A World Religions Reader

A comprehensive and accessible textbook which explores the traditions and beliefs of the world's living religions - the fully updated and revised new edition The World Religions Reader is an inclusive, student-friendly examination of the history, teaching, practices, and appeal of the world's major religions. Covering both the fundamentals and complexities of each religious tradition, this popular textbook brings together significant texts from scriptures and scholars, as well as writings from philosophers and other significant thinkers throughout history. Students are provided with an introduction and overview of the tradition, taken through its primary texts, and presented with a text which seeks to persuade the student of the tradition's merits. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to be even more accessible for students new to interreligious engagement and to reflect current trends and developments in religions worldwide. Every chapter opens with a substantial overview which orients the new student and then flows into a carefully chosen set of texts - a regular textbook is now combined with a Reader. New content examines areas such as the Rastafarian tradition, while revised chapters cover secular humanism and indigenous and emerging religious traditions. The methodology of the book focuses on an empathetic approach - representing each tradition from the perspective of a conventional adherent - enabling students to develop understanding of each tradition and appreciate similarities and differences in their most typical forms. * Invites students to study each tradition from the perspective of a follower, aiming to understand why the tradition is popular and powerful * Explores representative passages, world-views, rituals and institutions, ethical expressions and modern outlooks for each religion * Features discussions of interfaith perspectives on the role of women in religious traditions and the impact of world events and politics on interfaith communication * Encourages students to consider questions of truth, the relation of religion and society, and the changing nature of a tradition in the modern world * Includes a complete set of pedagogical tools and instructor resources, including end-of-chapter fact sheets, topic summaries, key term sections, and essay and discussion questions The World Religions Reader, Fourth Edition is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in religion, especially for liberal arts and non-affiliated colleges, as well as general readers wishing to increase their knowledge of the world's religious traditions.

List of Maps xiii Preface to the Fourth Edition xv Acknowledgments xvii 1 Purpose and Method 1 The Purpose 2 Defining Religion 3 Competing Methodologies 5 Defending This Approach 9 Use in the Classroom 10 2 Secular Humanism 13 Survey 14 Readings in Secular Humanism 15 The Secular Mind 15 Worldviews 16 Ethical Expression 24 Modern Expression 34 Fact Sheets 42 3 Indigenous Religions 45 Survey 46 Readings in Indigenous Religions 48 The Indigenous Mind 48 Worldviews 49 Institutions and Rituals 51 Ethical Expression 55 Modern Expression 58 Fact Sheets 63 4 Hinduism 65 Survey 66 Readings in Hinduism 71 The Hindu Mind 71 Worldviews 71 Institutions and Rituals 87 Ethical Expression 88 Modern Expression 97 Fact Sheets 102 5 Jainism 105 Survey 106 Readings in Jainism 107 The Jain Mind 107 Worldviews 108 Institutions and Rituals 109 Ethical Expression 110 Modern Expression 111 Fact Sheets 112 6 Buddhism 115 Survey 116 Readings in Buddhism 119 The Buddhist Mind 119 Worldviews 119 Institutions and Rituals 133 Ethical Expression 137 Modern Expression 140 Fact Sheets 143 7 Chinese Religion 147 Survey 148 Readings in Chinese Religion 151 The Chinese Mind 151 Worldviews 152 Institutions and Rituals 159 Ethical Expression 162 Modern Expression 168 Fact Sheets 175 8 Shintoism 179 Survey 180 Readings in Shintoism 182 The Shinto Mind 182 Worldviews 182 Institutions and Rituals 185 Ethical Expression 189 Modern Expression 197 Fact Sheets 202 9 Zoroastrianism 205 Survey 206 Readings in Zoroastrianism 207 The Zoroastrian Mind 207 Zoroastrian Worldview 207 Institutions and Rituals 210 Ethical Expression 211 Modern Expression 212 Fact Sheets 213 10 Judaism 217 Survey 218 Readings in Judaism 220 The Jewish Mind 220 Worldviews 221 Institutions and Rituals 224 Ethical Expression 227 Modern Expression 237 Fact Sheets 243 11 Christianity 247 Survey 248 Readings in Christianity 250 The Christian Mind 250 Worldviews 250 Institutions and Rituals 254 Ethical Expression 257 Modern Expression 260 Fact Sheets 266 12 Islam 271 Survey 272 Readings in Islam 275 The Muslim Mind 275 Worldviews 275 Institutions and Rituals 282 Ethical Expression 284 Modern Expression 286 Fact Sheets 295 13 Sikhism 299 Survey 300 Readings in Sikhism 302 The Sikh Mind 302 Worldviews 312 Institutions and Rituals 313 Ethical Expression 316 Modern Expression 320 Fact Sheets 325 14 Emerging Religions 329 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter?Day Saints 331 Survey 331 Readings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 333 Mormon Mind 333 Worldview 333 Institutions and Rituals 335 Modern Expression 336 Baha'i Faith 337 Survey 337 Readings in the Baha'i Faith 338 The Baha'i Mind 338 Worldview 338 Institutions and Rituals 339 Ethical Expression 340 Rastafarianism 341 Survey 341 Readings in Rastafarianism 342 Rasta Mind 342 Worldviews 344 Institutions and Rituals 346 Modern Expression 347 Fact Sheets 349 Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid?2010 353 Annotated Bibliography 357 Credits 367 Index 379