An in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of contemporary religion and its issues. Covers materials fully by using self-contained chapters and sections that are relatively independent of each other. It also reflects on the many new developments in religion with several complete chapter rewrites. For anyone interested in Modern Religion.

This book explores the meaning and identity of religious education within the cultural context of today.

Following in the very successful tradition of Critical Terms for Literary Studies and Critical Terms for Art History, this book attempts to provide a revitalized, self-aware vocabulary with which this bewildering religious diversity can be accurately described and responsibly discussed. Leading scholars working in a variety of traditions demonstrate through their incisive discussions that even our most basic terms for understanding religion are not neutral but carry specific historical and conceptual freight.

Religion Today introduces students to key concepts in religious studies through a compelling problem-solving framework. Each chapter opens with a contemporary case study that helps students engage in current religious issues, explore possible solutions to difficult religious problems today, and learn key themes and concepts in religious studies. To enhance student learning, a free Student Study Guide is available for download from Rowman & Littlefield. The Study Guide features chapter summaries, definition quizzes for students to test themselves on key terms, and possible learning activities.

The anthology Religion and Contemporary Issues: Politics, Ecology, and Women's Rights explores three areas of life in which religion has a profound impact: political policy; ecology; and women's rights. Through the lens of six religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - the carefully curated articles address some of contemporary society's most challenging issues. The articles expose readers to diverse opinions, while original introductions to the issues and the religions help place the articles in context. Students learn about Christian fundamentalism and its relationship to postmodern ecology. They explore Jain devotional literature and how femaleness is constructed within it. They consider the potential transformational effect of devotion in Hinduism. Religion and Contemporary Issues encourages readers to think critically about how the power of religion both shapes and frames important issues. Its cogent presentation makes the material appropriate for lower division religious studies courses. With its careful attention to global women's rights, the book is also well-suited to courses in women's studies.

Although students and scholars of social problems have often acknowledged the role of religion, no thorough examinations of the relation between the two have emerged. This book fills this gap by providing a definitive work on the impact of religion on social problems, religion as a solution to social problems, and religion as a social problem in itself.