Religions Of The World: Media And Research Update - Softcover

Hopfe, Lewis M.; Woodward, Mark R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0131195158 ISBN 13: 9780131195158

Publisher: Pearson College Div, 2005

Synopsis

This comprehensive yet concise book makes a reader-friendly introduction to World Religions—ideal for those with no previous exposure to Religious Studies or the study of religion more generally. Offering accurate, comparative descriptions of religions, it gives background material on religious theory and study, while exploring the historical and cultural factors. This book includes chapters on Native American and African religions as well as Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Baha'i. For individuals interested in the role of religion in the modern world.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Widely adopted for its accessible style and comprehensive, yet concise, presentation, Religions of the World is ideal for students with no previous exposure to world religions. This best-selling text offers accurate, comparative descriptions of a broad range of religions. It explores living religions in terms of the historical and cultural factors that produced them, the lives of their founders, their basic teachings, and their historical development and current status in the world.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

The world has changed since the last edition of this book was published. After September 11, 2001, it was no longer necessary to question the need for the academic study of religion. Policymakers, students, and the public at large came to understand very quickly that religion had replaced economics as the most ideologically potent force in the post-Cold War world. Just as religions include the seeds of peace, they offer the potential for hatred and violence. It is naive to believe that understanding alone will lead to tolerance and acceptance of the basic humanity of others. Some interpretations of most religions are inherently intolerant and incline toward violence. Understanding the dark side is, however, essential in the struggle to overcome it. Understanding religions other than our own, even if our own is none, is also necessary if we are to avoid stereotyping all members of a faith because of the violent acts of a few. In preparing the ninth edition of Lewis Hopfe's text, I have drawn on my experience teaching the introductory course on world religions to thousands of students over the past decade and living and working in Buddhist and Muslim societies for extended periods. I have tried to bring the book and the study of world religions into the post-September 11 era. There is expanded coverage of "new religions" and new variants of established traditions. Some of these traditions, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the new Chinese religion Falun Dafa, have been the victims of persecution. Others, including the version of Islam promoted by Usama bin Laden and his associates and Hindu fundamentalist in India, encourage acts of violence.

My thanks to the reviewers of the ninth edition: Barry R. Sang, Catawba College, and Pamela Jean Owen, University of Nebraska.

This edition of Religions of the World is dedicated to the survivors and victims of the tragedies of September 11, 2001.

Mark R. Woodward

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson College Div
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0131195158
• ISBN 13: 9780131195158
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 407