Synopses & Reviews
Authored by distinguished scholars of religion writing in their areas of specialty, PATTERNS OF RELIGION examines key religious traditions around the world, from the ancient origins of religion to contemporary religious movements. Expertly written and organized, this text offers unparalleled flexibility for instructors. Each chapter explores the history, beliefs, practices, and contemporary perspectives for a major religious tradition. This unified chapter structure helps to emphasize the patterns that link diverse religious traditions. The readings at the end of chapters include selections from scriptures and other important texts, eliminating the need for a separate scripture anthology. Now in full color, the supporting maps, photographs, chronologies, glossaries, and tables help contextualize each tradition and encourage further inquiry.
Review
"There are just enough reading selections to give the students a taste of scriptural (and other) sources without becoming too overwhelming as a single text."
Review
"The Patterns of Religion is not only a standard for other textbooks on the topic; it is a work of art."
Review
"For a beginning student, it is perfect. For an advanced student, it is a great foundational text."
Synopsis
Experts agree: there are seven main religions in the world. PATTERNS OF RELIGION examines each one, showing how its beliefs and practices compare with other religious traditions. Not only is this introduction to world religions textbook easy to understand, it's also loaded with study tools and end-of -chapter materials that will help you ace the test.
About the Author
Roger Schmidt was most recently chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Hsi Lai University (Rosemead, Ca.), a university grounded in Buddhist traditions and values. He is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Claremont Graduate School. He taught philosophy and religion for thirty years at San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton College, retiring as a professor emeritus in 1993. A prolific scholar and researcher, he continues to explore religious traditions in Asia and beyond. In addition to academic studies, Gene Sager brings to this text the experience of living as a scholar and translator in Japan. He has translated articles by Kyoto University's Keiji Nishitani and authored numerous articles on environmental issues and Asian religion. He received the faculty award for teaching excellence at Palomar College (May, 2001). Gerald Carney is the Elliott Professor of Religion at Hampden-Sydney College. He received his Ph.D. in the history of religions from Fordham University, and has published widely on Vaishnava devotional traditions, religious aesthetics, interreligious dialogue, and on Baba Premananda Bharati, an early Bengali Vaishnava missionary to the West. Kenneth J. Zanca is professor of Religious Studies at Marymount College, Palos Verdes, California, He received his Ph.D. from Fordham University, where he studied systematic theology with a concentration in Christian Ethics. He has published widely, including a text book for Contemporary Moral Issues classes entitled How to Arrive at a Considered Opinion. His research passion is American Catholic History, and he has published extensively in this field to leading journals and magazines. In 2008, his most recent book was published, The Catholics and Mrs. Mary Surratt: How They Responded to the Trial and Execution of the Lincoln Conspirator.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Overview. 1. Discerning Patterns of Religion. Part I. RELIGIONS ANCIENT, INDIGENOUS and CONTEMPORARY. 2. Ancient Spirituality. 3. Indigenous World Religions, Past and Present. 4. Contemporary Religious Movements. Part II. RELIGIONS ORIGINATING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 5. Judaism. 6. Christianity. 7. Islam. 8. Zoroastrianism. 9. Baha'i. Part III. RELIGIONS ORIGINATING IN INDIA. 10. Hinduism. 11. Buddhism. 12. Jainism. 13. Sikhism. Part IV. RELIGIONS ORIGINATING IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 14. Taoism. 15. Confucianism. 16. Shinto.