John RenardKirja-arvosteluja

Easy-to-read basic introduction to Catholic teaching on theological and social matters of general concern. For classroom and individual use. Includes bibliography and discussion questions.

"Renard's observations on Islam are at once respectful and insightful. He helps the reader to confront biases against Islam and its religious and cultural influence. The gift of Renard's many years of living with Muslims in Arab settings is his ability to relate what seems to be a foreign experience to the everyday life of Americans who are, for the most part, Christians often alarmed by the "political Islam" of the Middle East."--BOOK JACKET.

Talels of Sufis. None during Umayyad. Several: Abu Bakr's time. Some from Abbasid onward.

Reviewed in The Middle East Journal, Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 372 Spring 2007.

I have been an inquisitor of religions for a long time, and I love to learn about various theologies and practices of the world's religions. Buddhism is one religion that I had always wondered about but knew very little of. This short text is a wealth of information on many aspects of Buddhism, and while I learned a great deal I feel as though there is still so much more to discover.

I particularly enjoyed the format of this book. It is divided into nine chapters, each pertaining to a specific aspect of Buddhism's practices, history, or culture. The author, a scholar of Eastern religions with a Ph.D. from Harvard, poses a total of 101 questions to himself and then answers them clearly and concisely.

The most difficult aspect in reading this text was the terminology that uses various Eastern languages. I found it hard to pronounce many of the terms, and I often forgot what they meant, though Renard does provide clear definitions. A handy glossary is also provided as well as a few charts to aid the reader in understanding the terms and history of Buddhism.

The book covers topics of Buddhism's beginnings and early sources, history and development, doctrines and practices, laws and ethics, spirituality, role in the humanities, relationships to other religions, treatment of women and family, and role in today's culture. To me, some of the most fascinating aspects were meditation practices, views of the soul and immortality, and the concept of emptiness. A short quote demonstrates a particularly Buddhist concept: "The Buddhist idea of shunyata means emptying all things of that kind of selfishly instrumental meaning, allowing them to mean only what they are in themselves, and appreciating them as such."

The fact that this book is thoroughly researched yet so small and well put together in an inviting format by a knowledgeable author make it a great introduction to a religion with a long and complex history.

The Handy Religion Answer Book (The Handy Answer Book Series) by John Renard (2001)