Understanding World Religions: A Road Map for Justice and Peace

by David Whitten Smith, Elizabeth Geraldine Burr

Understanding World Religions studies major religions and worldviews current in today's world in order to seek their assistance in work for justice and peace, and to discourage their promotion of selfish privilege and war. Worldviews studied include Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Marxist, and Native American. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is given as a case study for how worldviews impact justice and peace. Further chapters explore Christian social teaching, liberation theologies, active nonviolence, and just war theory. Numerous examples (Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Thich Nhat Hanh, A.T. Ariyaratne, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Etty Hillesum, Marc Ellis, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Women in Black) provide concrete models for the reader to consider. The treatment is designed to excite interest and invite further study, rather than to offer a comprehensive picture.

444 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.