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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION AND ITS CONNECTION WITH SOCIAL ISSUES

See Huston Smith discuss religions as classical languages of the human spirit:

See Victor Frankl: Ultimate Meaning and Religion

and Victor Frankl Documentary

See Freud on God

Also see The Question of God: Freud /Lewis

See Karen Kilby on Rahner

and It’s a Graceful Life:

See David Tracy:

See Joseph Campbell: Myth:

See Carl Jung on Death:

Chapter 2

HINDUISM

See Benares, Ganga Aarto Ceremony:

See The Story of India :

Listen and watch the chanting of Mantra Pushpam: Vedic Hymns in Sanskrit

as it explains how water is the basis of the universe

.Experience the Upanishads’ description of God

feature=related and consider the connection of this ancient scripture in relation to our modern world

.

Visit the Heart of Hinduism Website

to learn more about the different path Hindus may take to the ultimate goal of eternal moksha.

Listen to Om Namah Shivaya, an adoration of Shiva

and explore the meaning of this mantra, particularly to Shaivites.

Observe ceremonial worship of a deity using a festal lamp during the Hindu ritual of aarti, Om jai jagdish hare:

Watch the video India: The Dalit Story

to learn more about the caste system in India and its impact on the Dalit people.

See YouTube, Hindu Wedding:

Watch Cremation

to learn more about the cremation rituals of modern-day India.

View dwelling places for the gods in the video The Hindu Temple:

Notice the art and architecture of the Hindu temples of India.

How to have a Puja at home

Participate in the major celebration of Kumbh Mela-India

celebrated once every twelve years to bathe to gain immortality.

Learn more about the Hindu environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Maker of India

and his grassroots efforts to protect the forests of India.

View The Real Avatar: Saving a Mountain:

What is your reaction to mining on the sacred mountain?

Learn more of Baba Amte’s unmatchable work

and reflect on the causes Amte championed.

Read about the turning point in Baba’s life at

and contact the Niya aid foundation directly with your questions.

Watch the interview with Professor Veer Bhadra Mishra

about pollution in the river Ganges and social responsibility.

See also The Sacred Balance-Science and Spirituality

to see how spirituality and science interact.

Watch Mahatma Gandhi-Pilgrim of Peace

to learn further details on the life and contributions of Gandhi.

Visit the online magazine Hinduism Today:

and investigate a current topic of interest.

Watch Arun Gandhi: Lessons from my Grandfather

to learn more about self-actualization as a process for peace.

Learn more about Shabana Azmi— Women Can Change Politics change_politics/

as you watch this tribute.

See Anuradha Koirala:

Consider the video Amma’s Darshan

to learn more about her healing practice and philosophy.

Listen to the words of Amma singing Everyone in the World

to hear Amma’s hopes for the world.

Chapter 3

BUDDHISM

Read Ama’s gripping account of survival in Tibet, The Voice that Remembers.

Visit Ashoka—the eDharma learning center at

to enroll in free courses on particular aspects of Buddhist teachings and read recent articles on Buddhism.

Google The Life of Buddha and watch the video to gain further insight into the Buddha’s path to enlightenment. The Life of Buddha, 50 min - Jul 13, 2007

Listen to the following chant and experience living in the moment. See Om Mani Padme Hum on YouTube:

Visit the Buddhist Channel current news on Buddhism.

Visit this website to view Story of India:

Watch the introduction to the film Cry of the Snow Lion at

for a taste of Tibet’s struggles and triumphs.

Watch the video detailing the communist takeover of Cambodia, Return to the Killing Fields:

Visit Ecobuddhism.org for information and slideshows on a Buddhist response to global warming.

See Sulak Sivaraksa:

See Dalai Lama talks:

Read and report on Chan’s gripping book, Learning True Love: How I Learned and Practiced Social Change in Vietnam.

Watch Chan Khong discuss her work in Vietnam:

Aung San Suu Kyi –

Access the songs Walk On by U2 and Unplayed Piano by Damien Rice for tributes written for Aung San Suu Kyi.

Listen to Aung San Suu Kyi speak at

and discuss her reasons for applying the nonviolent approach to solving problems.

See Karma Lekshe Tsomo and view her addresses : g Yen

– Learn more about Cheng Yen and listen to Still Thoughts:

Chapter 4

JUDAISM

See a dramatization of this event: God on Trial:

Visit the website Jewishhistory.org to view Historian Rabbi Berel Wein’s Five Thousand Years of Jewish History parts 1–8. Watch video clip No. 2 on Abraham and Sarah to learn more about the establishment of monotheism and the moral code of the Israelites.

See Passover Story:

Watch Judaism Part 1

and consider the complexity of the Jewish faith and the unique aspects of Judaism.

Reform Judaism –Learn more about the Movement for Reform Judaism:

and consider ways they are reaching out to Jewish youth to engage them in faith practice.

View the Holocaust album at

and reflect on all that was “exterminated” in these camps.

Read a Holocaust survivor story:

Learn more about both the celebration and the origins of Passover as you watch Passover Parts 1–2 :

and

Visit the website

and select from the many 10-minute topics to learn more about Jewish celebrations and feasts.

Watch the trailer to Judith Helfand’s film Everything’s Cool

to learn more about her commitment to spreading the word about environmental threats.

See Prof Alon Tal

discuss the need for an Israeli political party to deal with the challenges of a changing environment.

See Jerusalem Peacemakers: Hagit Ra’anan:

Learn more about anti-Semitism:

Chapter 5

Christianity

As you read these quotations from St. Augustine connect them to tenets of the Christian faith as taught by Jesus:

Listen to Gregorian Chant Benedictions; then read the English translation of this prayer to Mary the Mother of God. How does experiencing the prayer in song differ from reading it?

Observe the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe and connect the architecture to the Christian symbols:

See Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. Why do you think Luther answered the way he did when asked to recant his statements?

Watch Reformation Overview: Zwingli and consider the emphasis Zwingli placed on the words of the Bible over the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church:

Watch the video Reformation Overview: Calvin to learn more about the development of Calvinism and the writings of the reformed Christian manual Institutes of the Christian Religion:

Identify the way the Quaker meeting and speaking to the group differs from other Christian worship services in An Introduction to Quakers:

Consider how the Amish make their daily life a commitment to Christ. Amish: A People of Preservation:

isten to the history of the Council of Trent and determine the reasons why the council took eighteen years to finish its work:

As you watch the video St. Paul the Apostle, Rome, Italy consider Paul’s story and the impact his conversion had on the establishment of Christianity:

See Desmond Tutu on leadership:

See Hidden Christians:

Visit the Dorothy Stang Memorial and listen to Sam Clements discuss his meetings with Sister Dorothy to learn more about her position on her faith and the environment of the Amazon: and watch his film

They Killed Sister Dorothy:

See Cesar Chavez:

Watch Dr. King’s final speech and note the number of biblical references he uses to make his points:

Listen to Archbishop Desmond Tutu on leadership:

Meet Peggy and Art Gish and learn more about their work for civil rights and peace:

See Let’s Drop the Bomb: Gumbleton on Nuclear Disarmament:

Consider Sr. Joan’s observations on gender justice from her talk at the International Gender Justice Dialogue and her presentation on the importance of interreligious forums at the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Consider the points in Bishop Barbara Harris’ sermon on the role of Mary in the Christian faith:

View Roman Catholic Womenpriests Bishop Patricia Fresen’s homily:

What justification do you find within the Christian religion for the women’s ordination initiative?

Chapter 6

Islam

View Biography of Prophet Muhammad (Saw) 1 of 6 at

and 2 of 6 at for additional background.

Listen to Beautiful Qur’an Recitation by Tawfeeg As Sayegh at:

At The Koran website browse the electronic translation of the Islamic living word of God to discover favorite verses:

View Hadith: A Beautiful Hadith

and Recitation of Hadith Beautiful

to experience the poetry of the Hadith and learn more about the words and deeds of Muhammad.

Watch the video Learn How to Pray (Salat) at

to hear the prayers and observe the actions of the supplicant.

View the video entitled: What is Ramadan? An Explanation by Yusuf Islam at

to learn more about meanings of this practice.

(Hajj) –See a hajj and watch the story of an American Muslim’s spiritual

pilgrimage, Inside Mecca:

Watch the videos Empire of Faith: Parts 1 and 2 at

and

for greater depth on the spread of Islam.

Consider the comments of Ramadan Tariq: Knowledge of Present Realities at

to hear a modern scholar discuss the role of Islam in the world today.

See Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences and its statement to the United Nations at the 2009 Climate Change Summit at

for more on how Muslims apply their faith to their environment.

Watch Yuyun Ismawati’s video 2009 Goldman Prize for Islands & Island Nations where she describes her waste management work in Bali:

Listen to Dr. Fazlun Khalid’s talk, Muslims and the Environment Crisis 1-3

and identify connections between his mission and the Islamic fait

Watch a moving video and listen to the song Try Not to Cry, a commentary on the impact of conflict in Palestine on the children. Free Palestine - Sami Yusuf:

Watch CNN Being Muslim in America

for a discussion of terrorism and how the term is applied in the United States.

Learn why the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk was bestowed upon Anwar al-Bunni of Syria:

See Shirin Ebadi: Iran Awakening

and Conversations with History: Shirin Ebadi

to learn more about her work for peace.

See Young Muslims for Peace Foster Peace not War and their letter to President Obama:

View the video Federation of Muslim Women

for news from the Federations in various countries.

Read Nadia, Captive of Hope by Fay Afaf Kanafani, a classic memoir of a Muslim woman’s experience in the Middle East.

Watch the video Tariq Ramadan on Islamic Feminism

and reflect on what it means to be a Muslim woman today.

See Muslim Women’s League discussions on many Muslim women’s issues.

See Entrevista a Nawal al-Sadaawi

for insights into this unique personality.

Watch the video: Amina Wadud: Bringing Women’s Voices to Sacred Text

See Lily Munir:

Contact Muslim youth worldwide at

and share thoughts, view videos and podcasts, read articles, and participate in projects.