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Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know
- Narrated by: Mark Berkson
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
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The Pagan World
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- Narrated by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
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In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
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Get a solid working knowledge of the spiritual beliefs that unite and divide us - as well as the perspective from the other side of these divisions. These 24 lectures offer you an opportunity to gain a solid grasp of the key ideas of religion itself - the issues that repeatedly surface when you look at any faith's beliefs, practices, and organization. Using five major religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism - as illustrations of how religions can address the same core issues in parallel and different ways, Professor Kimball leads you on an exploration of religion's complex and multidimensional nature.
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The history of human civilization is an astonishing story of migration, innovation, and social development. Now, the exciting new field of "big history" allows us to explore human civilizations in ways unavailable to historians of previous generations. Big history scholars take a multidisciplinary approach to study great spans of time, unlocking important themes, trends, and developments across time and space.
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A wonderful survey course
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- Written by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
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armchair historian
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Written by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, and others
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- Written by: Charles Kimball, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Charles Kimball
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Get a solid working knowledge of the spiritual beliefs that unite and divide us - as well as the perspective from the other side of these divisions. These 24 lectures offer you an opportunity to gain a solid grasp of the key ideas of religion itself - the issues that repeatedly surface when you look at any faith's beliefs, practices, and organization. Using five major religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism - as illustrations of how religions can address the same core issues in parallel and different ways, Professor Kimball leads you on an exploration of religion's complex and multidimensional nature.
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Great lecture.
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Overall
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Performance
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How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world-a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members? Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.
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Overall
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These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation.
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Professor has a great speaking voice and style.
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Western philosophy is a vast intellectual tradition, the product of thousands of years of revolutionary thought built up by a rich collection of brilliant minds. But to understand the Western intellectual tradition is to get only half the story. The Eastern intellectual tradition has made just as important a contribution-and is also the product of thousands of years of cumulative thought by a distinct group of brilliant thinkers. Their ideas demonstrate wholly different ways of approaching and solving the same fundamental issues that concerned the West's greatest thinkers, such as . the existence of God; . the meaning of life; and. the nature of truth and reality.This epic and comprehensive 36-lecture examination of the East's most influential philosophers and thinkers-from a much-honored teacher and scholar-offers a thought-provoking look at the surprising connections and differences between East and West. By introducing you to the people-including The Buddha, Ashoka, Prince Shotoku, Confucius, and Gandhi-responsible for molding Asian philosophy and for giving birth to a wide variety of spiritual and ideological systems, it will strengthen your knowledge of cultures that play increasingly important roles in our globalized 21st-century world.
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History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective
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The ancient world has cast a long shadow, influencing our customs and religious beliefs, our laws, and the form of our governments. It has taught us when and how we make war or pursue peace. It has shaped the buildings we live and work in and the art we hang on our walls. It has given us the calendar that organizes our year and has left its mark on the games we play.
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More of a European perspective.
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Publisher's Summary
According to polls conducted by Gallup and the Pew Research Forum on Religion & Public Life, the majority of Americans fail basic tests about religion, including tests on their own faith. This is troublesome because religious literacy is about so much more than naming deities or knowing the stories of ancient history. For many of us, religion is a way to examine and understand ourselves.
Moreover, religious literacy – the knowledge of basic teachings, symbols, practices, founders, institutions, and values of the world's religious traditions - can shed new light on the world around us and knock down the boundaries between us, making us better neighbors and better citizens. These 24 enlightening lectures offer you the chance to experience the breadth and depth of the world's religions from all angles – historical, theological, and cultural. They take you on a tour of the world and its religious cultures. From India to East Asia to the Middle East to the United States, your journey with Professor Berkson introduces you to the beliefs and practices of other traditions and provides you with new insights into your own.
The course approaches each religion from an "imaginative insider's perspective." What does the world look like from the perspective of someone within each tradition? What does this person value and care about? What are the everyday scriptures, rituals, traditions, and holidays like?
Along the way, you'll discover certain features that are common to many religions – concepts of divinity, scripture, rituals, and explanations of good and evil - and you'll find new ways to attain greater self-understanding.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rene F.
- 2019-09-11
Great exposure to the world of religions
I found the information presented to be very useful in broadening my understanding of of religions around the world. This is a must course for anyone who wants to expand their understanding of the worlds major religions.
2 people found this helpful
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- Derek Snider
- 2018-07-04
Very balanced and objective
The author really did his homework, and clearly met with and even participated in ceremonies with most, if not all of the religions discussed, and each faith was described almost as if each were his own.
My only criticism was that shamanism in its various forms was underrepresented.
2 people found this helpful
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- Christopher Staniforth
- 2021-02-19
Simply Excellent!
I was looking forward to writing this review because the course was so well done. Extremely informative and thoughtful. I hope you will have a listen too.
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- Anonymous User
- 2018-09-18
Everything you need to know about world religions!
Excellent explanation of our multitude of world religions.... Explained in a well organized presentation. Thank you #Audible1
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- JohnBej
- 2015-08-18
Fantastic but missing a few things
Overall, for the scope this lecture series is trying to accomplish, it's very good for something so broad. Well reasoned, well sequenced, well paced, and well spoken. I understand the intention was to cover the 'major' religious traditions, however I do feel it lacked just a few chapters or sections. I would have liked a section to cover Caribbean religious traditions, which could have been a good way to touch upon some of the lost African traditions that influenced them the same way he discusses chinese folk traditions to give context. And I was VERY let down that Native American religious traditions are completely overlooked. There was a lost opportunity to integrate many of the worlds indigenous beliefs into a lecture series such as this.
159 people found this helpful
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- Troy
- 2015-07-13
All the Basics, East and West
12 lectures on Eastern beliefs, 12 lectures on Western beliefs, and not a moment of them wasted. In addition to the Big 5 (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), we also get the essentials on Chinese folk religions, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Mormonism, Jainism, Sikhism, and the Baha'i tradition. From there, religion and law in America and modern religious trends are discussed as the grand finale.
The information is given in a straightforward manner such that the entire presentation comes across as non-judgmental. The listener is invited by Prof. Berkson to take the basics presented here and build upon that foundation in the quest for knowledge and tolerance. All in all, a remarkable overview course for anyone wanting to look past media, pop culture, and political portrayals.
122 people found this helpful
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- George R. Murray
- 2013-08-15
Could Not Have Been Better
What did you love best about Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know?
Brilliantly organized and told; not a dull moment and very thought provoking.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The most compelling aspect of this course is that I see the world through different eyes now, moving beyond 'tolerating' different religions to actually understanding, appreciating and even adopting elements of others' beliefs to my own, which has expanded my spirituality.
Which scene was your favorite?
Surprisingly, given my past attitudes, I enjoyed the chapters on Islam the most. Learning more about the true spirit of Islam allows me to see a large percentage of people on this planet in a new, more favorable light.
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
Learning the meaning--and significance--of the Hindu greeting, "Namaste," is probably the most beautiful custom I've ever found in any religion. From my standpoint, it's literally a life-changing discovery.
Any additional comments?
Professor Mark Berkson put together a masterpiece with this course, and I'll look to see what else of his I can either listen to or read.
56 people found this helpful
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- Moonchild
- 2014-09-22
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this course
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. I found the content interesting and the delivery very engaging.
What other book might you compare Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know to and why?
Unknown
Have you listened to any of Professor Mark Berkson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No.
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
The explanation of the difference between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox: I had never heard this explained nor the history behind the two religions.
Any additional comments?
For a basic course, it is fairly thorough and covers the main religions and also explains many of the more obscure religions as well. Professor Berkson is very entertaining to listen to. He explains the history and background of each religion, as well as how it is practiced in daily life, also explaining holidays and traditions. He is very equal in his treatment and assessment of each religion, not infusing his opinion into the content. It imparts useful and practical knowledge.
33 people found this helpful
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- Andrew
- 2018-08-28
overwhelmingly focused on Judeo-Christian religion
This is overwhelmingly focused on the Judeo-Christian religions.
It can hardly be considered a review of anything else.
1 chapter for most Eastern religions and 5-10 on Christianity. ~5 on Judaism.
Very disappointed at the lack of depth for some cases.
22 people found this helpful
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- OffaMyLawn
- 2015-07-25
My absolute FAVORITE of the Great Courses.
Would you listen to Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know again? Why?
"would you listen to it again? Why?" Already have. I completely adore the way Professor Mark Berkson has arranged and presented the information. The attention he gives each religion and/or philosophy is done with so much respect. His energy and very accessible lectures show his passion for the subject.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The best way to put it is that he explains each religion almost as if he's part of it explaining it to a lay person. I feel like he looks at the motives of whichever religion and its followers. It's really helped me with how I view others, their beliefs, and has shown the beauty that beliefs can give the human race.
Which scene was your favorite?
His explanation of Daoist philosophy. Most people say it's pessimistic, which has always disappointed me. He hits it right on the head.
If you could give Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know a new subtitle, what would it be?
One step closer to an all-inclusive world.
Any additional comments?
If you clicked on this book page, you should get this. It's a wonderful way to understand a bit more about our world, the people on it, and what makes them tick.
22 people found this helpful
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- Jack
- 2015-04-09
Fills in many blanks.
This lecture series is an excellent way to broaden your knowledge of other cultures. Since ignorance breeds fear, I recommend a listen.
22 people found this helpful
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- Jim
- 2014-01-21
Very Well Done!
The lecturer does a great job, covering a broad range of religions very effectively. His delivery is good, and he has just the right amount of passion to keep the listener interested without going overboard.
He takes each religion's beliefs at face value, without making any judgments.
I especially liked his lecture addressing exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism.
18 people found this helpful
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- Tommy D'Angelo
- 2018-01-17
Best "Introductory"/Basics Course You'll Ever Take
This will be one of the best "basics/introductory" course you'll ever take. Amazingly in 12 short hours Professor Berkson succeeds in providing an excellent overview of the customs, culture, history, and beliefs of the world’s religions conducted in an easy to understand manner.
The professor was respectful of all traditions and brought the same level of enthusiasm to all.
For a basics/introductory course this was remarkably complete in its coverage and successfully conveyed the meanings of the world’s greatest traditions.
The professor has an amazing gift of bringing understanding to difficult concepts and topics.
Religions covered:
o Hinduism
o Buddhism
o Confucianism
o Daoism
o Shinto
o Shamanism
o Judaism
o Christianity
o Islam
o Jainism
o Sikhism
o Ba•ha•'i
Highlights for me included Lectures 8 (how Chinese views of religion and cosmology have influenced their way of life) and 9 (Confucianism).
Hard to find any criticisms of this course. The only thing I can think of are some of the things that were missing which fall into two categories:
1- Should have been in the course:
- Not much time was spent on the details of the Eightfold Path on how Buddhists can liberate themselves from life’s suffering/cycle of rebirth
- The lectures on Judaism had no discussion of the prophecy of the coming Messiah (and its various interpretations)
- Zoroastrianism was not discussed
2- Would've loved to be included even if not explicitly defined as in scope for the course
- “Comparative Religion” - consideration of the commonalities and differences among religions by looking at categories such as religious rituals, sacred texts, sacred people (prophets/saviors), nature of reality, afterlife, creation myths, sacred locations, etc.
- Agnostics and atheists/are humans “wired” to worship?
- Descriptions of how different religious contexts define “God” (Dynamism, Animism, Polytheism, Pantheism, Henotheism, Deism, Dualism/Bitheism, Monotheism, and Ethical monotheism)
But these are minor omissions and don't impact my rating: 5 stars. I guess I have high standards for courses so it is rare I provide a top rating but this one deserves it.
Regardless of your level of knowledge in this topic, if you have even the slightest of interest in world religions this course is a must. By explaining the core tenets of faiths you may not be familiar with, this course may even help you understand your neighbors better which can only improve our society overall. Can't get much better than that.
17 people found this helpful
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- B & C
- 2014-01-08
This Course Should Be Mandatory for all Humanity
What made the experience of listening to Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know the most enjoyable?
This was the most insightful and objective look at religions I have ever encountered.
Amazing.
Any additional comments?
If this was a required course for all American high school students, our country would change in a generation. Yes, it's that powerful.
16 people found this helpful