World Religions in Practice A Comparative Introduction

by Gwynne, Paul

• ISBN13: 9781405167024
• ISBN10: 1405167025
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-08-11
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

World Religions in Practice introduces the world's great religions through their customs, rituals and everyday practices. By focusing on this 'lived experience' it goes beyond many traditional introductions to religious studies, providing an in-depth, comparative study, and an understanding of the broader context in which these religions should be understood. * Explores the five major religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, adopting a directly comparative approach to develop a greater understanding of the nature of religion * Each chapter engages with an individual theme, such as birth, death, food, pilgrimage and ethics, to illustrate how religious practices are expressed * Broadens students' understanding by offering an impartial discussion of the similarities and differences between each religion * Includes chapter-by-chapter opening themes and summaries, and is accompanied by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/gwynne featuring additional resources and study questions.

Author Biography

Paul Gwynne is a part-time lecturer in comparative religions in the General Education Program of the University of New South Wales. He completed his doctoral studies in Rome and has lectured in theology and religion in Indonesia and at the Melbourne College of Divinity.

Table of Contents

List of Boxes and Tables	p. x
List of Figures	p. xii
Note on Scriptural References	p. xiv
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Beyond Time and Space	p. 25
Image	p. 27
The Second Commandment (Judaism)	p. 28
Shirk (Islam)	p. 32
Incarnate Son (Christianity)	p. 37
Murti (Hinduism)	p. 42
The Three Bodies (Buddhism)	p. 46
Summary	p. 50
Book	p. 56
Shruti and Smriti (Hinduism)	p. 57
The Three Baskets (Buddhism)	p. 61
New Testament (Christianity)	p. 65
Tanach (Judaism)	p. 70
Qur'an (Islam)	p. 74
Summary	p. 79
Within Time and Space	p. 85
Ethics	p. 87
Dharma (Hinduism)	p. 88
Pancasila (Buddhism)	p. 92
The Ten Words (Judaism)	p. 96
A New Commandment (Christianity)	p. 100
The Greater Jihad (Islam)	p. 104
Summary	p. 109
Birth	p. 114
Baptism (Christianity)	p. 115
B'rit Milah (Judaism)	p. 119
Aqiqah (Islam)	p. 124
Birth Samskaras (Hinduism)	p. 127
The Buddhist Exception (Buddhism)	p. 131
Summary	p. 134
Death	p. 140
The Wheel of Rebirth (Buddhism)	p. 141
The Last Sacrifice (Hinduism)	p. 145
Resurrection of the Body (Judaism)	p. 149
Salat al-Jenazah (Islam)	p. 154
First-Fruits (Christianity)	p. 159
Summary	p. 164
Marriage	p. 172
Nikah (Islam)	p. 173
Under the Huppah (Judaism)	p. 177
Householder and Forest-Dweller (Hinduism)	p. 182
Bride of Christ (Christianity)	p. 187
The Renunciation (Buddhism)	p. 193
Summary	p. 196
Food	p. 204
Ahimsa and Samadhi (Buddhism)	p. 205
Blessed Leftovers (Hinduism)	p. 209
Bread and Wine (Christianity)	p. 214
Kosher (Judaism)	p. 218
Halal (Islam)	p. 222
Summary	p. 226
Clothing	p. 233
The Veil of Modesty (Islam)	p. 234
Kippah, Tefillin, and Tallit (Judaism)	p. 238
The Thread and the Mark (Hinduism)	p. 244
Vestments and Habits (Christianity)	p. 248
The Three Robes (Buddhism)	p. 253
Summary	p. 256
Time and Space	p. 261
Day	p. 263
Uposatha (Buddhism)	p. 264
Tithi (Hinduism)	p. 266
Sabbath (Judaism)	p. 270
The Lord's Day (Christianity)	p. 275
Salat (Islam)	p. 279
Summary	p. 282
Year	p. 288
Four Seasons (Christianity)	p. 289
Full Moons and Monsoons (Buddhism)	p. 295
Day of Brahma (Hinduism)	p. 299
Harvests, History, and High Holy Days (Judaism)	p. 305
Lunar Year (Islam)	p. 311
Summary	p. 316
Building	p. 321
Mosque (Islam)	p. 322
Synagogue (Judaism)	p. 327
Church (Christianity)	p. 330
Mandir (Hinduism)	p. 334
Temple Complex (Buddhism)	p. 338
Summary	p. 342
Journey	p. 349
The Sacred Ford (Hinduism)	p. 350
Traces of Tathagata (Buddhism)	p. 355
The Quest of the Magi (Christianity)	p. 360
Aliyah (Judaism)	p. 365
Hajj (Islam)	p. 369
Summary	p. 374
Conclusion	p. 380
Glossary	p. 385
Select Bibliography	p. 402
Index	p. 410
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