A Short Introduction to World Religions

by Christopher Partridge (Editor), Tim Dowley (Revised by)

Overview

This leading textbook for world religions is now available in a more concise version. Many of the features of Introduction to World Religions are retained in this volume but with focus on the religious traditions themselves. The section on religions of antiquity has been removed and key content in each chapter streamlined to increase accessibility for students in their study and research of the world's religious traditions. Known and valued for its balanced approach, this book offers an arresting layout with rich illustrations. It continues to provide broad coverage of diverse religions, including indigenous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Chinese, Korean, and Japanese religions.

The user-friendly content is enhanced by charts of religious festivals, historic timelines, updated maps of the world's religions, and a useful glossary. Both historical overviews and modern perspectives for each religion are included.

This edition includes several updates made to the new third edition, including a new design, a new section on women and religion, and a newly revised section on religions in today's world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506445953
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	394
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Christopher Partridge is professor of religion at Lancaster University.

Tim Dowley is a historian and prolific author and editor of Bible and theology resources. He is the author of The Student Bible Atlas (Fortress Press, 2015), Christian Music: A Global History (Fortress Press, 2011), and The Christians: An Illustrated History (2007) and editor of The Atlas of Christian History (Fortress Press, 2016) and The Atlas of the European Reformations (Fortress Press, 2015), among many other titles.

Table of Contents

Contributors x

List of Maps xiii

List of Time Charts xiii

List of Festival Charts xiii

List of Illustrations xiv

Preface xv

Part 1 Understanding Religion

1 What Is Religion? 2

2 The Anthropology of Religion 5

Myths and Symbols 8

3 The Sociology of Religion 10

4 Theological Approaches to the Study of Religion 15

5 Ritual and Performance 19

6 Religions of Antiquity 26

Part 2 Indigenous Religions

7 Understanding Indigenous Religions 40

8 Indigenous Religions in Asia 47

9 Australian Aboriginal Religions 52

10 South American Indigenous Religions 56

11 Native North Americans 62

12 African Indigenous Religions 65

Part 3 Hinduism

13 A Historical Overview 72

14 Sacred Writings 79

15 Beliefs 83

16 Worship and Festivals 91

I am a Hindu 96

17 Hinduism in the Modern World 98

Part 4 Buddhism

18 A Historical Overview 104

19 Sacred Writings 112

20 Beliefs 117

I am a Buddhist 124

21 Buddhism in the Modern World 126

Parts 5 Chinese, Korean, And Japanese Religions

22 Chinese Religions 134

23 Sinkyo: Korea's Traditional Religion 145

24 Japanese Religions 148

Part 6 Jainism

25 A Historical Overview 160

Leaders and Enlightenment 166

26 Sacred Writings 167

27 Beliefs 170

28 Worship and Festivals 175

The Puja of Eight Substances 177

I am a Jain 180

29 Jainism in the Modern World 182

Part 7 Judaism

30 A Historical Overview 186

31 Sacred Writings 200

Divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures 203

32 Beliefs 204

33 Worship and Festivals 210

Seder Meal 212

I am a Jew 216

34 Branches of Judaism 217

35 Judaism in the Modern World 222

Part 8 Christianity

36 A Historical Overview 228

37 Jesus 236

Branches of the Church 240

38 Sacred Writings 245

39 Beliefs 247

40 Worship and Festivals 253

I am a Christian 258

41 Contemporary Christianity 260

Part 9 Islam

42 A Historical Overview 266

43 The Unity and Variety of Islam 275

44 Sacred Writings 279

45 Beliefs 282

46 Worship and Festivals 287

47 The Law of Islam 293

I am a Muslim 296

48 Islam in the Modern World 298

Part 10 Sikhism

49 A Historical Overview 304

The Ten Gurus 306

The Kbalsa 308

50 Sacred Writings 310

51 Beliefs 312

The Mul Mantra 316

52 Worship and Festivals 317

I am a Sikh 320

53 Sikhism Today 323

Part 11 Religions In Today's World

54 New Religious Movements 330

55 Secularization and Sacralization 337

I am a Rastafarian 340

56 Religion and Globalization 342

World Religions Today 345

I am a Spiritual Seeker 346

57 Religion and Politics 348

58 Women and Religion 354

Rapid Fact-Finder 359

Index 387

Picture Acknowledgments 394