|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:39 am
I'm taking a class about the major religions of the world this semester and I need a book about a different religion than my own.
I'm an atheist, but I was technically raised in Christianity so preferably not a book about Christianity, but LDS, Catholicism, anything other than Lutheran should be fine.
It's not supposed to be an academic text either. It can be, but it's supposed to be something that gives me an idea of what it's like to live in that religion.
Other than that, I want something interesting. Preferably something Pagan.
Any suggestions?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:33 am
How about the Qur'an? It's a very eloquently written book, perhaps you will enjoy it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:32 pm
Non-academic hmm? Well, I'll have to think on that a little as my favorite books related to my beliefs are the scholarly sourcees like the Eddas. I'll get back to you after I look through my things a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:07 pm
JesusFreaks (Christian; various martyr stories); Princess (Muslim; a modern Saudi Arabian princess's tale); Lord, Save Us From Your Followers(Christian; a look at how Christian's in America need to be more tolerant); The Shack* (Christian; a man goes to the shack where his daughter was murdered because God calls him there to spend a weekend with him. It's probably the most amazing book on this list); His Dark Materials* (you could probably put some sort of religious spin on it); God Against the Gods (Christian, I think; I haven't read it yet, but it looks like it studies the history of monotheism versus polytheism); girl meets GOD (Christian/Judiasm; the memoir of a Jewish girl who came to know Christ); The Divine Drama (Christian; looks at Christianity as a story); Epic* (Christian; a better look at Christianity as story); Screwtape Letters (Christian; a devil corresponds with his nephew on how to damn a man); The Year of Living Biblically (Judiasm/Christian; a man attempts to live biblically for a year); the Great Divorce* (Christian; a strange view of what Heaven and Hell are like); and Mere Christianity* (Christian; CS Lewis puts out a logical case for Christianity by starting from an atheist view point).
Sorry the list is so long, and most of them are Christian. sweatdrop It's what I had on my bookshelf, and for the most part they're either exceptional or they seem like something you might be able to use. If I see any pagan ones, I'll post them, but these are what came to mind. Princess, girl meets GOD and The Year of Living Biblically are probably the best ones for your paper.
*Exceptional.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:44 pm
brainnsoup I'm taking a class about the major religions of the world this semester and I need a book about a different religion than my own.
I'm an atheist, but I was technically raised in Christianity so preferably not a book about Christianity, but LDS, Catholicism, anything other than Lutheran should be fine.
It's not supposed to be an academic text either. It can be, but it's supposed to be something that gives me an idea of what it's like to live in that religion.
Other than that, I want something interesting. Preferably something Pagan.
Any suggestions? The Talmud. All 73 volumes of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:14 pm
Essential Asatru by Diana L. Paxson.
It's a slightly more neo-pagan version than I practice currently but not a bad place to start. The author also writes Heathen friendly fiction but I haven't read any of those so I couldn't tay about any of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:17 pm
CalledTheRaven Essential Asatru by Diana L. Paxson. It's a slightly more neo-pagan version than I practice currently but not a bad place to start. The author also writes Heathen friendly fiction but I haven't read any of those so I couldn't tay about any of them. This would be a good second choice mrgreen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:17 am
Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice, Byron E. Shafer ed. Some would consider it an "academic source", but I disagree as it's mostly written for the layman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:45 am
CalledTheRaven Essential Asatru by Diana L. Paxson. It's a slightly more neo-pagan version than I practice currently but not a bad place to start. The author also writes Heathen friendly fiction but I haven't read any of those so I couldn't tay about any of them. Seconded. Mostly because the beginning of each chapter includes a fictional wotsit of a Kindred ritual. It's... cute. I enjoyed it. Should give you a little extra insight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:46 am
The Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of heretical text that were excluded from the accepted canon of Christianity. Unfortunately some of these texts are horribly fragmented. Here's a link. Nag Hammadi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:37 am
Hm. The non-academic bit makes it tougher, as most of my favourites for Buddhism are at least sourced to the Tripitaka or Mahayana canons...
You could try Old Path, White Clouds by Thich Nhat Hanh. It's a bit long, but it's a retelling of the Buddha's life. In fact, just about anything by Thich Nhat Hanh is fun; most of what I recommend is usually his stuff. Or Bhante G, who writes a mean meditation book. 3nodding
For shorter, but still poetic, there's the Dhammapada, which is available for free online. It's a series of short verses about the ins and outs of Buddhism and practice. And as a decent look at modern American Zen, there's Sit Down and Shut Up by Brad Warner isn't a bad place to go. My brother in law prefers Noah Levine for the same, and enjoyed Dharma Punx immensely. 3nodding
Dunno if that was any help, or anything like what you were after, but it's something. biggrin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:05 am
Bonewits`s Essential guide to Druidism by Isaac Bonewits
It's fairly comprehensive, and I enjoyed it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:54 am
Sanguina Cruenta CalledTheRaven Essential Asatru by Diana L. Paxson. It's a slightly more neo-pagan version than I practice currently but not a bad place to start. The author also writes Heathen friendly fiction but I haven't read any of those so I couldn't tay about any of them. Seconded. Mostly because the beginning of each chapter includes a fictional wotsit of a Kindred ritual. It's... cute. I enjoyed it. Should give you a little extra insight. I'm going to throw my support behind this book to. It's a good, relatable intro to basic Heathenism.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:36 pm
gorramKayna Sanguina Cruenta CalledTheRaven Essential Asatru by Diana L. Paxson. It's a slightly more neo-pagan version than I practice currently but not a bad place to start. The author also writes Heathen friendly fiction but I haven't read any of those so I couldn't tay about any of them. Seconded. Mostly because the beginning of each chapter includes a fictional wotsit of a Kindred ritual. It's... cute. I enjoyed it. Should give you a little extra insight. I'm going to throw my support behind this book to. It's a good, relatable intro to basic Heathenism.
Thanks much all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
