Introducing World Religions

Introducing World Religions Offers An Exciting New Approach To The Study Of The World'S Religions. Taking Its Inspiration From Performance Studies And Using An Innovative Dramatic Metaphor It Enables Students To Explore Religious Ideas And Culture In Terms Of The Players (Key Figures) The Script (Foundational Texts) And Performance (Religious Practices). The Discussion Of Key Players Treats Human And Non-Human Figures On The World Stage Including The Principle (God Dharma Dao) Imaginal Figures (Angels Baals Bodhisattvas) Exceptional Persons (Founders Prophets Gurus) And Historical Persons (Significant Players In The Drama Of Religions). The Discussion Of The Foundational Texts Includes Materials That Balance Or Challenge Mainstream Texts With An Alternative Perspective. The Section On Performance Explores Non-Verbal Religious Activities Such As Pilgrimage Icon Painting Dance Divination And Meditation.Those Concerned With Introducing Post-Colonial Discourse To Students Without Losing The Classic Category Of The Sacred Should Find This Textbook To Be Balanced And Evocative. It Presents Workable Concepts From The Camps Of Both Religionists And Reductionists And Students Are Challenged To Move Between Inside And Outside Positions As They Survey What Have Been Called (Controversially) World Religions. Specially Designed To Assist Learning It Includes:Chapter Timelines Showing Key Persons Events And Datesthemed Boxes To Encourage Methodological Enquirykey-Point Chapter Summaries To Support Understanding And Reviewstudy Questions To Assist Classroom Discussionmaps Charts And Photographsglossary Of Key Terms And Conceptskey Reading A Comprehensive Bibliography And Index.Ideal For One-Semester Or Modular Introductory Survey Courses On The World'S Religions Introducing World Religions Will Be Essential Reading For Any Student Of Religions Worldwide. The Accompanying Website To This Book Can Be Found At Http://Www.Routledge.Com/Textbooks/9780415772709.