Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know

By: Mark Berkson, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Mark Berkson

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

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.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

helpful content

Narrator made listening enjoyable. Good overviews and balanced presentation of all topics. Worth the time spent listening to the class.

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.

Great overview of the world's major faiths

What did you like most about Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know?

A good introduction to all the major faith traditions. Reasonable depth without getting too bogged down in detail.

What other book might you compare Cultural Literacy for Religion: Everything the Well-Educated Person Should Know to, and why?

Similar to the Introduction to Buddhism from Great Courses, except it covers a number of faith traditions.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The introduction to Hinduism was especially interesting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is more of an educational lecture series.

Any additional comments?

Well worth the listen.

Good but too short

This is a great course but too short. I understand it's an intro level but compared to many of the great courses I felt like it was brutally breif.

Great Overview

Very interesting and well presented. I learnt a lot and enjoyed the lecturer style and presentation. I would listen to him again