Revealing® World Religions includes twelve modules that cover the religions most often taught in introductory religion courses—Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—along with modules on the academic study of religion, indigenous religions, and religious pluralism in the 21st century. Clear links are drawn between religions related to one another (e.g., Hinduism and Buddhism). The modules can be studied in whatever order the instructor prefers.
Revealing® World Religions is vastly more experiential than other introductory world religions textbooks. The courseware is designed to convey the maximum amount of information in the most user-friendly manner and to reinforce learning with interactive exercises. Evocative images appear at the rate of one for roughly every seventy words of text, a ratio that print textbooks cannot begin to match. Selected audio clips, from Tibetan Buddhist throat singing to evangelical Christian glossolalia, allow students to experience the sounds of the religions they are exploring. Excerpts from scriptures of the world’s religions are contextually-placed throughout the text.
Revealing® World Religions Modules:
- Exploring Religion
- Indigenous Religions
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Daoism
- Confucianism
- Shinto
- Judaism
- Christianity
- Islam
- Religious Pluralism
Price: $50
Exploring Religion
What Is Religion?
- Goals: What Is Religion?
- Religion & Religions
- One Reality or Many?
- Defining Religion
- Theoretical, Practical, Sociological
- Religious Specialists
- Religious Syncretism
- Summary: What Is Religion?
- Try It: What Is Religion?
Types of Religion
- Goals: Types of Religions
- Eastern & Western Religions
- Families of Religions
- Ethnic & Universal
- Theisms
- The Ineffable
- Atheism & Agnosticism
- Summary: Types of Religions
- Try It: Types of Religions
Studying Religion
- Goals: Studying Religion
- Why Is There Religion?
- Functionalism
- Theorists of Religion
- Ways to Study Religion
- Belief & Unbelief
- Why Study Religion?
- The Religious Quest
- Summary: Studying Religion
- Try It: Studying Religion
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Indigenous Religions
Defining Indigenous Religions
- Goals: Defining Indigenous Religions
- The Great World Religions
- Terms for Indigenous Religions
- Indigenous Religions & Prehistoric Religion
- Religion & the Means of Subsistence
- Significance of Orality
- Diversity of Indigenous Religions
- How We Know Indigenous Religions
- How Many Practice Indigenous Religion?
- Summary: Defining Indigenous Religions
- Try It: Defining Indigenous Religions
Interpreting Indigenous Religions
- Goals: Interpreting Indigenous Religions
- What Indigenous Religions Can Teach Us
- Sacred Time & Sacred Place
- Deities & Spirits
- Sacrifice
- Rites of Passage
- Divination
- Healing
- Afterlife
- Summary: Interpreting Indigenous Religions
- Try It: Interpreting Indigenous Religions
Religions of Australia & the Pacific
- Goals: Religions of Australia & the Pacific
- Religions of Oceania
- Migrations to the South Pacific
- Life in the South Pacific
- European Contact
- Mana
- Tabu
- Religious Variety in Oceania
- Australian Aboriginal Religion
- Religions of the Pacific Islands
- Summary: Australia & the Pacific
- Try It: Religions of Australia & the Pacific
Case Studies: Religions of Oceania
- Goals: Case Studies in Oceania
- The Yolngu
- The John Frum Cult
- The Maori
- Summary: Case Studies in Oceania
Native North American Religions
- Goals: Native North American Religions
- Populating the Americas
- Native American Diversity
- Sacred Animals
- Vision Quests
- Agricultural Ceremonialism
- Impact of European Conquest
- Pan-Indianism
- Native American Religions Today
- Growing Up Native American
- Summary: Native North American Religions
- Try It: Native North American Religions
Case Studies: Native North America
- Goals: Native North America
- The Lakota
- The Zuni
- Ghost Dance Religion
- Summary: Native North America
Traditional African Religions
- Goals: Traditional African Religions
- The Mother Continent
- African Religious Diversity
- Christianity & Islam in Africa
- Religions in Africa Today
- Religions of Practice
- High God
- Intermediary Spirits
- Witchcraft, Divination, Magic, Healing
- African Rites of Passage
- Summary: Traditional African Religions
- Try It: Traditional African Religions
Case Studies: African Religions
- Goals: Case Studies: African Religions
- The Zulu
- The Yoruba
- Mami Wata
- Summary: Case Studies: African Religions
Afro-Caribbean Religions
- Goals: Afro-Caribbean Religions
- Religions of the African Diaspora
- Santeria
- History of Haitian Vodou
- Vodou Cosmology
- The Lwa
- The Lwa & Catholic Saints
- Vodou Practice
- Becoming Vodou
- Summary: Afro-Caribbean Religions
- Try It: Afro-Caribbean Religions
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Hinduism
Defining & Finding Hinduism
- Goals: Defining Hinduism
- Religion in Ancient India
- Religions of India
- Expansiveness of Hinduism
- How Old Is Hinduism?
- Sanatana Dharma
- Indian Definition of Hinduism
- Religious Conflict in India
- World Distribution
- Summary: Defining Hinduism
- Try It: Defining Hinduism
The Birth of Hinduism
- Goals: The Birth of Hinduism
- Timeline of Hinduism
- Indus Civilization
- Aryan Invasion Theory
- Caste System
- Early Vedic Religion & Ritual
- Vedic Gods
- Agni & Soma
- Vedic Scriptures
- Summary: The Birth of Hinduism
- Try It: The Birth of Hinduism
Hinduism After the Vedas
- Goals: Hinduism After the Vedas
- Relationship of Hinduism & Buddhism
- The Epics
- Classical Texts
- Tantric Texts
- Islam in India
- Colonial Powers in India
- Indian Independence
- Summary: Hinduism After the Vedas
- Try It: Hinduism After the Vedas
Philosophy of Hinduism
- Goals: Philosophy of Hinduism
- Basic Tensions in Hinduism
- Brahman
- Atman
- Maya
- Karma
- Reincarnation in Hinduism
- Samsara
- Moksha
- Cosmogenesis & Kaliyuga
- Summary: Philosophy of Hinduism
- Try It: Philosophy of Hinduism
Yoga
- Goals: Yoga
- Types of Yoga
- Jnana Yoga
- Karma Yoga & Arjuna
- Bhakti Yoga & Mirabai
- Raja Yoga
- Hatha Yoga
- Four Stages of Life
- Sannyasin
- Varieties of Yoga
- Summary: Yoga
- Try It: Yoga
Schools of Hindu Philosophy
- Goals: Schools of Hindu Philosophy
- Samkhya Philosophy
- Purusha & Prakriti
- The Three Gunas
- Meditation & Consciousness
- Vedanta
- Qualified Nondualism
- Tantric Hinduism
- Kundalini Yoga
- Tantra
- Summary: Schools of Hindu Philosophy
- Try It: Schools of Hindu Philosophy
The Hindu Pantheon
- Goals: The Hindu Pantheon
- Nature of the Hindu Pantheon
- The Trimurti
- Vishnu
- Rama
- Krishna
- Shiva
- Devi
- Lesser Deities
- Summary: The Hindu Pantheon
- Try It: The Hindu Pantheon
Puja & Pilgrimage
- Goals: Puja & Pilgrimage
- Hindu Practice
- Hindu Tradition
- Hindu Devotional Practice
- Darshan & Puja
- Procession & Pilgrimage
- Gurus
- Temple Worship
- Music & Chant
- Hindu Sacred Dance
- Summary: Puja & Pilgrimage
- Try It: Puja & Pilgrimage
Hinduism in the West
- Goals: Hinduism in the West
- Hinduism Outside India
- Swami Vivekananda
- Transcendental Meditation
- ISKCON
- Yoga in the West
- Summary: Hinduism in the West
- Try It: Hinduism in the West
Living Hinduism
- Growing Up Hindu
- Becoming Hindu
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Buddhism
The Life of the Buddha
- Goals: The Life of the Buddha
- Siddhartha Gautama
- Context of Siddhartha
- From Birth to Age 30
- Four Passing Sights
- Siddhartha as Renunciate
- Awakening of Siddhartha
- Buddha as Teacher
- Sangha
- Parinirvana
- Summary: The Life of the Buddha
- Try It: The Life of the Buddha
Philosophy of Buddhism
- Goals: Philosophy of Buddhism
- The Four Noble Truths
- The Five Precepts
- The Three Jewels
- Dharma
- Dependent Co-Arising
- No Self
- Nirvana
- Arhat
- Reincarnation in Buddhism
- Summary: Philosophy of Buddhism
- Try It: Philosophy of Buddhism
The First 400 Years
- Goals: The First 400 Years
- Transmission & Spread of Buddhism
- King Asoka
- Schools of Buddhism
- Major Branches of Buddhism
- Buddhism in First Century CE
- Summary: The First 400 Years
- Try It: The First 400 Years
Theravada Buddhism
- Goals: Theravada Buddhism
- Pali Canon
- Becoming an Arhat
- Women in Theravada Buddhism
- Theravadan Meditation
- Theravadan Iconography
- Worship of the Buddha
- Sri Lanka
- Major Theravadan Temples
- Thailand
- Summary: Theravada Buddhism
- Try It: Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
- Goals: Mahayana Buddhism
- The Bodhisattva Ideal
- The Buddhist Pantheon
- Three-Body Doctrine
- Skillful Means
- Mahayana Scriptures
- Mahayana Buddhist Philosophy
- Summary: Mahayana Buddhism
- Try It: Mahayana Buddhism
Vajrayana Buddhism
- Goals: Vajrayana Buddhism
- Origin of Vajrayana Buddhism
- Buddhism in Tibet
- Tantric Buddhism
- Buddhist Mantras
- Vajrayana Iconography
- Vajrayana Meditation
- Tibetan Deities
- Milarepa
- Summary: Vajrayana Buddhism
- Try It: Vajrayana Buddhism
Mahayana in China
- Goals: Mahayana in China
- Buddhism Enters China
- Chan Buddhism
- Pure Land Buddhism
- Huayan Buddhism
- Master Xu Yun
- Chinese Buddhist Iconography
- Buddhism in China Today
- Mahayana in Korea
- Mahayana in Vietnam
- Summary: Mahayana in China
- Try It: Mahayana in China
Mahayana in Japan
- Goals: Mahayana in Japan
- Buddhism Enters Japan
- Nara Period
- Shingon Buddhism
- Tendai Buddhism
- Kamakura Period
- Jodo Shu Buddhism
- Nichiren Buddhism
- Zen Buddhism
- Devotional Practice
- Summary: Mahayana in Japan
- Try It: Mahayana in Japan
Buddhism in the West
- Goals: Buddhism in the West
- Schools of Buddhism in the West
- Insight Meditation Society
- Shambhala
- City of 10,000 Buddhas
- Plum Village
- Engaged Buddhism
- Women in Western Buddhism
- Summary: Buddhism in the West
- Try It: Buddhism in the West
Living Buddhism
- Growing Up Buddhist
- Becoming Buddhist
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Sikhism
Emergence of Sikhism
- Goals: Emergence of Sikhism
- The Sikh Religion
- The Punjab
- Blending Hinduism & Islam
- Guru Nanak
- Summary: Emergence of Sikhism
- Try It: Emergence of Sikhism
Life of Guru Nanak
- Goals: Life of Guru Nanak
- Family of Nanak
- Birth of Guru Nanak
- Nanak as a Young Man
- Travels of Nanak
- Epiphany of Nanak
- Ashram of Nanak
- Death of Nanak
- Summary: Life of Guru Nanak
- Try It: Life of Guru Nanak
Sikh Theology
- Goals: Sikh Theology
- Sikh Monotheism
- A Personal God
- Sikh View of Human Nature
- Reincarnation & Liberation
- Union with God
- Summary: Sikh Theology
- Try It: Sikh Theology
The Ten Gurus
- Goals: The Ten Gurus
- First Guru
- Second Guru
- Third Guru
- Fourth Guru
- Fifth Guru
- Sixth Guru
- Seventh & Eight Gurus
- Ninth Guru
- Tenth Guru
- Summary: The Ten Gurus
- Try It: The Ten Gurus
The Khalsa
- Goals: The Khalsa
- Founding the Khalsa
- Sikh Identity
- The Warrior Ideal
- Sikh/Muslim Conflict
- Summary: The Khalsa
- Try It: The Khalsa
Sikh Scripture
- Goals: Sikh Scripture
- Adi Granth
- Mul Mantra
- Authors of the Granth
- Translations of the Granth
- Dasam Granth
- Other Sikh Scriptures
- Summary: Sikh Scripture
- Try It: Sikh Scripture
India & the Diaspora
- Goals: India & the Diaspora
- Sikhism after Guru Gobind Singh
- Ranjit Singh
- Sikhs & the British Empire
- The Partition of India
- Sikh Separatism
- Sikhs in the Punjab Today
- Sikhs in the Diaspora
- Variants of Sikhism
- Summary: India & the Diaspora
- Try It: India & the Diaspora
Rituals & Rites of Passage
- Goals: Rituals & Rites of Passage
- Sikh Worship
- The Gurdwara
- The Langar
- Birth in Sikhism
- Initiation in Sikhism
- Marriage in Sikhism
- Death in Sikhism
- Summary: Rituals & Rites of Passage
- Try It: Rituals & Rites of Passage
Sikh Holidays
- Goals: Sikh Holidays
- Cycle of Sikh Holidays
- Baisakhi
- Hola
- Diwali
- Sikh Commemorations
- Sikh Processions
- Sikh Pilgrimage
- Summary: Sikh Holidays
- Try It: Sikh Holidays
Living Sikhism
- Growing Up Sikh
- Becoming Sikh
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Daoism
Ancient Chinese Religion
- Goals: Ancient Chinese Religion
- Indigenous Religions of China
- The Warring States Period
- Ancient Chinese Religions
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Daoism & Confucianism
- Summary: Ancient Chinese Religion
- Try It: Ancient Chinese Religion
Beginnings of Daoism
- Goals: Beginnings of Daoism
- Laozi
- Origins of the Daodejing
- The Daodejing
- Zhuangzi
- Transliterating Chinese
- Summary: Beginnings of Daoism
- Try It: Beginnings of Daoism
Philosophy of the Dao
- Goals: Philosophy of the Dao
- What Is the Dao?
- The Ten Thousand Things
- The Ineffable Dao
- Wu Wei
- The Nature of Human Beings
- Yin & Yang
- The Importance of Nature
- Summary: Philosophy of the Dao
- Try It: Philosophy of the Dao
Daoism as a Religion
- Goals: Daoism as a Religion
- Philosophy or Religion?
- Celestial Master Daoism
- Magic & Alchemy
- Supreme Clarity Daoism
- Numinous Treasure Daoism
- Summary: Daoism as a Religion
- Try It: Daoism as a Religion
Daoist Pantheon
- Goals: Daoist Pantheon
- Basic Features
- Hierarchy of the Pantheon
- Major Deities
- Guan Yin
- Land God
- God of Wealth
- The Eight Immortals
- He Xiangu
- Other Daoist Deities
- Summary: Daoist Pantheon
- Try it: Daoist Pantheon
Second Millennium CE
- Goals: Second Millennium CE
- Later Sects of Daoism
- Orthodox Unity Daoism
- Integral Perfection Daoism
- White Cloud Abbey
- Daoist Temples
- Wang Ling Guan
- Daoist Priesthood
- Summary: Second Millennium CE
- Try It: Second Millennium CE
Daoist Meditation & Medicine
- Goals: Daoist Meditation & Medicine
- Breathing Exercises
- The Spiritual Embryo
- Holding the Ones
- Taijiquan
- Daoist Martial Arts
- Traditional Medicine & Acupuncture
- Herbology
- Macrobiotic Diet
- Summary: Meditation & Medicine
- Try It: Daoist Meditation & Medicine
Daoist Ritual Practices
- Goals: Daoist Ritual Practices
- Chinese Festivals
- Chinese Astrology
- Feng Shui
- Yijing
- Calligraphy
- Healing Rituals
- Ancestor Veneration
- Jiao
- Summary: Daoist Ritual Practices
- Try It: Daoist Ritual Practices
Daoism in the Modern Era
- Goals: Daoism in the Modern Era
- The Decline of Daoism
- Daoism Under the Manzhous
- Daoism & Western Imperialism
- Taiping Rebellion
- The Communist Revolution
- Daoism in China Today
- Daoism Outside Mainland China
- Summary: Daoism in the Modern Era
- Try It: Daoism in the Modern Era
Living Daoism
- Growing Up Daoist
- Becoming Daoist
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Confucianism
Life of Confucius
- Goals: Life of Confucius
- Early Life of Confucius
- Confucius as a Young Man
- Teacher & Philosopher
- Summary: Life of Confucius
- Try It: Life of Confucius
Fundamentals of Confucianism
- Goals: Fundamentals
- A Moral Philosophy
- Confucianism as a Religion
- Five Great Relationships
- Rectification of Names
- Five Virtues
- Male Dominance in Confucianism
- Human Nature in Confucianism
- Confucian Ideals for Government
- Yin & Yang in Confucianism
- Summary: Fundamentals
- Try It: Fundamentals
Confucian Texts
- Goals: Confucian Texts
- Significance of Confucian Texts
- The Five Classics
- The Book of Rites
- The Four Books
- The Analects
- The Great Learning
- The Book of Mencius
- Summary: Confucian Texts
- Try It: Confucian Texts
Early Confucian History
- Goals: Early Confucian History
- After Confucius
- Mencius
- Mozi
- Xunzi
- The Han Dynasty
- Confucian Religion
- Veneration of Confucius
- Confucian Priesthood
- Summary: Early Confucian History
- Try It: Early Confucian History
The Modern Era
- Goals: The Modern Era
- Confucianism & Buddhism
- Neo-Confucianism
- The Great Ultimate
- Sitting Meditation
- Becoming a Sage
- Wang Yangming
- Reforms in Confucianism
- Confucianism in the Modern Era
- Summary: The Modern Era
- Try It: The Modern Era
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Shinto
Early Japanese Religion
- Goals: Early Japanese Religion
- Indigenous Japanese Religion
- The Japanese People
- Prehistoric Japan
- Early Shinto
- Shamanism
- Early Shinto Gods & Goddesses
- Summary: Early Japanese Religion
- Try It: Early Japanese Religion
Shinto After Buddhism
- Goals: Shinto After Buddhism
- Shinto & Chinese Religions
- Shinto & Buddhism
- Shinto Writings
- Separating Shinto & Buddhism
- Meiji Restoration
- State Shinto
- After World War II
- Summary: Shinto After Buddhism
- Try It: Shinto After Buddhism
Shinto Mythology
- Goals: Shinto Mythology
- Origin Myth of Shinto
- Izanami & Izanagi
- The Birth of Fire
- Return of Izanagi
- The Birth of Amaterasu
- The Heavenly Rock Cave
- Descendants of Amaterasu
- Summary: Shinto Mythology
- Try It: Shinto Mythology
Kami
- Goals: Kami
- Definition of Kami
- Types of Kami
- Traits of Kami
- The Kami & Humans
- The Waving Cat
- Kami Iconography
- Summary: Kami
- Try It: Kami
Shinto Shrines
- Goals: Shinto Shrines
- Shinto Shrines in Japan Today
- Torii
- Shimenawa
- Shrine Architecture
- Features of Shinto Shrines
- Enshrined Kami
- The Three Treasures
- Summary: Shinto Shrines
- Try It: Shinto Shrines
Shinto Worship
- Goals: Shinto Worship
- Worshipping the Kami
- Visiting a Shrine
- Oracles & Charms
- Occasions for Visiting a Shrine
- Shinto Funerals
- Priest-Led Worship
- The Shinto Priesthood
- Shinto Worship at Home
- Summary: Shinto Worship
- Try It: Shinto Worship
Shinto Festivals
- Goals: Shinto Festivals
- Occasions for Festivals
- New Year Festivals
- Rice Festivals
- Other Shinto Festivals
- Processions in Shinto
- Shinto Dance & Theater
- Shinto Pilgrimage
- Summary: Shinto Festivals
- Try It: Shinto Festivals
Religious Blending in Japan
- Goals: Religious Blending in Japan
- Who Practices Shinto?
- Daoist Elements in Shinto
- Confucian Elements in Shinto
- Buddhist Elements in Shinto
- New Religious Movements in Japan
- Shinto Outside Japan
- Summary: Religious Blending in Japan
- Try It: Religious Blending in Japan
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Judaism
Basic Principles of Judaism
- Goals: Basic Principles of Judaism
- Monotheism in Judaism
- Iconoclasm in Judaism
- The Chosen People
- An Ethnic Religion
- The Sacred in History
- Orthopraxis
- Jewish Theology
- 13 Principles of Faith
- Summary: Basic Principles of Judaism
- Try It: Basic Principles of Judaism
Cultural Context of Judaism
- Goals: Cultural Context
- A Minority Religion
- Anti-Semitism
- Ghettoes
- Jews & Banking
- Blood Libel
- The Holocaust
- Warsaw Ghetto
- Survival of the Jewish People
- Summary: Cultural Context
- Try It: Cultural Context
Hebrew Scriptures
- Goals: Hebrew Scriptures
- Hebrew Bible
- Torah
- Prophets & Writings
- Talmud
- Midrash
- Mishnah
- Gemara
- Page from the Talmud
- Study, Learning, & Debate
- Summary: Hebrew Scriptures
- Try It: Hebrew Scriptures
Ancient History of Judaism
- Goals: Ancient History of Judaism
- A Herding People
- Judaism & the Creation of the World
- Covenant with Abraham
- Jacob & His Sons
- Jewish Patriarchs
- The Exodus
- Kingdom of Israel
- Second Temple Period
- The Diaspora
- Summary: Ancient History of Judaism
- Try It: Ancient History of Judaism
The Jewish Diaspora
- Goals: The Jewish Diaspora
- From Temple to Synagogue
- Judaism Under the Roman Empire
- Sephardim
- Matriliny
- Ashkenazim
- Kabbalah
- Shabbatai Tzvi
- Hasidim
- Beginnings of Reform Judaism
- Summary: The Jewish Diaspora
- Try It: The Jewish Diaspora
Judaism in America
- Goals: Judaism in America
- Jewish Migration to America
- Reform Judaism
- Orthodox Judaism
- Conservative Judaism
- Reconstructionist Judaism
- Intermarriage
- Summary: Judaism in America
- Try It: Judaism in America
The State of Israel
- Goals: The State of Israel
- State of Israel
- Theodor Herzl
- Proposed Zionist Homelands
- Jewish Immigration to Palestine
- Creation of the State of Israel
- State of Israel Today
- Tensions Within Israel
- Population of Israel
- Western Wall
- Summary: The State of Israel
- Try It: The State of Israel
Jewish Practice
- Goals: Jewish Practice
- Jewish Prayer
- Dressing for Prayer
- The Lord Is One
- Shabbat
- Reading the Torah
- Laws of Kashrut
- Levels of Jewish Observance
- Summary: Jewish Practice
- Try It: Jewish Practice
Jewish Holidays
- Goals: Jewish Holidays
- The Jewish Calendar
- High Holy Days
- Major Jewish Holidays
- Passover
- Shavuot & Sukkot
- Simchat Torah
- Hanukkah
- Purim
- Commemorative Holidays
- Summary: Jewish Holidays
- Try It: Jewish Holidays
Jewish Rites of Passage
- Goals: Jewish Rites of Passage
- Brit Milah
- Baby Namings
- Bar & Bat Mitzvah
- Jewish Weddings
- Mourning
- Summary: Jewish Rites of Passage
- Try It: Jewish Rites of Passage
Women in Judaism
- Goals: Women in Judaism
- Judaism as a Male-Dominated Religion
- Matriarchs & Heroines
- Role of Women in Judaism
- Niddah
- Marriage & Divorce in Judaism
- Women Rabbis
- Jewish Feminism
- Summary: Women in Judaism
- Try It: Women in Judaism
Living Judaism
- Growing Up Jewish
- Becoming Jewish
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Christianity
Jesus
- Goals: Jesus
- Early Life of Jesus
- Life of Jesus: Social Context
- Birth of Jesus
- What Jesus Taught
- Jesus as a Jew
- God, Father of Jesus
- Ministry of Jesus
- Crucifixion of Jesus
- Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus
- Summary: Jesus
- Try It: Jesus
Early Christianity
- Goals: Early Christianity
- Jesus Movement as a Jewish Sect
- Paul
- The Gentiles
- Doctrine of the Atonement
- Early Spread of Christianity
- Summary: Early Christianity
- Try It: Early Christianity
Christian Scriptures
- Goals: Christian Scriptures
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Establishment of the Canon
- The Gospels
- The Synoptic Gospels
- John
- The Acts of the Apostles
- The Epistles
- The Book of Revelation
- Summary: Christian Scriptures
- Try It: Christian Scriptures
After the Fall of Rome
- Goals: After the Fall of Rome
- Under the Roman Empire
- Gnosticism
- The Religion of the Empire
- Augustine
- Wrestling Over Christian Doctrine
- The Byzantine Empire
- First Schism in Christianity
- Catholicism & Eastern Orthodoxy
- Christian Monasticism
- Summary: After the Fall of Rome
- Try It: After the Fall of Rome
Medieval Christianity
- Goals: Medieval Christianity
- Medieval Monasticism
- The Virgin Mary
- Christian Pilgrimage
- The Crusades
- The Inquisition
- The Muslim Triumph
- Cultural Impact of the Crusades
- Thomas Aquinas
- On the Eve of Reformation
- Summary: Medieval Christianity
- Try It: Medieval Christianity
Protestant Reformation
- Goals: Protestant Reformation
- Martin Luther
- Luther’s Theology
- The Lutheran Church
- John Calvin
- Double Predestination
- Henry VIII, King of England
- Witchcraft Persecutions
- The Radical Reformation
- The Catholic Reformation
- Summary: Protestant Reformation
- Try It: Protestant Reformation
Christian Practices
- Goals: Christian Practices
- Diversity of Christian Practices
- Sacraments
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Confirmation & Reconciliation
- Marriage & Holy Orders
- Unction
- Christian Prayer
- Christian Art & Music
- Summary: Christian Practices
- Try It: Christian Practices
Christian Holidays
- Goals: Christian Holidays
- The Liturgical Year
- Advent
- Christmas
- Lent
- Easter
- Ascension
- Pentecost
- Saints Days
- The Assumption of Mary
- Summary: Christian Holidays
- Try It: Christian Holidays
Into the 21st Century
- Goals: Into the 21st Century
- Christian Denominations
- Revivalism
- New Christian Denominations
- Roman Catholicism in America
- Religious Pluralism in America
- The Ecumenical Impulse
- Pentecostalism
- Global Christianity
- The Future of Christianity
- Summary: Into the 21st Century
- Try It: Into the 21st Century
Living Christianity
- Growing Up Christian
- Becoming Christian
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Islam
Life of Muhammad
- Goals: Life of Muhammad
- Religion in Ancient Arabia
- Early Life of Muhammad
- The First Revelation
- Muhammad & the Meccans
- Night Journey
- Hijrah
- Islam Under Muhammad
- Family of Muhammad
- Summary: Life of Muhammad
- Try It: Life of Muhammad
Islamic Texts
- Goals: Islamic Texts
- Quran
- Biblical Figures in the Quran
- Arabic & the Quran
- Significance of the Quran
- Quranic Recitation
- Quranic Calligraphy
- The Hadith
- Sharia
- Islamic Philosophy
- Summary: Islamic Texts
- Try It: Islamic Texts
Major Tenets of Islam
- Goals: Major Tenets of Islam
- Islamic Monotheism
- No Original Sin
- No Value Placed on Celibacy
- Afterlife in Islam
- Islam & Judaism
- Islam & Christianity
- The Prophet
- People of the Book
- Angels, Spirits, & Jinn
- Summary: Major Tenets of Islam
- Try It: Major Tenets of Islam
Islamic Religious Practices
- Goals: Islamic Religious Practices
- Five Pillars of Islam
- Testimony
- Prayer
- Charity
- Fasting
- Islamic Pilgrimage
- Jihad
- Dietary Restrictions
- Islamic Rites of Passage
- Summary: Islamic Religious Practices
- Try It: Islamic Religious Practices
History of Islam
- Goals: History of Islam
- Early Expansion
- The Caliphate
- Umayyad Dynasty
- The Sunni/Shia Split
- Shia Islam
- Abbasid Dynasty
- Later Islamic Empires
- End of the Islamic Empires
- Summary: History of Islam
- Try It: History of Islam
Sufism
- Goals: Sufism
- Islamic Mysticism
- Rabia al-Adawiyya
- Controversies Over Sufism
- Sufi Orders
- Sufi Practices
- Rumi
- Sufism Today
- Summary: Sufism
- Try It: Sufism
Islamic Resurgence
- Goals: Islamic Resurgence
- Islam & the Modern World
- Islamic States in the 20th Century
- Modern Turkey
- Modern Iran
- Other Islamic States
- Islamic Revivalism
- Islamic Reform
- Summary: Islamic Resurgence
- Try It: Islamic Resurgence
Islam Around the World
- Goals: Islam Around the World
- Islam in Asia
- Islam in Africa
- Islam in Europe
- Islam in America
- African-American Islam
- Summary: Islam Around the World
- Try It: Islam Around the World
Women & Islam
- Goals: Women & Islam
- Role of Women in Islam
- Women & the Prophet
- Women in the Quran
- Women in the Hadith
- The Veil
- Islamic Feminism
- Summary: Women & Islam
- Try It: Women & Islam
Living Islam
- Growing Up Muslim
- Becoming Muslim
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Religious Pluralism
Comparing Religions
- Goals: Comparing Religions
- Making Meaningful Comparisons
- Universal & Ethnic Religions
- Orthopraxis & Orthodoxy
- Sacred Time
- Founders, Prophets, & Teachers
- Sex, Life, & Death
- One God or Many?
- Summary: Comparing Religions
- Try It: Comparing Religions
New Religious Movements
- Goals: New Religious Movements
- Religious Change
- Millennial Movements
- Universalist Religions
- Nature Religions
- New Age Religions
- Summary: New Religious Movements
- Try It: New Religious Movements
The 21st Century
- Goals: The 21st Century
- The Secularization Thesis
- Fundamentalism
- Interreligious Dialogue
- Female Religious Leadership
- Religion in Popular Culture
- Looking Forward
- Summary: The 21st Century
- Try It: The 21st Century
Islam Around the World
- Goals: Islam Around the World
- Islam in Asia
- Islam in Africa
- Islam in Europe
- Islam in America
- African-American Islam
- Summary: Islam Around the World
- Try It: Islam Around the World
About the Author: Cynthia Eller, Ph.D.
Cynthia Eller has taught religious studies at Claremont Graduate University, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College, Montclair State University, Yale Divinity School, and Princeton University. She has written numerous books in the fields of women and religion, ethics, and women’s studies, including Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist Spirituality Movement in America (Boston: Beacon Press, 1995) and The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why an Invented Past Won’t Give Women a Future (Boston: Beacon Press, 2000).
Like all religious studies faculty, Dr. Eller hopes to draw her students into an appreciation of the elements of a wide swath of religions and instill a desire in her students to explore religion and its study further through upper-division classes. In Revealing World Religions and Revealing Religion, she has developed digital texts that convey basic concepts and subject matter, illustrate lived religion in a compelling way, and reinforce learning in ways unavailable with a printed text. These courseware titles are a new kind of textbook for a new generation of learners.