Download Free A College Introduction To Religion First Edition Book in PDF and EPUB Free Download. You can read online A College Introduction To Religion First Edition and write the review.

A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion introduces the key concepts and theories from religious studies that are necessary for a full understanding of the complex relations between religion and society. The aim is to provide readers with an arsenal of critical concepts for studying religious ideologies, practices, and communities. This thoroughly revised second edition has been restructured to clearly emphasize key topics including: Essentialism Functionalism Authority Domination. All ideas and theories are clearly illustrated, with new and engaging examples and case studies throughout, making this the ideal textbook for students approaching the subject area for the first time.
A College Introduction to Religion brings together a variety of sources written by experts and professors of religion to help students both understand and appreciate the religions of the world. The anthology shows students that religious thought and practices often transcend traditional places of worship, finding their way into the most mundane places of everyday life. Students also learn how religious beliefs and values influence cultures, languages, and values around the world. The volume contains three parts. In Part I, students read articles about the tenuous nature of defining "religion" and how to approach the study of world religions. The readings in Part II examine religions by region, including African traditional religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Chinese religions. The final part considers the future of religion, inviting the reader to think critically about what the world might be like with or without religion. Modern in approach and containing insightful articles, A College Introduction to Religion is ideal for foundational courses in theology and world religions.
Introduction to World Religions: Upgrading One's Cultural Literacy is an enlightening and engaging text that provides students with fundamental knowledge about world religions to deepen their awareness and understanding of global cultures. The book is divided into three units. Unit I explores the Vedic religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. East Asian belief systems and religions are discussed in Unit II. The final unit describes the Abrahamic religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each unit highlights a major belief, tradition, or practice that unites the featured religions, and each individual chapter includes a list of key terms, selected readings, and comprehension questions to reinforce essential learnings. Throughout, maps build students' knowledge of world geography, and photographs and illustrations bring key beliefs, traditions, and practices to life. Developed to help students expand not only their knowledge of global religions but their knowledge of the world itself and its myriad cultures, Introduction to World Religions is an ideal text for foundational courses in religion and theology. Darryl E. Howard is a faculty member at North Lake College, part of the Dallas County Community College District, where he teaches courses in philosophy and religion. He holds an Ed.D. in educational administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Th.M. degree with an emphasis in educational leadership and administration from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
The Basics of World Religion is uniquely designed to introduce students to fundamental concepts in world religion.
Religious belief is one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous characteristics of human society. Religion has shadowed and illuminated human lives since primitive times, shaping the world views of cultures from isolated tribes to vast empires. Starting from the premise that religion is a concept which can be analysed and compared across time and cultures, What is Religion? brings the most up-to-date scholarship to bear on humankind’s most enduring creation. The book opens with a brief history of the idea of religion, then divides the study of religion into four essential topics - types, representations, practices, and institutions – and concludes with a final, eye-opening chapter on religion today. Packed with case studies from a wide range of religions, past and present, What is Religion? offers a very current, comprehensive, yet intellectually challenging overview of the history, theories, practices, and study of religion. Accessible, wide-ranging, engaging, and short, What is Religion? is written primarily for undergraduate students in the study of religion, but it will also be invaluable for students of anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, and theology as well as anyone interested in how and why humans came and continue to be religious.
Introductory Readings in Religious Studies: Methods, Classifications, and Criticism provides students with a diverse and enlightening collection of readings to familiarize them with the academic study of religion. The anthology includes contemporary writings from authors in the field, as well as articles highlighting key historical figures, including Karl Marx, John Dewey, Jacques Maritain, and more. The text features a unique focus on issues and trends in the field, such as religion and its intersection with popular culture, method in religious studies, and religion ethics and politics. The text is organized into five units. Unit I explores scholarly attempts to define religion and make distinctions between the terms "religion," "religious," and "spiritual." Unit II introduces students to the methodologies and disciplines deployed in the study of religion. In Unit III, the readings examine various aspects of religion, including typological classifications such as myth, symbol, ritual, belief, and ethics and morality. Unit IV explores how religious experience and expression proliferate the social world and become part of culture. The final unit centers on the criticism of religion from various perspectives. Underscoring the vitality of contemporary discourse in the field, Introductory Readings in Religious Studies is an ideal textbook for foundational courses in the discipline.
The Cambridge Illustrated History of Religions is a comprehensive survey of world religions from pre-history to the present day. Each religion is treated in depth, with text written by a recognized academic expert, and supported by extensive illustrations. The religions covered include Jainism, Chinese and Japanese religions, Hindu religions, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, along with smaller sections on Zoroaster and Parsis, Greek and Rome, Egypt and Mesopotamia, aboriginal religions, Shamanism, and modern religions such as Bahai. The book includes a substantial bibliography, a full chronology for each section, a general chronology giving the most significant dates from all religions, and information on religious phenomena such as festivals and calendars. This is an authoritative reference book which will appeal equally to students of religion, teachers, and general interested readers. John Bowker is the author of The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford, 2000), The Complete Bible Handbook: An Illustrated Companion (DK Publishing, 1998) and and The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford, 1997). He is Greshan Professor, Greshan College, London and Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and North Carolina State University.