The Sacred Paths: Understanding the Religions of the World

by Theodore M. Ludwig

• ISBN13: 9780023721755
• ISBN10: 0023721758
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-12-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

This book combines study of the dynamic historical development of each religious tradition with a comparative thematic structure. In this way, the book helps readers to explore each of the major religions as a unique and integral system of meaning and life. At the same time, readers are encouraged to discover and explore the nature of religious experience by comparing basic themes and issues common to all religions. Covering the religions arising from India, China, Japan, and the Mediterranean world, this book introduces the key dimensions of religious experience, outlining the basic human concerns that give rise to religious experience, such as origin and identity, ultimate reality, human nature, and the good life. For anyone interested in exploring the origins and development of the diverse religions of the world.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	xiii
Part 1 Understanding the Sacred Paths	1	(75)
Introduction: Basic Dimensions of Religion	2	(24)
Dimensions of Religious Experience	4	(4)
Families of Religions	8	(2)
Basic Human Concerns and Religious Responses	10	(16)
The Sacred Story and Its Historical Context	10	(2)
Worlds of Meaning: Theoretical Teachings	12	(4)
Worship and the Good Life	16	(10)
Religions of Ancient Peoples	26	(16)
The Story of Humankind	28	(3)
Religions of Ancient Civilizations	31	(11)
MAP • Ancient Civilizations	37	(5)
Religions of Contemporary Indigenous Peoples	42	(34)
Sacred Stories for Indigenous Peoples	44	(4)
MAP • The Americas and the Pacific	47	(1)
Worlds of Meaning of Indigenous Peoples	48	(13)
The Sacred Reality in Sky and Earth	48	(4)
MAP • African Peoples	52	(1)
The World and Human Existence	53	(4)
The Path of Healing and Transformation	57	(4)
Worship and the Good Life	61	(15)
Sacred Time, Ritual, and Art	61	(5)
Society and the Good Life	66	(5)
Modern Transformations of Indigenous Societies	71	(5)
Part 2 Religions Arising from India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism	76	(134)
Introduction	76	(4)
MAP • Dominant Religions of South and East Asia	77	(3)
Hinduism: Sacred Story and Historical Context	80	(20)
Foundings: Streams into the River of Hinduism	82	(6)
The Formative Period of Hinduism	82	(5)
The Many Faces of Classical Hinduism	87	(1)
---Timeline---The Hindu Story: Some
Important Dates	88	(3)
Transformations in the Sacred Story	91	(9)
Medieval Hinduism: Shaping the Sacred Ways	91	(4)
The Modern Era: Renaissance and Response to the West	95	(5)
Hindu Worlds of Meaning	100	(17)
Ultimate Reality in Hinduism: Brahman, God/Goddess, Dharma	100	(6)
Brahman as the Sacred Ultimate	101	(2)
God as Supreme Sacred Reality	103	(3)
The Eternal Dharma	106	(1)
Existence in the World: Dharma and Samsara	106	(4)
The World and Human Nature in Hindu Thought	107	(1)
Samsara and the Problem of Existence	108	(2)
Three Paths to Transformation and Liberation	110	(7)
The Path of Liberating Knowledge	110	(1)
The Path of Action	111	(1)
The Path of Devotion	112	(5)
Hindu Worship and the Good Life	117	(17)
Sacred Rituals and Times of Hinduism	117	(7)
Vedic Sacrifice and Worship of the Gods	118	(1)
Festivals and Pilgrimages	119	(2)
Rituals of the Passages of Life	121	(1)
Sacred Art in Hinduism	122	(2)
Society and Ethical Life	124	(10)
The Structure of Hindu Society	124	(3)
Living According to the Dharma	127	(2)
The Hindu Vision for Society and the World	129	(5)
Buddhism: Sacred Story and Historical Context	134	(18)
The Story of the Buddha	136	(6)
The Sacred Biography of the Buddha	136	(5)
The Tripitaka: Word of the Buddha	141	(1)
Historical Transformations: Shaping the Buddhist Way	142	(1)
---Timeline---The Buddhist Story: Some Important Dates	142	(1)
Important Dates	142	(10)
Theravada and Mahayana	143	(3)
Great Expansion of Buddhism in Asia	146	(1)
MAP • Expansion of Buddhism	146	(3)
Buddhism in the Modern Era	149	(3)
Buddhist Worlds of Meaning	152	(14)
The Ultimate: Dharma, Nirvana, Buddha	152	(4)
The Ultimate as Unconditioned Truth	153	(2)
Going for Refuge to the Buddha	155	(1)
Existence in the World	156	(4)
The Nature of the World	157	(1)
The Human Problem: Clinging	158	(2)
The Path to Nirvana and Buddhahood	160	(6)
Nirvana and the Noble Eightfold Path	160	(2)
The Mahayana Enlargement of the Path of Transformation	162	(4)
Buddhist Worship and the Good Life	166	(17)
Worship and Ritual	166	(7)
Central Rites and Ceremonies of Buddhism	167	(1)
Holy Days and Festivals	168	(1)
Rituals of the Changes of Life	169	(2)
Art in Buddhism	171	(2)
Buddhist Society and the Good Life	173	(10)
The Structure of Buddhist Society	173	(2)
The Buddhist Vision of the Good Life	175	(3)
The Dharma Model for Society and the World	178	(5)
The Path of the Jains	183	(12)
Sacred Story and Historical Context	183	(4)
Mahavira Becomes the Jina for Our Age	184	(2)
Historical Transformation in Jainism	186	(1)
Worlds of Meaning	187	(3)
Ultimate Reality: Eternal Universe, Liberation	187	(1)
Karmic Matter and Eternal Souls	187	(1)
The Path of Liberation	188	(2)
Worship and Life	190	(5)
Ritual and Worship Among the Jains	190	(2)
Society and Ethics	192	(3)
The Way of the Disciples: The Sikhs	195	(15)
Sacred Story and Historical Context	195	(5)
Nanak and the Other Gurus	196	(3)
Developments, Struggles, Transformations	199	(1)
Worlds of Meaning	200	(3)
The Sacred Ultimate: God	200	(1)
Divine Creation and Human Nature	200	(2)
The Path of Transformation	202	(1)
Worship and Life	203	(7)
Ritual and Worship Among the Sikhs	203	(2)
Society and the Good Life	205	(1)
MAP • Sikh Presence	206	(4)
Part 3 Religions of China and Japan	210	(128)
Introduction	210	(2)
China: Sacred Story and Historical Context	212	(16)
The Beginnings of the Chinese Story	214	(2)
The Ancient Rulers and Their Ancestors	214	(2)
Foundings: The Stories of Confucius and Lao-zi	216	(8)
MAP • East Asia	217	(1)
The Story of Confucius	217	(3)
Lao-zi and the Beginnings of Daoism	220	(3)
Development of Religious Confucianism and Daoism	223	(1)
---Timeline---The Chinese Story: Some Important Dates	224	(4)
The Beginnings of Chinese Buddhism	225	(3)
Transformations in Chinese Religious History	228	(13)
Flourishings of the Religions in Post-Han China	229	(7)
Buddhist Expansion and Crystallization	229	(2)
The Maturing of Religious Daoism	231	(3)
The Resurgence of the Way of Confucius: Neo-Confucianism	234	(1)
Persistence and Transformation of Popular Religion	235	(1)
Western Incursion and Revolutionary Climate	236	(5)
Foreign Religions and Western Domination	236	(2)
Revolutionary Movements and Communist Society	238	(3)
Chinese Worlds of Meaning	241	(23)
The Sacred Ultimate in the Chinese Vision	241	(7)
The Supreme Sacred Power: Heaven	241	(2)
The Chinese Vision of the Way of Nature: Dao	243	(3)
The Inner Principle of All: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics	246	(1)
The Chinese Buddhist Vision of the Ultimate	247	(1)
Cosmos and Humanity	248	(7)
Origin of the Cosmos and Human Nature	248	(3)
The Realities of Human Existence in the World	251	(4)
The Path of Transformation	255	(9)
Confucianism: Transformation Through Study and Ritual	255	(3)
The Daoist Path of Transformation	258	(3)
Buddhist Paths of Transformation in China	261	(3)
Worship and the Good Life in China	264	(26)
Ritual Renewal and Worship	264	(13)
Worship and Ritual in the Confucian Tradition	265	(2)
Worship in Religious Daoism and Popular Religion	267	(3)
Buddhist Influences in Chinese Worship and Ritual	270	(2)
Sacred Times in the Chinese Traditions	272	(1)
Rituals of the Life Cycle in China	273	(1)
Ritual and Art in Chinese Religions	274	(3)
Society and the Good Life	277	(13)
The Structure of Chinese Society	277	(3)
The Confucian Vision of the Good Moral Life	280	(3)
The Daoist Perspective on the Good Life	283	(2)
Patterns and Paradigms for World Society	285	(5)
Japan: Sacred Story and Historical Context	290	(18)
The Story of the Japanese People	292	(6)
The Prehistoric Heritage of Japan	292	(1)
Sacred Nation: The Story of the Kami	293	(1)
MAP • Japan: Major Cities and Religious Sites	294	(2)
The Coming of Buddhism and Chinese Culture	296	(2)
Historical Transformations of the Japanese Way	298	(4)
Transformations Along the Way	298	(4)
The Coming of the West and the Modern Period	302	(1)
---Timeline---The Japanese Story: Some Important Dates	302	(6)
Japanese Worlds of Meaning	308	(12)
Shinto Views of Ultimate Reality and Human Life	308	(7)
Reality as Myriads and Myriads of Kami	308	(3)
The Shinto Perspective on the World and on Humans	311	(2)
The Shinto Path of Purification	313	(2)
Ultimate Reality and the Path in Japanese Buddhism	315	(5)
The Japanese Buddhist Perspective on Human Existence	316	(1)
Buddhist Paths of Transformation in Japan	317	(3)
Worship and the Good Life in Japan	320	(18)
Worship and Ritual	320	(1)
Rituals of Worshiping in Daily Life	320	(9)
Sacred Times in Japan	324	(1)
Rituals of the Passages of Life	325	(1)
Art in Japanese Religion	326	(3)
Society and the Good Life	329	(9)
Structure of Japanese Society: Sacred Community	329	(4)
The Good Life in the Japanese View	333	(5)
Part 4 Families of Abraham: Jews, Christians, and Muslims	338	(162)
Introduction	338	(4)
MAP • The Mediterranean World: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam	340	(2)
Judaism: Sacred Story and Historical Context	342	(22)
The Jewish Story	344	(10)
Beginnings: Israel, People of the Covenant	344	(4)
The Promised Land and the Kingdom	348	(1)
MAP • Ancient Israel	349	(1)
Decline of the Kingdom: The Prophets	350	(2)
The Founding of Judaism	352	(2)
---Timeline---The Jewish Story: Some Important Dates	354	(2)
Historical Transformations of Judaism	356	(8)
Jewish Life and Thought in Islamic Contexts	356	(2)
Tragedy and Response in Christian Medieval Europe	358	(2)
Emancipation, Enlightenment, and the Modern Age	360	(4)
Jewish Worlds of Meaning	364	(12)
Ultimate Reality: One God as Creator, Revealer, and Redeemer	364	(4)
The Development of Monotheism	365	(1)
The Jewish Vision of the One God	366	(2)
Creation and Human Existence	368	(3)
Creation and Preservation of the World	368	(1)
The Shadow of Sin	369	(2)
Following the Path of Torah	371	(5)
God as Redeemer	371	(1)
The Human Movement of Repentance	372	(1)
The Life of Halakhah	373	(1)
Universal Blessing, Now and Hereafter	374	(2)
Jewish Worship and the Good Life	376	(16)
Jewish Worship and Rituals	376	(7)
Sabbaths for Rest, Festivals for Rejoicing	377	(3)
Mitzvot of Worship and Ritual	380	(2)
The Place of Art in Jewish Religious Life	382	(1)
The Life of Torah: Community and Ethics in Judaism	383	(9)
The Jewish People	383	(2)
The Way of Halakhah	385	(2)
The Missions of Peoplehood	387	(5)
Christianity: Sacred Story and Historical Context	392	(26)
The Story of Christian Beginnings	392	(11)
The Jewish Foundations of Christianity	392	(3)
Life and Teachings of Jesus	395	(3)
Crucifixion and Resurrection	398	(3)
Beginnings of the Christian Church	401	(2)
Historical Transformations of the Christian Way	403	(3)
The Early Christian Church in the Roman World	404	(1)
MAP • Christianity in Asia, Africa, and Europe	405	(1)
---Timeline---The Christian Story: Some Important Dates	406	(12)
Medieval Christianity: The Age of Faith	409	(3)
The Period of Renaissance and Reformation	412	(3)
The Christian Church in the Modern Period	415	(3)
Christian Worlds of Meaning	418	(12)
One God as Father, Son, and Spirit	418	(3)
Seeing God's Face in Christ	418	(1)
One God, Three Persons: The Trinity	419	(2)
Creation and Human Existence	421	(4)
The Nature of Creation	421	(1)
Sin and Separation from God	422	(3)
The Path: Salvation by Grace	425	(5)
Saved by Jesus Christ	425	(3)
The Way of Faith	428	(1)
The Life of the World to Come	429	(1)
Christian Worship and Ethical Life	430	(16)
Christian Worship and Ritual	430	(6)
Breaking Bread and Praising God	430	(2)
Festivals and Holy Days	432	(1)
Worship in Daily Life	433	(2)
Art in Christian Worship and Ritual	435	(1)
The Life of Love: Society and Ethics	436	(10)
The Society of the Church	436	(3)
The Sanctification of Life in Ethics	439	(3)
Responsibility and Mission in the World	442	(4)
Islam: Sacred Story and Historical Context	446	(26)
The Muslim Story: The Prophet and the Ummah	448	(9)
The Times Before Muhammad	448	(2)
The Coming of the Final Prophet	450	(2)
Immigration to Medina and the Beginning of the Ummah	452	(3)
A Religion for All Peoples: Expansion of Islam	455	(1)
MAP • The Spread of Islam	456	(1)
The Islamic Ummah in History	457	(1)
The Classical Period of Islam	457	(1)
---Timeline---The Muslim Story: Some Important Dates	458	(14)
Medieval Empires: Stagnation and Flourishing Culture	464	(1)
MAP • The World of Islam	465	(2)
Reform Movements and the Modern World	467	(3)
MAP • The Contemporary Middle East and Surrounding Countries	470	(2)
Muslim Worlds of Meaning	472	(11)
Allah, Lord of the Worlds	472	(3)
Life Centered in One God	472	(3)
Muslim Thinking About God and the Problem of Evil	475	(1)
The Nature of the World and Humans	475	(4)
Muslim Ideas About Creation	475	(2)
Negligence and Unbelief	477	(2)
Guidance on the Straight Path	479	(4)
Islam as a Path of Knowledge	480	(1)
Blessings Now and in the Life Hereafter	481	(2)
Muslim Worship and the Good Life	483	(17)
Sacred Time and Worship	483	(8)
The Five Pillars	484	(4)
Other Festivals and Rituals	488	(2)
Art in Islamic Worship and Life	490	(1)
The Life of Shari`ah: Society and Ethics	491	(9)
Social Structure of Islam	491	(2)
The Way of Shari`ah	493	(3)
Transformation of Human Society	496	(4)
Part 5 Epilogue	500	(23)
New Religious Movements	501	(16)
Spiritual Searching and Alternative Sacred Paths	501	(4)
Rise of New Sectarian Movements	503	(1)
Attraction to Alternative Paths in the West	503	(2)
Nontraditional New Religious Movements	505	(1)
New Sacred Paths: Nineteenth-Century Roots	506	(11)
New Spiritual Movements of the Twentieth Century	510	(7)
Crossings and Guideposts on the Paths	517	(6)
Glossary	523	(13)
Notes	536	(9)
Suggestions for Further Reading	545	(10)
Acknowledgments	555	(4)
Index	559