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Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

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Print Price: $154.99

Format:
Paperback
656 pp.
7.5" x 9.25"

ISBN-13:
9780197543788

Copyright Year:
2022

Imprint: OUP US


Invitation to World Religions

Fourth Edition

Jeffrey Brodd, Layne Little, Bradley Nystrom, Robert Platzner, Richard Shek and Erin Stiles

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.

Readership : Introduction to World Religion students.

Reviews

  • "This textbook provides a very comprehensive and concise overview of the study of religion as is."
    --Christopher Hoklotubbe, Cornell College

  • "The book is strong in its visual layout and the questions and glossary terms and inserted boxes are good. Generally, the content is strong and it is nice to begin each section with some relatable stories to draw in undergrads."
    --Andrew Christian van Gorder, Baylor University

  • "This textbook is good to Intro to Religion and since it is so detailed, it could be good enough for classes on Eastern or Western religions."
    --Mordecai Inbari, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

  • "This is a very comprehensive text. Its strengths are in the depth of research about each religion, the fair and unbiased way it is offered, and the readability."
    --Donald Stikeleather, Marian University

  • "This book is high quality. There are several strengths related to content. It is easy to read, covers the relevant components of religious traditions, and is thoroughly relevant to the discipline."
    --kenneth Bass, Central Texas College

Preface
1. An Invitation to the Study of World Religions
2. Indigenous Religions of North America
3. Indigenous Religions of Africa
4. Hinduism
5. Buddhism
6. Jainism
7. Sikhism
8. Chinese Religions: Confucianism and Daoism
9. Shinto
10. Zoroastrianism
11. Judaism
12. Christianity
13. Islam
14. New Religious Movements
Notes N-1
Glossary G-1
Credits C-1
Index I-1

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

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.

Making Sense - Margot Northey
The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion - Edited by Lewis R. Rambo and Charles E. Farhadian
The Truth Within - Gavin Flood
Twilight of the Saints - James Grehan

Special Features

  • A consistent, modular chapter structure-"Teachings," "History," and "Way of Life"-enables students to navigate each religion in a consistent and systematic way and helps them make comparisons between religions.
  • A lucid and accessible writing style imparts a sense of invitation, welcoming students into the beliefs and practices of religious adherents around the world.
  • A team of authors with diverse specialties ensures that each religion is covered with true expertise.
  • "Voices" interviews present personal, candid interviews with a diverse array of people sharing the ways in which they live their traditions, giving students an insider's perspective on the traditions they are studying.
  • "Global Snapshot" highlights how each religion is reflected in a globalized world or as it is lived in diasporic communities.
  • "Seeking Answers" sections at the end of each chapter encourage students to compare the ways in which different religions address the same essential questions.
  • "Visual Guides" offer keys to important religious symbols in easy-to-read tables for quick reference and comparison.
  • Chapter-opening maps and timelines throughout the text provide a geographical context for each religion's development and help students to trace the evolution of each religion within its larger social and political context.
  • "For Review" and "For Further Reflection" questions prompt students to reexamine essential concepts and invite students to think critically and to engage in deeper analyses.
  • Key terms are boldfaced at their first appearance and defined in the glossaries that follow each chapter as well as in a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book.
  • Suggestions for further reading direct students to some of the best and most recent print and online resources on each tradition.
  • A wealth of rich and relevant color photographs and illustrations keep students visually engaged and add visual experience to the verbal descriptions of sacred objects, buildings, art, and other material aspects of religious life.
  • A robust ancillary program includes student quizzes, chapter learning objectives, suggested web links, and flashcards.