World Religions in America: An Introduction, 4th ed.

by Jacob Neusner

Publisher:

Westminister John Knox

, 2009

Overview

The fourth edition of World Religions in America continues its lauded tradition of providing students with reliable and nuanced information about America’s religious diversity, while also reflecting new developments and ideas. Each chapter was updated to reflect important changes and events, and current statistics and information. New features include a timeline of key events and people for each tradition, sidebars on major movements or controversies, personal stories from members of various faiths, a theme—based organization of subjects, more subheads, three new chapters exploring America’s increasing religious diversity, and suggestions for further stud

Key Features

• Highlights key events, notable people, and major movements
• Includes new chapters on the Unification Church, New Thought, and Women and Religion in America
• Contains study questions for each chapter

Contents

• Native Americans and Their Religions
• Protestant Christianity in the World and in America
• The Religious World of African Americans
• The Catholics in the World and in America
• The Religious World of Hispanic Americans
• Orthodox Christianity in the World and in America
• Judaism in the World and in America
• Hinduism in India and in America
• Buddhism in the World and in America
• East Asian Religions in Today’s America
• Islam in the World and in America
• World Religions Made in the U.S.A.: Apocalyptic Communities—Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses
• World Religions Made in the U.S.A.: Metaphysical Communities—Christian Science and Theosophy
• The Church of Scientology: A Very New American Religion
• Nature Religions: American Neopaganism and Witchcraft
• The Baha’i Faith in the World and in America
• The Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Religion in America and the World
• Religion and Women in America
• Religion and Politics in America
• Religion and Society in America

Contributors

• Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi
• George D. Chryssides
• Mark A. Csikszentmihalyi
• Dell deChant
• Malcolm David Eckel
• Robert S. Ellwood
• John L. Esposito
• Fred Frohock
• Sam Gill
• Justo L. González
• Andrew M. Greeley
• William Scott Green
• Danny L. Jorgensen
• Gerald James Larson
• Martin E. Marty
• John McGuckin
• Mike McMullen
• Paul Murray
• Jacob Neusner
• Peter J. Paris
• Jaroslav Pelikan
• Eleanor J. Stebner

Praise for the Print Edition

In this work, whose format suggests a collection of essays instead of a standard textbook, each of 14 chapters is devoted to a religious group or topic and written by a prominent scholar in the field of religious studies. The scholars provide factual data concerning each religion or topic, as well as their personal observations, opinions, and conclusions, giving the student not only a well-informed introduction to religions in America but also a sense that these religions are alive, active, and relevant to one’s and the world’s well-being. Of special interest are the chapters on religion and its relationship to women, politics, and society in general. Every chapter ends with study questions, essay topics, word explorations, and a further reading list. Recommended for high school libraries and undergraduate college libraries.

—Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu

Product Details

• Title: World Religions in America, Fourth Edition: An Introduction
• Editor: Jacob Neusner
• Edition: 4th
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 464
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: World Religions

About Jacob Neusner

Jacob Neusner (1932–2016) was a preeminent scholar of ancient Judaism and one of the most published authors ever, with more than 900 original volumes to his name. He was educated at Harvard University, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Oxford, and Yale University. He was research professor of theology and senior fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. Neusner’s work has been highly influential, if sometimes controversial. He pioneered applying “form criticism” to Rabbinic texts, and aimed at a humanistic and academic reading of ancient Jewish literature.

Neusner’s works include the Jacob Neusner Jewish Studies Bundle (99 vols.).

Sample Pages from World Religions in America: An Introduction, 4th ed.