Are you a Christian or Jew who has wondered what the Buddhism craze is about? This book will not only answer that question but will also help you learn to relax and show you why meditation is not a new thing. Do you know people who say they are Buddhist or practice Buddhism yet they were raised Catholic or Jewish and wonder how they practice two religions? Did they say that they have found a way to feel peaceful and content by practicing Buddhism? Like other religions, Buddhist ideas are more than 2,500 years old. In the last 60 years, while many religions have declined in numbers, the teachings of the Buddha have been growing and become more and more integrated into an increasingly secular culture. So what’s it all about? By learning more about Buddhism and its connection to other ancient religious ideas, you will learn more about yourself… and how to dialogue with others raised in other religions. The author and editor of Buddhism Made Plain are lifetime achievers in the study of religion. Dr. Fernando has written and taught on world religions for 50+ years and was awarded the 2010 International Peace Prize. The book’s editor, Dr. Leonard Swidler is the ‘go to’ academic scholar for inter-religious dialogue since 1964. He is the founder of The Dialogue Institute at Temple University, one of the first schools to focus on the scholarly study of all religions equally. • Who was the Buddha and how did he sort out the life he was given? • What does it mean to choose “the middle path”? Is this a compromise? • Why does being greedy or needy become such a problem? • How do Buddhists see life after death and how does this fit with Christian and Jewish ideas? • How are Jesus, Judaism and the Buddha similar? • Is the forgiveness of sins important in Buddhism like it is in Christianity and Judaism?

Buddhism Made Plain

Religion & Spirituality

Fernando PhD, Anthony

Swidler PhD, Leonard

Buddhism

Ipub Global Connection,LLC

The Study of Religion in an Age of Global Dialogue

Professors of Religion, Theology and Religious Studies say: “[T]his study uniquely suggests…a dialogical approach to the study of religion and suggests a global ethic as a viable beginning.” --William Cenkner, Katharine Drexel Professor of Religion. The Catholic University of America “Both dialogue and a global ethic have been discussed elsewhere, but linking them together and then combining them with the study of religion is this book’s genuinely distinctive achievement. This accomplishment makes a major contribution to a singularly important discussion.” --Walter Conn, Professor Theology and Religious Studies. Villanova University Religion is the most fundamental and comprehensive of all human activities. It tries to make sense out of not simply one or another aspect of human life, but all aspects of human experience. At the core of every civilization lies its religion, which both reflects and shapes it. Thus, if we wish to understand human life in general and our specific culture and history, we need to understand religion. What is religion? As this comprehensive work shows, religion is an explanation of the ultimate meaning of life and how to live accordingly, based on a notion of the Transcendent. Normally it contains the four “C’s”: Creed, Code of behavior, Cult and Community-structure. A new age in human consciousness is now dawning: The Age of Global Dialogue, a radically new consciousness which fundamentally shifts the ways we understand everything in life, including religion. This global dialogical way of understanding life does not lead to one global religion, but it does lead toward a consciously acknowledged common set of ethical principles, a Global Ethic. This book looks at these two movements—the Age of Global Dialogue and inchoative Global Ethic—in order to help readers understand what is going on around them, so they might make informed, intelligent decisions about the meaning of life and how to live it. Professor Leonard Swidler is a global theologian who has pioneered and contributed to the field of interfaith dialogue for more than 50 years. He is a professor of religion at Temple University since 1966 and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies and the founder of the Dialogue Institute. He has written more than 200 papers and 90 books. Dr. Swidler has contributed to establishing the theoretical foundations of global ethics with Hans Küng since the 1990s, and the Dialogue Decalogue, his proposed interfaith dialogue has been translated into many languages. It is described as the most convincing theoretical basis for conducting Dialogue. Paul Mojzes, PhD was the Provost and the Chair of the Religious Studies and Humanities Department at Rosemont College, in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. A native of Yugoslavia, Dr. Mojzes is the co-editor of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, and founder and co-editor of Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe. He is the author of six books including his most recent Balkan Genocides: Holocaust and Ethnic Cleansing in the Twentieth Century. Dr. Mojzes has lectured at universities throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Swidler, Leonard

Mojzes, Paul

Religious Studies

"At a time when religion is often hijacked by violent extremists or dismissed as irrelevant in the modern world, Dr. Antony Fernando's book is a welcome and timely publication." Rev. Or. Marcus Braybrooke, Joint-President of the World Congress of Faiths and author of"Widening Vision: The World Congress of Faiths and the Growing Interfaith Movement• Do you find yourself wondering what the similarities and differences are among the major world religions? What is everyone fighting over? Is there really a reason to fight? With the guidance from this book, you'll find it easy to walk up the pathways of the described religions. You will be amazed, with each chapter, as you grow to understand the origins of these key religions and see their core commonalities. Dr. Fernando has a fascinating background-his path to priesthood began at 9 years old. His life experiences led him to study Catholicism, Protestant religions and Buddhism. He passionately teaches and embraces similarities while encouraging his students to use a common language to discuss and refine their understanding of global religions. This journey has taken him from priest to scholar-husband-professor and visionary. You are guided through Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as Dr. Fernando introduces the cultural and historical traditions which shaped the faiths of antiquity into the modern religions we see today. Fernando explores the distinction between being born into a religion versus being awakened to a religion. This awareness helps those who are racially and religiously different to build bridges to understanding and acceptance. The "uni-cultural" ancient religions and the modern, multi-national religions of the present day are, in fact, tied together by a common history and foundation. Is there really a reason anymore to fight? Give us your feedback. Let us know what you think.

Building Bridges: Understanding the Religions of Others

Fernando, Antony

The Global Ethic is the set of basic principles of right and wrong which in fact are found in all the major, and not so major, religions and ethical systems of the world, past and present. It does not go beyond the existing commonalities. However, this de facto existing broad basic agreement on ethical principles, unfortunately, is largely unknown by most religious and ethical persons. If they were aware of this commonality, that would provide a broad basis for serious dialogue and collaboration among the adherents of all the religions and ethical systems of the world. Lacking that awareness, far too often different religions and ethical systems foster destructive, rather than constructive, relations. Hence, it is vital to foster a conscious knowledge of the de facto existing Global Ethic. The Movement for a Global Ethic – drafting of a Universal Declaration of a Global Ethic and promoting knowledge and practice – was launched in 1991. Where did the idea of a movement for a Universal Declaration of a Global Ethic come from? New ideas, new movements, don’t just appear out of thin air. When “integrating” forces pointing toward something “new” gradually gather below the conscious level, they slowly reach a critical point, and then suddenly a “new” idea will “precipitate,” like the “quality of mercy, which droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.” Thus, it also happened with the Movement for a Global Ethic. In this book, Dr. Leonard Swidler and 11 colleagues propose their perspectives on the Global Ethic from the vantage points of various religions.

Movement for a Global Ethic: An Interreligious Dialogue

History

Hick, John

Momen, Moojan

Liu, Shu-hsien

Victoria, Brian

Swidler Editor, Leonard

Kogan, Michael

Mitra, Kana

Nkulu N’Sengh, Mutombo

Fu San, Zhao

Ok Lee, Chung

World

Everyone struggles at times to answer important life questions. What is right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? Why do people believe different things? Professor Leonard Swidler, author of more than 100 books has explored these questions with many other professors across the world. Now, with his 15-year old granddaughter, Will, he explores deep human issues, not with heavy language, but with thoughts and words from an experienced grandpa to his open-eyed, open-hearted granddaughter. In this first letter to Will, Len explores the critical importance of understanding basic words like “meaning” and “love”, whether life has meaning, or if we make its meaning. He does this by tracing the origins of words and phrases, and by drawing examples from philosophical schools, like existentialism and dualism. All of this culminates to an immensely appropriate question: Is love the meaning of life?

Does Life Have Meaning? (Letters to Will)

Everyone struggles at times to answer important life questions. What is right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? Why do people believe different things? Professor Leonard Swidler, author of more than 100 books has explored these questions with many other professors across the world. Now, with his 15-year old granddaughter, Will, he explores deep human issues, not with heavy language, but with thoughts and words from an experienced grandpa to his open-eyed, open-hearted granddaughter. In this fourth letter, Len explores one of Will’s new interests: Buddhism. By thinking deeply for a long period of time, the Buddha had clarified many fundamental puzzles of life — ones which are still being discussed to this day. For Will, who knew very little about Buddhism, this introduction helped her look at her own life and its ups and downs. Professor Leonard Swidler is a global theologian who has pioneered and contributed to the field of interfaith dialogue for more than 50 years. He is a professor of religion at Temple University since 1966 and is the Editor of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies and the founder of the Dialogue Institute. The Dialogue Decalogue, his proposed interfaith dialogue has been translated into many languages and is described as the most convincing theoretical basis for conducting Dialogue

Letter 4: Letters to Will: What Is Buddhism?

What is a global ethic? Can we all agree on an ethic that will be accepted by all people everywhere? Has this ever been done? Professor Leonard Swidler, author of more than 100 books has explored these questions with many other professors across the world. Now, with his 15-year old granddaughter, Will, he explores deep human issues, not with heavy language, but with thoughts and words from an experienced grandpa to his open-eyed, open-hearted granddaughter. Welcome back to Book 3 in the Letters to Will Series! Now that Len gave us the opportunity to listen in, these questions all seem so much clearer. In this third letter, Len explores the idea of a global ethic, a compass that all of us can use to sort out our choices of thoughts and behaviors.

Letter 3: Letters to Will:What Is a Global Ethic?

“At last, an explanation of how Judaism, Christianity and Islam, long the cause of destruction and mayhem, can now be bridges of dialogue and cooperation.”Uli Kortsch, Author, Economist and Expert on Monetary Policy and Founder and President of Global Partners Investments, Ltd.Are all religions the same? Are they equal? Good? Bad?Maybe… maybe not.How do we know? How do you know?What if there was a way to figure it out…a way to get some answers?Here it is!Pick up this book and invest some time with three professors and activists from three parts of the world who have spent 150 combined years studying these very questions.Researchers and historians first, last and always. Persons of curiosity, integrity, and honor – characteristics many have lost.

The Power of Dialogue: Jewish – Christian – Muslim Agreement and Collaboration

Firestone, Reuven

Duran, Khalid

“The challenge of religious and political pluralism has become critical in the 21st Century as some warn and others promote a clash of civilization or cultures. Breakthrough to Dialogue, Leonard Swidler (ed.), will be welcomed by scholars, religious leaders, policymakers and others who seek to train, develop, and implement an agenda for change. This volume chronicles the creation and history of Temple's Department of Religion (TUDOR) in which Bernard Phillips, its founding chair, and Swidler with other "star" professors and their students pioneered, a unique and path-breaking initiative: requiring a one-year introduction to World Religions and that students major in one religion and minor in two others. TUDOR, under Swidler, also introduced the Journal of Ecumenical Studies and later the creation of the Dialogue Institute which promoted inter-religious dialogue globally.”John L. Esposito, University Professor and Professor of Religion &amp; International Affairs at Georgetown University This is the story of a group of pioneering professors who in 1966 brought their diverse traditions into Temple University’s Department of Religion and explored whether they could learn from and understand each other.Temple’s religion program was already breaking new ground as one of the first such departments in a public university. From the beginning, Temple had made an effort to hire scholars of different religious backgrounds and beliefs: Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and those who adhered to no organized religion. With the worldwide strife of that decade as a backdrop, they began to see whether they, as a microcosm of a troubled globe, could help people from different communities and beliefs learn to tolerate and appreciate each other.Those first efforts have taken root and grown in significance over the years providing insight, practical steps forward and a measure of hope. This growth has given us a path leading to greater understanding, respect, and acceptance of differences in our world.

Breakthrough to Dialogue: The Story of Temple University Department of Religion

Christian Books & Bibles

Theology

Betsy's Philadelphia Adventure: From the Betsy Ross House to the University of Pennsylvania

Children's Books

Sawyer, Marcia

Mayer, Sandy

Literature & Fiction

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