Introduction to Religious Studies (Series of Textbooks for Quality Education in Higher Education)

Author: Wang Xiaozhao, Li Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Religion is an objective social phenomenon, as well as a widespread socio-historical phenomenon across various ethnic groups and countries in the world. Generally speaking, people are not unfamiliar with religion. The rumors of deities and Buddha's manifestations, the rituals of worshipping heaven and ancestors, the devoted followers bowing five times to the ground, the incessant prayers, the morning bells and evening drums of Buddhist temples, the incense-filled Taoist shrines, the majestic and magnificent churches, and the brutal religious conflicts—all these images come to mind when religion is mentioned, evoking boundless imagination in people's hearts. The distribution of religion is extremely broad. To date, religion has existed and developed to varying degrees in all social formations, countries, ethnic groups, races, classes, and strata, possessing unparalleled cultural inheritability and social adaptability. In the past two decades, human technological progress has made tremendous strides, yet religion shows no signs of decline but rather a rapid expansion. Traditional religions actively reform to adapt to new circumstances, emerging religions have proliferated, and the trend of religious diversification has become increasingly evident. Some emerging religions have taken an extreme stance, becoming cults, causing significant harm to society and its followers. Although the development of religion and the study of religious science in China are currently flourishing, the overall society's understanding and awareness of religion are not very deep, especially in terms of the global religious phenomena and situations. Therefore, the overall structure of this book is an introduction to the major religions in the world at present, with the aim of enhancing contemporary college students' understanding of religious issues. It equips students with the ability to analyze and recognize various religious phenomena, handle and address various religious issues correctly, and in the process, improve their humanities literacy.