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World Religions - PHIL105
Library books and eBooks
You may also use library books and eBooks to supplement the info you find in scholarly articles. These longer resources can answer many questions you have about a religion, since they have so much space! Scholarly articles, on the other hand, will likely only give you a narrow view of a specific aspect.
You do not need to read the full book! Use the table of contents (near beginning of book) to find a chapter that sounds relevant. Many non-fiction books also have indexes at the end that will list all the terminology used in the book and show what pages those terms can be found on.
Browse the books below or use the library catalog to search for your own. Since books are longer and broader, your search terms can be less specific.
- RVCC CatalogA catalog of the books and media on campus, plus eBooks and streaming video.
The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism
An ideal resource for courses on Hinduism or world religions, this accessible volume spans the entire field of Hindu studies. It provides a forum for the best scholars in the world to make their views and research available to a wider audience. Features four coherent sections covering theoretical issues, textual traditions, science and philosophy, and Hindu society and politics (eBook).
The Blackwell Companion to Judaism
This Companion explores the history, doctrines, divisions, and contemporary condition of Judaism; surveys those issues most relevant to Judaic life today: ethics, feminism, politics, and constructive theology; explores the definition of Judaism and its formative history; makes sense of the diverse data of an ancient and enduring faith (eBook).
Buddhism in the Modern World
Buddhism in the Modern World explores the challenges faced by Buddhism today, the distinctive forms that it has taken and the individuals and movements that have shaped it (eBook).
Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition
This volume explores how traditional Buddhist communities have responded to the challenges of modernity, such as science and technology, colonialism, and globalization. The history of Buddhism has been characterized by an ongoing tension between attempts to preserve traditional ideals and modes of practice and the need to adapt to changing cultural conditions (eBook).
Buddhism Plain and Simple
Buddhism Plain and Simple offers a clear, straightforward treatise on Buddhism in general and on awareness in particular. Steve Hagan presents the Buddha's uncluttered, original teachings in everyday, accessible language unencumbered by religious ritual. This book is about awareness. For people investigating Buddhism for the first time, Buddhism Plain and Simple offers a clear, straightforward look at the wisdom and guidance of an enlightened teacher who lived some 2500 years ago (eBook).
Christianity: a very short introduction
Christianity: A Very Short Introduction offers an overview of the world's largest religion. The Author provides information to enable the reader to gain an understanding of Christians and their beliefs (eBook).
Christianity today
This new introduction aims to present Christianity through the lens of contemporary issues. Illustrated throughout with examples and case studies taken from lived religion, each chapter looks at Christianity in a modern context, and modern issues relevant to the religion (eBook).
The Foundations of Buddhism
In this introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin concentrates on the ideas and practices which constitute the common heritage of the different traditions of Buddhism (Thervada, Tibetan, and Eastern) which exist in the world today (eBook).
Hindus: their religious beliefs and practices
Offering us a major study of religious Hinduism, Julius Lipner explains the evolution and multidimensional nature of the religion in a clear and direct fashion. Covering history, belief and practice, he combines factual information with explanation and analysis (eBook).
A history of Hinduism: the past, present, and future
A novel approach to Indian history of Hinduism, which in turn is told as the story of Brahmanas over three millennia. Presents an all-encompassing landscape view of Hinduism as it has been for the last five thousand years. The present status of Hinduism is discussed along with its survival in the future (eBook).
Islam
Essential overview for everyone who wants to understand what Islam is and what it means today. Topics include: the life of Muhammad, understanding the Quran, Islam in history, what Muslims believe and do, challenges facing Muslims today. (eBook)
Islam explained
This book explores the fundamental beliefs of Islam from its conception to the practices of its adherents. Presented in a simple and concise way, it explains the different aspects of the faith in topical form, with numerous quotations provided from the Quran and the Hadith (eBook).
Islam in the Modern World
This comprehensive introduction explores the landscape of contemporary Islam. Written by a distinguished team of scholars, it provides broad overviews of the developments, events, people and movements that have defined Islam in the three majority-Muslim regions and traces the connections between traditional Islamic institutions and concerns, and their modern manifestations and transformations (eBook).
Islam today
This introduction aims to present Islam through the lens of contemporary issues. Informed by research taken from lived religion, each chapter looks at Islam in a modern context, and explores issues relevant to the religion today. After an initial chapter providing an overview of the Islamic faith, its history and basic theological tenets, Ron Geaves moves through key contemporary themes: Islam and diversity, ethics and morality, gender, fundamentalism, and the relationship between Islam and the West (eBook).
Judaism and Islam in Practice : a Sourcebook
In this sourcebook, the authors have selected key passages from the laws of Judaism and Islam which allow a close examination of their mode of expression and medium of thought as well as the substance of the laws themselves (eBook).
Judaism today
This title provides a concise introduction to contemporary challenges and key issues facing Judaism. The contents cover sources of authority, the effects of the Jewish Enlightenment, the religious impact of the Holocaust, and much more (eBook).
Modern Judaism: an Oxford guide
"A multi-disciplinary, multi-authored guide to Jewish life and thought. This book covers the major areas of thought in Jewish Studies, including considerations of religious differences, sociological, philosophical, and gender issues, geographical diversity, inter-faith relations, and the impact of the Shoah (the Holocaust) and the modern state of Israel (eBook).
Studying Christianity
Part of the Studying World Religions series, this is an essential guide to the study of Christianity. Clearly structured to cover all the major areas of study, including chapters on how Christianity has been studied, foundations and scripture, community and structure, religious values, theology, and ethics, rituals and spirituality, aesthetics, and the teleological nature of Christianity, this is the ideal study aid for those approaching Christianity for the first time (eBook).
Using books in your research
Don't be overwhelmed by the length of a book! Instead of reading the whole thing, you can take a strategic approach to finding the most relevant sections. This video explains how to use a print book for research. The same techniques can be used for an eBook, but using an eBook can actually be easier! Rather than having to scan through pages with your eyes to find important terms, you can use the "Search Within Book" or "Find" function available in most eBooks to get a list of pages with that term.
