The Illustrated Guide to World Religions

by Coogan, Michael D.

• ISBN13: 9780195219975
• ISBN10: 019521997X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-11
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Graced with rich illustrations and written by a team of eminent scholars, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions presents a wealth of information on faiths around the world. Each chapter in this volume examines one of seven major world religions--from Judaism to Christianity and from Islam to Buddhism--and contains information about its holidays and festivities, key historical and mythological figures, architectural styles, calendars, language, and important texts. The book deals with such issues as the afterlife, the role of women, the importance of saints, and the quest for higher wisdom. We discover, for instance, that Pure Land Buddhism--found mainly in China, Japan, and Tibet--holds that meditation on a particular deity at the moment of death will help insure rebirth into that deity's celestial domain. In Judaism, on the other hand, the concept of an afterlife has never played a central role. Uniquely organized in a manner that encourages comparative analysis, the book's lavish full-color art, maps, and photographs all focus on faith in practice, in both elaborate ritual and everyday life. Religion continues to be a monumental force in a rapidly changing world. Whether tracing the origins of your own faith or attempting to satisfy a curiosity about religious practices an ocean away, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions will be a fascinating and indispensable guide to the complexity of the world's living religions.

Author Biography

Michael D. Coogan, the co-editor of The Oxford Companion to the Bible, is Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, and director of publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 6
Judaism	p. 14
Introduction	p. 16
Origins: A Faith in the Making	p. 20
Historical Development: From Herod to Herzl	p. 22
God the Ultimate	p. 26
Messianism and Redemption	p. 28
Sacred Texts: The Living Law	p. 30
Sacred Persons: Lawgivers, Scholars, and Founders	p. 36
Ethical Principles: The Way of Israel	p. 38
Sacred Space: Sanctuaries for a Nation	p. 40
Sacred Time: The Rhythm of Life	p. 44
Society and Religion: Judaism in the Modern World	p. 48
Christianity	p. 52
Introduction	p. 54
Origins: "In the Beginning"	p. 58
Historical Development: Two Millennia of Faith	p. 60
Revelation and Truth	p. 64
A Mystic Union	p. 66
Sacred Texts: The Christian Canon	p. 68
Sacred Persons: Martyrs, Saints, and Angels	p. 70
Ethical Principles: The Way of Christ	p. 74
Sacred Space: The Lord's House	p. 76
Sacred Time: Liturgy, Sacraments, and Festivals	p. 80
Death and the Afterlife: The Dearly Departed	p. 84
Society and Religion: Church, State, and Community	p. 86
Islam	p. 88
Introduction	p. 90
Origins: The Arabian Crucible	p. 94
Historical Development: An Age of Empires	p. 96
Aspects of the Divine: Approaches to God	p. 100
Sacred Texts: The Word of God	p. 104
The Prophet and Messenger	p. 106
Imams and "Saints"	p. 108
Ethical Principles: Sharia and the Law of Islam	p. 110
Sacred Space: Mosques and Shrines	p. 112
Sacred Time: Duties of Worship	p. 114
Death and the Afterlife: The Return to God	p. 118
Society and Religion: Issues and Disputes	p. 120
Hinduism	p. 124
Introduction	p. 126
Origins and Historical Development: Five Millennia of Tradition	p. 130
Aspects of the Divine: Gods and Goddesses	p. 134
Sacred Texts: Words of Devotion	p. 138
Sacred Persons: Teachers and Leaders	p. 142
Ethical Principles: Paths to Liberation	p. 144
Sacred Space: A Land of Holiness	p. 146
Sacred Time: Rejoicing in the Divine	p. 152
Death and the Afterlife: Karma, Death, and Rebirth	p. 156
Society and Religion: Division and Identity	p. 158
Buddhism	p. 162
Introduction	p. 164
Origins: The Life of the Buddha	p. 168
Historical Development: Schools and Vehicles	p. 172
Aspects of the Divine: Celestial Beings	p. 176
Sacred Texts: Words of the Dharma	p. 178
Sacred Persons: In the Master's Footsteps	p. 182
Ethical Principles: The Path to Nirvana	p. 184
Sacred Space: Places of Devotion	p. 186
Sacred Time: Honoring the Way	p. 190
Death and the Afterlife: The Cycle of Rebirth	p. 192
Society and Religion: Roles and Relationships	p. 194
Chinese Traditions	p. 198
Introduction	p. 200
Origins and Historical Development: A Wealth of Traditions	p. 204
Aspects of the Divine: The Celestial Empire	p. 208
Sacred Texts: Words of the Sages	p. 212
Sacred Persons: Saints and Heroes	p. 214
Ethical Principles: In Quest of Concord	p. 216
Sacred Space: A Hallowed Cosmos	p. 220
Sacred Time: Seasons of Worship	p. 224
Death and the Afterlife: The Immortal Body and Soul	p. 230
Society and Religion: The State, the Family, and the Individual	p. 234
Japanese Traditions	p. 236
Introduction	p. 238
Origins and Historical Development: Faith and Coexistence	p. 242
Aspects of the Divine: A World of Spirits	p. 246
Sacred Texts: Chronicles and Holy Writings	p. 250
Sacred Persons: Lights of Wisdom	p. 252
Ethical Principles: Harmony and Enlightenment	p. 256
Sacred Space: A Landscape of Sanctuaries	p. 258
Sacred Time: Sharing in the Spirit	p. 262
Death and the Afterlife: Heavens and Hell	p. 266
Old Faiths in the Modern World	p. 268
The "New Religions"	p. 270
Glossary	p. 272
Bibliography	p. 273
Index	p. 277
Picture Credits	p. 288
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