Encountering Religion An Introduction to the Religions of the World

by Markham, Ian S.; Ruparell, Tinu

• ISBN13: 9780631206743
• ISBN10: 0631206744
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-02
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This comprehensive, user-friendly text introduces students to the principal world faiths. This text is cross-referenced to and can be used in conjunction with Markham's World Religions Reader, Second Edition as a complete teaching package for comparative religion courses.

Author Biography

Ian S. Markham is Professor of Theology at Liverpool Hope University College. His previous publications include Plurality and Christian Ethics (1994), and also numerous articles and reviews. In 1993 he was appointed to the Council of the Advertising Standards Authority.

Dr Tinu Ruperell is Lecturer in Theology at Liverpool Hope University College.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	ix
Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Studying Religion: Issues in Definition and Method	1	(20)
Elizabeth Ramsey
Shannon Ledbetter
Defining Religions	1	(5)
The Study of Religion	6	(4)
Approaches to the Study of Religion	10	(4)
Academic Disciplines and the Study of Religions	14	(7)
Religion and Sociology	21	(23)
Julie F. Scott
Irene Hall
The Sociological Perspective	21	(2)
The Development of the Sociology of Religion	23	(5)
Researching Religion	28	(4)
The Main Interests of the Sociology of Religion	32	(8)
The Sociology of Religion Today	40	(4)
Religion and Psychology	44	(24)
Carl Williams
A Psychological Approach to Religion	44	(2)
The Beginnings of a Psychology of Religion	46	(2)
Psychoanalytic Approaches to the Psychology of Religion	48	(4)
The Objectivist Approach to the Psychology of Religion	52	(6)
Transpersonal Approaches to the Psychology of Religion	58	(6)
Conclusions	64	(4)
Religion and Scripture: The Function of the Special Books of Religion	68	(28)
Alex Smith
Key Questions Regarding Scripture's Characterization	69	(1)
Judaism	70	(4)
Christianity	74	(4)
Islam	78	(4)
Hinduism	82	(3)
Buddhism	85	(2)
Sikhism	87	(9)
Religion, Ritual, and Culture	96	(21)
Sean McLoughlin
From Beliefs to Practices	96	(2)
Some General Approaches to Ritual	98	(2)
Durkheim and the Function of Ritual	100	(1)
Rites of Passage	101	(2)
Secular Rituals?	103	(3)
Culture	106	(3)
Religion and Culture	109	(3)
Ritual, Symbols, and Power	112	(2)
Conclusion	114	(3)
Religion and the Arts	117	(22)
Shannon Ledbetter
Platonic Opposition to Art	120	(2)
Medieval Use of Art as a Route to the Spiritual	122	(1)
Islamic Integration of the Rational with Art	123	(1)
Victorian Culture	124	(3)
Theological Perspectives on Art	127	(1)
The Modern Confusion	128	(5)
Case Studies	133	(6)
Secular Humanism	139	(24)
J'annine Jobling
Historical Survey	141	(1)
The Enlightenment	142	(7)
Worldviews	149	(3)
Case Study: Religion as Oppressive	152	(3)
Ethics	155	(2)
Modern Expressions	157	(3)
Conclusions	160	(3)
Hinduism	163	(27)
Tinu Ruparell
The ``Hindu Mind''	163	(5)
Worldviews	168	(5)
Institutions and Rituals	173	(9)
Modern Expressions	182	(2)
Women in Hinduism	184	(6)
Buddhism	190	(25)
David Torevell
Historical Survey	191	(3)
Worldviews	194	(6)
Institutions and Rituals	200	(4)
Ethical Expression	204	(2)
Role of Women	206	(3)
Modern Expression	209	(6)
Sikhism	215	(25)
John Parry
Historical Survey	216	(5)
The Sikh Belief System	221	(3)
The Human Condition	224	(3)
Rituals and Institutions	227	(5)
Ethics	232	(4)
Engagement with the Modern World	236	(4)
Chinese Religion	240	(32)
Jack Leung
Mythological Rulers	244	(1)
Historical Survey	244	(6)
Worldviews	250	(5)
Ethical Expression	255	(4)
Role of Women	259	(2)
Rituals and Institutions	261	(3)
Calendar	264	(1)
Engagement with Modernity	265	(7)
Judaism	272	(25)
Elizabeth Ramsey
Historical Survey	274	(4)
Worldviews	278	(2)
God	280	(1)
Election	281	(1)
Torah	282	(1)
The Land	283	(1)
Institutions and Rituals	284	(1)
The Main Festivals	285	(3)
Ethical Expression	288	(2)
Modern Outlook	290	(2)
Secularism	292	(1)
The Holocaust	293	(1)
Israel	294	(1)
Jewish Humor and Story	295	(2)
Shintoism	297	(12)
Ian Markham
Shintoism in the Past	298	(6)
Shintoism Today	304	(5)
Christianity	309	(28)
Alex Smith
Historical Survey	311	(2)
Second and Third Centuries	313	(1)
Third and Fourth Centuries	314	(2)
The Middle Ages	316	(3)
The Reformation and Counter-Reformation	319	(2)
The Modern Period	321	(1)
Worldviews	322	(4)
Institutions and Rituals	326	(3)
Ethical Expressions	329	(3)
Modern and Future Expression	332	(5)
Islam	337	(35)
Victoria La'Porte
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad	339	(2)
The Sunni/Shia Split	341	(3)
Sufism	344	(1)
Worldviews	344	(2)
The Philosophical Tradition	346	(2)
The Prophets and the Message of Jesus	348	(2)
The Significance of the Prophet Muhammad	350	(1)
Life after Death	351	(4)
Institutions and Rituals	355	(1)
The Role of Women	356	(9)
Modern Expressions	365	(7)
Bibliography	372	(3)
Index	375