Routledge

The Bible: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the Bible as both a sacred text. central to the faith of millions. and a classic work of Western literature. containing a tapestry of genres. voices. perspectives. and images. This guide skilfully addresses both aspects of the Bible’s character by exploring:

the rich variety of literary forms. from poetry to prophecy and epistles to apocalypses;
the historical. geographic. and social context of the Bible;
contemporary attitudes to the Bible held by believers and non-believers;
the status of biblical interpretation today.
The second edition has been updated throughout and includes maps and detailed suggestions for further reading. This is an ideal starting point for people of any faith. or none. who are studying the Bible in any setting or who simply want to know more about the best-selling book of all time.

From the local to the global level. religion is – more than ever – an important and hotly debated part of modern life in the twenty-first century.

From silver rings to ringtones and from clubs to headscarves. we often find the cultural role and discussion of religion in unexpected ways.

Now in its second edition. Religion: The Basics remains the best introduction to religion and contemporary culture available. The new edition has been fully revised and updated. and includes new discussions of:

the study of religion and culture in the twenty-first century
texts. films and rituals
cognitive approaches to religion
globalization and multiculturalism
spirituality in the West
popular religion.
With new case studies. linking cultural theory to real world religious experience and practice. and guides to further reading. Religion: The Basics is an essential buy for students wanting to get to grips with this hotly debated topic.

Religion and science are arguably the two most powerful social forces in the world today. But where religion and science were once held to be compatible. many people now perceive them to be in conflict. This unique book provides the best available introduction to the burning debates in this controversial field. Examining the defining questions and controversies. renowned expert Philip Clayton presents the arguments from both sides. asking readers to decide for themselves where they stand:

• science or religion. or science and religion?

• history and philosophy of science

• the role of scientific and religious ethics – modifying genes. extending life. and experimenting with human subjects

• religion and the environmental crisis

• the future of science vs. the future of religion.

Thoroughly updated throughout. this second edition explores religious traditions from around the world and provides insights from across the sciences. making this book essential reading for all those wishing to come to their own understanding of some of the most important debates of our day.

The oldest of the world’s major faiths. Judaism as practiced today represents a tradition that goes back nearly 6.000 years. Accessible and wide-ranging. Judaism: The Basics is a must-have resource covering the stories. beliefs and expressions of that tradition.

Key topics covered include:

the Torah
Israel – the state and its people
Passover
Reform Judaism. Orthodox Judaism and Zionism
the impact of the Holocaust.
With a glossary of terms and extensive suggestions for further reading. Judaism: The Basics is an essential guide through the rich intricacies of the Jewish faith and people.

Hinduism: The Basics introduces readers to the third largest. and arguably the oldest. living religious tradition. It opens a vista into the rich and dynamic ethos of the Hindu religious tradition in India and other parts of the world. The book explores the variety of philosophical schools. priestly rituals. and popular practices common in the Hindu faith. presenting the layered diversity of its traditions and how they function in everyday life.

Chapters unpack key concepts from the tradition and discussions about its various aspects. including:

The historical development of Hinduism
Religious practices such as pilgrimage. meditation. and life cycle rituals
The organisation of Hindu society into castes and related social justice issues
The spread of Hinduism around the world. the rise of Hindu nationalism. and other challenges of modernity
The continuum between sacred texts in both elite Sanskrit and in South Asian vernacular languages
Hindu worldviews including karma. reincarnation. and ethics
The vitality of indigenous cultures in every form of Hinduism
Featuring glossaries. timelines. suggestions for further reading. and a list of key deities as well as practices. this is an ideal introduction to Hindu beliefs and traditions for undergraduates and others new to the study of Hinduism.

Death and Religion: The Basics provides a thorough and accessible introduction to dying. death. grief. and conceptions of the afterlife in world religions.

It leads readers through considerations of how we understand meanings of death and after-death. and the theories and practices attached to these states of being. with recourse to various religious worldviews: Judaism. Islam. Christianity. Hinduism. Sikhism. Buddhism. Chinese Religions. and Native American belief systems. This inter-religious approach provides a rich. dynamic survey of varying and evolving cultural attitudes to death. Topics covered include:

Religious perspectives of “the good death”
Grief. bereavement. and mourning
Stages and definitions of death
Burial. cremation. and disposition
Remembrance rituals
Religious theories of the afterlife
Death and technology
Featuring a glossary. suggestions for further reading in each chapter and key terms. this is the ideal text for students approaching the intersection of death and religion for the first time. and those in the fields of religious studies. thanatology. anthropology. philosophy. and sociology.

Christianity: The Basics is a compelling introduction to both the central pillars of the Christian faith and the rich and varied history of this most global of global religions. This book traces the development of Christianity through an exploration of some of the key beliefs. practices and emotions which have been recurrent symbols through the centuries:

Christ. the kingdom of heaven and sin
Baptism. Eucharist and prayer
Joy. divine union and self denial
Encompassing the major epochs of Christian history and examining the unity and divisions created by these symbols. Christianity: The Basics is both a concise and comprehensive introduction to the Christian tradition.