Books in the An American Academy of Religion Book series

In a culture increasingly focused on visual media, students have learned not only to embrace multimedia presentations in the classroom, but to expect them. Such expectations are perhaps more prevalent in a field as dynamic and cross-disciplinary as religious studies, but the practice nevertheless poses some difficult educational issues - the use of movies in academic coursework has far outpaced the scholarship on teaching religion and film. What does it mean toutilize film in religious studies, and what are the best ways to do it? In Teaching Religion and Film, an interdisciplinary team of scholars thinks about the theoretical and pedagogical concerns involved with the intersection of film and religion in the classroom. They examine the use of film to teach specific religious traditions, religious theories, and perspectives on fundamental human values. Some instructors already teach some version of a film-and-religion course, and many have integrated film as an ancillary to achieving central course goals. This collection of essays helps them understand the field better and draws the sharp distinction between merely "watching movies" in the classroom and comprehending film in an informed and critical way.

The Mandaeans were a gnostic sect that arose in the Middle East around the same time as Christianity. This text examines the lives and religion of contemporary Mandaeans and provides an introduction to the religion, showing how its ancient texts inform the living religion, and vice versa.

Dying for one's God is one of the most difficult concepts for modern observers of religion to understand. This book seeks to foster a greater understanding of religious martyrdom by explaining how it has been viewed in the world's major religions. The book spans 4000 years of history.

The rise in the numbers of women in the field of religion does not mean that it is always easy for women starting out nor that women no longer face isolation. This manual offers practical help in negotiating the mine-field of an academic career. The authors want to enable women to be pro-active, to have the knowledge that will help them avoid common pitfalls, and to meet other adversities without the feelings of personal failure or self-blame that so often stem fromisolation. While written explicitly for women, the manual should also be helpful to men starting out their careers and to departments hiring women.