interpretations. Both accessible to nonpractitioners and helpful to scholars, "The Spirit of the Buddha" touches upon key themes, including dharma, compassion, meditation, and peace, among others, creating a panoramic view of one of the world s most widely practiced faiths that is deeply rooted in its most vital texts."
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1280060840
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
The Buddha and Religious Diversity by J. Abraham Velez De Cea Providing a rigorous analysis of Buddhist ways of understanding religious diversity, this book develops a new foundation for cross-cultural understanding of religious diversity in our time. Examining the complexity and uniqueness of Buddha s approach to religious pluralism using four main categories namely exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralistic-inclusivism and pluralism the book proposes a cross-cultural and interreligious interpretation of each category, thus avoiding the accusation of intellectual colonialism. The key argument is that, unlike the Buddha, most Buddhist traditions today, including Theravada Buddhism and even the Dalai Lama, consider liberation and the highest stages of spiritual development exclusive to Buddhism. The book suggests that the Buddha rejects many doctrines and practices found in other traditions, and that, for him, there are nonnegotiable ethical and doctrinal standards that correspond to the Dharma. This argument is controversial and likely to ignite a debate among Buddhists from different traditions, especially between conservative and progressive Buddhists. The book fruitfully contributes to the literature on inter-religious dialogue, and is of use to students and scholars of Asian Studies, World Religion and Eastern Philosophy."
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1283920042
Publication Date: 2013-01-01

Hinduism by Jeff Hay (Editor) For several millennia, Hinduism has dominated India and cultures throughout Southeast Asia. This volume includes selections from central Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad-Gita and the Laws of Manu, as well as topics ranging from Hinduism's origins to the challenges faced by modern Hindus in India and America.
Call Number: BL1150 .H46 2006
ISBN: 9780737725698
Publication Date: 2005-07-22
A Survey of Hinduism by Klaus K. Klostermaier This revision reflects recent developments and events in India. In particular, a new Part has been added entitled "The Meeting of East and West in India" which contains a new chapter on Mahatma Gandhi. There is also a new chapter on the position of women in Hinduism. In addition to the added chapters, the entire book has been rewritten with many new illustrations and maps. This book provides a comprehensive survey of the Hindu tradition, dealing with the history of Hinduism, the sacred writings of the Hindus, the Hindu worldview, and the specifics of the major branches of Hinduism--Vaisnavism, S aivism, and S aktism. It also focuses on the geographical ties of Hinduism with the land of India, the social order created by Hinduism, and the various systems of Hindu thought. Klostermaier describes the new development of Hinduism in the 19th and 20th centuries, including present-day political Hinduism and the efforts to turn Hinduism into a modern-world religion. A unique feature of this book is its treatment of Hinduism in a topical fashion, rather than by chronological description of the development of Hinduism or by summary of the literature. The complexities of Hindu life and thought are thus made real to the reader. Hindus will recognize it as their own tradition.
Call Number: BL1202 .K56 1994
ISBN: 0791421090
Publication Date: 1994-09-08
Hinduism by James B. Robinson Although the polytheistic religion of India has had a limited influence outside its native nation, it has nonetheless always been a subject of interest to both scholars and laypeople alike. With its controversial caste system and its pantheon of unusual deities, Hinduism is very different from most of the faiths common in the West.
Call Number: BL1203 .R63 2004
ISBN: 0791078582
Publication Date: 2004-06-01
The Oxford History of Hinduism by Torkel Brekke (Editor) The Oxford History of Hinduism: Modern Hinduism focuses on developments resulting from movements within the tradition as well as contact between India and the outside world through both colonialism and globalization. Divided into three parts, part one considers the historical background tomodern conceptualizations of Hinduism. Moving away from the reforms of the 19th and early 20th century, part two includes five chapters each presenting key developments and changes in religious practice in modern Hinduism. Part three moves to issues of politics, ethics, and law. This section mapsand explains the powerful legal and political contexts created by the modern state - first the colonial government and then the Indian Republic - which have shaped Hinduism in new ways. The last two chapters look at Hinduism outside India focusing on Hinduism in Nepal and the modern Hindudiaspora.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 9780198790839
Publication Date: 2019-08-27
Hinduism for Dummies by Amrutur V. Srinivasan Your hands-on guide to one of the world's major religions The dominant religion of India, "Hinduism" refers to a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies that have developed over thousands of years. Today, the United States is home to approximately one million Hindus. If you've heard of this ancient religion and are looking for a reference that explains the intricacies of the customs, practices, and teachings of this ancient spiritual system, Hinduism For Dummies is for you! Provides a thorough introduction to this earliest and popular world belief system Information on the rites, rituals, deities, and teachings associated with the practice of Hinduism Explores the history and teachings of the Vedas, Brahmans, and Upanishads Offers insight into the modern daily practice of Hinduism around the world Continuing the Dummies tradition of making the world's religions engaging and accessible to everyone, Hinduism For Dummies is your hands-on, friendly guide to this fascinating religion.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1118110757
Publication Date: 2011-06-09
A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism by Karel Werner A multi-purpose reference work which should become an indispensable companion for anybody who comes into touch with Hinduism. Includes a dictionary of Sanskrit and vernacular terms; a glossary of terms and concepts; and a survey of the historical development of Hinduism.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1135797536
Publication Date: 2005-08-11
Hinduism Today: an Introduction by Stephen Jacobs Understanding Hinduism today requires an understanding of how it is practised in the contemporary world. Stephen Jacob's new introduction tackles these central issues, beginning with case studies of the grassroots practice of Hinduism in India and in diaspora communities.He covers issues of singular importance in the modern study of Hinduism, including the importance and role of mass media to this essentially orally transmitted religion. Other major areas covered include the concept of Hindu dharma, particularly in relation to caste, gender and Hindu nationalism, key and often controversial concepts in Hinduism.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1282874349
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
A history of hinduism the past, present, and future by Ramachandran, R. (Ranganathan), 1936- author. The roots -- Rigvedic religion -- Mimamsa -- Uttara-Mimamsa -- Buddhism and Jainism -- Dharmasastras -- Epics -- Puranas -- Hindu temples: their origin and growth -- Adi Sankaracharya -- Bhakti movement -- Hinduism under Muslim rule -- Hinduism under British rule -- The present -- A peep into the future.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 93-5280-699-9
Publication Date: 2018
Female Ascetics in Hinduism by Lynn Teskey Denton; Steven Collins Female Ascetics in Hinduism provides a vivid account of the lives of women renouncers--women who renounce the world to live ascetic spiritual lives--in India. The author approaches the study of female asceticism by focusing on features of two dharmas, two religiously defined ways of life: that of woman-as-householder and that of the ascetic, who, for various reasons, falls outside the realm of householdership. The result of fieldwork conducted in Vō ranō si (Benares), the book explores renouncers' social and personal backgrounds, their institutions, and their ways of life. Offering a first-hand look at and an insightful analysis of this little-known world, this highly readable book will be indispensable to those interested in female asceticism in the Hindu tradition and women's spiritual lives around the world.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1423739566
Publication Date: 2004-01-01

God in the Qur'an by Jack Miles Who is Allah? What makes Him unique? And what does He ask of those who submit to His teachings? In the spirit of his Pulitzer Prize-winning God, a trailblazing "biography" of the protagonist of the Old Testament, and Christ, his brilliant portrait of biblical Jesus, acclaimed religious scholar Jack Miles undertakes to answer these questions with his characteristic perspicacity, intelligence, and command of the subject. Miles depicts a "character" less mercurial than Yahweh, less ready to forgive than Christ, and yet emphatically part of their traditions. The God of the Qur'an revises and perfects- His purpose is to make whole what had been corrupted or lost from the practices and scriptures of the earlier Abrahamic religions. Setting passages from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur'an side by side, Miles illuminates what is unique about Allah, His teachings and His temperament, and in doing so revises that which is false, distorted, or simply absent from our conception of the heart of Islam. Miles writes, "I hope that by reading this book you may find it a little easier to trust the Muslim next door, thinking of him as someone whose religion, after all, may not be so wildly unreasonable that someone holding to it could not be a trusted friend."
Call Number: BP134.G6 M55 2019
ISBN: 9780307269577
Publication Date: 2018-11-13
Controversies in Contemporary Islam by Oliver Leaman This book helps to deepen our understanding of the varieties of contemporary Islam and the issues that are of most concern to Muslims today. Oliver Leaman explores some of the controversies and debates that exist within Islam and between Islam and other religions. He considers how the religion can be defined by looking at the contrast between competing sets of beliefs, and arguments amongst Muslims themselves over the nature of the faith. Areas covered include: Qur'anic interpretation, gender, finance, education, and nationalism. Examples are taken from a range of contexts and illustrate the diversity of approaches to Islam that exists today.
Call Number: BP161.3 .L368 2014
ISBN: 9780415676120
Publication Date: 2013-09-18
Apocalypse in Islam by Jean-Pierre Filiu; M. B. DeBevoise (Translator) This is an eye-opening exploration of a troubling phenomenon: the fast-growing belief in Muslim countries that the end of the world is at hand--and with it the "Great Battle," prophesied by both Sunni and Shii tradition, which many believers expect will begin in the Afghan-Pakistani borderlands. Jean-Pierre Filiu uncovers the role of apocalypse in Islam over the centuries, and highlights its extraordinary resurgence in recent decades. Identifying 1979 as a decisive year in the rise of contemporary millenarian speculation, he stresses the ease with which subsequent events in the Middle East have been incorporated into the intellectual universe of apocalyptic propagandists. Filiu also shows how Christian and Jewish visions of the Final Judgment have stimulated alarmist reaction in Islamic lands, both in the past and today, and examines the widespread fear of Christian Zionist domination as an impetus to jihad. Though the overwhelming majority of Muslims remains unpersuaded, the mounting conviction in the imminence of apocalypse is a serious matter, especially for those who are preparing for it.
Call Number: BP166.8 .F4513 2011
ISBN: 9780520264311
Publication Date: 2011-01-10
Islam and the Fate of Others by Mohammad Hassan Khalil Can non-Muslims be saved? And can those who are damned to hell ever be redeemed? Mohammad Hassan Khalil examines the writings of influential medieval and modern Muslim scholars on the controversial question of non-Muslim salvation.Islam and the Fate of Others is an illuminating study of four of the most prominent figures in the history of Islam: al-Ghazali, Ibn 'Arabi, Ibn Taymiyya, and Rashid Rida, as well as a wide variety of other writers, including Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Mulla Sadra, Shah Wali Allah of Delhi, Muhammad'Ali of Lahore, Sayyid Qutb, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, and Farid Esack. Khalil demonstrates that though these theologians tended to shun a purely pluralistic concept of salvation, most envisioned a Paradise populated with Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and many believed in a just and merciful God. Khalilreveals that these writers' interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith corpus-from optimistic depictions of Judgment Day to notions of a temporal Hell and salvation for all-challenge widespread assumptions about Islamic scripture and thought.
Call Number: BP166.77 .K43 2012
ISBN: 9780199796663
Publication Date: 2012-05-03
The Garden of Truth by Seyyed Hossein Nasr The headlines are filled with the politics of Islam, but there is another side to the world's fastest-growing religion. Sufism is the poetry and mysticism of Islam. This mystical movement from the early ninth century rejects worship motivated by the desire for heavenly reward or the fear of punishment, insisting rather on the love of God as the only valid form of adoration. Sufism has made significant contributions to Islamic civilization in music and philosophy, dance and literature. The Sufi poet Rumi is the bestselling poet in America. But in recent centuries Sufism has been a target for some extremist Islamic movements as well as many modernists. The Garden of Truth presents the beliefs and vision of the mystical heart of Islam, along with a history of Sufi saints and schools of thought. In a world threatened by religious wars, depleting natural resources, a crumbling ecosystem, and alienation and isolation, what has happened to our humanity? Who are we and what are we doing here? The Sufi path offers a journey toward truth, to a knowledge that transcends our mundane concerns, selfish desires, and fears. In Sufism we find a wisdom that brings peace and a relationship with God that nurtures the best in us and in others. Noted scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr helps you learn the secret wisdom tradition of Islam and enter what the ancient mystics call the "garden of truth." Here, liberate your mind, experience peace, discover your purpose, fall in love with the Divine, and find your true, best self.
Call Number: BP189.3 .N364 2007
ISBN: 9780060797225
Publication Date: 2007-09-18
Islam by David M. Haugen (Editor); Susan Musser (Editor) Empower your readers with a strong understanding of important concepts and issues related to Islam. The essays in this book present more than one viewpoint on each issues discussed, which provides a balanced introduction and opens the doorway of critical thinking. Across four chapters, readers will analyze whether the values of Islam and the West are in conflict, whether Islam promotes violence, how women are treated under Islam, and what is the future of Islam in this complicated world. Essay sources include Mustafa Akyol, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Justine A Rosenthal, Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, M. A. Muqtedar Khan, and John L Esposito.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0737745266
Publication Date: 2009-07-31
Studying Islam by Clinton Bennett This volume in the Studying World Religions series is an essential guide to the study of the Islamic faith. Clearly structured to cover all the major areas of study, including historical foundations, scripture, society, thought, ethics, rituals, spirituality and aesthetics, this is the ideal study aid for those approaching Islam for the first time. Rather than attempting to cover all the material, the critical and methodological issues that students need to grasp in the study of Islam - and religion in general - are drawn out, and the major contemporary debates explored. With helpful suggestions for further study, pointing students towards material such as primary sources (scriptures), films and novels and including ideas for teaching, discussion topics and exercises, Studying Islam is the perfect companion for the fledgling student of Islam.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0826495508
Publication Date: 2010-02-10
Islam, Muslims and America by Jerry Kroth; Jennifer Furio Rational, evenhanded, educated, and well-researched, the book summarizes centuries of history culminating in the aftermath of the September 11 attack, with an eye toward explaining the conscious and unconscious motivations behind individual and group per
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0875861946
Publication Date: 2003-08-01

Essential Judaism: Updated Edition by George Robinson You'll find everything you need to know about being Jewish in this indispensable, revised and updated guide to the religious traditions, everyday practices, philosophical beliefs, and historical foundations of Judaism. What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? What should I be teaching my children about being Jewish? With the first edition of Essential Judaism, George Robinson offered the world the accessible compendium that he sought when he rediscovered his Jewish identity as an adult. In his "ambitious and all-inclusive" (New York Times Book Review) guide, Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cycle at every stage and lays out many fascinating aspects of the religion--the Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, the evolution of Hasidism, and much more--while keeping a firm focus on the different paths to living a good Jewish life in today's world. Now, a decade and a half later, Robinson has updated this valuable introductory text with information on topics including denominational shifts, same-sex marriage, the intermarriage debate, transgender Jews, the growth of anti-Semitism, and the changing role of women in worship, along with many other hotly debated topics in the contemporary Jewish world and beyond. The perfect gift for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or anyone thinking about conversion--this is the ultimate companion for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism, the kind of book its readers will revisit over and over for years to come.
Call Number: BM561 .R58 2016
ISBN: 9781501117756
Publication Date: 2016-04-12
Judaism by Oliver Leaman The story of Judaism is a story of paradox. It is the story of how a small cluster of desert tribes gave birth to a monotheistic doctrine that profoundly shaped the history of human civilization. It is the story of how that initially obscure desert doctrine came to be codified into the Hebrew Bible, one of the world's greatest works of literature. It is the story of how a small minority came to be viewed by the majority as disproportionately powerful and, following pogrom and Holocaust, were driven to the edge of extinction. And it is the story of how a displaced people, globally dispersed throughout other nations for two-and-a-half millennia, came to forge a modern, secular Israeli state which many Jews believe to have been granted an explicitly divine mandate. Oliver Leaman carefully and creatively explores the nature of these apparent contradictions. He discusses the origins of the Jewish Bible; recounts the history of the Jewish people from the era of Patriarchs and Prophets through the Middle Ages up to the contemporary era; outlines the Jewish liturgical calendar and its major rites and modes of worship; and, considers the great variety of Jewish literatures (including modern post-Holocaust writers like Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel), art, food and culture. Further chapters examine such topics as mysticism and kabbalah; modern Hebrew; interfaith relations; and, the highly contested question, 'Who is a Jew?'
Call Number: BM562 .L353 2011
ISBN: 9781848853942
Publication Date: 2010-11-25
Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays by Cantor Matt Axelrod Recent years have seen an increased interest in Jewish life, its culture, and its celebrations. There are many new students of Judaism, often potential converts or members of interfaith families who are seeking to learn more about the religion and its rituals. Unfortunately, many of the existing texts that examine the Jewish holidays are written in a dry, unexciting way, making it difficult for the reader to retain much information. For those seeking to learn more about Jewish celebrations, Cantor Matt Axelrod has written Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays: From Shofar to Seder. Intended for the reader who has no prior knowledge about the Jewish holidays as well as the reader who knows the basics about the holidays but wants to understand the holidays on a deeper level, Axelrod's book takes a humorous, light-hearted look at the 11 most important Jewish holidays. Instead of simply explaining that Jews are obligated to observe in a certain way because of a biblical text, Axelrod shows where each holiday, along with its rituals, came from in a historical context. He provides a humorous retelling of the biblical passages relating to the holiday, explorations of rituals associated with each holiday, and descriptions of traditional foods. Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays also features special sections labeled "In Depth" or "Perfect for Families" that expand upon elements of each holiday in ways that provide greater understanding of traditions or that invite the reader to get the rest of the family involved.
Call Number: BM690 .A84 2014
ISBN: 9780765709899
Publication Date: 2013-12-24
Torah by Irmtraud Fischer (Editor); Mercedes Navarro Puerto (Editor) This volume is the first in The Bible and Women series. It presents a history of the reception of the Bible as embedded in Western cultural history with a special focus on the history of women and issues of gender. It introduces the series, explaining the choice of the Hebrew canon in connection with the Christian tradition and preparing the way for a changed view of women throughout the series. The contributors explore the gendered significance of the canonical writings as well as the process of their canonization and the social-historical background of ancient Near Eastern women's lives, both of which play key roles in the series. Turning to the Pentateuch, essays address a variety of texts and issues still relevant today, such as creation and male-female identity in the image of God, women's roles in the genealogies of the Pentateuch and in salvation history, the rights and responsibilities of women according to the Hebrew Bible's legal and ritual texts, and how archaeology and iconography can illustrate the texts of the Torah. Contributors include Sophie Démare-Lafont, Dorothea Erbele-Küster, Karin Finsterbusch, Irmtraud Fischer, Mercedes García Bachmann, Thomas Hieke, Carol Meyers, Mercedes Navarro Puerto, Jorunn Økland, Ursula Rapp, Donatella Scaiola, Silvia Schroer, Jopie Siebert-Hommes, and Adriana Valerio.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1589836111
Publication Date: 2011-11-11
Creating American Reform Judaism by Sefton D. Temkin Judaism's major institutions - Hebrew Union College, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Reform prayer book Minhag America - were all due to the singular efforts of Isaac Mayer Wise (1819-1900). Sefton Temkin's biography captures the vigour of Wise's personality and the politicsand concerns of Jewish life and leadership in America at that time. It is a lively portrait of a rabbi who was a pivotal figure in the naturalization of Jews and Judaism in the New World.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1874774455
Publication Date: 1998-09-01
Introduction to Second Temple Judaism by Lester L. Grabbe An internationally respected expert on the Second Temple period provides a fully up-to-date introduction to this crucial area of Biblical Studies. This introduction, by a world leader in the field, provides the perfect guide to the Second Temple Period, its history, literature, and religious setting. Lester Grabbe magisterially guides the reader through the period providing a careful overview of the most studied sources, the history surrounding them and the various currents within Judaism at the time. This book will be a core text for courses on the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, as well as Qumran, Intertestamental Literature and Early Judaism.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1282868497
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Studies in Judaism by Jacob Neusner Jacob Neusner describes, analyzes, and interprets the transformation of one system of the Israelite social order by a connected but autonomous successor-system. He characterizes the successive systems classifying the one as philosophical and the other as religious. He explains the categorical account of each and sets forth the outcome of a number of topical studies on the category-formations of Rabbinic Judaism with special attention to the social order: politics, philosophy, and economics. These systems emerged as 1] autonomous when viewed synchronically, 2] connected when seen diachronically, and 3] as a continuous construction when seen at the end of their formative age. In their successive stages of categorical autonomy, connection, and finally continuity, the three distinct systems may be classified, respectively, as philosophical, religious, and theological, each one taking over and revising the definitive categories of the former and framing its own fresh, generative categories as well. The formative history of Judaism is the story of the presentations and re-presentations of categorical structures. In method, it is the exegesis of taxonomy and taxic systems. Now, after more than two decades, Neusner has decided to review the initial statement. Since the book summarizes ten years of work, from 1980 to 1990, on the Rabbinic category formations of social science politics, philosophy, and economics in the setting of the law and theology of Rabbinic Judaism from the Mishnah through the Bavli, 200-600 C.E., it seemed well worth the effort to recapitulate the original work. The revised introduction explains the omission of theology in his category-formation philosophy-religion-theology; Neusner's account of the Bavli produced the decade after this title was completed did not make possible the continuous description of the unfolding of the Rabbinic system. The pattern that appealed to Neusner from philosophy to religion to theology has not yet come to a satisfactory account. In the twenty years of work on the third layer of the canon up to the Bavli, a series of monographs clarified the theological system that sustained Rabbinic Judaism.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0761854401
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Judaism and Islam in Practice by Jonathan E. Brockopp; Jacob Neusner; Tamara Sonn Judaism and Islam compare because they concur that God cares deeply not only about attitudes but actions, not only about what one says to God but how one conducts affairs at home and in the village. In this sourcebook, the authors have selected key passages from the laws of Judaism and Islam which allow a close examination of their mode of expression and medium of thought as well as the substance of the laws themselves. The selected passages concentrate on areas critical to the life of piety and faith as actually practised within the two faith-communities - the relationship between the believer and God, between and among believers, at home in marriage, outside the home in the community and between the faithful and the infidels (for Islam) or idolaters (for Judaism). Judaism and Islam in Practice presents an invaluable collection of sources of Jewish and Islamic law and provides a unique analysis of the similarities and contrasts between the two faiths.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1134605544
Publication Date: 2005-09-27
Cambridge Dictionary of Judaism and Jewish Culture by Judith R. Baskin (Editor) The Cambridge Dictionary of Judaism and Jewish Culture is an authoritative and accessible reference work for a twenty-first-century audience. Its entries, written by eminent scholars, define the spiritual and intellectual concepts and religious movements that distinguish Judaism and the Jewish experience; they discuss central personalities and places, formative events and enduring literary and cultural contributions and they illuminate the lives of ordinary Jewish men and women. Essays explore Jewish history from ancient times to the present and consider all aspects of Judaism, including religious practices and rituals, legal teachings and legendary traditions and rationalism, mysticism and messianism. This reference work differs from many others in its broad exploration of the Jewish experience beyond Judaism. Entries discuss secular and political movements and achievements and delineate Jewish endeavors in literature, art, music, theater, dance, film, broadcasting, sports, science, medicine and ecology, among many other topics from the Bible to the Internet.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0521825970
Publication Date: 2011-08-31

Essential Tao by Thomas Cleary
Call Number: BL1910 .C63 1993
ISBN: 0785809058
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Taoism by Isabelle Robinet; Phyllis Brooks (Translator) This is a survey of the history of Taoism from approximately the third century B.C. to the fourteenth century A.D. For many years, it was customary to divide Taoism into "philosophical Taoism" and "religious Taoism." The author has long argued that this is a false division and that "religious" Taoism is simply the practice of "philosophical" Taoism. She sees Taoism as foremost a religion, and the present work traces the development of Taoism up to the point it reached its mature form (which remains intact today, albeit with modern innovations). The main aim of this history of Taoism is to trace the major lines of its doctrinal evolution, showing the coherence of its development, the wide varieties of factors that came into play over a long period of disconnected eras, the constant absorptions of outside contributions, and the progress that integrates them. The author shows how certain recurrent themes are treated in different ways in different eras and different sects. Among these themes are the Ultimate Truth, immortality, the Sage, the genesis and the end of the world, retribution for good and evil acts, representations of heavens and hells, and the connections between life and the spirit, between life and death, between man and society, and between mystical experience and the social form of religion. The plan of the book is chronological, but the chronology is somewhat fluid given the way Taoism evolved; as it assimilated new features in the course of its growth, it never ceased to continue to develop the old ones. Thus the Celestial Masters sect, which is chronologically the first to attain a structure, is treated at the outset of the book though it exists down to our day, and the Shangqing tradition took shape in the fourth century though its glory years were under the Tang (618-907).
Call Number: BL1910 .R631997
ISBN: 9780804728386
Publication Date: 1997-05-01
An Introduction to the Philosophy and Religion of Taoism by Jeaneane D. Fowler In its rich evolution from antiquity to present times, Chinese religion has encompassed manifold religious expressions. Taoism is one facet of Chinese religion, and exemplifies particularly well the variety of beliefs and practices that humankind has adopted and experienced in the search for answers to both ultimate and proximate questions about life and death. This book, a companion volume to the bestselling Perspectives of Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Hinduism, explores the different pathways Taoism took in that search, touching at many points on the other interrelated facets of Chinese religion in Confucianism, Buddhism and popular religion. The mystical, philosophical traditions of Taoism are analyzed, as well as the more colorful and overtly religious strands of Taoism.
Call Number: BL1920 .F685 2005
ISBN: 9781845190866
Publication Date: 2005-09-30
The General Theory of Taoism by Fuchen Hu (Editor); Zhonghou Yan (Translator) To understand Taoism is to understand the roots of contemporary Chinese culture. This significant book highlights the significance of Taoism in modern day China and supplies detailed information covering all aspects of a philosophical and religious tradition which is followed by as many as 400 million people worldwide. Comprehensive and user-friendly, the book outlines the principle theories and categories of Taoism, covering each aspect in great detail. Whether new to the subject or a follower, this essential book will enable the reader to better understand all aspects of Taoism and appreciate its central role within a newly reformed China. (Series: Chinese Culture and Philosophy)
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1844640957
Publication Date: 2013-02-01
The Emergence of Daoism by Gil Raz At the core of Daoism are ancient ideas concerning the Way, the fundamental process of existence (the Dao). Humans, as individuals and as a society, should be aligned with the Dao in order to attain the fullness of life and its potential. This book presents the history of early Daoism, tracing the development of the tradition between the first and the fifth centuries CE. This book discusses the emergence of several Daoist movements during this period, including the relatively well-known Way of the Celestial Master that appeared in the second century, and the Upper Clarity and the Numinous Treasure lineages that appeared in the fourth century. These labels are very difficult to determine socially, and they obscure the social reality of early medieval China, that included many more lineages. This book argues that these lineages should be understood as narrowly defined associations of masters and disciples, and it goes on to describe these diverse social groupings as 'communities of practice'. Shedding new light on a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, the formation of Daoism as a new religion in early medieval China, this book presents a major step forward in Daoist Studies.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1136618066
Publication Date: 2012-03-15
Science and the Dao by Livia Kohn Livia Kohn is professor emerita of religion and East Asian studies at Boston University and now lives in Florida. Her specialty is medieval Daoism and the study of Chinese longevity practices. She has written and edited numerous books and is a long-term practitioner of taiji quan, qigong, yoga, and meditation.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1931483329
Publication Date: 2016-02-29
Daoism and Chinese Culture by Livia Kohn A long-awaited textbook that introduces the major schools, teachings, and practices of Daoism, this work presents a chronological survey that is thematically divided into four parts: Ancient Thought, Religious Communities, Spiritual Practices, and Modernity. The work offers an integrated vision of the Daoist tradition in its historical and cultural context, establishing connections with relevant information on Confucianism, Chinese Buddhism, popular religion, and political developments. It also places Daoism into a larger theoretical and comparative framework, relating it to mysticism, millenarianism, forms of religious organization, ritual, meditation, and modernity. The book makes ample use of original materials and provides references to further readings and original sources in translation. It is a powerful resource for teaching and studying alike.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1931483000
Publication Date: 2005-06-30
Women in Daoism by Livia Kohn; Catherine Despeux Livia Kohn (Author) Livia Kohn is professor emerita of religion and East Asian studies at Boston University and now lives in Florida. Her specialty is medieval Daoism and the study of Chinese longevity practices. She has written and edited numerous books and is a long-term practitioner of taiji quan, qigong, yoga, and meditation.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1931483019
Publication Date: 2005-06-30
Taoism by Zhongjian Mou Religious Studies in Contemporary China Collection, Taoism gathers together English translations of seventeen articles originally published in the People s Republic of China between 1947 and 2006, and republished together in 2008 as part of an edited volume of representative works in PRC Taoist studies."
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 128347087X
Publication Date: 2012-05-07

Cults by Karen Zeinert Author Karen Zeinert examines the history of cults in the United States. Explored are the views of people who are pro-cult, as well as those who oppose cults. Also examined are issues surrounding cults and anti-cult groups today, as well as first-hand accounts of former cult members.
Call Number: BL2525 .Z45 1997
ISBN: 0894909002
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Cults in America by Willa Appel
Call Number: BL2530.U6 A661983
ISBN: 9780030548369
Publication Date: 1983-05-01
Cults and New Religions by Douglas E. Cowan; David G. Bromley This unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements has been completely up-dated and expanded to reflect the latest developments; each chapter reviews the origins, leaders, beliefs, rituals and practices of a NRM, highlighting the specific controversies surrounding each group. A fully updated, revised and expanded edition of an unparalleled introduction to cults and new religious movements Profiles a number of the most visible, significant, and controversial new religious movements, presenting each group's history, doctrines, rituals, leadership, and organization Offers a discussion of the major controversies in which new religious movements have been involved, using each profiled group to illustrate the nature of one of those controversies Covers debates including what constitutes an authentic religion, the validity of claims of brainwashing techniques, the implications of experimentation with unconventional sexual practices, and the deeply rooted cultural fears that cults engender New sections include methods of studying new religions in each chapter as well as presentations on 'groups to watch'
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 9781118723500
Publication Date: 2015-04-27
Cults by James R. Lewis Cults examines the history and current status of cults across the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Focusing on the principal controversial religions and movements that have attracted major media attention, the book also includes profiles of hundreds of minority religions, from Jesus People and Rastafarians to voodoo practitioners and the human-cloning Raelians. All the issues central to the practice and the fear of cults are examined - apocalypticism, deprogramming, social isolation, cults and the media, the use and threat of violence, child custody, libel, tax evasion, solicitation, and the techniques of persuasion and conviction - as are the many charismatic cult leaders. Cults presents a comprehensive and authoritative reference, offering a balanced view of the controversy surrounding these new religious movements, assessing the movements themselves as well as the legal and governmental responses to them, including attempts to quantify membership.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 1317545133
Publication Date: 2014-09-11
Misunderstanding Cults by Thomas Robbins (Editor); Benjamin Zablocki (Editor) Misunderstanding Cults provides a uniquely balanced contribution to what has become a highly polarized area of study. Working towards a moderate "third path" in the heated debate over new religious movements or cults, this collection includes contributions from both scholars who have been characterized as "anticult" and those characterized as "cult-apologists." The study incorporates multiple viewpoints as well as a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives, with the stated goal of depolarizing the discussion over alternative religious movements. A prominent section within the book focuses explicitly on the issue of scholarly objectivity and the danger of partisanship in the study of cults. The collection also includes contributions on the controversial and much misunderstood topic of brainwashing, as well as discussions of cult violence, children brought up in unconventional religious movements, and the conflicts between alternative religious movements and their critics. Unique in its breadth, this is the first study of new religious movements to address the main points of controversy within the field while attempting to find a middle ground between opposing camps of scholarship.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0802043739
Publication Date: 2001-12-01
Cults by Marc Galanter From the mass weddings of Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church to the ritual suicides at Heaven's Gate, charismatic cults and their devotees have become facts of American life. Using material gleaned from twenty-five years of direct encounters with cults and their detractors, as well asextensive research, Marc Galanter offers the most extensive psychological analysis of these organizations available. Cults explores not only how members feel and think at all stages of their involvement, but also how larger social and psychological forces reinforce individual commitment within thecults.For this revised and newly-illustrated second edition, Galanter has added three new chapters on cult development in the 1990s, spiritual recovery movements, and alternative medicine.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0195123697
Publication Date: 1999-05-20
Mystic Cults in Magna Graecia by Giovanni Casadio (Editor); Patricia A. Johnston (Editor) In Vergil's Aeneid, the poet implies that those who have been initiated into mystery cults enjoy a blessed situation both in life and after death. This collection of essays brings new insight to the study of mystic cults in the ancient world, particularly those that flourished in Magna Graecia (essentially the area of present-day Southern Italy and Sicily). Implementing a variety of methodologies, the contributors to Mystic Cults in Magna Graecia examine an array of features associated with such "mystery religions" that were concerned with individual salvation through initiation and hidden knowledge rather than civic cults directed toward Olympian deities usually associated with Greek religion. Contributors present contemporary theories of ancient religion, field reports from recent archaeological work, and other frameworks for exploring mystic cults in general and individual deities specifically, with observations about cultural interactions throughout. Topics include Dionysos and Orpheus, the Goddess Cults, Isis in Italy, and Roman Mithras, explored by an international array of scholars including Giulia Sfameni Gasparro ("Aspects of the Cult of Demeter in Magna Graecia") and Alberto Bernabe ("Imago Inferorum Orphica"). The resulting volume illuminates this often misunderstood range of religious phenomena.
Call Number: E-BOOK
ISBN: 0292799276
Publication Date: 2009-01-01

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