Major Religions [Paperback]

T. Patrick Burke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557867151 | ISBN-13: 978-1557867155 | Publication Date: January 30, 1996 | Edition: 1

This new introduction to the world's major religions provides a comprehensive survey of the major traditions with selected primary readings. Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, The Major Religions will be the ideal introduction for students on shorter courses at college and university.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you need a text for an introductory course in the world religions, your search will be over after you examine Professor Burke's The Major Religions. What recommends it? Its fresh, lucid and unpretentious style, its direct approach to the essentials of each major tradition, its clear awareness of the abilities and resources of the undergraduate mind. The text is an ideal combination of analysis, illustration, classical texts (with commentary), discussion questions, suggestions for tests and additional reading. Professor Burke and his editors have produced what comes close to the ideal college textbook. Its exciting arrangement will have students eager to turn to their religion assignment." James E Biechler, Emeritus Professor of Religions, La Salle University, Philadelphia

"Professor Burke's approach is one which I think would be appealing in those contexts (particularly one semester courses) for which it is designed. The inclusion of sources in the book, if designed for one-semester use, is an excellent idea, and furthermore, I think that Professor Burke's selection of sources is remarkably apt. Pedagogically, I think that the book is well done: it will be accessible and interesting to students, and it has plenty of examples." Professor Dewey D. Wallace Jr., George Washington University.

Book Description

This popular introduction to the worlds religions provides a comprehensive survey of the major religious traditions together with selected primary readings. The text focuses on the beliefs and values that animate each religion, helping students to understand what makes them meaningful to their followers.For the second edition, the text has been fully revised and now features:Updated material throughout, building on the success of the first editionA complete new chapter on Sikhism, including selected supporting textsAdditional material on each religions ethics and their encounter with the modern worldImproved visual design, with extensive student aids including revised maps, timeline and chartsChapter-by-chapter discussion and test questions, summaries, and suggestions for further reading.Assuming no prior knowledge, The Major Religions is the ideal introduction for students who are approaching the subject for the first time. The second edition is supported by a website at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/burke featuring additional resources for lecturers and students. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557867151
• ISBN-13: 978-1557867155
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introductory Text on the Topic, January 30, 2005

By 

Catherine Berry Stidsen (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Major Religions (Paperback)

I have had the opportunity to read and use both the first and second editions of Dr. Burke's book. I find them outstanding in their field. The second edition contains excellent information on the Sikh religion, an addition to the first publication. It is accurate and insightful. It is evident that Dr. Burke takes the time to know the communities about which he writes and that he does not produce material simply from an academic arm chair.

The concise summaries at the end of each chapter are valuable as are the study questions. They would help the reader/student to focus. What I like especially is that the book contains texts of the various traditions and does not require students to access them elsewhere. This is a bonus.

I have some difficulty with the format of the book which I am sure is not of Burke's making but there are wide outer margins and very slim inner ones which make reading somewhat difficult. Perhaps the intention is that students can make notes in these wide margins but overall I find this difficult to work with. I hope that would be corrected in a future edition. I wonder, too, why Blackwell has opted to use only black and white photographs as illustrations and many of these are rather small for today's very visual learners.

There is a website connected with the second edition with materials that can be downloaded by teachers. I must admit to being disappointed in this material. Ideally this would contain colour visuals perhaps of the photographs in the text itself. In North America at least, the "teaching as telling" mode is suffering. More and more introductory courses at university need hands on activities for the retention of insights and information that most teachers hope for for their students.

I recommend the book wholeheartedly. Its content is superb. I hope for an improved format more user-friendly for visual learners in a future edition.

Catherine Berry Stidsen, Ph.D., R.T.C., Cayuga, Ontario

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction, June 5, 2006

By 

Mouse (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Major Religions: An Introduction with Texts (Paperback)

I agree that this book might not be detailed enough for teaching a course. I read this book for leisure. I was merely curious about other religions and cultures, and, not knowing much about the subject (one course in college years ago), found this book to be at the perfect level for me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, August 20, 2010

By 

Hailey DeGraw (Carl Junction, MO, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Major Religions: An Introduction with Texts (Paperback)

Book was in better condiditon that expected! Very good price compared to the bookstore cant wait to start class!