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EduServe Chapel Resources:
Christian, Jewish, & World Religions

Set forth below are some additional resources with respect to religious and spiritual literature. Resources listed here are by no means exhaustive. In addition to the following, the reader is encouraged to consult with authorized persons and institutions representative of one's own faith.
Christian Resources
The Holy Bible is made available today by authorized Christian compilers and translators and distributed by publishers and Christian churches and communities worldwide. Although there are many versions, some bearing the accompanying stamp, photos, messages, art prints, and/or footnotes pertaining to their particular denomination or branch of Christianity and related literature, the original sacred text of each version of The Holy Bible is said to be essentially the same text, regardless of translation. Two Christian versions most popular in the West are those authorized by the Roman Catholic and Protestant/Non-Roman Catholic churches. These two Christian versions of The Holy Bible are the Vulgate version (Roman Catholic) and King James version (Protestant and non-Roman Catholic). (Other translations, including early Greek, Syriac, Old Latin, Coptic, Alexandrian, and later Wycliffe, Tyndale, Genevan, and Lutheran, have come down throughout the ages and have enlightened, informed, and engaged readers fruitfully.) The Vulgate version is the older surviving compiled text. The King James version is said to be the most poetic or artistic. Both have been faithfully copied and translated from the original languages by Christian scribes and preserved by Christian communities from the earliest letters of the Apostles (1st century A.D.).

The Holy Bible, Roman Catholic versions, has been translated into contemporary world languages from the early Latin language version called the Vulgate (4th century A.D.), which was translated from the earliest Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew language versions.

The Holy Bible, King James Version, has been translated into contemporary world languages from the early English language version (16th century A.D.), which was translated from the earliest Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew language versions.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, is a translation into modern languages; e.g., the old English word "Thou" is replaced with the modern word "You."

The Nelson Study Bible, copyright 1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., contains the New King James Version, plus articles, maps, charts, footnotes, overviews, outlines, and other guides to more detailed knowledge, experience, and understanding of the sacred scriptures.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 and later editions, translated into contemporary world languages, sets forth tenants of the Roman Catholic faith. Also contains church policy statements with respect to contemporary and public policy issues.

Catechisms of Protestant and Non-Roman Catholic Churches, most current editions of each denomination, i.e., Greek and Russian Orthodox, Reformed (Calvinist), Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican and Episcopalian, Presbyterian (containing former Puritan and Congregational), Methodist, Baptist, Mormon, Christ Scientist, etc., set forth tenants of Christianity according to each faith.
Biblical Judeo-Christian Resources
As the Jewish sacred scriptures provide historical reference for the Christian sacred scriptures, both the early Hebrew and Christian sacred scriptures are contained in The Holy Bible, which is comprised of both "Old" (Jewish) & "New" (Christian) Testaments. The Old Testament, called The Hebrew Bible, was translated from the original Hebrew that has been faithfully copied by Jewish scribes and preserved by Hebrew communities from approximately 1440 B.C. As recorded in the The Holy Bible, New Testament, Jesus Christ restates in abbreviated and modified form the timeless "Great Commandment" (Mark 12:29-30), the original version of which was written by Moses as recorded in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; cf 11:13-21and Leviticus 19:18). Moreover, "The Ten Commandments," written by Moses as recorded in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:1-17; cf. Deuteronomy 5:1-22) is referred to in the New Testament (Matthew 5:17-20; 22:37-40. Luke 2:39-40). Of course, Jewish sacred scriptures, including The Law, Histories, Poetry, and Prophecy, can be accessed in the original Hebrew language and in modern translations of same through authorized Jewish sources.
World Religions Resources
In the interests of greater understanding among neighbors near and far who are representative of the world's diverse religious heritages, topics of world religions set forth in modern encyclopedias and made available in public libraries are recommended as general, often comprehensive, introductions. Encyclopedia Americana and Encyclopedia Britannica, for example, inform with respect to religions through articles about the founder/s, leaders, and related aspects of each faith, written by indigenous scholars and authorities representative to each religious tradition.

Books called Surveys of World Religions are published and distributed by major secular and religious publishers. Many are popular versions with photos, art work, anecdotes, etc. Some are more detailed religious versions used for study, teaching, and seminary purposes. Some are more scholarly versions with extensive footnotes and related documentation. Perusing these can help readers to select those texts that best fit respective needs and interests. Selecting a text that is generally non-biased with information about each faith authored by leader/s and scholar/s indigenous to each helps to increase reliability or authenticity and accuracy.

Finally, going to the original source, in this context, reading the authorized, sacred text of a religious faith is essential to forming a more accurate or more perfect understanding of same. A word of caution is offered. Before venturing forth into any one or more of the many world religions, wisdom advises that it is best done after a reasonable if not thorough acquaintance, study, and practice of one's own faith to enable some root or stability and depth, bredth, height of perspective to enable one's approaching the "foreign" religion with adequate respect and perspective.

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