Religion: A Study in Beauty, Truth, and Goodness

Great book for college class

Dr. Richter's text is one of the best religion textbooks that I have used in quite a while. I was able to obtain a pre-published copy of it this past year, and have used it in three of my Introduction to Religion classes. Three of its numerous strengths include:1) Richter's writing style is very engaging and readable, which works really well for students who have had little exposure to an academic study of religion.2) He asks questions throughout that help students think critically about religious concepts, in each religious tradition, whether it's Moksha, the Trinity, Nirvana, the Tao, or Sunyata. What I appreciate here is that Richter doesn't offer any final answers, but he raises these questions and equips the students with tools to think more carefully about these concepts.3) He incorporates a phenomenological approach throughout, which helps the reader to understand various religions from the point of view of the people in those religions. Where the student goes from there--that is, whether or not they accept or reject those ideas--is wholly up to them. That is to say, before one can accept or reject a worldview, one has to know what they are accepting or rejecting. Richter helps the reader get there.Needless to say, I will be using Richter's text for years to come.

I had to read this book throughout the course of my introduction to religion class. Needless to say... I thought this class was going to be the worst one I have ever taken. Turned out because of this book, and Richter's best way of writing to introductory students about religion I am completely fascinated and have learned so much. This book made all the assignments and the readings actually interesting. (everything in the class was related around the book). All 12 chapters are amazing. Thank you, Kent Richter, for writing the most eye-opening, easy to understand book about religion!

Richter's introduction to religion (and how to analyze religions) is an excellent text for undergraduates first entering the field of Religious Studies, but also for the general reader who is curious about religion and religious beliefs. He gradually introduces the reader to the concepts of religious studies and is careful to fully explain not only the meaning of technical terms but also the significance of the terms. Although this is not a comparative religion text, Richter's bread of knowledge leads him to discuss not just the religions like to be familiar to readers but also non-Western religions. His approach to religions as quests for Beauty, Truth and Goodness is truly masterful. All in all, a wonderful beginning textbook and a worthwhile book for the intelligent general reader.