Eastern Ways of Being Religious

The introduction is unusual for a textbook on religions of "the East" or "the World." It begins by explaining the difference between participating in a religion and studying it academically, and continues with a fine essay on methodology in the study of religion. Following this, the first chapter is "What is Religion"? Thereafter follow the religions, organized variously, by categories or themes. The book contains primarily textual sources, and lacks the depth of historical and cultural context typical of many such textbooks. However, it just might lead to a more thorough understanding. It is obviously a product of careful consideration and preparation, aimed at providing a new approach to learning about religion. Somewhat dated (it was published in 2000), it still stands up well due to wise choices. The blurb on the back cover reads, "Eastern Ways of Being Religious is a historically organized collection of scriptures from the East, including essays that interpret Eastern religious thought and reveal the diverse methods of studying religious traditions." It's a great deal more interesting than one might guess from that!!