World Religions The Great Faiths Explored & Explained

by Bowker, John

• ISBN13: 9780756617721
• ISBN10: 0756617723
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-20
• Publisher: Baker and Taylor Distributor

Summary

Taking a refreshing new approach toward understanding different faiths, World Religions looks at the beliefs and practices of many different religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam. Explained through detailed annotation of sacred texts, religious artifacts, paintings, and architecture, this book will engage the whole family.

Table of Contents

What is Religion? Author's Preface	6	(4)
Ancient Religions	10	(8)
David Bowker
Introduction	11	(1)
Egyptian Religion	12	(1)
Zoroastrianism	13	(1)
Greek Religion	14	(1)
Roman Religion	15	(1)
Norse Religions	16	(1)
Celtic Religions	17	(1)
Hinduism	18	(26)
Dr. Heather Elgood
Introduction	20	(2)
Origins of Hinduism	22	(2)
Shiva the Destroyer	24	(2)
The Mother Goddess	26	(2)
Vishnu the Preserver	28	(2)
Other Gods	30	(2)
Sacred Writings	32	(2)
Hindu Worship	34	(2)
Pilgrimages	36	(2)
Routes to Moksha	38	(2)
Festivals	40	(2)
Truth and the Universe	42	(2)
Jainism	44	(14)
Dr. Paul Dundas
Introduction	46	(2)
The Five Supreme Beings	48	(2)
The Life of Mahavira	50	(2)
Cosmology	52	(2)
Asceticism	54	(2)
Temple and Image Worship	56	(2)
Buddhism	58	(24)
Dr. Ian Harris
Introduction	60	(2)
The Life of the Buddha	62	(2)
The Buddha Image	64	(2)
Stupas, Temples, and Relics	66	(2)
Buddhist Devotion	68	(2)
Cosmology	70	(2)
Texts and Monasteries	72	(2)
Celestial Beings	74	(2)
Chinese Buddhism	76	(2)
Japanese Buddhism	78	(2)
Tantric Buddhism	80	(2)
Sikhism	82	(14)
Dr. Eleanor Nesbitt
Introduction	84	(2)
The Life of Guru Nanak	86	(2)
The Ten Gurus	88	(2)
The Guru Granth Sahib	90	(2)
The Golden Temple	92	(2)
Special Occasions	94	(2)
Chinese & Japanese Religions	96	(26)
Chinese Religions
Dr. Stewart McFarlane
Introduction	98	(2)
Confucianism	100	(2)
The Heavenly Mandate	102	(2)
Popular Religion	104	(2)
Religious Taoism	106	(2)
Taoism---Body and Mind	108	(2)
Japanese Religions
Clark Chilson
Introduction	110	(2)
The Origins of Shinto	112	(2)
Addressing the Gods	114	(2)
Shrines and Festivals	116	(2)
Religious Action	118	(2)
New Religions	120	(2)
Judaism	122	(26)
Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok
Introduction	124	(2)
The Origins of Judaism	126	(2)
The Laws of God	128	(2)
Waiting for the Messiah	130	(2)
Jewish Worship	132	(2)
Studying the Torah	134	(2)
The Kabbalah	136	(2)
Divisions in Judaism	138	(2)
Festivals	140	(2)
Rites of Passage	142	(2)
Jerusalem---City of Zion	144	(2)
The Holocaust	146	(2)
Christianity	148	(26)
Dr. Margaret Bowker
Introduction	150	(2)
The Incarnation	152	(2)
The Life of Christ	154	(2)
The Last Supper	156	(2)
The Crucifixion	158	(2)
The Resurrection	160	(2)
Saints and Martyrs	162	(2)
The Church	164	(2)
The Religious Life	166	(2)
The Orthodox Church	168	(2)
The Reformation	170	(2)
The Last Judgment	172	(2)
Islam	174	(22)
Dr. David Thomas
Introduction	176	(2)
No god but Allah	178	(2)
The Prophet Mohammed	180	(2)
The Qur'an	182	(2)
Jihad and Shar'ia	184	(2)
The Five Pillars of Islam	186	(2)
The Islamic State	188	(2)
Sufi Orders and Beliefs	190	(2)
Islam and Science	192	(2)
The Mosque	194	(2)
Native Religions	196	(12)
Dr. Paul Heelas
Introduction	198	(2)
Shamanism	200	(2)
Myth and Cosmos	202	(2)
Forces of Good and Evil	204	(2)
Rites of Passage	206	(2)
The Golden Rule	208	(2)
Religious Timeline	210	(1)
Further Reading and Index	211	(5)
Acknowledgments and Picture Credits	216