Understanding World Religions: A Road Map for Justice and Peace

by David Whitten Smith, Elizabeth Geraldine Burr

Understanding World Religions introduces students to major worldviews—including Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Native American, and Marxist—through the lens of justice and peace. The second edition has been updated and revised throughout.

After an introduction to key themes in studying world religion, chapters help students explore major traditions today. Each chapter takes a similar approach, examining several dimensions of each tradition—experiential and emotional, social and institutional, narrative or mythic, doctrinal and philosophical, practical and ritual, and ethical and legal. Chapters feature profiles of major peacemakers or groups to bring the traditions to life. Profiles range from Gandhi and Martin Luther King to Thich Nhat Hanh and Dorothy Day. Further chapters explore liberation theologies, active nonviolence, and just war theory.

The second edition features a broader framework than the first edition and includes new material on non-religious ethical norms, Islamophobia, colonial evangelization, religion in China, and an updated examination of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Understanding World Religions remains a powerful introduction to major worldviews with an emphasis on practical connections to peace and justice.

488 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smith does a really good job of summarizing the major world religions, including marxism, liberation theology, and views on just war and the israel-palestine conflict. What should be kept in mind is that they're exactly that: summaries. Smith gives accurate information, but it's only surface level; they don't get into the philosophical or theological discussions of the various scriptures and the effects it has on both individual and international scales [with regard to coexistence]. (E.g. the place of suffering as demonstrated in the book of Job, or the misinterpretations of jihad both in- and outside Islam.) I also felt that the section dedicated to indigenous religions was rather pathetic, grouping everything from native american tribes to eskimos to the Incas together. This made for a good textbook, but in terms of promoting discussion or lending further theological insights into any religion (so as to see how SIMILAR they actually are).. it.. didn't.

[Robert B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good text for use as a supplemental resource in an introductory course in world religions; but, it is too esoteric to serve as the sole course text. The historical perspective is weak, and it provides a somewhat superficial look at movements within the faiths covered. Good book, but not good enough to be "the" text in a college course.