Gods In The Global Village

Publisher Description

In a world plagued by religious conflict, how can the various religious and secular traditions coexist peacefully on the planet? And, what role does sociology play in helping us understand the state of religious life in a globalizing world? In the Fourth Edition ofGods in the Global Village, author Lester Kurtz continues to address these questions. This text is an engaging, thought-provoking examination of the relationships among the major faith traditions that inform the thinking and ethical standards of most people in the emerging global social order. Thoroughly updated to reflect recent events, the book discusses the role of religion in our daily lives and global politics, and the ways in which religion is both an agent of, and barrier to, social change.

The multicultural interests of today's diverse student population are reflected in this book which, treats classic issues in the sociology of religion in a variety of religious contexts and considers the global interconnections between beliefs and believers. Kurtz thus helps students understand the interplay between social change and religion. As provocative as it is informative, this book will spark discussion and re-examination of our conventional understandings of the role of religion in the postmodern and modern world.

In the long trek of human history, the adage that there will never be peace among the nations until there is peace among the religions has never been truer. The growing trend toward spiritually inspired violence throughout the emerging global village of the twenty-first century has taken a terrible toll on the lives of thousands of innocent victims. The primary purpose of this book is to address this issue head-on by examining the role that the earth's diverse faith communities can play in stopping the needless hatreds and hostilities that all too often arise from the search for spiritual fulfillment. At this stage of human evolution, nothing is more urgent.

Offers 15 essays discussing the meaning of Marshall McLuhan's global village in a world witnessing explosive forces of individualism, tribalism, and nationalism. Topics include lessons from the Blacksburg electronic village, MTV's global footprint, missionaries in a global village, and the Swedish raggare subculture. Includes bandw photos. No index. Paper edition (772-1), $24.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Global Village Companion will help readers understand how new and developing influences around the world are affecting the way we live and work, as well as our political and economic situations. With more than 400 general entries that describe over 1,000 terms, The Global Village Companion covers several related topics within a single entry. In addition to individual definitions, the historical context and global significance of included phrases are also covered. Extensive cross-referencing, a detailed subject index, a bibliography, appendix, and maps help readers explore and uncover connections between related ideas.