Resources on Other Traditions

Scientology Home Page "Scientology is a philosophy that is designed 'to enable man to improve his lot through understanding.' It carries with it many ideas and beliefs from other religions, including the idea that man is a spiritual being. Scientology has grown considerably in only a very short time. The religion is highly controversial and many of it members are very prominent. John Travolta is one of the most famous members of the Church of Scientology. This site contains information about the organization, some awards that they have received, a FAQ about Scientology, links to other related sites and much more."  More Scientology Links.

A Profile of the Bahai Faith and Its Worldwide Community This site provides an overview of the Bahai faith. Baha'`u`lla'h taught that God is Creator of the universe and its absolute ruler. God is seen as unknowable but has chosen to make Himself known through divine Messengers. Take a look at this century and a half old faith which is now the fastest growing of world religions.

Comparative Religion from a Baha'i Perspective "This site is interesting and unique in that it does more than simply tell the history and/or beliefs of the religious body in question. It also has sections and links specifically devoted to basically every major other religious organization emphasizing their similarities, support for those religions and how they feel they are tied in with Baha'i. This is a site that above all else, can serve to help students recognize and begin to understand the multiple areas of agreement that exist between many of the world's religions."

Links to Hare Krishna Sites Worldwide. "The Hare Krishna branched from more traditional Hindu beliefs. They center their tradition and its practice on the god Krishna. ISKON is the International Society For Krishna Consciousness. It is led by the Swami Prabhupada. This site offers connections to every site of which ISKON is involved. It contains vast quantities of information concerning the Hare Krishna's beliefs and practices."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints   "This site is the official site of the LDS church and contains a wealth of information about the foundation and history of the church, the basic beliefs and teachings of the church, great resource material that would be of benefit to anyone regarding family, relationships, genealogy, and numerous statements from current and former church leaders on various subjects of interest to all Christians. Additionally students can learn of the large role that members of the LDS church played in the exploration and settlement of the western portion of the United States. This site can serve as a valuable resource to our students because so few of them really know anything about the LDS church even though it continues to be one of the fastest growing religious bodies in the world with a current membership in excess of 10 million. Fewer still are aware of the rather significant LDS population in the Tri-Cities area."

Unitarianism: The Church of the Open Mind "Unitarianism. What is the message of the Unitarian Church? Who are they? How do they worship? Why did they begin? Do they believe in the Trinity? What are their views on the social responsibility of religion? The answers await you at this site. Find out more about these issues and more concerning this most humanitarian faith.

Wicca and Neo-Paganism "The purpose of this page is not primarily for those interested in Wicca and other Neo-Pagan religions, but for the friends of those interested. I do not want to operate under any pretenses. I am not a witch. I am a Christian, but I have several close Wiccan friends. I studied Wicca so I could understand and respect their beliefs, as they did mine. I hope this eclectic page of information is helpful in explaining the basic ideas of witchcraft, their faith, ritual, and heritage." [Semester project of Sharon Allen]

The Sikhism Home Page "This is a useful home page with links to various sources pertaining to Sikhism, a five hundred year-old tradition with a strong following in India and over 20 million adherents worldwide. Included are links to Sikh scriptures, a brief history on the tradition, and an overview on the way of life that followers of Sikhism are expected to obey."

CESNUR: Center for Studies of New Religions A network of independent but related organizations of scholars in various countries devoted to promoting scholarly research in the field of new religious consciousness, to spreading reliable and responsible information, and to exposing the very real problems associated with some movements, while at the same time defending everywhere the principles of religious liberty. One may also access through this site the U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999. This document reports on nations around the world and how religion is "handled" by the governments and people of each. It takes each country individually, discussing any "Official Religion", the preferences it receives if it exists, the tolerance of other religious beliefs/practices, whether or not conversion based activities are tolerated, and much more.

 

 

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