Religion Studies: Books

Julius Lipner's Hindus is widely recognised as essential reading for everyone wishing to understand one of the world's great religious traditions. Hinduism comprises the religion and culture of the great majority of the people of India, a country tipped to become a world superpower politically, economically and culturally in the course of the present century. The vast array of diverse beliefs and practices usually described as 'Hindu' has been notoriously difficult to corral under a single regulating theme. Julius Lipner provides not only a wide-ranging introduction to Hindu religious and cultural diversity but also suggests a way to characterize Hinduism as a distinct tradition that has survived and adapted to changing circumstances from ancient times to the present day. Lipner is a recognised authority on Hinduism's polycentric emphasis, and his book is based on a lifetime of research and personal experience of his subject. In this thoroughly revised and substantially enlarged second edition, students of Hinduism will find more coverage of the debate about Hindu origins, the nature and practice of Hindu worship, the role of women, the scope of dharma and morality, Hindu philosophical thought and the use of reason, and the way caste functions.

The articles in this volume, all by leading scholars, examine the topic of rebirth, or reincarnation, from a wide range of perspectives. The main focus of most of the articles is the idea of rebirth as found in Hindu texts and traditions. There are also articles exploring Christian responses to the idea of rebirth as well as expressions of the idea of rebirth in the Western world (such as in the thought of poet William Butler Yeats and in an American context). There are also philosophical and theological articles arguing both for and against the idea of rebirth, as well as articles which take a more historical or literary approach to this topic. The shared thread unifying all of these articles is the idea that rebirth is an important idea that holds great fascination for many. While the primary focus is on Hindu and Christian expressions of or responses to this idea, there are also articles that engage with scientific thinking on this topic, and one which engages with Buddhism as well. In short, this volume is an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural, and cross-traditional exploration of the topic of reincarnation that should appeal to a wide array of readers.

An ideal resource for courses on Hinduism or world religions, thisaccessible volume spans the entire field of Hindu studies. Itprovides a forum for the best scholars in the world to make theirviews and research available to a wider audience. Comprehensively covers the textual traditions of Hinduism Features four coherent sections covering theoretical issues,textual traditions, science and philosophy, and Hindu society andpolitics Reflects the trend away from essentialist understandings ofHinduism towards tradition and regional-specific studies Includes material on Hindu folk religions and stresses theimportance of region in analyzing Hinduism Ideal for use on university courses.