What are the best books to read to learn about the different religions? And not just the traditional texts (bible etc) Thanks in advanced for your info.
2006-12-27 14:37:03 · 10 answers · asked by azz 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Start with the book the Complete Idiots Guide to World Religions it give great basic explainations of beliefs and practices of religions as well as good brief histories.
In the histories it will give you various books and scriptures that have been written in that religion. It is a great jumping off point for studying religions. It covers everything from Monothesist religions to the original and modern Nature religions.
2006-12-27 14:41:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was also once a Christian. The poster who stated `you were never a Christian' needs to re-read Matthew chapter 7. I would suggest you read the book Jesus by Ian Wilson which gives a factual account of the rise of Christianity. Regarding Wicca/Paganism: Wicca, though it claims to be ancient, is actually only about 60 years old, founded by Gardener. It does draw on ancient lore and beliefs but is not itself `ancient'. Paganism, on the other hand, is a belief in the `old gods' and the ways of nature. Paganism had `God' on the earth, down the road at a shrine, up on Mount Olympus, where one could go and talk to the god or goddess. When monotheism triumphed over paganism `God' was lifted up into the sky, into `heaven' and humans then had to re-configure their understanding of the Creator and, as I see it, they haven't adjusted to that change very well. There was never a `religious war' in the history of the planet until Constantine, who converted to Christianity (at least nominally) attacked the Donatists over a difference of belief in the same god. I will list some sites on Paganism which are trustworthy in the Sources section and also some books but, bottom line here, Paganism was the true religion which Christianity stole pretty much everything from (even `The Golden Rule' which, in the west, was first said by Plato, not by Jesus). All the best to you. Please don't be discouraged by jerks who `strain at gnats to swallow camels whole' - keep searching for the truth and you will find it. And, as you already know, that `truth' is not Christianity.
2016-03-28 21:43:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of Christian books written on a large variety of subjects. Are you married or thinking about marriage? Get a Christian book on marriage then you can learn how Christians face the difficulties of marriage through trusting in Jesus. Get any book by Charles Stanley. Christian books will teach you how Christians deal with adversities in life some of which have been the worst in history. There are many testimonies written by Christian sharing what Jesus has done in their life. Foxes "Book of Martyrs" is a book to read. Corrie Ten Boom wrote a book called "The Hiding Place". She was a Christian who helped hide Jews in Nazi Germany and was sent to a concentration camp where her sister died.
2006-12-27 14:45:53 · answer #3 · answered by adrian b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judaism:
Torah
Living Jewish by Rabbi Berel Wein
Dor L' Dor Timeline by Ephraim Waxman
Triumph of Survival by Berel Wein
To Be A Jewish Woman by Lisa Aiken
Christianity:
Holy Bible
The Phenomen of Christianity by Ninian Smart
Backgrounds of Early Christianity by Everett Ferguson
The History of Christianity:From the Birth of Christ to the Abolition of Paganism the Roman... By Henry Hart Milman
Islam:
Qur'an
A Brief Look Upon Islam By William S Peachy
Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam By I.A. Ibrahim
A Glimpse at the Beauty of Islam By Al-Arabi Abu Hamzah
The Heart of Islam By Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Islamic Awareness By Ahmad Sakr
Chronology of Islamic History:570-1000 By H.U. Rahman
How Islam Created The Modern World
Islam and the World
Hinduism:
Hinduism:Beliefs and Practices By Jeaneane Fowler
The Hindu Mind By Bansi Pandit
An Introduction to Hinduism By Garvin D. Flood
Aspects of Hinduism By Saral Jhingram
The Hindu Vision By Anatanand Rambachan
Buddhism:
The Wisdom of Buddhism By Christmas Humphreys
An Introduction to Buddhism:Teachings, History, and Practices By Peter Harvey
Buddist Path of to Awakening By Tejenanda
Principals of Buddhism By Kulananda
Sikhism:
The Doctrine and Dynamics of Sikhism By Jasbir Singh Ahluwali
Exploring Sikhism : Aspects of Sikh Identity, Culture, and Thought/W.H. McLeod
The Illustrated History of the Sikhs/Khushwant Singh
Let’s Know Sikhism : A Religion of Harmony, Brotherhood and Tolerance/Kartar Singh Bhalla
2006-12-27 16:10:37 · answer #4 · answered by robedzombiesoul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Amazon.com -- search for religious books. They'll list many, many religions, and many of their books are low priced. Maybe you should go to your local library first to review a few before you start buying them, that way you can have some inkling as to what you want to delve into more deeply.
Also, search the Web. I entered "Hinduism beliefs" recently and got pages of info. Try that.
2006-12-27 14:47:55 · answer #5 · answered by TexasStar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For Roman Catholicism it would be the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
2006-12-27 14:46:37 · answer #6 · answered by Lives7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great selection at http://www.landoverbaptist.org
2006-12-27 14:42:08 · answer #7 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
the Qur'an
once you read the truth there is no need to read about the others
2006-12-27 14:38:43 · answer #8 · answered by hello 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋