Cultural Awareness

The history of the United States is rich in religious tolerance and diversity. Here are several sources that help to understand the plethora of faith persuasions active today throughout the U.S. and the world and the push to preserve their unique traditions and heritage.

 

The Religions Book

Religious literacy : what every American needs to know / Stephen Prothero

Religions of the world : the illustrated guide to origins, beliefs, traditions & festivals

Religions of the World (DVD)

Cultural Literacy for Religion (DVD)

Religions/ Carl Wilkerson

Illustrated dictionary of religions : rituals, beliefs, and practices from around the world

A History of God: The 4000 year quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

A History of God: The 4000 year quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (DVD)

A None's Story: Searching for Meaning Inside Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam

Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Religious Holidays and Calendars: an Encyclopedia

How Different Religions View Death and Afterlife

The Amish / Donald B. Kraybill, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, and Steven M. Nolt

The Amish [videodisc] / American Experience / Donald B. Kraybill, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, and Steven M. Nolt

The Amish [videodisc] : how they survive / Buller Films LLC

Complete Idiot's Guide to Christianity

The Christians [videodisc] / written and presented by Bamber Gascoigne ; a Granada Television production

Great World Religions: Christianity (sound recording)

Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide

Buddhism: Origin, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places

Great World Religions: Buddhism (sound recording)

Confucianism and Taoism (videorecording)

Essential Hinduism

Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture and Practice

Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism

Great World Religions: Hinduism (sound recording)

India : a sacred geography / Diana L. Eck

For the love of being Jewish : an A-to-Z primer for bubbies, mensches, meshugas, tzaddiks, and yentas / written by Steven Stark Lowenstein ; illustrated and designed by Mark Anderson

The everything Judaism book : a complete primer to the Jewish faith--from holidays and rituals to traditions and culture / by Richard D. Bank

Judaism / by Martha Morrison, Stephen F. Brown

Introduction to Judaism [videodisc] / Shai Cherry

Great World Religions: Judaism (sound recording)

Islam and the future of tolerance : a dialogue / Sam Harris, Maajid Nawaz

Islam: What Non-Muslims Need to Know/ John Kaltner

Decoding the Past: The Secrets of the Koran (DVD)

Great World Religions: Islam (sound recording)

It's dangerous to believe : religious freedom and its enemies / Mary Eberstadt

Religious Tolerance [Web site]

Pluralism Project [Web site]

 

 

America is a country of immigrants. Some families arrived several generations ago; some families are newer arrivals. Whether you're looking for stories that relate the immigrant experience of yesteryear, or stories with a more modern-day setting, you'll find both at Canton Public Library. The following is a list of picture book titles that highlight immigration, then and now.

Stories Of Yesteryear

A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather's journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries.

The library is celebrating Cultural Diversity Month! Cultural Diversity means we appreciate different cultures within our society and communities. Our staff has contributed a variety of items representing their cultural heritages. Stop in to check out books on display or view our reading lists featuring cultural diversity in our collections on our website.

"It may be taboo to say, but some groups in America do better than others.Why do some groups rise? Drawing on groundbreaking original research and startling statistics, The Triple Package uncovers the secret to their success. A superiority complex, insecurity, impulse control--these are the elements of the Triple Package, the rare and potent cultural constellation that drives disproportionate group success.Americans are taught that everyone is equal, that no group is superior to another. But remarkably, all of America's most successful groups believe (even if they don't say so aloud) that they're exceptional, chosen, superior in some way. Americans are taught that self-esteem--feeling good about yourself--is the key to a successful life. But in all of America's most successful groups, people tend to feel insecure, inadequate, that they have to prove themselves. But the Triple Package has a dark underside too. Each of its elements carries distinctive pathologies; when taken to an extreme, they can have truly toxic effects. Should people strive for the Triple Package? Should America? Ultimately, the authors conclude that the Triple Package is a ladder that should be climbed and then kicked away, drawing on its power but breaking free from its constraints"--.

"Integration Nation takes readers on a spirited and compelling cross-country journey, introducing us to the people challenging America's xenophobic impulses by welcoming immigrants and collaborating with the foreign-born as they become integral members of their new communities. In Utah, we meet educators who connect newly arrived Spanish-speaking students and U.S.-born English-speaking students, who share classrooms and learn in two languages. In North Carolina, we visit the nation's fastest-growing community-development credit union, serving immigrants and U.S.- born depositors and helping to lower borrowing thresholds and crime rates alike. In recent years, politicians in a handful of local communities and states have passed laws and regulations designed to make it easier to deport unauthorized immigrants or to make their lives so unpleasant that they'd just leave. The media's unrelenting focus on these ultimately self-defeating measures created the false impression that these politicians speak for most of America. They don't. Integration Nation movingly reminds us that we each have choices to make about how to think and act in the face of the rapid cultural transformation that has reshaped the United States. Giving voice to people who choose integration over exclusion, who opt for open-heartedness instead of fear, Integration Nation is a desperately needed road map for a nation still finding its way beyond anti-immigrant hysteria to higher ground"--.

Culture by Terry Eagleton

Family Day at the Canton Mosque

Join the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs in
Building Bridges: Family Fun Day at the Canton Mosque

Please RSVP by June 20

Saturday June 22, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM at the Canton Mosque
40440 Palmer Rd. Canton, MI 48188

Free Admission, Interactive Activities, Food, Art, Sports

Join MCWS in their first active Family Day on June 22 — organized to foster dialog within our increasingly diverse communities. Families, adults, youth and children will be able to engage in team building activities and join conversations while enjoying great food, art displays and the company of the beautiful people around Canton.

Subscribe to RSS - Cultural Awareness