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Copyright, iv
Preface, ix
Teaching and Learning Resources for Living Religions, xiii
Map: Religions of the World Today, xiv
Timeline, xvi
Chapter 1. Religious Responses, 1
Why are there religions?, 2
Materialistic perspective: humans invented religion, 3
Functional perspective: religion is useful, 4
Belief perspective: Ultimate Reality exists, 6
Understandings of Sacred Reality, 10
Exclusivism vs. Universalism A letter from I. H. Azad Faruqi, 12
Worship, symbol, and myth, 14
Teaching Story: Descendants of the Eagle, 17
Absolutist and liberal interpretations, 18
Box: Angels Weep, 19
Historical-critical study of scriptures, 20
The encounter between science and religion, 20
Women in religions, 25
Negative aspects of organized religion, 27
Suggested reading, 28
Key terms, 29
Review questions, 30
Discussion questions, 31
Internet resources, 31
Chapter 2. Indigenous Sacred Ways, 32
Understanding indigenous sacred ways, 33
Map: Distribution of Indigenous Groups, 33
Cultural diversity, 36
The circle of right relationships, 38
Relationships with spirit, 39
Yoruba Teaching Story: Osun and the Power of Woman, 42
Kinship with all creation, 42
Relationships with power, 47
Spiritual specialists, 49
Storytellers and other sacred roles, 49
Mystical intermediaries, 52
Living Indigenous Sacred Ways: An Interview with Nadezhda Ananyevna Stepanova, 54
Group observances, 56
Religion in Practice: The Sun Dance Way of Self-Sacrifice, 58
Individual observances, 60
Contemporary issues, 62
Religion in Practice: The Orang Asli of Malaysia: Traditions being Lost, 64
Religion in Public Life: Winona LaDuke, 67
Suggested reading, 69
Key terms, 70
Review questions, 71
Discussion questions, 71
Internet resources, 71
Chapter 3. Hinduism, 72
Philosophical and metaphysical origins, 73
Map: The Indian Subcontinent, 73
Vedic age, 74
Timeline: Hinduism, 76
Major philosophical systems, 79
Samkhya, 79
Advaita Vedanta, 80
Yoga, 80
Religious foundations and theistic paths, 85
Saktas, 86
Saivites, 88
Vaishnavites, 90
The epics and Puranas, 90
Teaching Story: Hanuman, the Monkey Chief, 93
The Hindu way of life, 97
Rituals, 97
Castes, duties, and life goals, 99
Life stages, 100
Home puja, 101
The guru, 101
Living Hinduism: An Interview with Somjit Dasgupta, 102
Fasts, prayers, and auspicious designs, 103
Reverence of trees and rivers, 103
Pilgrimages, 104
Festivals, 105
Religion in Practice: Holi, 107
Hinduism in the modern world, 108
Modern movements, 109
Religion in Practice: Dharmic Principles: The Swadhyaya Movement, 111
Global Hinduism, 112
Hindu identity, 114
Religion in Public Life: Dr. Karan Singh, 115
Suggested reading, 117
Key terms, 118
Review questions, 118
Discussion questions, 119
Internet resources, 119
Chapter 4. Jainism, 120
The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders, 120
Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars, 122
Karma, 122
Teaching Story: The Story of Bahubali, 123
Ahimsa, 124
Aparigraha, 126
Religion in Practice: Jain Purification, 126
Anekantwad, 127
Spiritual practices, 127
Festivals and pilgrimages, 129
Living Jainism: An Interview with M. P. Jain, 130
World Jainism, 131
Suggested reading, 132
Key terms, 133
Review questions, 133
Discussion questions, 133
Internet resources, 133
Chapter 5. Buddhism, 134
The life and legend of the Buddha, 134
Timeline: Buddhism, 136
The Dharma, 140
The Noble Eightfold Path to liberation, 142
The wheel of birth and death, 143
Teaching Story: The Great Ape Jataka Tale, 145
Nirvana, 146
Buddhism spreads abroad, 147
Theravada: the path of mindfulness, 147
Map: The Spread of Buddhism, 148
Mahayana: the path of compassion and wisdom, 154
Map: Distribution of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, 155
Zen: the great way of enlightenment, 158
Chart: Major Branches of Buddhism, 158
Religion in Practice: Zen Oxherding Pictures, 160
Pure Land: devotion to Amitabha Buddha, 161
Nichiren: salvation through the Lotus Sutra, 163
Vajrayana: the indestructible path, 164
Religion in Public Life: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 167
Festivals, 168
Buddhism in the West, 169
Living Buddhism: An Interview with Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 170
Religion in Practice: Life in a Western Zen Monastery, 172
Socially engaged Buddhism, 174
Suggested reading, 178
Key terms, 180
Review questions, 181
Discussion questions, 181
Internet resources, 181
Chapter 6. Daoism and Confucianism, 182
Ancient traditions, 182
Timeline: Daoism and Confucianism, 184
Daoism—the way of nature and immortality, 186
Teaching of Daoist sages, 186
Teaching Story: Three in the Morning, 188
Organized and folk Daoism, 190
Religion in Practice: The Lantern Festival, 193
Longevity and immortality, 194
Daoism today, 195
Confucianism—the practice of virtue, 199
Master Kong’s life, 200
The Confucian virtues, 201
Divergent followers of Confucius, 203
The state cult, 204
Confucianism under communism, 205
Living Confucianism: An Interview with Ann-ping Chin, 209
Confucianism in East Asia, 210
Suggested reading, 211
Key terms, 212
Review questions, 213
Discussion questions, 213
Internet resources, 213
Chapter 7. Shinto, 214
The roots of “Shinto”, 214
Kinship with nature, 215
Honoring the kami, 216
Shrines, 217
Ceremonies and festivals, 219
Purification, 221
Religion in Practice: Purification by Waterfall, 222
Buddhist and Confucian influences, 223
State Shinto, 224
“Sect Shinto”, 225
Shinto today, 226
Map: Major Shinto Shrines, 227
Living Shinto: An Interview with Hitoshi Iwasaki, 228
Suggested reading, 229
Key terms, 230
Review questions, 230
Discussion questions, 230
Internet resources, 230
Zoroastrianism, 231
Chapter 8. Judaism, 235
A history of the Jewish people, 236
Biblical stories, 236
Timeline: Judaism, 237
Map: The Early Israelites, 239
Box: The Ten Commandments, 244
Teaching Story: From the Hebrew Bible—David and Goliath, 247
Return to Jerusalem, 248
Rabbinic Judaism, 252
Judaism in the Middle Ages, 256
Chart: Major Branches of Judaism Today, 258
Kabbalah and Hasidism, 260
Judaism and modernity, 262
The Holocaust, 264
Map: Jewish Populations and the Holocaust, 267
Zionism and contemporary Israel, 267
Torah, 271
The one God, 271
Love for God, 272
The sacredness of human life, 273
Law, 273
Suffering and faith, 274
Sacred practices, 275
Living Judaism: An Interview with Herman Taube, 278
Holy days, 280
Contemporary Judaism, 283
Major branches today, 284
Religion in Public Life: Rabbi David Saperstein, 286
Jewish feminism, 288
Jewish renewal, 290
Suggested reading, 291
Key terms, 293
Review questions, 294
Discussion questions, 294
Internet resources, 294
Chapter 9. Christianity, 295
The Christian Bible, 295
The life and teachings of Jesus, 298
Birth, 298
Preparation, 299
Ministry, 300
Map: Jesus’s Ministry, 301
Living Christianity: An Interview with David Vandiver, 304
Teaching Story: The Good Samaritan, 305
Timeline: Christianity, 307
Challenges to the authorities, 308
Crucifixion, 309
Resurrection and Ascension, 312
Box: Books of the New Testament, 313
The early Church, 314
From persecution to empire, 314
Map: St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys, 316
Evolving organization and theology, 317
Early monasticism, 321
The Eastern Orthodox Church, 321
Map: Distribution of Christians Today, 322
The history of the Orthodox Church, 322
The Russian Orthodox Church, 323
Religion in Practice: Russian Orthodox Kenoticism, 324
Box: Eastern Orthodox Church, 325
The Orthodox world today, 327
Distinctive features of Orthodox spirituality, 328
Medieval Roman Catholicism, 330
Papal power, 330
Intellectual revival and monasticism, 333
Medieval mysticism, 334
The Protestant Reformation, 336
Chart: Major Divisions of Christianity Today, 336
The Roman Catholic Reformation, 341
The impact of the Enlightenment, 342
The Second Vatican Council, 343
Central beliefs in contemporary Christianity, 345
Sacred practices, 347
Worship services and sacraments, 347
Religion in Practice: Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, 348
The liturgical year, 351
Contemplative prayer, 354
Devotion to Mary, 356
Veneration of saints and angels, 357
Contemporary trends, 358
Evangelicalism, 361
Spirit-oriented movements, 362
The Great Reversal, 364
Liberation theology, 366
Religion in Public Life: Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu, 368
Feminist theology, 369
Creation-centered Christianity, 371
Ecumenical movement, 371
Suggested reading, 372
Key terms, 374
Review questions, 375
Discussion questions, 375
Internet resources, 375
Chapter 10. Islam, 376
The Prophet Muhammad, 376
Timeline: Islam, 378
Teaching Story: The Humility of the Prophet, 383
The Qur’an, 384
The central teachings, 386
The Oneness of God and of humanity, 386
Prophethood and the compass of Islam, 387
Religion in Public Life: Farid Esack, 388
Human relationship to the divine, 389
The unseen life, 390
The Last Judgment, 390
The Five Pillars, 392
Belief and witness, 392
Daily prayers, 393
Zakat, 394
Fasting, 394
Living Islam: An Interview with Dr. Syed M. Hussain, 395
Hajj, 396
Sunnis and Shi’as, 399
Sunnis, 399
Shi’a, 400
Sufism, 401
The spread of Islam, 406
Map: The spread of Islam, 406
Islamic culture, 408
Eastward expansion, 410
Relationships with the West, 412
Islam in the United States, 414
Muslim resurgence, 416
Tradition and modern life, 417
Outreach and education, 419
Islam in politics, 421
Islam for the future, 429
Suggested reading, 430
Key terms, 432
Review questions, 433
Discussion questions, 433
Internet resources, 433
Chapter 11. Sikhism, 434
The sant tradition, 434
Guru Nanak, 435
Timeline: Sikhism, 436
The succession of Gurus, 438
Teaching Story: Guru Arjun Dev’s Devotion, 438
Central beliefs, 444
Living Sikhism: An Interview with Inderpreet Kaur, 446
Sacred practices, 447
Religion in Public Life: His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh, 450
Religion in Practice: Amrit Ceremony on Baisakhi, 452
Sikhism today, 453
Map: The Punjab, 453
Suggested reading, 456
Key terms, 457
Review questions, 458
Discussion questions, 458
Internet resources, 458
Chapter 12. New Religious Movements, 459
Social context of new religious movements, 460
Apocalyptic and millennial expectations, 461
Catastrophic millennialism, 462
Progressive millennial movements, 466
Living New Religions: An Interview with Ursula McLackland, 469
Supernatural powers and revelations, 471
Offshoots of older religions, 472
Mormon Church, 472
Radhasoami, 474
Combinations of older religions, 475
Nature spirituality, 478
Revival of old models, 478
Deep ecology, 482
Universalist religions, 483
Theosophical Society, 484
Baha’i, 485
Religion in Practice: The Baha’i Model for Governance of the World, 487
New Age spirituality, 488
Opposition to new religious movements, 490
Will new religious movements last?, 493
Suggested reading, 493
Key terms, 494
Review questions, 495
Discussion questions, 495
Internet resources, 495
Chapter 13. Religion in the Twenty-First Century, 496
Religious pluralism, 496
Hardening of religious boundaries, 497
Terrorism and counter-terrorism, 499
Religion and politics, 501
Interfaith movement, 503
Box: Control of the Mind, 504
Responses to other faiths, 504
Box: Guidelines for Inter-religious Understanding, 505
Interfaith initiatives, 506
Teaching Story: Holding Hands at the World Trade Center, 509
Religion and social issues, 510
Religion in Public Life: Jimmy Carter, 512
Religion and materialism, 514
Religion and the future of humanity, 515
Suggested reading, 516
Key terms, 517
Review questions, 517
Discussion questions, 517
Internet resources, 517
Notes, 518
Glossary, 530
Index, 540
Credits, CR-1
Single PC License Agreement and Limited Warranty, EP-1

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