The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion

by Cunningham, Lawrence S.; Kelsay, John; Barineau, R. Maurice

Edition:

2nd

ISBN13:

9780023263361

ISBN10:

0023263369

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

1/1/1995

Publisher(s):

Prentice Hall

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Summary

Taking a thematic and comparative approach, this book provides a clear, concise introduction to the study of religion. The Sacred Quest examines the main ideas that characterize all religious thought and practice, with particular emphasis on such fundamental topics as ritual, sacred language, ethics, salvation, and the problem of evil.
The Second Edition features a number of new thought experiments. Topics include the Supreme Court rulings on religious holiday displays, the relationships between religion and environmental attitudes, and more. In addition, the authors now include a brief survey of the history of religious studies in the introduction, present a streamlined discussion of ethics, and update all terms and references.

Preface	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
The Breadth and Depth of Religious Experience	p. 1
A Brief Outline of the Phenomenological Method	p. 3
Attitudes and Institutions in the Study of Religion	p. 6
A Final Word	p. 9
Notes	p. 10
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 10
Toward a Definition of Religion	p. 11
The Search for a Definition of Religion	p. 12
Elements of Religion	p. 13
Religion and Human Thought	p. 13
Religion and Feeling	p. 14
Religion and Action	p. 15
Individual and Social Existence	p. 15
Values and Religion	p. 16
Substance or Function?	p. 17
Toward Resolution	p. 19
A Proposal	p. 21
In Conclusion	p. 24
Notes	p. 25
Thought Experiments	p. 25
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 26
The Nature of the Sacred	p. 27
The Complex Character of the Sacred	p. 27
The Concept of Sacred Reality	p. 28
Specially Distinctive	p. 29
To Some Extent, Beyond the Volitional Control of Human Beings	p. 32
Specially Prominent with Respect to Human Welfare	p. 34
Properly Determinative of Various Aspects of Human Existence	p. 35
Summary	p. 37
Notes	p. 37
Thought Experiments	p. 38
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 38
The Appearance of the Sacred	p. 39
Types of Sacred Appearance	p. 41
Varieties of Media	p. 41
Sacred Objects	p. 46
Sacred Time	p. 48
Sacred Space	p. 51
Sacred Appearance and the Complexity of Traditions	p. 54
Notes	p. 56
Thought Experiments	p. 57
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 57
The Language(s) of the Sacred	p. 58
Myth	p. 59
Stories	p. 61
Story as Parable	p. 64
The Preservation of Sacred Language	p. 65
Oral Cultures	p. 65
Scriptural Cultures	p. 66
A Summary and Synthesis	p. 67
The Language of Theology	p. 69
The Visual Language of Religion	p. 70
Language and Truth	p. 71
Notes	p. 73
Thought Experiments	p. 73
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 74
Ritual	p. 75
Myth(os) and Ritual	p. 76
The Passover	p. 76
Holy Communion (The Eucharist)	p. 77
Rites of Passage	p. 78
Birth Rituals	p. 79
Rituals of Initiation	p. 79
Rituals of Mourning and Death	p. 80
Temporal Rites and Celebrations	p. 81
The Religious Meaning(s) of Ritual	p. 82
Adoration	p. 83
Thanksgiving	p. 84
Petition	p. 84
Penance/Purification	p. 84
Ritual as a Problem	p. 85
Ritual as a System	p. 87
Notes	p. 88
Thought Experiments	p. 88
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 88
Sacred Communities	p. 90
The Social Character of Religion	p. 91
Religion and Social Resistance	p. 92
Heresy/Schism/Division	p. 96
Tradition and Innovation	p. 99
The Social Aspects of Worship	p. 102
A Word of Conclusion	p. 104
Notes	p. 105
Thought Experiments	p. 105
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 106
The Problem of Evil	p. 107
Identifying Evil	p. 108
Responses to Evil: Some Classic Patterns	p. 112
Evil and Karma: The Indian Context	p. 112
The Consolation of Promise	p. 114
The Appeal to Sovereignty	p. 116
Dualism	p. 118
Are the Answers Adequate?	p. 119
Notes	p. 121
Thought Experiments	p. 122
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 123
Religion and Morality	p. 124
Defining the Issues	p. 125
Religion, Morality, and Justification	p. 127
Justification: General Considerations	p. 128
Practical Justification: Three Cases	p. 129
Hinduism: The Caste System	p. 130
Islam: The Justification and Limitation of War	p. 132
Christianity: Why Pray?	p. 135
Religion and Morality: Patterns	p. 138
Notes	p. 139
Thought Experiments	p. 140
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 141
The Quest for Salvation	p. 142
Concepts of Salvation	p. 143
Individual Salvation in This World	p. 144
The Search for Meaning	p. 144
The Desire to Be Remembered	p. 145
The Ideal of Completion	p. 146
Individual Salvation in Another World	p. 147
Joining the Spirit World	p. 147
Cosmic Cycling or Expansion	p. 148
The Idea of Judgment	p. 149
Group Salvation in This World	p. 150
Salvation Through the People	p. 150
Salvation Through the Tradition	p. 151
Salvation in the Kingdom of God in This World	p. 151
Group Salvation in Another World	p. 152
Now That Distinctions Have Been Made	p. 153
Paths to Salvation	p. 153
The Path of Knowledge	p. 154
The Path of Action	p. 154
The Path of Aesthetics	p. 155
The Path of Submission	p. 155
The Path of Grace	p. 156
A Closing Reminder	p. 157
Notes	p. 157
Thought Experiments	p. 158
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 158
Glossary	p. 159
Index	p. 167
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion

9780023263361

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Table of Contents