Introducing Religion

I am a mature adult and had to read this book for a general ed class in college. My major is Database technology not religion. I do consider myself religious. This book is by far the most difficult of reading compared to any other text books. It is comparable to a very hard to comprehend literature book. It read as if Robert Ellwood was trying to impress the reader with his unusual use of words. I would have learned so much more had he used every day words instead of words such as adduced, phalanxes, cubism, austerity. I spent much time struggling with comprehension and looking up words in the dictionary to be sure i understood what I read - my time would have been used better understanding the real message of the book. Religion.