Abstract:

"On Common Ground is a landmark multimedia journey through America's new religious landscape. From a Hindu temple near Boston to the nation's oldest Islamic center in Iowa, it provides insights into the history, beliefs, and current practices within the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Jewish, Shinto, Sikh, Tao, Zoroastrian, Afro-Caribbean, Pagan, and Native Peoples' faiths in the United States." Features:- Multimedia summaries of the fundamental beliefs and practices of each faith.- Movies bringing the traditions to life with the voices and views of people speaking about their own faith and experience. Includes: - A comprehensive directory listing all of the mosques, temples, and gurdwaras, and other new religious centers in every locale that is featured. - Nearly 2,000 photographs illustrating places of worship. - Selected profiles of leaders, like Siraj Wahhaj, the first Muslim cleric to open the U.S. Senate. - Over 100 printable documents to provide resources for classroom discussion - from the writings of Jefferson and de Tocqueville to a Buddhist statement on school prayer. - A comparative thematic index to reference topics across religious boundaries - An online component to provide updates to the database (www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm).