Experiencing the World's Religions : Tradition, Challenge and Change

by Trussell, Richard Curran

• ISBN13: 9780767406932
• ISBN10: 0767406931
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill College

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xv
Understanding Religion	p. 1
First Encounter	p. 1
Why is There Religion?	p. 2
Speculations on the Sources of Religion	p. 3
Key Characteristics of Religion	p. 6
The Sacred	p. 7
Religious Symbolism	p. 8
Patterns Among Religions	p. 10
Focus of Beliefs and Practices	p. 11
Religious Views of the World and Life	p. 12
Religious Views of Male and Female	p. 14
Box: Is Goddess Worship Still Alive?	p. 15
Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion	p. 16
Why Study the Major Religions of the World?	p. 18
Box: Exploring Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 19
The Pilgrimage	p. 20
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 22
For Fuller Understanding	p. 22
Related Readings	p. 22
Key Terms	p. 23
Oral Religions	p. 25
First Encounter	p. 25
Discovering Oral Religions	p. 27
Past Obstacles to the Appreciation of Oral Religions	p. 28
The Modern Recovery of Oral Religions	p. 28
Studying Oral Religions: Learning From Patterns	p. 31
Human Relationships with the Natural World	p. 31
Box: Spirits Within	p. 32
Sacred Time and Sacred Space	p. 33
Respect for Origins, Gods, and Ancestors	p. 34
Sacred Practices in Oral Religions	p. 37
Life-Cycle Ceremonies	p. 37
Taboo and Sacrifice	p. 39
Shamanism, Trance, and Magic	p. 40
Artifacts and Artistic Expression in Oral Religions	p. 43
Box: Halloween: "Just Good Fun" or Folk Religion?	p. 46
Personal Experience: Gods in Hawai'i	p. 47
Oral Religions Today	p. 50
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 51
For Fuller Understanding	p. 52
Related Readings	p. 52
Key Terms	p. 53
Hinduism	p. 55
First Encounter	p. 55
The Origins of Hinduism	p. 57
The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion	p. 58
The Aryans and Their Religion	p. 60
The Vedas	p. 61
The Upanishads and the Axis Age	p. 62
The Origin of the Upanishads	p. 63
Important Concepts of the Upanishads	p. 64
Living Spiritually in the Everyday World	p. 68
The Bhagavad Gita	p. 68
The Caste System	p. 70
The Stages of Life	p. 72
The Goals of Life	p. 73
The Yogas	p. 73
Box: Hindu Meditation: More Than Emptying the Mind	p. 75
Devotional Hinduism	p. 77
The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva	p. 79
Worship of the Divine Feminine: Devi	p. 83
The Guru as Object of Devotion	p. 84
Devotion to Animals	p. 85
Box: Hindu Celebrations	p. 86
Other Forms of Religious Devotion	p. 86
Personal Experience: Gazing Into the Mother's Eyes	p. 87
Hinduism and the Arts	p. 88
Hinduism: Modern Challenges	p. 90
Mohandas Gandhi	p. 92
Hindu Influence Beyond India	p. 94
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 97
For Fuller Understanding	p. 98
Related Readings	p. 98
Key Terms	p. 98
Buddhism	p. 101
First Encounter	p. 101
The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha	p. 102
The Basic Teachings of Buddhism	p. 107
The Three Marks of Reality	p. 108
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path	p. 110
The Influence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings	p. 113
Ahimsa: "Do No Harm"	p. 113
The Soul and Karma	p. 114
Nirvana	p. 114
Box: Was the Buddha an Atheist?	p. 115
The Early Development of Buddhism	p. 115
Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders	p. 118
Theravada Teachings and Literature	p. 120
Theravada Art and Architecture	p. 121
Mahayana Buddhism: The "Big Vehicle"	p. 123
Mahayana Teachings and Practice	p. 123
Mahayana Thought and Worldview	p. 125
Mahayana Literature	p. 130
Mahayana in China	p. 130
Mahayana in Korea	p. 133
Mahayana in Japan	p. 133
Some Major Schools of Mahayana	p. 134
Zen Buddhism: Enlightenment Through Experience	p. 138
Zen Techniques for Enlightenment	p. 140
Buddhism and the Arts of Japan	p. 142
Vajrayana Buddhism: The "Diamond Vehicle"	p. 146
Origins, Practice, and Literature of Tibetan Buddhism	p. 146
Box: Buddhist Festivals	p. 147
Ritual and the Arts	p. 149
Personal Experience: Visiting the Dalai Lama	p. 152
Buddhism, the West, and Modern Challenges	p. 154
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 158
For Fuller Understanding	p. 159
Related Readings	p. 159
Key Terms	p. 160
Jainism and Sikhism	p. 163
First Encounter	p. 163
Shared Origins	p. 164
Jainism	p. 165
Background	p. 165
Mahavira and the Origins of Jainism	p. 165
Worldview	p. 167
Jain Ethics	p. 168
Box: Jains and Gentle Suicide	p. 170
The Development of Jainism and Its Branches	p. 171
Digambaras	p. 171
Shvetambaras	p. 171
Sthanakavasis	p. 172
Jain Practices	p. 172
Jain Scriptures	p. 172
Jain Art and Architecture	p. 174
Sikhism	p. 174
Background	p. 174
Nanak and the Origins of Sikhism	p. 176
The Worldview and Teachings of Nanak	p. 177
Box: The "Five K's" of the Sikhs	p. 178
The Development of Sikhism	p. 178
Sikh Scriptures	p. 180
Sikhism and the Modern World	p. 181
Personal Experience: A Visit to the Golden Temple	p. 182
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 184
For Fuller Understanding	p. 184
Related Readings	p. 184
Key Terms	p. 185
Taoism and Confucianism	p. 187
First Encounter	p. 187
Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs	p. 189
Taoism	p. 191
The Origins of Philosophical Taoism	p. 192
Laozi (Lao Tzu)	p. 192
The Tao Te Ching	p. 193
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)	p. 195
Box: The Seasons of Life	p. 196
The Basic Teachings of Philosophical Taoism	p. 197
Taoism and the Quest for Longevity	p. 198
Religious Taoism	p. 199
Taoism and the Arts	p. 201
Taoism and the Modern World	p. 204
Box: The Chinese Garden--Bridge to the Infinite	p. 205
Confucianism	p. 206
The Tao in Confucianism	p. 206
The Life of Confucius	p. 206
Box: Confucianism: Philosophy or Religion?	p. 208
Living According to Confucian Values	p. 208
The Five Great Relationships	p. 209
The Confucian Virtues	p. 212
Box: The Ideal Human Being	p. 214
Confucian Literature	p. 215
The Five Classics	p. 215
The Four Books	p. 217
The Development of Confucianism	p. 218
Schools of Philosophy	p. 218
The Development of Confucianism as a Religious System	p. 221
Confucianism and the Arts	p. 223
Box: Friends from Far Away	p. 224
Personal Experience: At a Confucian Temple	p. 226
Confucianism and the Modern World	p. 228
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 231
For Fuller Understanding	p. 231
Related Readings	p. 232
Key Terms	p. 232
Shinto	p. 235
First Encounter	p. 235
The Origins of Shinto	p. 236
The Historical Development of Shinto	p. 239
Accommodation with Buddhism and Confucianism	p. 239
Shinto and Japanese National Identity	p. 241
Box: Kamikaze Pilots and Shinto	p. 243
Essentials of Shinto Belief	p. 245
Box: Shinto Ethics: Basic Rules for the Twenty-First Century	p. 247
Shinto Religious Practice	p. 247
Worship at Shrines	p. 247
Celebration of the New Year	p. 250
Observances of the Seasons and Nature	p. 250
Other Practices	p. 251
Personal Experience: a Temple High Above Kyoto	p. 252
Shinto and the Arts	p. 254
Architecture	p. 254
Music and Dance	p. 255
Shinto Offshoots: The New Religions	p. 256
Shinto and the Modern World	p. 259
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 260
For Fuller Understanding	p. 261
Related Readings	p. 261
Key Terms	p. 261
Judaism	p. 263
First Encounter	p. 263
An Overview of Jewish History	p. 265
The Hebrew Bible	p. 267
Box: Books of the Hebrew Bible	p. 268
Biblical History	p. 269
In the Beginning: Stories of Origins	p. 269
The World of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs	p. 272
Moses and the Law	p. 274
Box: The Ten Commandments	p. 278
The Judges and Kings	p. 279
Exile and Captivity	p. 280
Return to Jerusalem and the Second Temple	p. 281
Box: Zoroastrianism	p. 282
Cultural Conflict During the Second-Temple Era	p. 283
The Seleucid Period	p. 283
Responses to Outside Influences	p. 284
The Development of Rabbinical Judaism	p. 286
The Canon of Scripture and the Talmud	p. 286
Islam and Medieval Judaism	p. 288
The Kabbalah	p. 289
Christianity and Medieval Judaism	p. 290
Questioning and Reform	p. 291
Judaism and the Modern World	p. 292
Hitler and the Holocaust	p. 293
Creation of the State of Israel	p. 294
Personal Experience: a Visit to Anne Frank's House	p. 295
Jewish Belief	p. 297
Religious Practice	p. 298
The Jewish Sabbath	p. 298
Holy Days	p. 299
Jewish Dietary Practices	p. 302
Other Religious Practices	p. 303
Divisions Within Contemporary Judaism	p. 305
Culturally Based Divisions	p. 305
Observance-Based Divisions	p. 307
The Contributions of Judaism	p. 310
Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism	p. 314
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 314
For Fuller Understanding	p. 315
Related Readings	p. 315
Key Terms	p. 316
Christianity	p. 319
First Encounter	p. 319
Box: The Christian System of Chronology: B.C. and A.D.	p. 321
The Life and Teachings of Jesus	p. 321
Jesus in the New Testament Gospels	p. 324
The Two Great Commandments	p. 327
Early Christian Beliefs and History	p. 328
Paul and Pauline Christianity	p. 329
The New Testament: Its Structure and Artistry	p. 332
Box: The Books of the New Testament	p. 333
The Essential Christian Worldview	p. 338
The Early Spread of Christianity	p. 342
Influences on Christianity at the end of the Roman Empire	p. 345
Augustine	p. 345
Benedict and the Monastic Ideal	p. 346
The Eastern Orthodox Church	p. 349
Early Development	p. 350
Monasticism in the Eastern Church	p. 350
Eastern Orthodox Beliefs	p. 351
Box: Inside a Greek Orthodox Church	p. 353
Personal Experience: Inside the Monasteries on Mount Athos	p. 353
Christianity in the Middle Ages	p. 355
Christian Mysticism	p. 356
The Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Founding of Religious Orders	p. 357
The Late Middle Ages	p. 359
The Protestant Reformation	p. 360
Martin Luther	p. 362
Box: Essential Beliefs of Protestant Christianity	p. 363
Forms of Protestantism	p. 364
The Development of Christianity Following the Protestant Reformation	p. 367
The Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation)	p. 367
The International Spread of Christianity	p. 368
Box: Essential Beliefs of Catholic Christianity	p. 369
Nontraditional Christianity	p. 370
Christian Practice	p. 373
Sacraments and Other Rituals	p. 373
The Christian Year	p. 377
Devotion to Mary	p. 379
Christianity and the Arts	p. 380
Architecture	p. 380
Art	p. 384
Music	p. 387
Christianity Faces the Twenty-First Century	p. 389
The Challenge of Science	p. 389
Contemporary Influences and Developments	p. 391
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 396
For Fuller Understanding	p. 397
Related Readings and Musical Recordings	p. 397
Key Terms	p. 398
Islam	p. 401
First Encounter	p. 401
The Life and Teachings of Muhammad	p. 402
Essentials of Islam	p. 408
The Five Pillars of Islam	p. 410
Additional Islamic Religious Practices	p. 416
Box: The Islamic Religious Calendar	p. 417
Scripture: The Qur'an	p. 421
The Historical Development of Islam	p. 422
Expansion and Consolidation	p. 422
The Shiite and Sunni Division within Islam	p. 424
Sufism: Islamic Mysticism	p. 427
Sufi Beliefs	p. 427
Al-Ghazali and Sufi Brotherhoods	p. 429
Sufi Practice and Poetry	p. 430
Personal Experience: Ramadan in Morocco	p. 432
Islamic Law and Philosophy	p. 434
Islamic Law and Legal Institutions	p. 435
Islamic Philosophy	p. 436
Islam and the Arts	p. 438
Architecture	p. 438
Fine Art	p. 440
Islam and the Modern World	p. 445
Islam and Contemporary Life	p. 445
Box: Women in Islam: Contrasting Notions of Liberation	p. 448
Islam in the West and Beyond	p. 449
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 452
For Fuller Understanding	p. 452
Related Readings	p. 453
Key Terms	p. 453
The Religious Search in the Modern World	p. 455
First Encounter	p. 455
Modern Influences on the Future of Religion	p. 456
The New World Order	p. 457
Multiculturalism and Interfaith Dialogue	p. 459
Box: Religion and Rock Music	p. 460
Women's Rights Movements	p. 462
Reassessment of Human Sexuality	p. 464
Science and Technology	p. 467
Secularism	p. 469
Environmentalism	p. 472
The Recurring Challenge of Change	p. 472
Naturism: A New Religious Phenomenon?	p. 472
Eclectic Spirituality	p. 480
Box: Religion and Movies	p. 481
Box: Religion and Pop Culture	p. 483
Personal Experience: 2001 and Beyond	p. 488
Religion Beyond the Classroom	p. 489
For Fuller Understanding	p. 489
Related Readings	p. 489
Notes	p. 490
Credits	p. 499
Index	p. 501
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