VCD-801 SMITHSONIAN WORLD SERIES - (A); WETA-TV and Smithsonian Institute, 1987.

.1 ISLAM- 57:46 min.; Narrated by David McCullough. Experts on the Arab world give the historical background of the Islamic religion and talk about the new face of Islam since 1979 under Ayatollah Khomeine.

VCD-802 WORLD RELIGION SERIES - (JH/A); Guide; Brown/Roa, 1991.

Series of videos on religions of the world. Others will be added as produced.

.1 HINDUISM: AN ANCIENT PATH IN THE MODERN WORLD- (20 min.) Explores the history of Hinduism, the beliefs of the Hindu faith, features of the religion, the Muslim invasion, Seikism and Buddhism.

.2 ISLAM: THE FAITH AND THE PEOPLE- (22 min.) Some topics presented are: Islam in the world today, Mohammed, the 5 pillars of Islam, the Mosque, the Crusades, and the art and architecture of Islam.

.3 BUDDHISM: THE MIDDLE WAY- (25 min.) The program, shot on location in India, Nepal, Thailand and Japan, explores the history, development, art, and the influence of Buddhism in the world. Combines live-action video, interview footage and stills to communicate an understanding and an appreciation of Buddhism's compassionate view of life.

.4 JUDAISM: THE RELIGION OF A PEOPLE- (24:20 min.) Topics presented in the program are: The Torah, other religions rooted in Judaism, 4 cornerstones of the Jewish faith, the Jewish worship service, tragedies of the Jewish people, the founding of the state of Israel, Jewish rituals and festivals, women in Judaism, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

.5 CHRISTIANITY: THE WAY OF GOODNESS AND MERCY- (24 min.) This program stretches from the Sermon on the Mount to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Includes the life of Christ, the development of the early church, the split between the East and West, the Reformation, Christian rituals, modern day controversies over archaeological discoveries.

VCD-803 THE LONG SEARCH SERIES - (A); 13 videos, 52 min. ea.; No guides; Time/Life, 1987.

This BBC series was shot on location in each of the countries included in the study. Examining the beliefs of the world's major religions, the series provides a balanced treatment of the influence of religion on society.

.1 PROTESTANT SPIRIT USA- In Indianapolis, 1100 different churches illustrate the multiplicity of Protestant beliefs. Shows how freedom of religion and free enterprise frequently overlap.

.2 HINDUISM: 330 MILLION GODS- Millions come to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges, and millions more quietly live their religion in villages throughout India. Talks about the basics of this highly original approach to God, which dictates every aspect of society and individual life.

.3 BUDDHISM: FOOTPRINT OF THE BUDDHA: INDIA- In exploring the type of Buddhism practiced throughout Southeast Asia, the viewer visits Sri Lanka and India, meeting Buddhist monks, including children and housewives, and one American. Each shares his own experience in a religion that sets high moral standards, but whose followers do not believe in God.

.4 CATHOLICISM: ROME, LEEDS, AND THE DESERT- Since Vatican II, the Catholic religion has undergone many changes. The video shows the diversity and commonality of today's Roman Catholic Church. THE SEARCH goes from the pageantry of Rome to a converted English housewife in Leeds, who denies mindless submission to authority, to an order of monks in Spain, who work as factory laborers in order to relate to others.

.5 ISLAM: THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD- The video describes Islam as the fastest-growing religion in the world today. Its 400 million believers are reshaping whole regions of the globe. The viewer travels to Egypt to take part in a wedding at an oasis village and on to a market town for dawn prayers and then into Cairo itself.

.6 ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY: THE RUMANIAN SOLUTION- Shows how the people of Rumania see the Orthodox Church as the source of their ethnic identity.

.7 JUDAISM: THE CHOSEN PEOPLE- In New York, Elie Wiesel, famous author and survivor of the concentration camps, explains what makes a Jew a Jew. THE SEARCH leads to Jerusalem to the schools, synagogues, and the Wailing Wall.

.8 RELIGION IN INDONESIA: THE WAY OF THE ANCESTORS- Tribal religions still include nearly 200 million believers around the world. They are local, exclusive, and mostly animistic. Followers believe that inanimate objects and natural phenomena possess a soul. This episode explores primal religion in a tribe who live in a mountain fortress on an Indonesian island.

.9 BUDDHISM: THE LAND OF THE DISAPPEARING BUDDHA--JAPAN- If the Buddha of India met the Buddha of Japan, would they recognize each other? To find out, interviewers talk to the staff in a Tokyo restaurant who keep regular Zen meditation as part of their job. With superior technical aspects, the video also includes classical Zen calligraphy, sword fighting, archery, and a tea ceremony.

.10 AFRICAN RELIGIONS: ZULU ZION- Christian missionaries taking the Gospel to Africa tried to suppress the native religions, but in recent years Africans have been discovering their lost identity. This program explores the Zulu Independent Churches in South Africa.

.11 TAOISM: A QUESTION OF BALANCE--CHINA- In Taiwan a pantheon of gods are worshipped in thousands of Buddhist and Taoist temples. Religious life weaves together a Confucian respect for ancestors, the cosmic pattern of the Tao and its oracles, the local gods who dispense justice and favors, and the hungry ghosts of the dead who must be placated.

.12 ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES IN CALIFORNIA: WEST MEETS EAST- In the San Francisco Bay Area, religious counter cultures seek to expand the boundaries of existing traditions. Here people brought up in a largely Christian cultural climate, look for inspiration by mingling ideas taken from Eastern beliefs. The scenes on this video were produced in the late 70's.

.13 REFLECTIONS ON THE LONG SEARCH- The author of the series takes stock of the revelations of this search into the basic beliefs of world religions. Without becoming judgmental, the author presents a model of personal stock-taking that determines the individual's path in man's seemingly endless search for life's meaning.

VCD-804 HOLY LAND, HOLY PEOPLE - (A); 6 videos, 30 min. ea.; Guides, Landmark Media, Inc., 1997.

With beautiful photography, this series explores the diverse sights and sounds of modern-day Israel. It examines the three faiths in Jerusalem--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--their tempestuous relationships throughout history, and modern individuals who are joining together to bring hope to the region.

.1 THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM- Introduces Jews, Christians, Muslims as the world's monotheists who share the same God; each religion tracing its spiritual origins to Abraham through its sacred writings. Shows what it means to be Jewish, Christian or Muslim and explores the colorful and often tragic relationships among the three.

.2 THE DESERT- From the Sinai experience of the people of Israel, through Jesus's forty days in the wilderness, to the call of the Prophet in a cave outside Mecca, the desert has been a crucible of faith.

.3 THE HOLY CITY- Examines the critical place of Jerusalem within all three religions. Shows the history and current status of Jerusalem through the eyes of religious leaders and activists who are determined to achieve peace and social justice for everyone who calls Jerusalem a Holy City.

.4 THE WORD- Explores the place of sacred writings in three major religions. The primacy of the Torah within Judaism, the centrality of the Gospels for Christianity, and the immutability of the Koran for Islam testify to the special place and reverence accorded to the revealed Word of God.

.5 COVENANT AND REALITY- Examines the struggle to live in accordance with the ideals of each religion. This episode asks why it remains so difficult for people of faith to live up to their own ideals. Shows religions as powerful agents for change.

.6 THE LIVING SPIRIT- Graphically reveals individuals within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as ongoing sources of light for others through the power of the Spirit of God.

VCD-805 GREAT WORLD RELIGIONS - (A); 5 videos, 50 sessions; 45 min. ea.; Guide; Teaching Company, 1994. (Gift)

This series explores the comparative study of religion and several specific religious traditions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Folk Religions.

.1 OVERVIEW: THE CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM- Lecturer Dr. Robert Oden has degrees from Cambridge University and Harvard Divinity School. He is Headmaster of the Hotchkiss School.

A. Lectures 1 - 6

1. Introduction to the Lectures Series and to the Study of Religion

2. The Hellenistic World and the First Christian Communities

3. Jesus and the Gospel Traditions

4. The Growth of the Early Christian Community

5. Eastern Orthodox Christianity

6. Reformed Christianity and the Revivalist Tradition in American Protestantism

B. Lectures 7 - 10

7. The Origins of Christian Fundamentalism

8. Fundamentalism in America: Before and After the Scopes Trial

9. The New Religious Right, the Millennial Extreme and Some Thoughts on Comparative Fundamentalism

10. Explaining Religions' Differences and Similarities

.2 GOD AND HIS PROPHET: THE RELIGION OF ISLAM- The lecturer is Professor John Swanson of the American University of Cairo.

A. Lectures 1 - 5

1. Definitions, Perspectives, and Stereotypes

2. The Prophet and His Times

3. The Message of the Qur'an

4. What is Islamic Law?

5. The Rise of an Islamic Institution

6. What is an "Islamic Society?"

B. Lectures 6 - 10

7. The History of Islam and the Emergence of the Shi'a

8. Intellectual and Mystical Forces within Medieval Islam

9. Islamic Response to Western Predominance

10. Islam: Past, Present, and Future

.3 GOD AND GOD'S PEOPLE: THE RELIGION OF JUDAISM- The lecturer is Dr. William S. Green, Professor of Religion, the Phillip S. Bernstein Professor of Judaic Studies, and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Rochester.

A. Lectures 1 - 5

1. Judaism as a Religion

2. The Historical Foundations of Judaism

3. Levitical Religion

4. Rabbinic Judaism: The Doctrine of the dual Torah

5. Rabbinic Judaism: Scripture as a Sacred Object

 

B. Lectures 8 - 10

6. Rabbinic Judaism: Conclusion and Overview

7. Judaism in Principle I: The Shape of the Jewish Liturgy

8. Judaism in Principle II: The Sound of the Jewish Liturgy

9. Judaism Outside the Talmud

10. Judaism in Freedom

.4 CONFUCIUS, THE TAO, THE ANCESTORS AND THE BUDDHA: THE RELIGIONS OF CHINA-

The lecturer is Professor Robert Henricks, who is Chair of the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College.

A. Lectures 1 - 5

1. The History of Ancient China: Legends and Myths

2. Religion in Ancient China (Before 500 BCE)

3. Confucius and Confucianism

4. Taoism

5. The Taoist Religion

B. Lectures 6 - 10 (Unavailable)

.5 HINDU, BUDDHIST, MUSLIM SIKH: THE RELIGIONS OF INDIA

The lecturer is Dr. Diana Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Study at Harvard University.

A. Lectures 1 - 5

1. The Religions of India: Points of View

2. Creating a World: Two Cultures of Ancient India

3. The Upanishads: Teachings on Wisdom

4. Mahivira and Buddha: Their Lives and Legacies

5. The Teachings of the Buddha: The Way Out of Suffering

B. Lectures 6 - 10

6. The Bhagavad Gita: The Field of Dharma and Revolution of Bhakti

7. Through Women's Eyes: The Dharma and the Devi

8. Myth on Earth: Three Tales of the Faith of Hindu Pilgrims

9. Sufis, Sants, and Sikhs

10. Gandhi: All Religions are True

VCD-806 BUILDING BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING - (Y/A); 6 sessions; 74 min.; Guide; California Council of Churches, 2003.

An introductory study of six of the world's major religious traditions representing a beginning in the important task of understanding our neighbors of different faiths. Study includes: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism.

DVD-807 and VCD-807       CHRISTIANITY AND WORLD RELIGIONS:  WRESTLING WITH QUESTIONS
       PEOPLE ASK with Adam Hamilton - (Y/A); 6 Sessions, about 15 min. ea.; Leader’s guide and Participant’s guide; Abingdon, 2005.
       
This six-session study deals openly with questions people ask about other religions.  In the sessions Hamilton interviews a religious leader from each tradition.  He treats world religions with great respect, recognizing the unique contributions of each and then comparing and contrasting them with Christianity.  In the final session he shares the essential beliefs of Christianity in light of the other religious beliefs that have been presented.
        Session 1- Questions Thinking People Ask
        Session 2- Hinduism
        Session 3- Buddhism
        Session 4- Islam
        Session 5- Judaism
        Session 6- Essential Beliefs of Christianity

DVD-808    MYSTICAL TRADITION: JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, AND ISLAM with Professor Luke Timothy Johnson - 
                   (A); 6 DVDs, 36 sessions, 30 min. ea.; Leader’s Guide; The Teaching Company, 2008.  (Gift)

This course examines the magnificent tradition of mysticism within the major Western Religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Part One        Lecture 1:  A Way into the Mystic Ways of the West
        Lecture 2:  Family Resemblances and Differences
        Lecture 3:  The Biblical Roots of Western Mysticism
        Lecture 4:  Mysticism in Early Judaism
        Lecture 5:  Merkabah Mysticism
        Lecture 6: The Hasidim of Medieval Germany
        Lecture 7:  The Beginnings of Kabbalah
        Lecture 8:  Mature Kabbalah-Zohar
        Lecture 9:  Isaac Luria and Safed Spirituality
        Lecture 10: Sabbatai Zevi Messianic Mysticism
        Lecture 11: The Ba’al Shem Tov and the New Hasidism
        Lecture 12: Mysticism in contemporary Judaism
Part Two    Lecture 13: Mystical Elements in the New Testament
        Lecture 14: Gnostic Christianity
        Lecture 15: The Spirituality of the Desert
        Lecture 16: Shaping Christian Mysticism in the East
        Lecture 17: Eastern Monks and the Hesychastic Tradition
        Lecture 18: The Mysticism of Western Monasticism
        Lecture 19: Medieval Female Mystics
        Lecture 20: Mendicants as Mystics
        Lecture 21: English Mystics of the 14th Century
        Lecture 22: 15th- and 16th-Century Spanish Mystics
        Lecture 23: Mysticism among Protestant Reformers
        Lecture 24: Mystical Expressions in Protestantism
Part Three    Lecture 25: 20th- Century Mystics
        Lecture 26: Muhammad the Prophet as Mystic
        Lecture 27: The House of Islam
        Lecture 28: The Mystical Sect-Shi’a
        Lecture 29: The Appearance of Sufism
        Lecture 30: Early Sufi Masters
        Lecture 31: The Limits of Mysticism – Al Ghazzali
        Lecture 32: Two Masters, Two Streams
        Lecture 33: Sufism in 12th-14th Century North Africa
        Lecture 34: Sufi Saints of Persia and India
        Lecture 35: The Continuing Sufi Tradition
        Lecture 36: Mysticism in the West Today

DVO-815  EMBRACING THE PROPHETS IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE: WALTER BRUEGGEMANN ON CON-FRONTING TODAY’S “PHARAOHS”
- (A); 6 sessions, 10-15 min. ea.; Guide; Morehouse, 2011.

Walter Brueggemann takes us on a wild ride through the poetic prophecy of the Hebrew Scripture, identifying cultural contexts, putting a framework to Israel’s history, and drawing connections between Israel’s sociological, economic, and spiritual status.