Q: Basic text on philosophy of religion

[Chris Beetle]

At 09:50 PM 4/27/00 +0200, you wrote:
>can anyone suggest a good basic textbook (or chapter) for the topic
>Hindusim/Buddhism in a one-term Philosophy of religion course? The course is
>for students of philosophy; they can be bright, but typically fairly innocent
>about anything Indian (or Eastern). The optimal length would be about 120
>pages, but it could be O.K. between 50 and 300.

There is a nice book called Readings in Vedic Literature by a contemporary
writer in the Vaishnava tradition named Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami which deals
with different themes and practice found in Indian religion. It may be worth
investigating for you. The author has some nice insight because of his
personal practice of the some of the teachings discussed.  The publisher's
description of the book is:

"Readings in Vedic Literature
The Tradition Speaks for Itself
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Readings provides a summary of the essential ideas of the Vedic tradition,
as well as a sample of Vedic writings and a look at the first Indologists.
Chapters include: What are Vedas?; The Empirical Approach to Vedic
Literature; Essential Elements of Vedic Thought; Vedic Literature--Siddhanta
and History; The Teachings of the Acaryas; Impersonalism versus Theism; and
the Vedic Social Philosophy. Readings is often used as a college textbook.
Softbound, 243 pages, 5.25" x 7.75" "

Their web page is:
http://www.webcom.com/ara/col/catalog/rvl.html

I hope this helps.

Sincerely yours,

Chris Beetle