Hinduism

Religions of the World

by Cybelle Shattuck

Hinduism is a concise and readable survey of the history of Hinduism from its origins in the Indus Valley to its increasing popularity in today's western world. Focusing particularly on the modern period, it provides a valuable introduction to contemporary Hindu beliefs and practices and looks at the ways in which this religion is meeting the challenges of the modern world. Written in an accessible and informative style, and assuming little or no prior knowledge on the part of the reader, this book gives a basic introduction to the faith—its history, beliefs, and practices. Provides valuable pedagogy, timeline; maps; glossary; list of sacred days/festivals; suggested reading; pronunciation guide; index; feature boxes focusing on some aspects of the arts; 11 black and white pictures and artworks. Readers interested in learning more about the world's religions.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 1998

Reviews

[Melissa Rogalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicht so gut (und einfach nicht ganz aktuell) wie das Buch von Angelika Malinar, aber gut um mein Wissen nochmal aufzufrischen. Halt teilweise veraltet.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to use it for a course I took and it was very easy to read and had a lot of good info.

[Hakim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic introduction into Hindu religion.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, this book starts off very dry. The author's goal is to make a short and concise book about Hinduism, which is very difficult, considering how many variations there are inside itself. I actually had to pick up a highlighter and notepad just to keep everything organized and to keep myself focused. After the first chapter, I started to get into the swing of things, and the reading becomes much easier.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little introduction to a complex combination of beliefs and practices of India. Hinduism is not a religion in which I specialize, and I found this a useful little introduction. It did leave, however, many historical questions unanswered. Not a bad starting place, however. More thoughts are available on my blog: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Tiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boa "overview" cronológica da evolução do Hinduísmo desde os seus primórdios até aos dias de hoje, incluíndo o futuro para o qual caminha.