Understanding World Religions

A Road Map for Justice and Peace

By (author) David Whitten Smith, Elizabeth Geraldine Burr

Publication date:

21 August 2014

Length of book:

488 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

234x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781442226425

Understanding World Religions introduces students to major worldviews—including Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Native American, and Marxist—through the lens of justice and peace. The second edition has been updated and revised throughout.

After an introduction to key themes in studying world religion, chapters help students explore major traditions today. Each chapter takes a similar approach, examining several dimensions of each tradition—experiential and emotional, social and institutional, narrative or mythic, doctrinal and philosophical, practical and ritual, and ethical and legal. Chapters feature profiles of major peacemakers or groups to bring the traditions to life. Profiles range from Gandhi and Martin Luther King to Thich Nhat Hanh and Dorothy Day. Further chapters explore liberation theologies, active nonviolence, and just war theory.

The second edition features a broader framework than the first edition and includes new material on non-religious ethical norms, Islamophobia, colonial evangelization, religion in China, and an updated examination of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Understanding World Religions remains a powerful introduction to major worldviews with an emphasis on practical connections to peace and justice.
Finally a book on worldviews that provides an honest and comprehensive discussion of issues that are most critical to the very survival of religion and civilization. The book’s focus on justice and peace as its guiding themes has greatly enhanced the value of studying world religions.