Three Religions, One God

WEB RESOURCE Three of the world's major religions -- the monotheist traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- were all born in the Middle East and are all inextricably linked to one another. Christianity was born from within the Jewish tradition, and Islam developed from both Christianity and Judaism. While there have been differences among these religions, there was a rich cultural interchange between Jews, Christians, and Muslims that took place in Islamic Spain and other places over centuries. This PBS resource supports the video Global Connections in the Middle East but also works well without the film.

Excerpts from Religious Texts

WEB RESOURCE This reading features thematic comparisons among texts of the great world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Daoism, Islam, Judaism and Shinto.

What's in Your Bible?


Big Religion Chart

WEB RESOURCE This set of pages by ReligionFacts called the "Big Religion Chart" is an attempt to summarize a large number of religions and belief systems into small boxes on a single, quick-reference comparison chart. The comparison charts are not a substitute for reading about religions and learning about religions from adherents, but it can be a useful way to compare basic beliefs and practices of the world's religions and belief systems.

World Scriptures on Honesty and Expediency

WEB RESOURCE This is a set of texts from a variety of religious scriptures deals with the virtues of honesty and expediency. Expediency is not always compatible with honesty, and the tension between these two values creates misunderstandings for the encounter of diverse cultures and religions.

In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World by Virginia Hamilton

BOOK People in all time and place have wondered about the origin of the universe, and all that is in it. "In the Beginning" is a collection of twenty-five creation stories that engage and fascinate readers while introducing them to cultures around the world. Researched extensively, each story includes one or more illustrations, and author comments explaining its origin.

Jewish Jesus

WEB VIDEO This Religion & Ethics Weekly talk by Professor Amy-Jill Levine argues that Jews should understand Jesus' teachings in the New Testament and that Christians should understand the Jewish context of those teachings to fully understand what they mean. It will spark engagement, reflection, and discussion in the classroom for certain.

End of Life Care: What Do Religions Say?

WEB RESOURCE This Religion and Ethics section of the BBC website features a comparative discussion of how various religions look at the meaning and resultant care and practice of end of life issues.

Belief Systems Along the Silk Roads,0

WEB RESOURCE This Asia Society site has a brief overview of the various religions a trade would have encountered along the silk roads during the Middle Ages and earlier.

ReOrienting the Veil

WEB RESOURCE This University of North Carolina webpage is organized around the following topics in order to foster dialogue about veiling and its meaning: Uncovering the meaning of the hijab debate in Europe. How veiling is practiced around the world Is veiling a religious prescription? (Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions) The veil in art.

With Lent almost over, here's why most religions fast

Exactly when and where religious fasting originated is hard to pinpoint, but there is evidence of fasting in ancient Greece, pre-Columbian Peru and among Native American tribes. Today, all of the major Western religions -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism -- still have fasting or abstinence traditions. Followers of non-Abrahamic traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, also participate in forms of ritualized fasting. Why?

The Development and Codification of Religious and Cultural Traditions

WEB RESOURCE This is a short overview of major belief systems in the world that are part of the AP World History course. The religions included are Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese belief systems, Christianity, and Hellenism. The first part of the site deals with beliefs, the second part on their impact on society and artistic expression. The material was written by an Advanced Placement World History teacher at Forsyth Central HS in Cumming Georgia as a review tool for students.