Invitation to World Religions / Edition 2

by Jeffrey Brodd, Layne Little, Brad Nystrom, Robert Platzner, Richard Shek

Overview

Featuring a unique, consistent, and modular chapter structure—"Teachings," "History," and "Way of Life"—and numerous pedagogical features, Invitation to World Religions invites students to explore the world's great religions with respect and a sense of wonder. This chapter structure enables students to navigate each religion in a consistent and systematic way and helps students to make comparisons between religions. The book describes the essential features of each religion and shows how they have responded to basic human needs and to the cultural contexts in which they developed. The authors also encourage students to develop an appreciation for what religious beliefs and practices actually mean to their adherents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199378364
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/26/2015
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	648
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey Brodd is Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Layne Little is Lecturer of Religious Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Bradley Nystrom is Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Robert Platzner is Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Richard Shek is Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

Erin Stiles is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Table of Contents

Preface
1 An Invitation to the Study of World Religions
APPROACHING THE STUDY OF WORLD RELIGIONS
WHAT RELIGIONS DO
RELIGIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD
AN ACADEMIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
2 Indigenous Religions of North America
THE TEACHINGS OF INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS
THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS
INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS AS A WAY OF LIFE
3 Indigenous Religions of Africa
THE TEACHINGS OF INDIGENOUS AFRICAN RELIGIONS
THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS AFRICAN RELIGIONS
AFRICAN RELIGIONS AS A WAY OF LIFE
4 Hinduism
THE TEACHINGS OF HINDUISM
THE HISTORY OF HINDUISM
HINDUISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
5 Buddhism
THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM
THE HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
BUDDHISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
6 Jainism
THE TEACHINGS OF JAINISM
THE HISTORY OF JAINISM
JAINISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
7 Sikhism
THE TEACHINGS OF SIKHISM
THE HISTORY OF SIKHISM
SIKHISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
8 Chinese Religions: Confucianism and Daoism
THE TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIANISM AND DAOISM
THE HISTORY OF CONFUCIANISM AND DAOISM
CONFUCIANISM AND DAOISM AS WAYS OF LIFE
9 Shinto
THE TEACHINGS OF SHINTO
THE HISTORY OF SHINTO
SHINTO AS A WAY OF LIFE
10 Zoroastrianism
THE TEACHINGS OF ZOROASTRIANISM
THE HISTORY OF ZOROASTRIANISM
ZOROASTRIANISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
11 Judaism
THE TEACHINGS OF JUDAISM
THE HISTORY OF JUDAISM
JUDAISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
12 Christianity
THE TEACHINGS OF CHRISTIANITY
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
CHRISTIANITY AS A WAY OF LIFE
13 Islam
THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
THE HISTORY OF ISLAM
ISLAM AS A WAY OF LIFE
14 New Religious Movements
WHAT IS "NEW" ABOUT NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS?
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTIANITIES AND THEIR OFFSHOOTS
THE REDISCOVERY OF EASTERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
THE REVIVAL OF ESOTERIC AND NEOPAGAN THOUGHT
THE EMERGENCE OF UNIVERSALIST RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
THE NEW ATHEISM
Notes N-1
Glossary G-1
Credits C-1
Index I-1

Editorial Reviews

"I love Invitation to World Religions. I'd used Molloy for years and switched to Brodd last semester. It's less expensive for students and better all the way around."—Jeffrey Scholes, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

"With an accessible style and a simple and consistent format, Invitation to World Religions, Second Edition, is a clear and concise introduction to world religions. Each chapter surveys the basic Teachings, History, and Way of Life of a religion, with emphases on the unity and diversity within religious traditions and communities, as well as on the daily lives of religious individuals. In addition to answering life's "big questions" (What exists? Who am I? What's important? How should I live? etc.), the text considers why and what it means for people to be religious—from personal and cultural values and motives, to holidays, clothes, food, and so forth. Practical, well-illustrated, and engaging, Invitation to World Religions is the best introductory textbook on the market."—Glenn Snyder, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

"Brodd's Invitation to World Religions is better structured, livelier, and despite being somewhat more sophisticated, more accessible than Molloy's Experiencing the World's Religions. I especially like the structure of the chapters and the 'Seeking Answers' questions that close each chapter."—S.T. Campagna-Pinto, California State University, Bakersfield

"The authors have a clear, smooth style of prose that is easy to read. It is perfect for students. The authors' expertise shows through. This book's breadth of coverage is what makes it distinctive. I was quite amazed with the supplemental resources for the book. I have read and/or reviewed nearly every major World Religion textbook and have never found one with resources that I could use. The vocabulary flashcards are quite innovative and the various quizzes and tests will help students study the chapters. The PowerPoints are actually slides that I would use in class. Perhaps the best resource is the CNN video library. It is the type of material that I now look for on the internet. I see no equal to Invitation to World Religions at the present time."—Kenneth Atkinson, University of Northern Iowa

"This text excels in leading the reader/student toward compassion and understanding. Brodd is consistent and thorough, showing a sensitivity that makes the book stand out."—James A. Zeller, San Joaquin Delta College

"Invitation to World Religions is a well-written and conceptualized book that is accessible to students and helps them to understand religion and its role in the modern world."—Robert E. Brown, James Madison University

"Invitation to World Religions is a thoroughly enjoyable read, but also deals with how people live their lives according to their faith and religion. That is what is most distinctive and different."—Paul Schneider, University of South Florida

"Packaging religions under teachings, lifestyle, and history makes pedagogical sense to me. Other books are not organized as effectively. Invitation to World Religions stimulates critical thought and rational understanding of theological presuppositions and leads students to draw their own conclusions about the material."—Matthew Hallgarth, Tarleton State University

"I believe that Invitation to World Religions is superior to competing world religions textbooks on a number of counts. It is well written and the coverage tends to focus on a few items in each section and go into them with some helpful specific details instead of simply speaking in generalizations. It is very important to me that each chapter has the same format. Also, the 'visual guide' sections are wonderful."—John Sanders, Hendrix College

"The in-depth coverage of religious traditions, the visual guides and timelines, and the discussion starters, along with the readability of the text, make this a great choice." —Stephanie P. Curran, Hagerstorn Community College

From the Publisher