Preface | p. xv |
Understanding Religion | p. 1 |
First Encounter | p. 1 |
Why is There Religion? | p. 2 |
Speculations on the Sources of Religion | p. 3 |
Key Characteristics of Religion | p. 6 |
The Sacred | p. 7 |
Religious Symbolism | p. 8 |
Patterns Among Religions | p. 10 |
Focus of Beliefs and Practices | p. 11 |
Religious Views of the World and Life | p. 12 |
Religious Views of Male and Female | p. 14 |
Box: Is Goddess Worship Still Alive? | p. 15 |
Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion | p. 16 |
Why Study the Major Religions of the World? | p. 18 |
Box: Exploring Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 19 |
The Pilgrimage | p. 20 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 22 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 22 |
Related Readings | p. 22 |
Key Terms | p. 23 |
Oral Religions | p. 25 |
First Encounter | p. 25 |
Discovering Oral Religions | p. 27 |
Past Obstacles to the Appreciation of Oral Religions | p. 28 |
The Modern Recovery of Oral Religions | p. 28 |
Studying Oral Religions: Learning From Patterns | p. 31 |
Human Relationships with the Natural World | p. 31 |
Box: Spirits Within | p. 32 |
Sacred Time and Sacred Space | p. 33 |
Respect for Origins, Gods, and Ancestors | p. 34 |
Sacred Practices in Oral Religions | p. 37 |
Life-Cycle Ceremonies | p. 37 |
Taboo and Sacrifice | p. 39 |
Shamanism, Trance, and Magic | p. 40 |
Artifacts and Artistic Expression in Oral Religions | p. 43 |
Box: Halloween: "Just Good Fun" or Folk Religion? | p. 46 |
Personal Experience: Gods in Hawai'i | p. 47 |
Oral Religions Today | p. 50 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 51 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 52 |
Related Readings | p. 52 |
Key Terms | p. 53 |
Hinduism | p. 55 |
First Encounter | p. 55 |
The Origins of Hinduism | p. 57 |
The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion | p. 58 |
The Aryans and Their Religion | p. 60 |
The Vedas | p. 61 |
The Upanishads and the Axis Age | p. 62 |
The Origin of the Upanishads | p. 63 |
Important Concepts of the Upanishads | p. 64 |
Living Spiritually in the Everyday World | p. 68 |
The Bhagavad Gita | p. 68 |
The Caste System | p. 70 |
The Stages of Life | p. 72 |
The Goals of Life | p. 73 |
The Yogas | p. 73 |
Box: Hindu Meditation: More Than Emptying the Mind | p. 75 |
Devotional Hinduism | p. 77 |
The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva | p. 79 |
Worship of the Divine Feminine: Devi | p. 83 |
The Guru as Object of Devotion | p. 84 |
Devotion to Animals | p. 85 |
Box: Hindu Celebrations | p. 86 |
Other Forms of Religious Devotion | p. 86 |
Personal Experience: Gazing Into the Mother's Eyes | p. 87 |
Hinduism and the Arts | p. 88 |
Hinduism: Modern Challenges | p. 90 |
Mohandas Gandhi | p. 92 |
Hindu Influence Beyond India | p. 94 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 97 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 98 |
Related Readings | p. 98 |
Key Terms | p. 98 |
Buddhism | p. 101 |
First Encounter | p. 101 |
The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha | p. 102 |
The Basic Teachings of Buddhism | p. 107 |
The Three Marks of Reality | p. 108 |
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path | p. 110 |
The Influence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings | p. 113 |
Ahimsa: "Do No Harm" | p. 113 |
The Soul and Karma | p. 114 |
Nirvana | p. 114 |
Box: Was the Buddha an Atheist? | p. 115 |
The Early Development of Buddhism | p. 115 |
Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders | p. 118 |
Theravada Teachings and Literature | p. 120 |
Theravada Art and Architecture | p. 121 |
Mahayana Buddhism: The "Big Vehicle" | p. 123 |
Mahayana Teachings and Practice | p. 123 |
Mahayana Thought and Worldview | p. 125 |
Mahayana Literature | p. 130 |
Mahayana in China | p. 130 |
Mahayana in Korea | p. 133 |
Mahayana in Japan | p. 133 |
Some Major Schools of Mahayana | p. 134 |
Zen Buddhism: Enlightenment Through Experience | p. 138 |
Zen Techniques for Enlightenment | p. 140 |
Buddhism and the Arts of Japan | p. 142 |
Vajrayana Buddhism: The "Diamond Vehicle" | p. 146 |
Origins, Practice, and Literature of Tibetan Buddhism | p. 146 |
Box: Buddhist Festivals | p. 147 |
Ritual and the Arts | p. 149 |
Personal Experience: Visiting the Dalai Lama | p. 152 |
Buddhism, the West, and Modern Challenges | p. 154 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 158 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 159 |
Related Readings | p. 159 |
Key Terms | p. 160 |
Jainism and Sikhism | p. 163 |
First Encounter | p. 163 |
Shared Origins | p. 164 |
Jainism | p. 165 |
Background | p. 165 |
Mahavira and the Origins of Jainism | p. 165 |
Worldview | p. 167 |
Jain Ethics | p. 168 |
Box: Jains and Gentle Suicide | p. 170 |
The Development of Jainism and Its Branches | p. 171 |
Digambaras | p. 171 |
Shvetambaras | p. 171 |
Sthanakavasis | p. 172 |
Jain Practices | p. 172 |
Jain Scriptures | p. 172 |
Jain Art and Architecture | p. 174 |
Sikhism | p. 174 |
Background | p. 174 |
Nanak and the Origins of Sikhism | p. 176 |
The Worldview and Teachings of Nanak | p. 177 |
Box: The "Five K's" of the Sikhs | p. 178 |
The Development of Sikhism | p. 178 |
Sikh Scriptures | p. 180 |
Sikhism and the Modern World | p. 181 |
Personal Experience: A Visit to the Golden Temple | p. 182 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 184 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 184 |
Related Readings | p. 184 |
Key Terms | p. 185 |
Taoism and Confucianism | p. 187 |
First Encounter | p. 187 |
Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs | p. 189 |
Taoism | p. 191 |
The Origins of Philosophical Taoism | p. 192 |
Laozi (Lao Tzu) | p. 192 |
The Tao Te Ching | p. 193 |
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) | p. 195 |
Box: The Seasons of Life | p. 196 |
The Basic Teachings of Philosophical Taoism | p. 197 |
Taoism and the Quest for Longevity | p. 198 |
Religious Taoism | p. 199 |
Taoism and the Arts | p. 201 |
Taoism and the Modern World | p. 204 |
Box: The Chinese Garden--Bridge to the Infinite | p. 205 |
Confucianism | p. 206 |
The Tao in Confucianism | p. 206 |
The Life of Confucius | p. 206 |
Box: Confucianism: Philosophy or Religion? | p. 208 |
Living According to Confucian Values | p. 208 |
The Five Great Relationships | p. 209 |
The Confucian Virtues | p. 212 |
Box: The Ideal Human Being | p. 214 |
Confucian Literature | p. 215 |
The Five Classics | p. 215 |
The Four Books | p. 217 |
The Development of Confucianism | p. 218 |
Schools of Philosophy | p. 218 |
The Development of Confucianism as a Religious System | p. 221 |
Confucianism and the Arts | p. 223 |
Box: Friends from Far Away | p. 224 |
Personal Experience: At a Confucian Temple | p. 226 |
Confucianism and the Modern World | p. 228 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 231 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 231 |
Related Readings | p. 232 |
Key Terms | p. 232 |
Shinto | p. 235 |
First Encounter | p. 235 |
The Origins of Shinto | p. 236 |
The Historical Development of Shinto | p. 239 |
Accommodation with Buddhism and Confucianism | p. 239 |
Shinto and Japanese National Identity | p. 241 |
Box: Kamikaze Pilots and Shinto | p. 243 |
Essentials of Shinto Belief | p. 245 |
Box: Shinto Ethics: Basic Rules for the Twenty-First Century | p. 247 |
Shinto Religious Practice | p. 247 |
Worship at Shrines | p. 247 |
Celebration of the New Year | p. 250 |
Observances of the Seasons and Nature | p. 250 |
Other Practices | p. 251 |
Personal Experience: a Temple High Above Kyoto | p. 252 |
Shinto and the Arts | p. 254 |
Architecture | p. 254 |
Music and Dance | p. 255 |
Shinto Offshoots: The New Religions | p. 256 |
Shinto and the Modern World | p. 259 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 260 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 261 |
Related Readings | p. 261 |
Key Terms | p. 261 |
Judaism | p. 263 |
First Encounter | p. 263 |
An Overview of Jewish History | p. 265 |
The Hebrew Bible | p. 267 |
Box: Books of the Hebrew Bible | p. 268 |
Biblical History | p. 269 |
In the Beginning: Stories of Origins | p. 269 |
The World of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs | p. 272 |
Moses and the Law | p. 274 |
Box: The Ten Commandments | p. 278 |
The Judges and Kings | p. 279 |
Exile and Captivity | p. 280 |
Return to Jerusalem and the Second Temple | p. 281 |
Box: Zoroastrianism | p. 282 |
Cultural Conflict During the Second-Temple Era | p. 283 |
The Seleucid Period | p. 283 |
Responses to Outside Influences | p. 284 |
The Development of Rabbinical Judaism | p. 286 |
The Canon of Scripture and the Talmud | p. 286 |
Islam and Medieval Judaism | p. 288 |
The Kabbalah | p. 289 |
Christianity and Medieval Judaism | p. 290 |
Questioning and Reform | p. 291 |
Judaism and the Modern World | p. 292 |
Hitler and the Holocaust | p. 293 |
Creation of the State of Israel | p. 294 |
Personal Experience: a Visit to Anne Frank's House | p. 295 |
Jewish Belief | p. 297 |
Religious Practice | p. 298 |
The Jewish Sabbath | p. 298 |
Holy Days | p. 299 |
Jewish Dietary Practices | p. 302 |
Other Religious Practices | p. 303 |
Divisions Within Contemporary Judaism | p. 305 |
Culturally Based Divisions | p. 305 |
Observance-Based Divisions | p. 307 |
The Contributions of Judaism | p. 310 |
Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism | p. 314 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 314 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 315 |
Related Readings | p. 315 |
Key Terms | p. 316 |
Christianity | p. 319 |
First Encounter | p. 319 |
Box: The Christian System of Chronology: B.C. and A.D. | p. 321 |
The Life and Teachings of Jesus | p. 321 |
Jesus in the New Testament Gospels | p. 324 |
The Two Great Commandments | p. 327 |
Early Christian Beliefs and History | p. 328 |
Paul and Pauline Christianity | p. 329 |
The New Testament: Its Structure and Artistry | p. 332 |
Box: The Books of the New Testament | p. 333 |
The Essential Christian Worldview | p. 338 |
The Early Spread of Christianity | p. 342 |
Influences on Christianity at the end of the Roman Empire | p. 345 |
Augustine | p. 345 |
Benedict and the Monastic Ideal | p. 346 |
The Eastern Orthodox Church | p. 349 |
Early Development | p. 350 |
Monasticism in the Eastern Church | p. 350 |
Eastern Orthodox Beliefs | p. 351 |
Box: Inside a Greek Orthodox Church | p. 353 |
Personal Experience: Inside the Monasteries on Mount Athos | p. 353 |
Christianity in the Middle Ages | p. 355 |
Christian Mysticism | p. 356 |
The Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Founding of Religious Orders | p. 357 |
The Late Middle Ages | p. 359 |
The Protestant Reformation | p. 360 |
Martin Luther | p. 362 |
Box: Essential Beliefs of Protestant Christianity | p. 363 |
Forms of Protestantism | p. 364 |
The Development of Christianity Following the Protestant Reformation | p. 367 |
The Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation) | p. 367 |
The International Spread of Christianity | p. 368 |
Box: Essential Beliefs of Catholic Christianity | p. 369 |
Nontraditional Christianity | p. 370 |
Christian Practice | p. 373 |
Sacraments and Other Rituals | p. 373 |
The Christian Year | p. 377 |
Devotion to Mary | p. 379 |
Christianity and the Arts | p. 380 |
Architecture | p. 380 |
Art | p. 384 |
Music | p. 387 |
Christianity Faces the Twenty-First Century | p. 389 |
The Challenge of Science | p. 389 |
Contemporary Influences and Developments | p. 391 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 396 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 397 |
Related Readings and Musical Recordings | p. 397 |
Key Terms | p. 398 |
Islam | p. 401 |
First Encounter | p. 401 |
The Life and Teachings of Muhammad | p. 402 |
Essentials of Islam | p. 408 |
The Five Pillars of Islam | p. 410 |
Additional Islamic Religious Practices | p. 416 |
Box: The Islamic Religious Calendar | p. 417 |
Scripture: The Qur'an | p. 421 |
The Historical Development of Islam | p. 422 |
Expansion and Consolidation | p. 422 |
The Shiite and Sunni Division within Islam | p. 424 |
Sufism: Islamic Mysticism | p. 427 |
Sufi Beliefs | p. 427 |
Al-Ghazali and Sufi Brotherhoods | p. 429 |
Sufi Practice and Poetry | p. 430 |
Personal Experience: Ramadan in Morocco | p. 432 |
Islamic Law and Philosophy | p. 434 |
Islamic Law and Legal Institutions | p. 435 |
Islamic Philosophy | p. 436 |
Islam and the Arts | p. 438 |
Architecture | p. 438 |
Fine Art | p. 440 |
Islam and the Modern World | p. 445 |
Islam and Contemporary Life | p. 445 |
Box: Women in Islam: Contrasting Notions of Liberation | p. 448 |
Islam in the West and Beyond | p. 449 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 452 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 452 |
Related Readings | p. 453 |
Key Terms | p. 453 |
The Religious Search in the Modern World | p. 455 |
First Encounter | p. 455 |
Modern Influences on the Future of Religion | p. 456 |
The New World Order | p. 457 |
Multiculturalism and Interfaith Dialogue | p. 459 |
Box: Religion and Rock Music | p. 460 |
Women's Rights Movements | p. 462 |
Reassessment of Human Sexuality | p. 464 |
Science and Technology | p. 467 |
Secularism | p. 469 |
Environmentalism | p. 472 |
The Recurring Challenge of Change | p. 472 |
Naturism: A New Religious Phenomenon? | p. 472 |
Eclectic Spirituality | p. 480 |
Box: Religion and Movies | p. 481 |
Box: Religion and Pop Culture | p. 483 |
Personal Experience: 2001 and Beyond | p. 488 |
Religion Beyond the Classroom | p. 489 |
For Fuller Understanding | p. 489 |
Related Readings | p. 489 |
Notes | p. 490 |
Credits | p. 499 |
Index | p. 501 |
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