Abib -- Islam and Hinduism

ABib -- Islam and Hinduism Esposito, J., ed. The Oxford History of Islam. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, Print. This is a broad, but very well researched book that includes works from sixteen different experts on Islamic history, both Muslim and non-Muslim. It is a topical guide, suitable as an introduction for the scholar or as a reference book for the lay person.

Specifically dealing with women's issues, the section on the difficulties that Muslim women have when dealing with globalization, modernization, and the conflicting nature of Koranic law vs. local customs. The material presented helps us understand that there is no one correct path towards modern Islam, but if Islam is to modernize, women must are integral in all decision points. Esposito, J., et.al. Religion and Globalization. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.

Among many of the other trends brought about by 21st century globalization, there has been a unique resurgence of religious thought and scholarship. This edition explores seven of the major religious traditions focusing on modern society. The authors give an excellent introduction to modern Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world. Unlike Christianity and Islam, though, Hinduism has neither a single belief system, any central religious organization, did not have a single founder, and does not have a single system of morality or law.

In fact, many do not see Hinduism as a religion, but more as a philosophical belief. This work is suitable for the introductory academic and most certainly for the interested layperson. Naik, Z. "Islam and Hinduism." Islamandhinduism.com. 2008. Web. Retrieved October 2012, From: Dr. Naik is a scholar of both Islam and Hinduism. This site is a primary source site, using materials from the Koran and the Hindu Scriptures to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between Islam and Hinduism.

The point of the site, though, is to find commonalities in dogma so that misconceptions about both views can be rectified. One would need a background in both the basic teachings and basic documents of both Hinduism and Islam to understand and appreciate the texts, and this would be particularly valuable in a comparitive relgion class or in someone trying to rectify the basic tenets of the world's great religions. Narayan, a., Purkhayastha, B., eds. Living Our Religions -- Hindu and Muslim South Asian- American Women Narrate Their Experiences.

Sterling, VA: Jumarian Press, 2009, Print. This is not a traditional edited book, but more of a participatory social history based on a feminist perspective. In an overall sense, the authors have brought together female writings in an attempt to explain why both Hindu and Muslim cultures have failed to follow the trends towards democratization and egalitarianism. The story of Hindu and Muslim-American women, however, do not necessarily follow the same trends.

Of course, Americanized women are more apt to push the edge of human rights, whether internally or for their bretheran abroad. The book is very personal in orientation, not footnoted, and scholarly only on the point of interest level and tone. ADD CITATION, this is for scans 103-109 in book. Postcolonialism has been accentuated by globalism, and is a particular change factor in the Hindu world. For much of this world, centuries of colonialism had a dominant effect upon culture, expression, gender roles, and political awareness.

In particular, the media (telecommunication, television, the Internet) engenders reform within society because it shows younger Hindus what is possible in the outside world, what other younger people are doing in different parts of the world, and how they can remain compatible with Hinduism while still becoming citizens of the modern world. Change is the ultimate decision maker for culture, and the post-colonial Hindu world is poised for rapid change; particularly as the developed countries continue to invest in human and natural resources in the area. Horan, D. (June 22, 2007).

Temple Adds Modern Twist to Ancient Rites. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from: http:/wwrn.org/article.php?idd-25462 This is a non-scholarly, more journalistic approach, to the idea of modernization within the Hindu culture in America. The idea is that individual Hindus grouped together, raised funds, and managed the construction project of a new temple. However, this is a true modern paradigm, combining Ancient traditions with modern technology and allowing the faithful to worship via the Internet and a webcam, as well as receive email.