Introduction to Asian Religions

Introduction to Asian Religions
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A note from the classroom

Well- Designed Intro to Asian religions

Introduction to Asian Religions
Bradley K. Hawkins
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0321172892

Customer Reviews:

A note from the classroom.......2007-07-10

I use this book as a text in my Asian Religions courses. I particularly like the fact that it was written specifically as an Asian Religions text and not derived from a pre-existing World Religions text. I also like the fact that one can utilize the (significantly less expensive) trade edition of this book as a text. (The only difference is that the selection of excerpts from different Asian scriptures in the back of the textbook edition have been deleted from the trade edition.)

Well- Designed Intro to Asian religions.......2004-10-21

Introduction to Asian Religions by Bradley K. Hawkins (Longman) Introduction to Asian Religions provides a straightforward and accessible overview of the religions of Asia, including Islam.
Features of Introduction to Asian Religions
* Geographically organized into three major areas: South and Southeast Asia (including Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia); China; and Northeast Asia (including Japan and Korea).
* Covers all major Asian religions found in these regions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, Islam, and newer religious movements.
* Includes extensive coverage of Islam and its historical and contemporary place in Asia.
* Primary source material from each major religion gives students familiarity with the religious literature of each tradition.
* Numerous full-color photos and art-both historical and contemporary-provide insight into the artistic expressions, sacred architecture, and people of the various traditions.
* Photographs of contemporary rituals and practices give a feel for each tradition as a living religion.
* Numerous maps provide valuable geographical and historical context. Relevant Web site URLs are provided at the end of each chapter, directing students to the Web for further research and information.
* A combined glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book further help make the religions of Asia accessible to students.
Excerpt: I must admit at the outset that I am old-fashioned. While I applaud the myriad of new teaching materials such as audio-visual material, computer programs, the Internet, and the like that are now available to teachers of religion, I firmly believe in the Asian concept that the most meaningful educational experiences are the result of a personal interaction between student and teacher. It is this philosophy that has guided the writing of the present text. It is self-evident that no textbook of any manageable size could be written that would exhaustively treat the magnificent diversity of Asian religious experience. Choices of methodological emphasis, what topics are to be included or excluded, to what depth these topics should be treated, and to what extent one should involve the beginning student in an examination of the many still unresolved scholarly debates associated with the study of Asian religions are all questions that need to be considered when deciding how to structure the tremendous mass of data available on the religions of Asia. Clearly, instructors of the subject will hold different opinions on all of these issues.
Moreover, every class is unique in the mix of its students and the specific expertise of its instructor, not to mention the necessity of contending with the numerous unexpected factors that affect the conduct and evolution of each individual class from term to term. It is impossible to predict what aspects of the study of the Asian traditions will fire the imagination of the students and emerge at any given point as a living concern in the classroom, either for an individual or the group at large. Instructors must be the facilitators and sculptors of this educational experience, since they mediate between the purely intellectual facts of the study and the dreams, aspirations, and concerns of the students. It is through the teacher's inspiration and technical knowledge that students transcend the dry facts of Asian religion and come to understand it for what it truly is-a vital and living force in the lives of much of the human race.
This text, then, is designed to support the instructor's efforts in bringing the Asian religions to life for the students who will use it. As such, it makes no pretense of being exhaustive in its treatment of Asian religious phenomena, nor of being "inspirational" in its own right. Rather it aims at providing a framework within which instructors are free to develop their exposition of the material in the manner most appropriate to their own expertise and inclinations, and the conditions of their individual classrooms. With this goal in mind, I have chosen to present the religions of Asia in a primarily historical manner. As a historian of religion I believe that, far from being a static ahistorical phenomenon, religion is a living and evolving organ-ism, and that examination of the overall historical development of the Asian religions is the clearest way for the beginning student to gain an overview of these thought systems and their place in their societies. Readers of this text will also find that my presentation is conditioned by the assumption that religions are both influenced by the physical and social environments in which they develop and in turn influence those environments.
This should not be taken to mean that I hold the reductionist viewpoint that all religion is nothing more than an outgrowth of human society and the human psyche. But given the intellectual boundaries within which the process of academic analysis takes place, scholars are committed to working with data as it presents itself, and it must be recognized that data can often be interpreted from a secular materialist point of view as well as in a spiritual manner. Nor does this method of interpretation necessarily negate the transcendental origins and possibilities advocated by the religious traditions themselves. As my grandfather used to observe, "The Lord moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform."
Even though the text is primarily structured along historical lines, the tremendous mass of information demands further organization. Consequently, I have divided the book into three main sections-South and Southeast Asia, China, and Northeast Asia. The pan-Asian religions such as Shamanism and Islam are examined at appropriate points throughout the narrative.
Such wide diversity of geographic and cultural areas creates considerable challenges in transliterating the various languages of Asia into English. Since this is a textbook for beginners, I have chosen to use simple phonetic transliteration for the Indic languages. (In more advanced texts, Indic terms and names are transliterated using the excellent system that has been developed for these languages.) Likewise, I have simplified the transliteration of most of the other Asian languages encountered in the text. For Korean, I have adhered to the McCune-Reischauer system with the exception of using "ö" and "ü" to indicate the short sounds of those vowels. In the case of Chinese, I have used Pinyin; however, since so many seminal books on Chinese religion use the significantly different Wade-Giles system, I have also given that form of transliteration when words or names are encountered in the text for the first time.
We live in a world full of electronic information resources, and present-day instructors and students of Asian religions have an immense volume of multimedia material no further away than their computers. I have chosen to use some of these newly available resources to construct what one might describe as a "counter text." Whereas the printed text concentrates primarily on the systematic presentation of the historical and intellectual development of the Asian religions-subjects that are treated very unevenly in the Internet material that I have reviewed-most of the electronic sources quoted in the text are linked to sites that give the students the "feel" of the various religions. This material will hopefully convey a fuller under-standing and appreciation of the non-intellectual components of the various Asian traditions that make them so appealing to their devotees. It is where phenomenological information on festivals, rituals, and so forth is to be found, and here many of the literary and artistic expressions of the various religions are presented. Writings drawn from the various religious traditions of Asia are also printed at the end of this text, to provide immediate access to a representative selection of primary sources.

Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought (3rd Edition)

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Stellar Introduction to the Eastern Mind-Set

Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought (3rd Edition)
Patrick S. Bresnan
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0132436914

Book Description

Ideal for readers with little or no previous knowledge of the subject, this book provides an exceptionally complete overview of the historical development of the major Eastern traditions of religious and philosophical thought (in India, China, and Japan.). The book uses an engaging style that is filled with anecdotes, analogies, definitions, comparisons, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. It guides learners in recognizing the interrelationships that exist among the various systems, appreciating the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and understanding the major issues of interpretation regarding these systems. The traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schools–such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto–are brought into the story at the appropriate place. Owing to the current high degree of interest in the subject, the historical development of Zen Buddhism receives a bit more attention that the other traditions. For anyone new to the study, and excited by the idea, of Eastern thought.

Customer Reviews:

Stellar Introduction to the Eastern Mind-Set.......2002-07-20

Bresnan's Awakening is an excellent introduction to the Eastern religions and philosophies of Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The text is very readable, and Bresnan often tries to correlate appropriate Eastern doctrines with similar Judeo-Christian themes in order to enhance the reader's understanding.
Instead of focusing on external and exoteric religious themes, such as rituals, traditions, and the like, Bresnan uses a more theosophical approach which brings to light the ideas that encompass Eastern religions and ideologies. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who has a budding interest in Eastern thought but has a theological IQ that does not extend east of the Arabian peninsula.

Ancient Israel's Faith and History: An Introduction to the Bible in Context

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A general, easy-to-read, history of Israel up to the Roman Period
Pleasant but lightweight
An Unbiased look at Biblical Archeology.
Excellant overview of the topic.
A Masterwork of Biblical History

Ancient Israel's Faith and History: An Introduction to the Bible in Context
George E. Mendenhall
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0664223133

Customer Reviews:

A general, easy-to-read, history of Israel up to the Roman Period.......2007-03-31

While the mid-east is probably the most excavated area on the planet, there is only a very very small amount of information available about the ancient days. The best anyone can do is to take that and propose what must have actually happened. The difference in the history of Israel is the existence of the Bible, a source which, depending on the reader contains a lot, some, or no historical information at all. All archaeologists, all people fall somewhere on the scale from the extreme maximalist who sees the Bible as 100% accurate to the extreme minimalist who see it as 100% fiction. Personally, I think both positions are untenable.

Since I am not an archaeologist, though, it doesn't really matter what I think. The authors of this book appear to be close to the middle (a totally objective position) or slightly toward the view that the Bible contains some useful information and an effort should be made to dig (no pun intended) it out.

SO, that gives us a history of Israel and that region that seems to be fairly mainstream. There are some added features though. The author writes consistently about the problem of a social coercion and how it doesn't fit in with true religion. He also explains the cycle of phases that religions experience. The prologue, formative, adaptive, traditional and reform periods comprise this cycle. He begins with the important prologue period and emphasizes the importance of understanding its contribution to a cultures religion. He takes us through the formative and traditional periods and ends with a discussion of reform. He links Christianity closely to Judaism through this cycle.

This text is written for the general reader. By design, there are no footnotes but, as the author indicates, there is a well-organized suggested reading list at the end of each chapter. And each of those sources offer more sources for the interested person.

Overall, this history is easy to read and for most read, fairly non-controversial. The Biblical places, times and events of the Hebrew Bible that are supported by archaeology are pointed out and so are those that are not. Anyone not at one extreme or the other should learn from this book.

Pleasant but lightweight.......2002-06-15

This book appears to be designed as a text book. Each chapter has a section which outlines further reading and the book is full of illustrations and diagrams.

The book deals with a difficult subject but is generally pleasant and non dogmatic. It is reasonably short and easy to read.

To put the book into context, some years ago it was thought that the bible was an accurate historic record of both Israel and the Jewish people. Modern archeology has created some big doubts about the historical accuracy of the bible.

For example the book which discusses Abraham mentions the use of camels. It would appear that in the relevant period camels had not been domesticated. An examination of Egyptian records shows no mention of the tribes of Israel as a captive source of labour at any time in its history. There is no mention of their escape and the destruction of an Egyptian Army in the Red Sea.

The bibilical account of the conquest of the holdy land by Joshua describes the siege of larged walled cities such as Jerico. An examination of the historical record shows that these cities to the extent that they existed were small and unfortified. Lastly it would seem that there is no real evidence that the Davidic Kingdom existed as descibed in the bible.

These findings have led to a number of schools of thought. One school suggests that the books of the bibal which purport to be a historical record are in fact things which were written centuries after the occurance as a means of providing a rallying call for the state of Judah. That the writtings were more of a form of propoganda to inspire the present than being a record of the past.

Mendenhall's book is an attempt to find a sort of middle way, which can reconcile parts of the biblical record with the historical record. He thus suggests that the basis events in the bible occured but they have been subsquently exagerated. Thus the exodus did occur but it would have been a smaller group. There would have been some form of Davidic Kingdom but it would have been smaller.

One interesting part of the book is the section on the ten commandments. Mendenhall argues convincingly that instead of being "laws"these were more commitments that would identify individuals as the members of the religous group.

In general terms a pleasant book, but one in which the basis of the writting is one of faith rather than hard evidence.

An Unbiased look at Biblical Archeology........2002-02-11

Written mainly from a Near Eastern context and an archeological perspective, this is one of the few texts that are written about the historical elements of the Bible that does not attempt to fictionalize the stories within. Although, the author clearly does not take each piece of scripture literally this book should not offend anyone but the most stubborn. So if your convictions are rigid, you will not like this book. However, if you are open to other perspectives outside the Christian dogma, you will find this text educational and not offensive.

The three main points that lead me to recommend this book are; 1. The author's exposition of the Ten Commandments which will surprize most Christians but not Hebrews. He mainly confirms the reason why Hebrews refer to them as the "Ten Utterances," or as the author prefers, the "Ten Commitments." He does so with a comparison to the ancient treaty construction which I found refreshing. 2. His basic outline of how and in what order religion evolves. What I appreciated most concerning this was his treatment of Christ as a reformer and not some revolutionary with some brand new religion as he is mainly portrayed by most even within the Church. All of which, fall right into line with those Christians that understand their Hebraic roots. 3. The diversity of those involved with the Exodus and the subsequent nature of the kingdom. All of these points are widely misunderstood among Christianity.

Unfortunately, although not necessarily uncalled for, the author provides ample evidence of Israel's idolatry. I'm not quite sure why this isn't common knowledge and I'm not sure why this idolatry necessarily negates a principle faith in God, but it does in some people's minds and therefore this exposition is probably necessary.

The only real disagreement I had with the author is the assumption that the Bible teaches a massive invasion and subsequent wipeout of the indigenous people of the land. For instance the Bible makes it clear that God would allow the Hebrews to conquer the land gradually as shown in Exodus 23:29-30. Although the author prevents evidence to support these verses, his assumption is that the few instances of Joshua's utter annihilation were the norm, or at least perceived to be the norm. If his assumption is the former, I strongly disagree, if the later I can appreciate the manner in which his case was made.

Overall, this is a well written text written in a non-combative style that is a nice change from most of the other archeological texts concerning the Bible.

Excellant overview of the topic........2001-11-29

When I studied ancient near eastern history years ago, one of the more frustrating regions to gain insight into was the Levant. The area was rife with petty and ephemeral kingdoms contending for supremacy among their peers and for survival in the face of the imperialistic enterprises of the mightier rulers on their world scene. Rarely were these more than infrequently mentioned names. The notable exception was, not surprisingly, ancient Israel whose history, mythology, and culture are still known to most of us through the mechanism of the written work popularly known as The Old Testament. Though it contains information about many of the players in the political drama played out in the region over several thousand years, it is not an easy document to use. Dr. Mendenhall in his book Ancient Israel's Faith and History has done a superlative job of presenting the material in a very clear, organized, and informative manner.

One of the problems with studying the Bible as a historical document lies in the fact that it has such a diverse history of its own. The authors of various portions of it had their own motives, information sources, and world view, the redactors their own set, modern day interpreters theirs, etc. As Dr. Mendenhall writes in his preface, "Through the ages, whether through ignorance or malice, the Bible has frequently been misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused (p. xvii)," and he notes that the "scribes were less interested in understanding their own history than they were in exploiting it (p. xviii)."

Nor are the motives of ancient scribes the only source of difficulties. Modern day scholarship has also lent it`s particular spin to Biblical interpretations. Again in Mendenhall`s words, "Modern biblical scholars--who should be in the best position to help our understanding--are themselves frequently hamstrung by the enormously broad range of requisite knowledge (including ancient history and languages) and by the inability or unwillingness to separate their scholarship from the presumptions and orthodoxies of their peer groups (xvii)."

Dr. Mendenhall does not seem to suffer from any such problem. According to the forward by Gary Herion, the gentleman has an extensive knowledge of ancient languages, a first hand knowledge of modern day local cultures in the Middle East, and a knowledge of the archaeology of the area. In reading the book, I would also add to this list, that I found very little to indicate a religious bias of his own to defend. He approaches the subject with the objectivity and organization of one who is fond of puzzels and their solution.

In writing his book, which bears clear signs of its origin in lecture notes, Dr. Mendenhall has methodically begun at the beginning. The introduction to Ancient Israel's Faith and History begins, not with the biblical narrative, but with a description of religion itself. He asks and answers five questions: What is one`s religion, what are religious communities, what does religion actually do, how are religious values transmitted, and how does a religious system change over time? He also enumerates and describes five key "observations" or "laws" about religion: The law of transference, the law of functional shift, the law of elaboration, the law of contrast, and the law of finality. And finally he sets out how religions develop: The prologue to the religion, the formative period, the adaptive period, the traditional period, and the reform period. Armed with this instructive information, the reader is able to follow the author's progress through the various books--and by them the history--of ancient Israel and its religion.

Of most interest to me was the formative period of Israel's post exilic years of which he provides a very cogent discussion. Anyone who has studied the Bible as history knows of the Habiru, of the Hyksos, of the Merneptah stele, and so on, but Dr. Mendenhall brings these early years into far greater perspective. Certainly his discussion of the Ten Commandments as ten commitments makes the history of the Exodus and its later effect on Israel's development and ultimate collapse as an ancient state clearer.

Of some significance is the pertinence of the work to modern day events in the Middle East. In his discussion of the meaning of some of the commandments in the historical context of their development, Mendenhall makes some very important points, especially with respect to values. When one realizes that what one values most and fears the loss of most is what is "worshipped" in one's culture, one can see why those with a stricter sense of "godliness" and commitment, like the members of the Taliban community or of Bin Ladin's followers, would find the western world's habit of valuing possessions to be godless behavior, and to some extent it is.

Of importance too, at least to me, is the gentleman's inclusion of a short bibliography at the end of each chapter which provides the reader with sources of further information. Although Dr. Mendenhall is himself now retired, the bibliographical entries vary widely in date. Included are works like Gurney's The Hittites, Samuel Noah Kramer's The Sumerians, and John Wilson's The Culture of Ancient Egypt, all dating to the 1960s. Later works like Sheler's Is the Bible True? (1999) and Frerichs and Lesko's Exodus: the Egyptian Evidence (1997), suggest that he has kept his overall knowledge base current. Journal articles, however, seem to be 1980 and earlier, which suggest that he may be falling behind in the venue of the professional literature.

Overall I found this a very readable, informative and interesting book. I would recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in the history of the ancient world, in Biblical history, or in the history of the bible itself. It would make a nice gift for a religious person who enjoys studying the bible and who is able to do so with an open mind. For those who are inclined to view the Bible and religion from a more rigid perspective, I suspect it would offend their sense of Divine Word.

A Masterwork of Biblical History.......2001-08-17

George E. Mendenhall has been described by eminent students of the Bible as one of the most creative American scholars of the ancient Near East in the twentieth century. Yet his fundamental work is largely unknown outside the guild of professional historians, philologists, and archaeologists. Now a comprehensive account of his reconstruction of the history of ancient Israel is available in a beautifully edited, attractively produced form. It can be understood and appreciated even by those who haven't mastered the technical tools of the professional scholar.

His pre-eminent interest, studied over a period of some six decades, has been the origins of ancient Israel. In Mendenhall's view, it is in Israel's origins that we find the essential clues to the interpretation of all subsequent Israelite history-including the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth and the early Christian Church some 1200 years after the time of Moses. A brief review such as this cannot hope to do justice to the enormous wealth of material in this superb book. I will attempt only a sketchy summary of each chapter.

Introduction

First he posits several illuminating general principles for understanding the phenomenon of religion, which are applied throughout the following chapters to Israel's particular historical phases.

Abraham to Moses

Then Mendenhall surveys the later part of the Bronze Age (2500-1200 B.C.) in the Eastern Mediterranean, covering the rise and fall of empires. He also characterizes (the main thrust of the chapter) the emergence, from at least 2000 B.C. onward, of numerous groups of "Apiru"--people who altogether disavowed political loyalties. He cites linguistic reasons for associating "Apiru" with "transgressor" or "outlaw." Apiru groups, lacking any legal protection, survived via banditry, mercenary militarism, or by converting agricultural assets to movable livestock and escaping to uninhabited regions inaccessible to political authorities. The less fortunate among them were prey to enslavement as state laborers--as were thousands of Apiru in Egypt.

Moses and the Exodus

Moses' leadership of the "exodus" of a few hundred Apiru from Egypt is tied in Biblical tradition (correctly, in Mendenhall's view) to two revolutionary religious innovations: monotheism in which the defining characteristic of God ("Yahweh") is ethical concern; and the use of a new form for the mediation of this Yahwism--the Covenant, derived by analogy from the forms and functions of international suzerainty treaties in use already for a millennium.

The Twelve-Tribe Federation

Mendenhall continues his historical reconstruction to the formation in two stages of the Twelve-Tribe federation of ancient Israel, created and sustained by the Mosaic Covenant, which put into practice the seemingly exotic notion of a state-less society.

David and the Transition to Monarchy

The federation functioned for about two centuries; pressure by Philistines accelerated the decline in morale and prompted desires for the institution of a political state capable of dealing more effectively with them. Samuel himself foresaw this move as the repudiation of Yahweh and the Covenant. Mendenhall illuminates the ingenious strategy then employed by David and the pagan bureaucrats inherited from the defeated Jerusalem to construct a synthesis of Yahwism and paganism, for which he adopts the term "Yahwisticism".

The Legacy of King Solomon

With King Solomon the "re-paganization of Israel" reached new heights. Mendenhall relates how Solomon's building program--involving the imposition of the corvée labor from which the Apiru slaves had escaped with Moses!--provided a new Phoenician Temple for the theologians and a swell Hittite palace for the king. "Yahweh," once the repudiator of coercion, had become merely the new "Baal," the Bronze Age hypostasis of state legitimacy and power. Mendenhall limns the intricate, unscrupulous struggles among Solomon's successors, and correlates the poetic oracles of Hosea and Amos to the ongoing upheavals of state, bringing into relief their invocation of the old covenantal elements.

Josiah Reforms the Imperial Religion

Mendenhall next turns to the fate of the kingdom of Judah and the biblical literature catalyzed by its history. He presents the historical preparation for Josiah and the latter's reforms. He also offers insights into the perverse consequences of the failure of Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem during Hezekiah's reign (the unwarranted confidence that Yahweh's highest priority was the protection of Jerusalem and its Temple).

Destruction and Exile: The Creative Reform of Yahwism

The destruction of Jerusalem predicted by Jeremiah (and Ezekiel) was a catastrophe for Israel-as-Davidic-Dynasty and produced enormous suffering for countless hapless individuals. Meditations on it by some of the greatest religious geniuses of history are enshrined in various Biblical writings, especially Jeremiah and Ezekiel; Job (the book is worth having for this section alone); and "Second Isaiah." But the universalizing re-expression of Israel's covenant faith by these writers was just one response to the Exile. With the return of the exiles to Palestine under the Persian Cyrus, Ezra and Nehemiah wrote another new chapter in the evolution of Yahwism.

Jesus and the New Testament Reformation

Reading the New Testament in the light of the Old Testament makes it clear that Jesus' message hearkens back to the Covenant faith and the inspired re-expressions and adaptations of it by the great prophets. In a word, it was a creative reformation movement within the tradition of Israel's faith. Mendenhall throws a flood of light on "the Kingdom of God," "Messiah," "Law," and on "covenant" itself as it reappears in the Christian Eucharist.

Summary

This magnificent book by one of the towering figures in Biblical scholarship throws an arresting new light on the universal significance of the ancient ethical-religious vision of Moses and pre-monarchic Israel. It shows how, despite the ever-changing vicissitudes of Israel's history, this vision reappears, creatively readapted, in the prophetic legacy, in the Exile, in Jesus and the early Church. It is well worth having just for the fascinating word-studies to be found throughout the text. No one who takes its insights seriously can look at either the Bible or the surviving religious institutions in the same way. I believe it should be read and deeply pondered by all who are committed to the life of faith.

An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church
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An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church
W, A Wigram
Manufacturer: Gorgias Press LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1593331037

Book Description

The Assyrian Church of the East (often misnamed as the "Nestorian" church) is one of the most ancient churches of Christendom. In this book, the Rev. William Ainger Wigram, head of the Mission of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Assyrian Church, gives an introduction to the history of the ancient church, covering its Christology.

Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law (Modern Classics in Near Eastern Studies)

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The Gold Standard for Islamic Studies
Islamic Theology
classic work of scholarship
A Classic in the field

Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law (Modern Classics in Near Eastern Studies)
Ignaz Goldziher
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Islam | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0691100993

Customer Reviews:

The Gold Standard for Islamic Studies.......2006-03-31

Having just read the Qur'an, I wanted to learn more about Islam. A study of available literature on the subject revealed that modern writing falls into three basic categories: 1. anti-Islamic polemic; 2. pro-Islamic apologetic; 3. "Impartial" studies overly concerned about political correctness and hyper-careful not to touch off the "Danish cartoonist effect."

What to do? Find something written before all the modern craziness began. Goldziher, a Jew writing at the turn of the 20th Century, prepared this book as a series of lectures to be given on an American tour that never came to fruition. He displays an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Islamic thought, and presents that knowledge in a sympathetic, even-handed way. He is unstinting in his praise for those things he finds praiseworthy and unflinching in his criticism of those things he finds blameworthy. And there is plenty of both.

As a student of the history of Christianity, I could not help but be struck by the many theological parallels between various schools of Islamic thought and various schools of Christian theology. Goldziher elucidates the influence of Roman Law, Neoplatonism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism upon the formation and growth of Islamic theology. He discusses the differences among Shi'ite, Sunni, and Sufi, and writes on other splinter sects, some of which have died out and some of which still exist.

Of particular interest was Goldziher's treatment of Hadith, and how the Islamic world views the words of the Prophet and his Companions. At its best, there is much to admire about Islam, but there are disturbing currents of thought: the two most dangerous being intolerance and belligerence. At several times in history certain portions of Islamic culture eschewed both to the betterment of contemporary culture. Of course, there are undercurrents of intolerance and belligerence in the Dar al Harb also.

Goldziher opined that the less attractive aspects of Islam were due less to Islam itself than to the culture in which it grew. [Page 16]. Although he did not use the following datum as an example of his point, I think it supports it. Goldziher writes that the earliest Moslems were friendly with their Christian neighbors, and it was only later that they became increasingly hostile to Christianity. It seems that their immediate Christian neighbors were Arab Christians who were considered heretics by the Byzantine Church. In the spirit of brotherly love the Byzantine Christians hated the Arab Christians and vice versa. As Arab Christianity was assimilated into Islam, hatred for Byzantine Christianity (and by extension Christianity in general) was assimilated into Islam also. [Page 33, footnote 3]. It seems the irony of this was lost on Goldziher, else he would not have buried the datum in a footnote.

Islamic Theology.......2005-07-10

By Ignaz Goldziher; translated by Andras and Ruth Hamori; edited by Bernard Lewis. From the back cover: "Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921), a Hungarian scholar, was recognized as one of the outstanding European Islamicists of his time. Presented here for the first time in a scholarly and accurate English translation are six lectures he originally had planned to deliver in America in 1906. Though the lectures were never given, they were published in the original German in 1910 and were translated into many European languages. Since then, this classic work has served as an essential guide for serious students and scholars of Islam." "Based almost entirely on primary sources, the lectures are devoted to the following aspects of Muslim religion and culture: Mohammed and Qur'an; the holy law of Islam; the principles of Muslim theology; asceticism and Sufism; Islamic sects; and developments in modern times." "...Bernard Lewis is Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies, and Andras Hamori is Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies, both at Princeton University. Ruth Hamori holds a master's degree in Near Eastern Studies from Harvard University."

classic work of scholarship.......2003-04-26

Even though his scholarship is over one hundred years old, Goldziher's scholarship still remains relevant and in use. A parallel could be drawn between the continued importance of Albert Schweitzer's work on NT studies and the continued legacy of Goldziher. This edition of the work is nicely translated and well edited and belongs in the library of anyone interested in Islamic Studies. Along with Muslim Studies, this work remains as an historical monument marking the beginning of modern historical skepticism and critical scholarship towards the Muslim jurisprudential literature.

A Classic in the field.......1999-10-07

Ignaz Goldziher is a pioneer Islamicists whose views have still not yet been outdated despite new discoveries. An essential read for those who want to have an outsider's opinion on the beliefs and jurisprudence of the religion of Islam.

Asian Religions: An Illustrated Introduction

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Asian Religions: An Illustrated Introduction
Bradley K. Hawkins
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0321172884

Book Description

Packed with illustrations, photographs, and maps Asian Religions brings the rich religions of Asia to life.

Examines religions of South/Southeast Asia, China, and Northeast Asia.
Contains numerous photographs of rituals/practices and historical and geographical maps.
Covers Buddhism, Jainism, Kikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, Islam, and newer religious movements.
Historical approach shows how traditions have changed over time.

Asian Religions is a passport to the fascinating world of Asian thought. Exploring all the major religions of South and Southeast Asia, China, and Northeast Asia, Bradley K. Hawkins looks at Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto, and the new religious movements. Two chapters devoted to Islam shows its significants in Southeast Asia. Numerous full-color photos and art - both historical and contemporary - provide insight into the artistic expressions, sacred architecture, and people of the various traditions. Photographs of contemporary riturals/practices give a "feel" of each tradition as a living religion; Maps provide valuable geographical and historical context. The author shows how the traditions interrelate and places them within a wider global context. Modern expressions of each tradition are examined. Hawkins takes an historical approach that helps the reader better understand each tradition and show how each has developed and changed over time. The book is divided into three geographical areas: South and Southeast Asia (including Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia); China; and Northeast Asia (including Japan and Korea).

Bradley K. Hawkins studied under Ninian Smart at the Univeristy of California, Santa Barbara and has an MA in South Asian Studies and a PhD in Asian Cultural History. He is currently Professor of Religious Studies at California State University, Long Beach, where he teaches courses on Southeastern Asian Religions and History, Comparative World religions, and Islam. He is the author of Buddhism in the Religions of the World series published by Prentice Hall.

A New Introduction to Islam
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A New Introduction to Islam
Daniel James Brown
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A New Introduction to Islam offers students a fresh account of the origins, major features and lasting impact of the Islamic tradition. The development of Muslim beliefs and practices is carefully explored against the background of social and cultural contexts that extend from North Africa to South and Southeast Asia, providing a new and illuminating perspective.This thought-provoking book:Introduces students to the history and development of Islamic studies as a discipline, showing how it has shaped our understanding of IslamExamines how the vibrant religious culture of the Near East produced a unique and brilliant intellectual and religious tradition spanning the fields of Islamic law, theology, philosophy and mysticismSurveys the ways in which Islamic tradition has enriched the world and in turn been enriched by interaction with other civilizations, from the Mongols to the modern WestConsiders the opportunities and challenges facing Muslims today.Useful student features include detailed chronologies and tables summarizing key information, as well as maps and diagrams. It provides the ideal introductory textbook to the fascinating practice, history and beliefs of Islamic tradition.

Chinese Religion: An Introduction (Religious Life in History)

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Chinese Religion: An Introduction (Religious Life in History)
Laurence G. Thompson
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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This accessible introduction to the study of Chinese religion presents religious expression as a manifestation of Chinese culture. Like other books in Wadsworth's Religious Life in History Series, this text explores religion as a means to 'ultimate transformation.'

The Essentials of Yi Jing: Translated, Annotated, and With an Introduction and Notes

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The Essentials of Yi Jing: Translated, Annotated, and With an Introduction and Notes
Chung, Ph.D. Wu
Manufacturer: Paragon House Publishers
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557788278

Book Description

The Yi Jing (I Ching or Book of Changes) is a classic in Chinese literature that provides a philosophy and also a practical way to anticipate the future by means of divination. Most students of the Yi Jing have focused on one aspect and ignored the other. Historically, advances in classical Chinese culture were made by academics, not by diviners. Modern Chinese scholars study this classic for the wealth of its philosophical thought and literary style in the same manner they study other Confucian classics. In the West, since its introduction in the eighteenth century, however, it has aroused more interest as an aid for divination, like Tarot, than as a work of scholarship or philosophy. This book integrates these long separated strands.

Working with the original text and with the historical treatments of the Yi Jing in both Chinese and Western culture, Dr. Wu has translated and annotated this ancient classic for students and serious readers. He corrects past misinterpretations, omissions, and foreign ideas that were introduced to the original text. He provides the reader useful charts and commentaries, making this the most unified, comprehensive, and detailed explanation of the Yi Jing.

Introducing Asian Feminist Theology (Introductions in Feminist Theology)
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