Episcopal Press and News

"Religions of the World" Premieres in October on Odyssey

Episcopal News Service. October 6, 1999 [99-153]

On October 3, the Odyssey network premiered its multi-part series "Religions of the World," narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley.

"Religions of the World," which explores world cultures and history through the examination of religion, was filmed in locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and North America, exploring cultural and world history through interviews with historians, examination of artifacts and dramatic reenactments. By exploring the differences and similarities among many major world religions, "Religions of the World" provides viewers with additional perspectives of understanding and beliefs.

Past episodes of "Religions of the World" have included examinations of Confucianism and Taoism, Judaism and Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity. Upcoming episodes of "Religions of the World" include:

• October 10 "Protestant Christianity": Since the sixteenth century, Christianity has flourished in a third form called Protestantism that developed in Western Europe. In the Protestant Reformation four major denominations emerged: Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and some radical extensions of these initial movements.
• October 17 "Hinduism": Hinduism began in India about 1800 B.C.E. Several other religions and philosophies developed into Hinduism, including Buddhism and the Jain tradition (both 6th century B.C.E.) and the Sikh tradition (15th century C.E.)
• October 24 "Buddhism": Buddhism began with Gotama the Buddha in the 6th century B.C.E. and has developed as two chief forms of practice: Theravada or (Hinayana) is found especially in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand; Mahayana is found in Japan, China, Korea and Indochina. Zen, a more recent form of Buddhism is found throughout the world.
• October 31 "Shinto and Japanese New Religions": The traditional religion known as Shinto has been present in Japan from prehistoric times, long before Buddhism and other traditions arrived from the Asian continent. This presentation also discusses this dynamic in Japanese religions which has arisen during the past century and a half.
• November 7 "The Religion of Small Societies": "Primitive" religious practices and understandings -- those without a surviving sacred literate -- are recognized as equally as other religious beliefs. In this episode, the non-literate religions are compared to each other and to literate religions; they are also analyzed based on geographical concentration, historical development, and the type of religious concepts they embrace.
• November 14 "Classical Religions and Myths of the Mediterranean Basin": Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia Minor, Canaan, Greece, and Rome have greatly and continuously influenced all of Western culture and civilization. Today, theological interest is resurging in goddess worship, in mythologies and technical sciences from Egypt and Mesopotamia. How literature and culture of these religions have influenced Hebrew and Christian scriptures is discussed.
• November 22 "African and African-American Religion": Many of the religious ideas and practices of African people have much in common with each other, and with related religions in the Caribbean and the Americas. African Islam and African Christianity have developed separately since the earliest times in Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Sudan.
• November 28 "Native Religions of the Americas": North, Central and South American Indians have a rich religious heritage, though much has been lost as these peoples were conquered by Europeans.
• December 5 "Skepticism and Religious Relativism": The long-standing doctrines of humanism, agnosticism, and atheism have increasingly challenged traditional religious doctrines or practices. Yet reason alone often falls to secure the commitments and values of a healthy personal communal life; spiritual and emotional life can diminish into nihilism and despair. Meanwhile, some theologians have challenged the "truth" of any religion with the view that all beliefs are equally valid. This episode explores how religious commitment can be reconciled with life in a rational, skeptical world.

The series will air Sundays at 4p.m. (ET) through December 1999.