This guide is an example of a Bibliography and provides a sample of the resources available on a specific topic or a curated collection for a specific class. In addition to books and articles, a bibliography can include videos, websites, and other media. Please contact the library to discuss a bibliography for your class or topic.
You can find these items on the shelf at the Valparaiso Campus Library.
Encyclopedia of American Religions
Presents coverage of more than 2,500 North American religious groups in the U.S. and Canada, from Adventists to Zen Buddhists. Entries contain essays and directory listings that describe the historical development of religious families and give factual information about each group within those families, including, where available, headquarter location, membership figures, a listing of educational facilities and information on periodicals published by the group.
Ideas & Daily Life in the Muslim World Today by
Over the past twenty years, groups like the Gallup Organization and the Pew Research Center have conducted numerous polls of people in the Muslim world. These polls track the attitudes and opinions of tens of thousands of people living in predominantly Muslim countries like Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Egypt. Probing questions uncover the views of Muslims toward their local political systems, culture, religion, family life, and the United States. The resulting data is analyzed in Ideas & Daily Life in the Muslim World Today, in conjunction with historical background and current demographic information. It provides an unprecedented window into the perceptions, hopes, and values of adults across the Islamic world. Each title in this series contains color photos throughout, maps, and back matter including: a chronology, a detailed index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.
Religious Liberty by
This book explores why religious liberty is important and controversial, what the U.S constitution says about religious liberty, whether religious liberty is under threat, and what the impact of politics is on religious liberty and democracy. The viewpoints are selected from a wide range of highly respected sources and publications. By choosing from such diverse sources and including both popular and unpopular views, this book provides your readers with objectivity. They explore many sides of a debate, which promotes issue awareness as well as critical thinking.
Buddhism by
Buddhists believe in no single deity but ascribe to a guide for living that offers the possibility of transcendent enlightenment. This volume outlines the tenets of Buddhism and traces the spread of the religion from its birth in India to Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and ultimately the West.
Hinduism by
For several millennia, Hinduism has dominated India and cultures throughout Southeast Asia. This volume includes selections from central Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad-Gita and the Laws of Manu, as well as topics ranging from Hinduism's origins to the challenges faced by modern Hindus in India and America.
God by
Not just in words, but in art, dance, music and silence -- this book is the perfect overview for viewing divinity from every perspective. The history of God cannot possibly be told. How can you write the history of One who is outside time and space, and who has no beginning and no end? Nevertheless, the desire to understand and experience the divine is a fundamental human need. For billions of people, through many millennia, the quest to answer the basic questions of existence -- Why are we born? What will happen to us when we die? and how should we live out lives? -- has become a search for God. A Brief History of God explores the myriad ways in which humans have sought connection to the divine from the dawn of history to the present -- not just through religion and philosophy, but in art and literature, in music and dance, and in science.
Under the Banner of Heaven by
This extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America's isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God. At the core of Krakauer's book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America's fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.
Judaism by
With a Diaspora that has spread to nearly every continent, the Judaic tradition has been an integral part of the history and development of societies the world over. As the oldest of the worlds three major monotheistic religions, Judaism has survived centuries of trial and transformation, all while consistently maintaining a considerable following and identity. This comprehensive volume examines the robust spiritual and cultural heritage of this rich and complex faith as well as the lives of past and present figures whose leadership and intellectual contributions have shaped its development.
Christianity by
Arguably one the greatest influences on the Western world, if not the world as a whole, the Christian faith can be described as a cultural and religious colossus for the tremendous effect it has had on the development of civilization as we know it. Although centered around the figure of Jesus of Nazareth, Christianity evolved rapidly, leading to the creation of various sects and traditions that have come to represent different peoples around the world. This compelling tome examines the philosophy, history, dogma, and socio-cultural aspects of a religion that has been found at the heart of both conflict and peace. Sidebars brim with interesting facts and stories that support the main narrative.
World Religion by
This volume is essential reading for anyone seeking fundamental information on the major religions of the world. Four chapters position several opposing essays, evaluating if religion can solve global problems, if religion promotes war, if religion and science oppose one another, and if religious fundamentalism is a serious problem. Essay contributors include The Dalai Lama, George W. Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Yousef al-Qaradhawi, The Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness Center, and Liberal Judaism.
The Catholic Church by
Editor Noah Berlatsky has carefully curated a collection of several essays that fall on either side of controversies relating to the Catholic church. Is celibacy a necessary requirement of the priesthood? Should women be priests? Should gays be barred from the priesthood? Does homophobia lead to church sex abuse scandals? Should the church oppose embryonic stem cell research? Does the opposition to condoms endanger African women? These debates, plus several others, will activate each reader's critical thinking skills, and create an understanding about the importance of learning several viewpoints, not just one.
You will be prompted to login using your MyIvy username and password.
The Qur'an by
There is much more to the Qur'an than the selective quotations favoured by Islamic fundamentalists. This book provides a student-friendly guide to the many ways in which the Qur'an can be read. Designed for both Muslims and Western non-Muslim students, it examines the Qur'an in Western scholarship as well as giving an overview of the rich interpretive traditions from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the present day. This guide is a concise introduction to all aspects of the Qur'an: history, understanding and interpretation, providing: coverage of both pre-modern and modern periods plenty of examples to illustrate key points and aid student understanding summaries, timelines and a glossary.
Religious Studies by
Drawing on recent developments in the comparative study of religion, this book explores the trends of the past sixty years from a global perspective. Each of the ten chapters covers the study of religion in a different region of the world, from Europe and the Americas to Asia and the Far East. Topics covered include: local background to the study of religions formation of religious studies in the region important thinkers and writings institutions interregional diversity and interregional connections emerging issues. This book is a major contribution to the field of religious studies and a valuable reference for scholars, researchers and graduate students.
The Sociology of Religion by
This clear introduction to the sociology of religion combines a discussion of key theorists with a modern emphasis on the diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Malcolm Hamilton's expanded second edition brings the discussion fully up-to-date, and extends its material on secularization and religious sects, giving a broad comparative view. Drawing on the insights of history, anthropology and sociology, he surveys classic and contemporary theory to give a full picture of the variety and scope of theoretical perspectives.
Religion by
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 Basicsremains 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 Basicsis an essential buy for students wanting to get to grips with this hotly debated topic.
Islam and the Baha'i Faith by
Muhammad 'Abduh (1849-1905) was one of the key thinkers and reformers of modern Islam who has influenced both liberal and fundamentalist Muslims today. 'Abdul-Baha (1844-1921) was the son of Baha'ullah (1817-1892), the founder of the Baha'i Faith; a new religion which began as a messianic movement in Shii Islam, before it departed from Islam. Oliver Scharbrodt offers an innovative and radically new perspective on the lives of these two major religious reformers in 19thcentury Middle East by placing both figures into unfamiliar terrain. While one would classify 'Abdul-Baha, leader of a messianic movement which claims to depart from Islam, as an exponent of heresy in Islam, 'Abduh is perceived as an orthodox Sunni reformer. This book, however, argues against the assumption that both represent two extremely opposite expressions of Islamic religiosity. It shows that both were influenced by similar intellectual and religious traditions of Islam and that both participated in the same discussions on the reform of Islam in the 19thcentury. Islam and the Baha'i Faithprovides new insights into the Islamic background of the Baha'i Faith and into 'Abduh's own association with so-called heretical movements in Islam.
Mormonism by
Beginning with a handful of members in 1830, the church that Joseph Smith founded has grown into a world-wide organization with over 12 million adherents, playing prominent roles in politics, sports, entertainment, and business. Yet they are an oddity. They are considered wholesome,conservative, and friendly on one hand, and clannish, weird, and self-righteous on the other. Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction explains who Mormons are: what they believe and how they live their lives. Written by Richard Lyman Bushman, an eminent historian and practicing Mormon, this compact, informative volume ranges from the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints to the contentious issues of contemporary Mormonism. Bushman argues that Joseph Smith still serves as the Mormons' Moses. Their everyday religious lives are still rooted in his conceptions of true Christianity. They seek revelation to solve life's problems just as he did. They believe theauthority to seal families together for eternity was restored through him. They understand their lives as part of a spiritual journey that started in a "council in heaven" before the world began just as he taught. Bushman's account also describes the tensions and sorrows of Mormon life. How areMormons to hold on to their children in a world of declining moral standards and rampant disbelief? How do rational, educated Mormons stand up to criticisms of their faith? How do single Mormons fare in a church that emphasizes family life? The book also examines polygamy, the various Mormonscriptures, and the renegade fundamentalists who tarnish the LDS image when in fact they're not members. In a time when Mormons such as Mitt Romney and Harry Reid are playing prominent roles in American society, this engaging introduction enables readers to judge for themselves how Mormon teachings shape the character of believers.
Fundamentalism by
Thirty years after the Iranian Revolution and more than a decade since the events of 2001, the time is right to examine what the discourse on fundamentalism has achieved and where it might head from here. In this volume editors Simon A. Wood and David Harrington Watt offer eleven interdisciplinary perspectives framed by the debate between advocates and critics of the concept of fundamentalism that investigate it with regard to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The essays are integrated through engagement with a common selection of texts on fundamentalism and a common set of questions about the utility and disadvantages of the term, its varied application by scholars of particular groups, and the extent to which the term can encompass a cross-cultural set of religious responses to modernity. Although the notion of fundamentalism as a global phenomenon dates from around 1980, the term itself originated in North American Protestantism approximately six decades earlier and acquired pejorative connotations within five years of its invention. Since the early 1990s, however, many scholars have endorsed the view that the notion of fundamentalism--as relying on literalist interpretations of the scriptures, firm commitment to patriarchy, or refusal to confine religious matters to the private sphere--facilitates our understanding of modern religion by enabling us to identify and label structurally analogous developments in different religions. Critics of the term have identified problems with it, above all that the idea of global fundamentalism confuses more than it clarifies and unjustifiably overlooks, downplays, or homogenizes difference more than it identifies a genuine homogeny. The editor's rigorous exploration of both the usefulness and the limitations of the concept make it an excellent counterpoint to the many books that have a great deal to say about the former and very little to say about the latter. It will also serve as an ideal text for religious studies, history, and anthropology courses that explore the complex interface between religion and modernity as well as courses on theory and method in religious studies.
Comparing Religions by
Comparing Religions covers such important topics as recent theoretical approaches to comparison, case studies of comparing religions in the classroom, and the impact of postcolonialism and postmodernism on the modernist assumptions of comparitivism in the academic study of religion.
These citations are formatted in APA (American Psychological Association). If no DOI is given, the database name is used in the retrieved from statement. You may be asked to login using your MyIvy username and password.