Preface to the Third Edition | p. xi |
Exploring the Sacred Paths | p. 1 |
Perspectives on the Religious Path | p. 3 |
Studying Religious Experience | p. 3 |
Some Dimensions of Religious Experience | p. 6 |
Basic Human Concerns and Religious Responses | p. 10 |
Sacred Story and Historical Context | p. 11 |
Worlds of Meaning: Theoretical Teachings | p. 13 |
Ritual Practices and the Good Life | |
Discussion Questions | p. 25 |
Key Terms: Exploring the Sacred Paths | p. 26 |
Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure | p. 27 |
Story of Humankind Before History | p. 28 |
Religions of the Great Ancient Civilizations | p. 31 |
Discussion Questions | p. 33 |
Key Terms: Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure | p. 33 |
Sacred Paths Among Indigenous Peoples | p. 34 |
Identity Through Sacred Stories | p. 35 |
Recounting the Tribal Sacred History | p. 35 |
Identifying with the Culture Heroes | p. 37 |
Map: The Americas and the Pacific | p. 38 |
Worlds of Meaning of Indigenous Peoples | p. 39 |
Sacred Reality in Sky and Earth | p. 39 |
Map: African Peoples | p. 43 |
The World and Human Existence | p. 44 |
Paths of Healing and Transformation | p. 48 |
Ritual Activity and the Good Life | p. 51 |
Sacred Time, Ritual, and Art | p. 51 |
Society and the Good Life | p. 57 |
Modern Transformations of Indigenous Societies | p. 61 |
Discussion Questions | p. 67 |
Key Terms: Sacred Paths Among Indigenous Peoples | p. 68 |
Religions Arising in the Mediterranean World | p. 70 |
Religions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece | p. 73 |
Ancient Egyptian Religion | p. 73 |
Cosmic Harmony and Human Existence | p. 73 |
Ritual and Ethical Life | p. 75 |
MAP: Ancient Civilizations | p. 76 |
Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia | p. 76 |
Cosmic State and Human Service | p. 77 |
Ritual and Ethical Life | p. 78 |
Religion in Ancient Greece | p. 79 |
Worlds of Meaning in Ancient Greece | p. 79 |
Ritual Activities and the Good Life | p. 80 |
Discussion Questions | p. 81 |
Key Terms: Religions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece | p. 81 |
The Zoroastrian Tradition | p. 82 |
Sacred Story and Historical Context | p. 82 |
Zarathustra's Life and Teachings | p. 82 |
Development of the Zoroastrian Tradition | p. 83 |
Zoroastrian Worlds of Meaning | p. 85 |
Supreme God and Lesser Divine Powers | p. 85 |
Creation and Human History | p. 87 |
The Path of Human Transformation | p. 88 |
Ritual and the Good Life for Zoroastrians | p. 88 |
Prayer, Rituals, and Art | p. 88 |
Community and Ethical Ideals | p. 92 |
Discussion Questions | p. 93 |
Key Terms: Zoroastrianism | p. 94 |
Jewish Sacred Story and Historical Context | p. 95 |
Foundations of the Jewish Story | p. 95 |
Beginnings: Israel, People of the Covenant | p. 95 |
The Promised Land and the Kingdom | p. 99 |
MAP: Ancient Israe | p. 100 |
Decline of the Kingdom: The Prophets | p. 102 |
The Founding of Judaism | p. 103 |
Further Transformations of Judaism | p. 106 |
Jewish Life and Thought in Islamic Contexts | p. 106 |
Tragedy and Response in Christian Medieval Europe | p. 109 |
Emancipation and the Modern Age | p. 110 |
Continuing Struggles and Hopes | p. 113 |
Discussion Questions | p. 114 |
Jewish Worlds of Meaning | p. 115 |
One God as Creator, Revealer, and Redeemer | p. 115 |
The Development of Monotheism | p. 115 |
Jewish Vision of the One God | p. 116 |
The World and Human Existence | p. 118 |
Creation and Preservation of the World | p. 118 |
The Shadow of Sin | p. 120 |
Following the Path of Torah | p. 122 |
God as Redeemer | p. 122 |
The Human Movement of Repentance | p. 123 |
On the Path of Transformation | p. 124 |
Universal Blessing, Now and Hereafter | p. 125 |
Discussion Questions | p. 126 |
Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Jews | p. 127 |
Jewish Rituals and Worship | p. 127 |
Sabbaths for Rest, Festivals for Rejoicing | p. 127 |
Mitzvot of Ritual and Worship | p. 129 |
Healing and Medicine Among Jews | p. 132 |
Artistic Expression in Jewish Religious Life | p. 133 |
The Life of Torah: Jewish Community and Ethics | p. 134 |
The Jewish People | p. 135 |
The Life of Halakhah | p. 136 |
The Missions of Peoplehood | p. 138 |
Discussion Questions | p. 141 |
Key Terms: Judaism | p. 141 |
Christian Sacred Story and Historical Context | p. 143 |
Foundations of the Christian Story | p. 143 |
Jewish Roots of the Christian Way | p. 143 |
Life and Teachings of Jesus | p. 144 |
Crucifixion and Resurrection | p. 147 |
Beginnings of the Christian Church | p. 150 |
Further Transformations of the Christian Way | p. 153 |
The Early Christian Church in the Roman World | p. 153 |
MAP: THe Mediterranean World | p. 155 |
Medieval Christianity: The Age of Faith | p. 157 |
Renaissance and Reformation | p. 160 |
Struggles with Modernity | p. 164 |
Christians in the World Today | p. 165 |
Discussion Questions | p. 166 |
Christian Worlds of Meaning | p. 167 |
Loving Parent and Triune God | p. 167 |
Seeing God's Face in Christ | p. 167 |
One God, Three Persons: The Trinity | p. 168 |
Creation and Human Existence | p. 170 |
The Nature of Creation | p. 170 |
Sin and Separation from God | p. 171 |
The Path: Salvation by Grace | p. 173 |
Saved by Jesus Christ | p. 173 |
The Way of Faith | p. 176 |
The Life of the World to Come | p. 178 |
Discussion Questions | p. 178 |
Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Christians | p. 179 |
Christian Worship and Ritual | p. 179 |
Breaking Bread and Praising God | p. 179 |
Festivals and Holy Days | p. 180 |
Worship in Daily Life | p. 182 |
Healing and Medicine Among Christians | p. 184 |
Art in Christian Worship and Ritual | p. 185 |
The Life of Love: Society and Ethics | p. 186 |
The Society of the Church | p. 186 |
Sanctification of Life in Ethics | p. 189 |
Responsibility and Mission in the World | p. 192 |
Discussion Questions | p. 193 |
Key Terms: Christianity | p. 194 |
Muslim Sacred Story and Historical Context | p. 196 |
The Story of the Prophet and the Book | p. 196 |
The Times Before Muhammad | p. 196 |
Muhammad as the Final Prophet | p. 198 |
Establishing the Ummah in Medina | p. 201 |
A Religion for All Peoples: Expansion of Islam | p. 204 |
The Islamic Ummah in History | p. 205 |
The Classical Period of Islam | p. 205 |
MAP: The Spread of Islam | p. 206 |
Medieval Empires: Stability and Flourishing Muslim Culture | p. 212 |
Reform Movements and the Modern World | p. 214 |
MAP: The Contemporary Middle East and Surrounding Countries | p. 216 |
Muslims in the World Today | p. 217 |
Discussion Questions | p. 219 |
Muslim Worlds of Meaning | p. 220 |
Allah, Lord of the Worlds | p. 220 |
Life Centered in One God | p. 220 |
God in the World | p. 221 |
Nature of the World and Humans | p. 222 |
The World as God's Creation | p. 222 |
Negligence and Unbelief | p. 224 |
Guidance on the Straight Path | p. 226 |
Islam as a Path of Knowledge | p. 227 |
Blessings Now and in the Life Hereafter | p. 228 |
Discussion Questions | p. 229 |
Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Muslims | p. 230 |
Ritual Worship and Sacred Times | p. 230 |
The Five Pillars | p. 230 |
Other Festivals and Rituals | p. 234 |
Muslim Views of Healing and Medicine | p. 236 |
Art in Islamic Worship and Life | p. 237 |
The Life of Shari'ah: Society and Ethics | p. 238 |
Social Structure of Islam | p. 238 |
The Way of Shari'ah | p. 241 |
Transformation of Human Society | p. 244 |
Discussion Questions | p. 245 |
Key Terms: Islam | p. 245 |
Ongoing Explorations on the Sacred Paths | p. 247 |
New Religious Movements | p. 248 |
Spiritual Searching and Alternative Sacred Paths | p. 248 |
Rise of New Sectarian Movements | p. 249 |
Attraction to Alternative Paths in the West | p. 250 |
Nontraditional New Religious Movements | p. 252 |
New Sacred Paths: Nineteenth-Century Roots | p. 252 |
New Spiritual Movements of the Twentieth Century | p. 258 |
Discussion Questions | p. 263 |
Key Terms: New Religious Movements | p. 264 |
Guideposts and Crossings on the Paths | p. 265 |
Discussion Questions | p. 270 |
Glossary | p. 271 |
Notes | p. 280 |
Suggestions for Further Reading | p. 283 |
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