The New Believers Historical Diversity A Brief Summary Of World Religions

Presented in a time line format, the book offers a survey of world religions. It examines global perspectives on the history of faith in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.

Having reached the age of eighty-two years I felt compelled to leave my children and grandchildren a broad, if brief, understanding of the world religions as I see them. I am not a theological analyst but I can approach the subject of religion historically. Yesterday's heretic may have a philosophy that could be a main line church today. As archaeologists dig, scholars study and historians search, it reveals an ever-changing religious structure. The distrust and even hatred between churches that caused so many wars may be easing but has not ended, perhaps it never will. Understanding through knowledge and love is the only answer. It is most important then to first look at the history of religion and gain knowledge as to why, when, and how we created such diversity and distrust. The answer is described in the pages of history. I am not suggesting I can do this better than the fifty books on religion that are on my bookshelves. Rather, my goal is brevity, to tell the story in two hundred pages. This will give a taste and flavor of the subject and may hopefully help to understand a neighbor's religion, develop tolerance and foster pluralism. May God give me the strength, courage and wisdom to produce an intelligent manuscript, in a brief understanding way.

A History of the World's Religions bridges the interval between the founding of religions and their present state, and gives students an accurate look at the religions of the world by including descriptive and interpretive details from the original source materials. Refined by over forty years of dialogue and correspondence with religious experts and practitioners around the world, A History of the World's Religions is widely regarded as the hallmark of scholarship, fairness, and accuracy in its field. It is also the most thorough yet manageable history of world religion available in a single volume, treating many subjects largely neglected in other texts.

A new understanding is developed in this book about the relationship between the Christian faith, modern science, and the world religions. The authors call their new position Evolutionary Pluralism. By combining the Christian faith with modern science and the global growth of religious diversity, Evolutionary Pluralism provides Christians with an alternative to current interpretations such as Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, Intelligent Design Creationism, and Evolutionary Creationism. This new understanding stands solidly within the history and traditions of the Christian faith and builds on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Understanding the Religions of the World offers a new approach to the study of religion which moves away from the purely descriptive and instead helps students understand how religions actually 'work'. Covering all the main faith traditions, it combines historical context, contemporary beliefs and practices, and original theory, with numerous study features and valuable overviews. A major new student-focused textbook concentrating on contemporary practices and beliefs of world religions Brings together a team of experts to provide a uniquely comprehensive coverage of religious traditions, including African religions and the religions of Oceania, which are rarely covered in detail Integrates original theory by arguing that each religion operates according to its own logic and order, and that they fulfill our need for a point of orientation Incorporates extensive student features including chapter introductions, 'did you know?' sections, boxed examples/material, numerous images and maps, conclusions, study questions and teaching plans, available on publication at www.wiley.com/go/deming

This text is designed to serve as a primary source reader. It addresses medieval Christendom in the context of world history. It combines the traditional approach (the medieval Christian tradition found in the church hierarchy and theological development) with the newer approach to cultural diversity - diversity within European Christianity (women mystics, heretics, and popular religion), and diversity without, in a world context (non-European Christianity and relations with Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism).

What are Christians to make of religious diversity? Are other religions simply wrong? Is this great multiplicity something to appreciate and foster? Is there any way to judge whether one religion is better than another, or are all equally good options? What has brought about such a wealth of diversity and tension in the first place? Charles Jones traces the rich history of Christianity’s many encounters with other religions, from the Roman Empire and Paul’s speech to the Athenians on Mars Hill (Acts 17:16–34) to the “discovery” of non-European peoples, through various currents of philosophy and science, and in both the peaceful and violent meetings of Christianity and other religions today. Jones suggests that there are patterns to the way people meet across religious boundaries. He helps us see the tension between our desire for religious coherence and our need to build bridges to avert conflict and foster good relations—the tension between integrity and openness. By the end of the book, readers will have a sense of the history of Christianity’s engagement with religious diversity, as well as tools to move interfaith life forward. Excellent for parish education and informal discussion groups, this eye-opening guide takes a vital step in our understanding of our roles in a world of religious diversity.

Religion -- Religions of primitive peoples -- Religions of ancient America -- Religions of Egypt and Babylonia -- Religions of Greece and Rome -- Religions of northern Europe -- Zoroastrianism -- Hinduism -- Buddhism -- Religions of China -- Religions of Japan -- Judaism -- Christianity -- Islam.

This book is a revised and updated edition of a popular work, which looks at the world's religions in terms of world history, and as constantly developing systems of belief. Religions are described through their symbols, rituals, followers, architecture and art. References, statistics, maps and pictures have been updated and added, illuminating the true nature of each religion. The text has been thoroughly revised to highlight recent developments in world religion.

This book explores how religions have changed in a globalized world and how Christianity is unique among them. Harold Netland, an expert in philosophical aspects of religion and pluralism, offers a fresh analysis of religion in today's globalizing world. He challenges misunderstandings of the concept of religion itself and shows how particular religious traditions, such as Buddhism, undergo significant change with modernization and globalization. Netland then responds to issues concerning the plausibility of Christian commitments to Jesus Christ and the unique truth of the Christian gospel in light of religious diversity. The book concludes with basic principles for living as Christ's disciples in religiously diverse contexts.