Studying Religion: An Introduction Through Cases

by Kessler, Gary

• ISBN13: 9780073386591
• ISBN10: 0073386596
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-11-09
• Publisher: McGraw Hill

Summary

Through the use of thought-provoking case studies, summaries, and review questions, this introductory level text shows students how to engage in the academic, objective study of religion and helps instructors address some of the typical problems they encounter when introducing students to the study of religion. Kessler guides students through an unbiased and varied study of religious beliefs and practices such as sacred power, myths and rituals, religious art, the problem of evil, and the relationship between religion and morality. The text also addresses issues of gender and religious institutionalization.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Thinking about Being a Student of Religion	p. 1
Insider's and Outsider's Perspectives	p. 1
Qualities Worth Having	p. 4
Openness	p. 4
Honesty	p. 4
Critical Intelligence	p. 5
Careful Observing, Reading, and Listening	p. 7
Critical Tolerance	p. 8
Why Study Religion?	p. 10
Review Questions	p. 12
Explorations	p. 12
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 13
Internet Resources	p. 13
On Defining and Studying Religion	p. 14
Marks of a Good Definition	p. 14
Usefulness	p. 14
Precision	p. 15
Freedom from Bias	p. 18
Two Definitions	p. 21
Is Secular Humanism a Religion?	p. 22
A Simple Map of the Field	p. 24
Goals and Methods	p. 28
Description	p. 28
Interpretation	p. 30
Explanation	p. 31
Evaluation	p. 32
Fieldwork	p. 33
A Controversy	p. 35
Review Questions	p. 35
Explorations	p. 36
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 36
Internet Resources	p. 37
Sacred Power	p. 38
Two Case Studies	p. 38
Dao (Tao)	p. 38
Anselm on God	p. 41
Comparison	p. 43
Forms of Sacred Power	p. 45
Spirits, Ancestors, and Totems	p. 46
Goddesses and Gods	p. 47
Monotheism and Deism	p. 49
Dualism Divine	p. 51
Pantheism and Monism	p. 52
Agnosticism and Atheism	p. 54
Review Questions	p. 55
Research Case-Ganesha	p. 56
Questions on the Case of Ganesha	p. 58
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 58
Internet Resources	p. 59
Myth as Sacred Story	p. 60
Two Case Studies	p. 61
Enuma elish	p. 61
Moses	p. 63
Comparison	p. 67
Types and Functions	p. 68
Theories of Myth	p. 71
Myth and Science	p. 74
Review Questions	p. 78
Research Case-The Primal Man	p. 78
Questions on the Case of the Primal Man	p. 80
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 80
Internet Resources	p. 81
Ritual as Sacred Action	p. 82
Two Case Studies	p. 83
Akitu Festival	p. 83
Her Alone They Sing Over (Ishna Ta Awi Cha Lowan)	p. 87
Comparison	p. 92
Types and Functions	p. 93
Sacrifice and Violence	p. 94
Myth and Ritual	p. 97
Review Questions	p. 98
Research Case-Seder	p. 98
Questions on the Case of the Seder	p. 101
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 102
Internet Resources	p. 102
Sacred Space and Time	p. 103
Two Case Studies	p. 105
Mount Kilimanjaro	p. 105
The Dreamtime	p. 108
Comparison	p. 110
Features of Sacred Space and Time	p. 112
Glimpsing the Sacred	p. 115
Architecture	p. 116
Music	p. 120
Review Questions	p. 121
Research Case-The Cathedral of St. Andrew	p. 121
Questions on the Case of the Cathedral of St. Andrew	p. 125
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 126
Internet Resources	p. 126
Experiencing the Sacred	p. 127
Two Case Studies	p. 129
Muhammad	p. 129
The Buddha	p. 133
Comparison	p. 138
Debates About the Nature of Religious Experiences	p. 140
Shamanic Ecstasy	p. 143
Mystical Techniques and States	p. 144
Typologies of Mystical Experiences	p. 144
Mystical Experience: Pure or Culturally Conditioned?	p. 145
Mystical Techniques	p. 146
Psychoanalytic Theories	p. 148
Review Questions	p. 152
Research Case-St. Teresa of Avila	p. 152
Questions on the Case of St. Teresa of Avila	p. 156
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 157
Internet Resources	p. 158
Explaining Evil	p. 159
Two Case Studies	p. 162
Karma	p. 162
The Mahdi	p. 164
Comparison	p. 166
Types of Theodicies	p. 167
Karma Theodicies	p. 167
Eschatological Theodicies	p. 169
Theodicies of Participation	p. 171
Dualistic Theodicies	p. 173
The Theological Problem of Evil	p. 174
How Theodicies Work	p. 179
Review Questions	p. 181
Research Case-Manichaeism	p. 182
Questions on the Case of Manichaeism	p. 183
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 184
Internet Resources	p. 185
Religion and Morality	p. 186
Two Case Studies	p. 188
Divine Command Theory	p. 188
Confucian Virtue	p. 191
Comparison	p. 195
Identifying and Legitimating Moral Norms	p. 197
What are the Elements of a Religious Morality?	p. 199
Retribution	p. 201
Overcoming Moral Failure	p. 202
Review Questions	p. 203
Research Case-Jain Nonviolence	p. 203
Questions on the Case of Jain Nonviolence	p. 208
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 208
Internet Resources	p. 209
Religion and Politics	p. 210
Two Case Studies	p. 212
Inside the Mind of a Religious Terrorist	p. 212
Separation of Church and State	p. 217
Comparison	p. 222
Patterns of Political Engagement	p. 224
Just War and Holy War	p. 226
Civil Religion	p. 227
Theocracy	p. 229
Review Questions	p. 233
Research Case-The Truth and Reconciliation Commission	p. 234
Questions on the Case of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission	p. 238
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 238
Internet Resources	p. 239
Organizing the Sacred	p. 240
Two Case Studies	p. 242
Tibetan Buddhism	p. 242
Jonestown	p. 246
Comparison	p. 252
The Dilemmas of Institutionalization	p. 257
Types of Authority	p. 259
Scripture	p. 261
Gender	p. 264
Review Questions	p. 268
Research Case-Shinto	p. 268
Questions on the Case of Shinto	p. 274
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 274
Internet Resources	p. 275
Human Existence and Destiny	p. 276
Two Case Studies	p. 279
Sikhism	p. 279
Christianity	p. 282
Comparison	p. 287
Religions of Salvation and Society	p. 288
Where are We Going?	p. 291
Review Questions	p. 295
Research Case-Zen Buddhism	p. 296
Questions on the Case of Zen Buddhism	p. 298
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 298
Internet Resources	p. 299
Religious Diversity and Truth	p. 300
Why Can't We All Get Along?	p. 301
Exclusivism, Inclusivism, and Pluralism	p. 303
Exclusivism	p. 303
Inclusivism	p. 306
Pluralism	p. 308
Can We Determine Religious Truth?	p. 311
Language Games	p. 314
Critical Tolerance and the Principle of Charity	p. 314
The Blind People and the Elephant	p. 315
The Elephant Principle	p. 316
Review Questions	p. 317
Research Case-Baha'l	p. 317
Questions on the Case of Baha'i	p. 323
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 324
Internet Resources	p. 325
Notes	p. N-1
Glossary	p. G-1
Credits	p. C-1
Index	p. I-1
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