[.ca] World Religions: Western Traditions (ISBN 0195415205)

Class Book:
I used this book here at UNC Charlotte for our Western History and Culture class. It isn't a very good book for actually learning the religions because it is very broad. But when the class only lasts a semester it is fine for hitting all the main points. I still dont like the class though.

Broad based and somewhat biased:
There is no such thing as a completely unbiased and objective text on religious studies. As other commentators on this volume have noted, there are some definite biases in this volume, but one must also allow for biases on the part of the readers, too. This book, edited by Willard Oxtoby of the University of Toronto, is the kind of book often used for introduction to world religions courses. This is part of a two-volume set; this volume deals with the three major religions to come out of the ancient Near/Middle East, as well as a few lesser-prominent traditions, such as Zoroastrianism and the Greek/Roman/Egyptian religious varieties. In his introduction, Oxtoby addresses the issue of objectivity and the insider/outsider consideration about religious studies writing. The other authors, Alan Segal and Mahmoud Ayoub, write of Judaism and Islam respectively, and Oxtoby is a Christian. We are not given the specifics of denomination or sectarian affiliation here, but given the purpose of writing broadly-useful texts, such classifications might hinder rather than help progress. Oxtoby has the majority of the writing in this volume, taking not only the task of the Christian section, but also Zoroastrianism, the introduction, and concluding chapters with forward-looking ideas. Segal and Ayoub write on their traditions of Judaism and Islam. Each chapter incorporates history, particularly the beginnings of the religions, and the fundamental belief structures. For each major faith, a description of the current state of affairs is also included. There are photographs throughout, but not so many for a 500+ page book. There are maps, diagrams and charts relating to the subjects. Perhaps the most useful are the highlighted text boxes, which often draw into greater relief key scriptures, historical events, personalities or ideas -- the Ten Commandments is drawn out, as are pieces of Midrash and Talmud; gospel passages and liturgical prayers are highlighted in the Christian section; portions of the Koran and key terms in Islam are also developed in this manner. The concluding chapters on New Horizons and Traditions in Contact look at developments at work in the modern West today (Bahai, Native American religions, etc.) as well as key areas of inter-religious contact, conflict and dialogue. Each major section begins with a timeline of key dates in the development of that tradition. Each section concludes with lists for further reading, references, and useful study questions for those who use this as a text book or conversation partner. The book has a very good index, and is well constructed to stand up to regular student use (and abuse).