Sacred Quest : An Invitation to the Study of Religion

by Cunningham, Lawrence; Kelsay, John

• ISBN13: 9780131923775
• ISBN10: 0131923773
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-01
• Publisher: PEARSON

Summary

For undergraduate courses in Introduction to Religion. This text provides a thematic and comparative approach to the study of religion. the focus of individual chapters gives equal weight to both theoretical issues and to practices as they are reflected in the major religions of the world.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(10)
The Breadth and Depth of Religious Experience	1	(2)
A Brief Outline of the Phenomenological Method	3	(3)
Attitudes and Institutions in the Study of Religion	6	(3)
A Final Word	9	(1)
Notes	10	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	10	(1)
1 Toward a Definition of Religion	11	(16)
The Search for a Definition of Religion	12	(1)
Elements of Religion	13	(3)
Religion and Human Thought	13	(1)
Religion and Feeling	14	(1)
Religion and Action	14	(1)
Individual and Social Existence	15	(1)
Values and Religion	16	(1)
Substance or Function?	16	(3)
Toward Resolution	19	(2)
A Proposal	21	(2)
In Conclusion	23	(1)
Notes	24	(1)
Thought Experiments	25	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	25	(2)
2 The Nature of the Sacred	27	(12)
The Complex Character of the Sacred	27	(1)
The Concept of Sacred Reality	28	(9)
Specially Distinctive	29	(3)
To Some Extent, Beyond the Volitional Control of Human Beings	32	(2)
Specially Prominent with Respect to Human Welfare	34	(1)
Properly Determinative of Various Aspects of Human Existence	35	(2)
Summary	37	(1)
Notes	37	(1)
Thought Experiments	38	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	38	(1)
3 The Appearance of the Sacred	39	(19)
Types of Sacred Appearance	40	(1)
Varieties of Media	41	(13)
Sacred Persons	41	(5)
Sacred Objects	46	(2)
Sacred Time	48	(3)
Sacred Space	51	(3)
Sacred Appearance and the Complexity of Traditions	54	(2)
Notes	56	(1)
Thought Experiments	57	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	57	(1)
4 The Language(s) of the Sacred	58	(18)
Myth	59	(2)
Stories	61	(3)
Story as Parable	64	(1)
The Preservation of Sacred Language	65	(2)
Oral Cultures	65	(1)
Scriptural Cultures	66	(1)
A Summary and Synthesis	67	(2)
The Language of Theology	69	(1)
The Visual Language of Religion	70	(2)
Language and Truth	72	(2)
Notes	74	(1)
Thought Experiments	74	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	74	(2)
5 Ritual	76	(15)
Myth(os) and Ritual	77	(2)
The Passover	77	(1)
Holy Communion (The Eucharist)	78	(1)
Rites of Passage	79	(3)
Birth Rituals	80	(1)
Rituals of Initiation	80	(1)
Rituals of Mourning and Death	81	(1)
Temporal Rites and Celebrations	82	(1)
The Religious Meaning(s) of Ritual	83	(3)
Adoration	84	(1)
Thanksgiving	84	(1)
Petition	85	(1)
Penance/Purification	85	(1)
Ritual as a Problem	86	(2)
Ritual as a System	88	(1)
Notes	89	(1)
Thought Experiments	89	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	89	(2)
6 Sacred Communities	91	(17)
The Social Character of Religion	92	(1)
Religion and Social Resistance	93	(4)
Heresy/Schism/Division	97	(3)
Tradition and Innovation	100	(3)
The Social Aspects of Worship	103	(2)
A Word of Conclusion	105	(1)
Notes	106	(1)
Thought Experiments	106	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	107	(1)
7 The Problem of Evil	108	(17)
Identifying Evil	109	(4)
Responses to Evil: Some Classic Patterns	113	(7)
Evil and Karma: The Indian Context	113	(2)
The Consolation of Promise	115	(2)
The Appeal to Sovereignty	117	(2)
Dualism	119	(1)
Are the Answers Adequate?	120	(2)
Notes	122	(1)
Thought Experiments	123	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	123	(2)
8 Religion and Morality	125	(17)
Defining the Issues	126	(1)
Religion, Morality, and Justification	127	(1)
Justification: General Considerations	128	(2)
Practical Justification: Three Cases	130	(8)
Hinduism: The Caste System	130	(3)
Islam: The Justification and Limitation of War	133	(3)
Christianity: Why Pray?	136	(2)
Religion and Morality: Patterns	138	(2)
Notes	140	(1)
Thought Experiments	141	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	141	(1)
9 The Quest for Salvation	142	(17)
Concepts of Salvation	143	(1)
Individual Salvation in This World	144	(2)
The Search for Meaning	144	(1)
The Desire to Be Remembered	145	(1)
The Ideal of Completion	146	(1)
Individual Salvation in Another World	146	(4)
Joining the Spirit World	147	(1)
Cosmic Cycling or Expansion	148	(1)
The Idea of Judgment	149	(1)
Group Salvation in This World	150	(2)
Salvation Through the People	150	(1)
Salvation Through the Tradition	151	(1)
Salvation in the Kingdom of God in This World	151	(1)
Group Salvation in Another World	152	(1)
Now That Distinctions Have Been Made	153	(1)
Paths to Salvation	153	(4)
The Path of Knowledge	153	(1)
The Path of Action	154	(1)
The Path of Aesthetics	155	(1)
The Path of Submission	155	(1)
The Path of Grace	156	(1)
A Closing Reminder	157	(1)
Notes	157	(1)
Thought Experiments	157	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	158	(1)
Glossary	159	(8)
Index	167