A revealing guide to China's guide to the vast religious and spiritual heritage

This book explains why to understand the soul of China you must see the sacred in China, which is there in the designs of the buildings, the street plans of the cities, in the household shrines at the back of shops, and in the concept that the very land of China itself is sacred. It presents the fundamental sacred ideas that lie at the heart of this ancient land, and is also a guidebook which enters into the spirit of the Dao, through which the culture and traditions of China are brought to life. This new edition has been updated to reflect the rapid developments that have occurred in China in the last 20 years. This is an absolute must-read for all those visiting China, whether for business or pleasure, looking for insight into this complex, varied, and influential nation.

One of the oldest and most complex of the world's spiritual traditions, Hinduism is the religion of more than four-fifths of the Indian subcontinent's population. Major Hindu communities also exist around the world. Dispelling many of the myths and mysteries surrounding this ancient world religion, Hinduism, Fourth Edition provides readers with an up-to-date understanding of the interconnection of religion and politics in India, problems facing Hindu communities in the diaspora, and American movements in Hinduism.

Coverage includes:

• Roots of Hinduism
• Hindu customs and beliefs
• Hindu gods and devotionalism
• Hindu rites of passage
• The Hindu nationalist movement in India
• Hinduism and the interfaith movement
• Hinduism and the environmental movement.

With a growing awareness of the presence of Islamic societies around the world and the varying Islamic religious bodies that play such a key role, Islam has emerged in the forefront of today's religious discussions. Islam, Fourth Edition dispels many of the myths and mysteries surrounding this major world religion, providing readers with an up-to-date understanding of the relationship between religion and politics in today's society.

Coverage includes:

• The founding of Islam
• The spread of Islam
• The Koran, Hadith, and Islamic law
• Branches of Islam and their basic beliefs
• Muslim customs and rituals
• The pattern of Islamic life
• Islam and the modern world.

Judaism, Fourth Edition presents the basic beliefs of the Jewish religious heritage and highlights the different manners in which these traditions can be upheld. Both Orthodox Judaism and the religious practices and movements within Reformed Judaism, including Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and Reconstructionist Judaism, are explored in this fascinating edition.

Coverage includes:

• Introduction to the modern Jewish world
• Early history of the Jews and Judaism, including the Diaspora
• The restoration to the present
• The Hebrew Bible
• The branches of Judaism and their basic beliefs
• Rites of passage
• The impact of Judaism throughout history
• Judaism facing the future.

Native American religions consist of a set of basic attitudes that relate people to their natural surroundings. Ceremonies that include stories, songs, chants, magic formulas, and prayers are intended to help the faithful focus on the essential, yet often ignored, things in life, such as the forces of nature, natural resources, and birth and death. Native American Religions, Third Edition presents the history of the Native American religions, starting from their roots as tribal religions, and then details the detrimental effects of European colonization, the annihilation of the Native Americans that threatened the religions, and their sudden restoration in the 20th century.

Coverage includes:

• Ethical and religious principles that guide believers to living a harmonious and balanced life
• The influence of geography and nature on Native American beliefs
• Ceremonies and rituals that are an intrinsic part of the lives of tribe members
• The relationship between Native American religions and Christianity
• The death of Sitting Bull and the Wounded Knee Massacre
• A shift from the age of "Vanishing Americans" to the struggle to lobby for Native American rights.

Protestantism, Third Edition explores the origins, customs, and history of Protestantism, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages to its role in today's world. Current issues, such as the development of new religious denominations, its stance on abortion, the ordination of gays and women, and the relationship between religion and politics, are explored within the framework of the fundamental moral tenets of the faith. This accessible volume also examines the political diversity among people of the Protestant faith.

Coverage includes:

• Introduction to the Protestant world
• The origins of Protestantism
• The history of Protestantism
• Branches of Protestantism and their basic beliefs
• Rites of passage
• The impact of Protestantism
• Protestantism's new challenges.

Developed in prehistoric times, Shinto is the true expression of what it means to be Japanese. Less a formal religious statement than a deeply ingrained way of life, the rituals, traditions, and values of Shinto have both shaped and been shaped by Japanese culture. Shinto, Third Edition examines the basic tenets of Shinto, its evolution in response to other religious influences, and how the original Shinto religion?rooted in an agrarian society?survives in this contemporary industrial world. With color photographs and illustrations, a glossary, and an index, this highly attractive reference introduces general readers, religious students, and anyone with an interest in religion to the intriguing Shinto faith.

Coverage includes:

• The idea of kami
• The varieties of Shinto
• Introduction of Buddhism
• The importance of shrines
• The effects of World War II
• The growing appeal of Shinto throughout the world.

Buddhism, Fourth Edition tells the story of Buddhism's origins and its development into three major schools of thought?and presents the particular beliefs and practices of those schools of Buddhism that still flourish today. This fascinating title explores the concept of the "socially engaged Buddhist," the growth and practice of Buddhism in America, and the recent revival of Buddhism in Asia.

Coverage includes:

• Introduction to the modern Buddhist world
• The life of the Buddha
• The spread of Buddhism throughout Asia, and the world
• Differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
• The literature of Buddhism
• Buddhism and the arts
• The year in Buddhism
• Buddhism today and in the future.

Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, Third Edition traces Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity from their roots in early Christian churches to the way these religions are observed today. Recounted here is the historical passage of the Catholic and Orthodox faiths, from the original teachings of Jesus Christ to the early separation of the Eastern and Western Churches to recent attempts at reconciliation. The central doctrines of Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity are explored as background to such current issues as the child abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and the many tensions over abortion and gay marriage that exist in American society. The philosophy of Pope Benedict XVI, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, and the role of lay communities are also highlighted.

Coverage includes:

• The origins, history, beliefs, and practices of Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity
• Doctrinal disagreements between the Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches and the dialogue between the two churches
• Catholic and Orthodox communities in the United States
• Challenges facing Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, including ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; lay movements; poverty and social activism; issues surrounding the churches' views on homosexuality and abortion; the declining number of priests; and abuse scandals
• Pope Benedict XVI.

One of the world's youngest religions, Sikhism was founded about 500 years ago in northern India. The Sikhs believe in the Ultimate Reality as a formless force that is above all things and yet present in them at the same time. They reject all distinctions based on social class and race and emphasize the importance of service to both community and family. In the 21st century, Sikhism faces new challenges and a geographical reach spanning the globe. In India, where Manmohan Singh became the first minority prime minister in 2004, Sikhs are still working to gain greater political independence. In the West, the faith is attempting to adapt to a new culture while also sharing its universal teachings. Sikhism, Third Edition describes the basic tenets of Sikhism, tells the engaging story of its growth in India, examines the recent move toward greater political independence within the Indian nation, the effects of Hindu nationalism on the Sikh community, and issues of cultural adaptation, persecution, and subsequent education now taking place in the West.

Coverage includes:

• The belief in the Supreme Ultimate Reality
• Sikh ethics
• The Five K's
• Guru Nanak and the Origins of the Sikh Faith
• The Guru Granth, Sikhism's sacred text.

Daoism is one of the great philosophical and religious traditions that grew and flowered in China. Unlike the great Western religions, Daoism has no one God or even a founding prophet. One of its central beliefs is that each person must follow his or her own path to the Dao, or "Way of Life." By being so universal and yet so personal, Daoism has exerted a significant influence on the spiritual life of many cultures both in Asia and throughout the world. Daoism, Third Edition traces the progress of Daoist thought, from the great Daodejing, or "The Book of the Way and Its Power" by Laozi, to the contemporary Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra. This revised edition also examines the restoration of Daoism under China's religious freedom clause, the slow rebirth of Daoist monasticism, renewed interest in Daoism in China and abroad, and the impact of tourism on the monastic tradition.

Coverage includes:

• Meditation and the concept of wuwei
• Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism
• The growth and spread of religious Daoism
• Art and literature within Daoism
• Political turbulence in the 20th century.

Zoroastrianism, the smallest of the world's great religions, is also one of the oldest. Founded more than 3,000 years ago by the prophet Zarathustra, it flourished in ancient Persia during the time of the Persian Empire. Scholars have long acknowledged the contributions of Zoroastrianism to other faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Concepts such as the notion of one God, heaven and hell, the dualism of good and evil, a savior to come, and everlasting life can trace their roots to the religion of Zarathustra. Zoroastrianism, Third Edition traces the history and beliefs of Zoroastrianism and its followers' determination through centuries of persecution and hardship into the present day. The Iranian and Indian Zoroastrian communities in which the religion has thrived without missionary efforts or vast numbers of believers is also explored.

Coverage includes:

• The message of the prophet Zarathustra
• The sacred fire
• Zoroastrianism throughout history
• The Zoroastrian scripture, the Avesta
• Rituals, beliefs, and rites of passage
• Traditional versus updated Zoroastrianism.

"An introduction to the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin, this book includes the myths and legends of her origins and 100 of her prophecies, translated into English"--Provided by publisher.

Contains 2 sets of 8 meditation stones, brocade drawstring bag and a book on the way of the TAO, including readings.

The world's religions have emerged as one of the greatest geopolitical forces now shaping our lives. Now available in an updated edition, this authoritative atlas is an essential resource for understanding the powerful role of religion around the globe. In an accessible text packed with information, it maps the current nature, extent, and influence of each of the major religions and shows, country by country, how religions are spread through broadcasting, missionary work, schooling, and banking; how they relate to government, laws, and world hunger; and the role they play in wars. It traces the emergence of new religious movements, the survival of traditional beliefs, and the presence of atheism and agnosticism. The Atlas of Religion also locates the origin, the heartland, and the sacred places of each of the major religions and provides essential background with a valuable table showing the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism.
Copub: Myriad Editions Limited

Wehmeyer (special education, Kansas U.) et al. articulate, for teachers, how to promote self-determination in students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and the available methods for teaching them, such as choice making, problem solving, decision making, goal setting, self-advocacy, and self- regulated learning. They focus on instructional programs or methodologies that have an empirical basis and argue that they should be linked to the general education curriculum. They discuss the applicability and impact of the self- determination construct, the role of student-directed learning, promoting self- determined behavior, and teacher and student-directed strategies. The latter includes picture cues, self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self- instruction. The book closes with a discussion of practices that promote student involvement in educational planning and decision making and the role of technology and universal design for learning. Reproducible worksheets and forms are provided. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Faith plays an important part in the lives of people around the world, and often the faith of one person or nation has an effect on other individuals or countries. The importance of religion is apparent in the daily routines of people around the world. Ideal for both student and family reference, Religions of the World, Revised Edition is an objective guide to understanding faith in the modern world.

This comprehensive book examines the key issues of faith as it exists today. Filled with full-color photographs and illustrations, it explores the beliefs, traditions, festivals, and practices of the major religions, and discusses the differences within, as well as between, the faiths. The main branches and divisions of each religion are covered as thoroughly as possible, and the authors have made a point of including the central stories from each faith. Written by a team of renowned religious scholars, Religions of the World, Revised Edition is an ideal introduction to the many faiths around the world today.

This thoroughly updated and revised edition includes an updated introduction, updates to all statistical information, and new photographs and illustrations. The "Modern Developments" section of each chapter has been revised to include recent developments to each religion. The final section of the book, "Faith in the Future," has been updated to reflect recent events.

A focus on festivals provides an appealing entry into the subject of world religions. The religions featured, with lots of color photos of the festivals, are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism, Jainism, Bahaism, and Rastafarianism. Two of the authors hold master's degrees in theology; the text was edited by Martin Marty, who teaches history of modern Christianity at the U. of Chicago. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)