World Religions: Eastern Traditions

by Willard G. Oxtoby (Editor)

This book is a major introduction to the religious traditions of South Asian and East Asian origin. Separate chapters treat Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, East Asian religions, and the aboriginal traditions of Asia and the Pacific. Designed for the student and general reader, the book
combines a historically descriptive perspective with key dates, maps, extracts from primary texts, glossaries, and suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, History, Textbooks, Reference, School, Spirituality

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a textbook so it’s dry and hardly riveting or memorable stuff, but as such it’s a contextualizer if you find yourself set down into a specific cultural situation and want to know more about it, plus others along the way. Read sub-section by section, it’s manageable. Found a couple of paragraphs in the last chapter on the nature of religion itself that speaks to the present state of affairs where post-structuralism and -modernism and deconstruction paradigms were taken too seriously — with this book being 20 years old, obviously for too long, and for what purpose? – leading to their natural present ideological conclusion (which isn’t over yet, with all its folly apparent, it’s serving some people in their political goals).

[Belle Meade School]

291

[Shane Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid yet difficult read on the ideologies of the East....much of this was new material for me...especially challenging were the sections on Hinduism and Daoism!

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of a two volume text book conceived for an undergraduate course on comparative religion. The first volume which deals with Islam, Christianity and Judaism is very strong. However the task is easier because all three religions believe in the same God and due to the work of Averroes, Thomas Aquinas and Maimonides are united by an Aristotelian philosophical system.

The second volume in the view of the author is faced with a greater challenge for two reasons:

-1- there seem to be view common threads linking the Eastern Religions (Shinto, Buddhism, Jain, Hindouism and Sikhism)
-2- the features of Western religions (clearly defined holy scriptures, a personal god, resurrection of the body in the life after, frequent communal worship, and highly evolved jurisprudence) are largely lacking from the Eastern Religions.

Ultimately the author concludes that what the Eastern Religions are:

-1- an interpretation of experience
-2- a view of life and death
-3- a guide to contact
-4- an orientation towards purpose in the world

Having established his interpretative framework, Oxtoby the editor then the turns the task of applying it to various authors who right sections of the Jain, Shinto, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths.

The whole project is pulled together brilliantly giving the reader an introduction to the Eastern Religions that can be built on with further reading.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the core textbook for a wonderful course I took on religion in India. It's a very good overview and fairly informative, but includes little I didn't already know in terms of major substance and also felt very detached and anthropological. There were few references to actual stories and the emphasis was more on practices and history. I think the best use of this book is exactly as I saw it used: as a textbook to be taught around, and not as a book for an individual to read and try to study from.

To its credit, the book does seem to treat each religion with the proper respect (even if framing them as "Eastern Traditions" does grate on me a little bit). Maybe three stars is a little harsh, but I reserve four and five stars for books I really enjoyed or felt inspired by, and I don't know that this book is intended to be enjoyed but rather to educate.

[Laura Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was raised in a Christian household, in which you are taught that there is only one way into heaven- Jesus. Once I got a bit older and starting wondering how that could even be possible, since there are SO many religions the world over (the main ones all having MANY of the same stories and lessons, even down to the christ-figure and when he was born, when he started his work, etc etc etc) I wanted to learn more. I took an eastern religions course and it was magnificent.
This book doesn't delve into every aspect of what it's like to be of these particular religions on a day-to-day basic, but its an excellent tool for introduction and understanding.
Very recommended.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who know nothing of eastern religion, but would love to learn, this is a fabulous reference. Granted, there is no way the authors could have include all the nuance, beauty, and the complete intricacy of each eastern religion in one short text, but I would definitely recommended this as a great intro.

[Robert Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best single volume introduction to Eastern religious traditions. Provides students with the historical, conceptual and technical grounding necessary for further study. I assigned this text to my classes when I was teaching Eastern religions.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read the third edition, but couldn't find it on here. I had to read this book as part of a class, but found it so informative, I plan on keeping it.