Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

by: Young, William A.

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

by: Young, William A.

ISBN 13:
9780205675111
ISBN 10:
0205675115
Edition: 3rd
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 07/31/2009
Publisher: Pearson
Newer Edition

Rent

Sorry, this item is currently unavailable.

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

Extend or Purchase Your Rental at Any Time

Need to keep your rental past your due date? At any time before your due date you can extend or purchase your rental through your account.

Summary

For courses in World Religions or Comparative Religions. This introduction to the world's religions provides an orientation to the study of religion; surveys the stages of development, worldviews, and current situations of the major world religions; and discusses the ways these religions respond to contemporary ethical issues. It also presents a sampling of new religious movements and looks to the possible ways the world's religions may interact in the 21st century. Its distinctive "framework for understanding" religious worldviews allows students to compare and contrast the teachings of religions objectively.

Preface	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
An Introduction to Religion and the Study of Religion	p. 2
What Is Religion?	p. 2
The Problem of Defining Religion	p. 2
Adopting a Working Definition of Religion	p. 3
Secular Religions?	p. 5
Why Are People Religious?	p. 6
Why So Many Religions?	p. 7
Why Is the Study of Religion So Important in the Twenty-First Century?	p. 7
What Is the Relationship Between Science and Religion?	p. 9
How Might Religion Be Studied?	p. 10
Evaluative Methods of Studying Religion	p. 10
Descriptive Methods of Studying Religion	p. 11
How Will We Study the World's Religions?	p. 12
A Framework for Understanding and Comparing Religious Worldviews	p. 12
Symbols, Myths, and Rituals	p. 14
Looking Ahead: An overview of the Rest of the Text	p. 17
Chapter Summary	p. 19
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 20
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 20
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 21
The World's Religions-Histories and Worldviews	p. 23
Indigenous Religions-Quest for Harmony	p. 24
An Orientation to Indigenous Peoples and Their Religions	p. 24
Problems in Studying Indigenous Religions	p. 24
The Traditional Worldview of Indigenous Peoples	p. 26
The Yoruba of West Africa	p. 31
Introduction	p. 31
Yoruba Religion: Harmony with the Orisa	p. 32
The Oglala Lakota (Sioux) of the Great Plains of North America	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
A Brief History of the Oglala Lakota	p. 38
Oglala Lakota Religion: The Way of the Sacred Pipe	p. 39
The Continuing Impact of Indigenous Religions in the Twenty-First Century	p. 48
Chapter Summary	p. 48
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 49
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 49
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 49
Hinduism-Many Paths to the Summit	p. 53
Introduction	p. 53
An Orientation to South and Southeast Asia	p. 54
Lands and Peoples	p. 54
A Brief History of India	p. 54
The Traditional South Asian Worldview	p. 56
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 59
The Problem with the Name "Hinduism"	p. 59
Religion of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization	p. 59
The Religion of the Vedas: The Rig-Veda and the Upanishads	p. 60
Hindu Society: The Laws of Manu	p. 62
The Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata	p. 64
Devotional Literature and Movements: The Puranas	p. 66
Philosophical Literature and Movements: The Yoga School and Advaita Vedanta	p. 70
Hindu Reform Movements and Reformers in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries	p. 71
Independent India	p. 73
The Hindu Worldview	p. 74
Humanity: An Eternal Soul (Atman)	p. 74
Problem: Trapped by Karma	p. 74
Cause: Desire and Ignorance	p. 74
End: Liberation (Moksha) from the Cycle of Rebirth	p. 74
Means: The Paths of Action, Devotion, and Knowledge	p. 75
Reality: Penetrating the Veil of Maya	p. 79
Sacred: Many Gods and Beyond the Gods	p. 79
Hinduism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 79
Hinduism as a Global Religion	p. 79
Hindu Nationalism in India	p. 80
Chapter Summary	p. 81
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 82
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 82
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 83
Theravada Buddhism-The Middle Way	p. 84
Introduction	p. 84
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 84
Founder: Siddartha Gautama	p. 84
Formation of the Order of Buddhist Monks and Nuns (Sangha)	p. 87
The Spread of Buddhism Beyond India	p. 88
The Pali Canon	p. 88
The Three Major Branches of Buddhism	p. 88
The Theravada Buddhist Worldview	p. 89
Humanity: No Permanent Identity (Anatta) and Dependent Origination	p. 89
Problem: The First Noble Truth-Life Is Suffering (Dukkha)	p. 90
Cause: The Second Noble Truth-Suffering Is Caused by Craving (Tanha)	p. 91
End: The Third Noble Truth-The Extinction of Craving (Nirvana)	p. 92
Means: The Fourth Noble Truth-The Eightfold Path of the Middle Way	p. 94
Reality: Impermanence (Anicca)	p. 97
Sacred: Spiritual Atheism	p. 97
Theravada Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 97
Chapter Summary	p. 98
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 99
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 99
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 99
Jainism-The Way of Noninjury	p. 101
Introduction	p. 101
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 101
Founder: Mahavira and the Tirthankaras	p. 101
The Jain Community	p. 103
Jain Texts: The Agamas	p. 103
The Jain Worldview	p. 104
Humanity: Eternal, Infinite Souls (Fivas)	p. 104
Problem: Souls "Weighed Down" by Actions (Karma)	p. 104
Cause: Activity	p. 104
End: Becoming a Conqueror (Fina) and Well-Being	p. 105
Means: Self-Denial and Noninjury (Abimsa)	p. 105
Reality: A Dualism of Matter (Ajiva) and Spirit (Fiva)	p. 109
Sacred: Spiritual Atheism	p. 110
Jainism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 110
Chapter Summary	p. 110
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 111
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 111
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 111
Daoism-The Way of Nature	p. 113
Introduction	p. 113
An Orientation to East Asia	p. 113
Lands and Peoples	p. 113
A Brief History of China	p. 114
The East Asian Worldview and Indigenous Religions	p. 115
Daoism: The Way of Nature	p. 119
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 120
The Worldview of Daoist Philosophy	p. 124
Daoism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 126
Chapter Summary	p. 127
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 127
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 127
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 128
Confucianism-The Way of Virtue	p. 129
Introduction	p. 129
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 130
Founder: Master Kong (Confucius)	p. 130
The Analects and Other Texts	p. 131
Formation of the Confucian School, and Confucianism as State Teaching	p. 131
Neo-Confucianism	p. 132
Is Confucianism a Religion?	p. 133
The Decline of Confucianism	p. 133
The Confucian Worldview	p. 133
Humanity: Social Relationships and Microcosm	p. 133
Problem: Social Chaos	p. 134
Cause: A Breakdown of Virtue	p. 134
End: Leaders of Character (Fun-zi) and the Harmonious Society	p. 134
Means: The Virtuous Life	p. 134
Reality: Life-Giving, Relational, Harmonious	p. 137
Sacred: Making the Dao Great	p. 137
Confucianism and Other Religions in the People's Republic of China	p. 137
Chapter Summary	p. 139
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 139
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 139
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 140
Mahayana Buddhism (The Great Vehicle) and Vajrayana Buddhism (The Thunderbolt Vehicle)	p. 141
Introduction	p. 141
A Brief History of Korea and Japan	p. 141
Korea	p. 141
Japan	p. 142
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in East Asia	p. 143
The Spread of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism into East Asia	p. 143
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist Texts of India	p. 144
Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada Buddhism Contrasted	p. 145
The "Three Bodies" of the Buddha	p. 145
Bodhisattvas	p. 145
Sunyata ("Emptiness")	p. 146
Major Mahayana Schools in East Asia	p. 147
Pure Land: The Devotional School	p. 147
Zen: The Meditation School	p. 149
Nichiren: The Political School	p. 152
Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet	p. 154
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 157
Chapter Summary	p. 158
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 158
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 158
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 158
Shinto-The Way of the Kami	p. 160
Introduction	p. 160
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 160
The Origin and Meaning of "Shinto"	p. 160
The Shinto Myth: Japan as the Land of the Kami	p. 161
Popular Japanese Religion	p. 162
Medieval Shinto: Theoretical Amalgamation with Buddhism	p. 162
The Revival of Shinto	p. 163
The Shinto Worldview	p. 165
Humanity: The People of the Kami	p. 165
Problem: Pollution	p. 165
Cause: Lack of Reverence for the Kami	p. 166
End: Purity and Harmony	p. 166
Means: Shrines, Rituals, and Self-Cultivation	p. 166
Reality: The Land of the Kami	p. 169
Sacred: The Kami	p. 170
Religion in Twenty-First-Century Japan and Korea	p. 170
Japan	p. 170
Korea	p. 171
Chapter Summary	p. 171
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 171
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 172
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 172
Judaism-The Way of Torah	p. 173
Introduction	p. 173
An Orientation to the Middle East	p. 174
Lands and Peoples	p. 174
A Brief History	p. 174
The Traditional Worldview	p. 175
Judaism: The Way of Torah	p. 180
What Is Judaism?	p. 180
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 180
The Jewish Worldview	p. 189
Judaism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 197
Chapter Summary	p. 198
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 198
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 199
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 199
Christianity-The Way of Jesus Christ	p. 201
Introduction	p. 201
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 201
Founder: Jesus of Nazareth	p. 201
The New Testament and the Birth of Christianity	p. 203
The Institutionalization and Spread of Christianity	p. 205
Reform Movements in Christianity	p. 207
Major Christian Movements	p. 208
Other Developments	p. 212
The Christian Worldview	p. 213
Humanity: One in Christ	p. 213
Problem: Separation from God	p. 213
Cause: Original Sin	p. 214
End: The Kingdom of God in Heaven and on Earth	p. 214
Means: Grace, Faith, and the Sacraments	p. 215
Reality: Creation and the Cosmic Christ	p. 217
Sacred: One God, Three "Persons"	p. 218
Christianity in the Twenty-First Century	p. 219
Chapter Summary	p. 222
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 222
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 222
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 223
Islam-The Way of Submission to Allah	p. 225
Introduction	p. 225
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 226
Arabia in the Seventh Century C.E.	p. 226
The Prophet Muhammad	p. 226
The Holy Qur'an	p. 228
The Spread of Islam and the Rise of Islamic Civilization	p. 228
The Branches of Islam	p. 231
Sufi: The Mystical Movement	p. 234
The Revival of Islam	p. 236
The Islamic Worldview	p. 241
Humanity: From a Single Soul	p. 241
Problem: Rejecting Allah's Guidance	p. 242
Cause: Distraction	p. 242
End: Paradise and the "House of Islam"	p. 242
Means: A Life of Submission	p. 243
Reality: The Signs of Allah	p. 247
Sacred: There Is No God but Allah	p. 247
Islam in the Twenty-First Century	p. 248
Chapter Summary	p. 249
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 249
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 249
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 250
Sikhism-The Way of the Guru	p. 252
Introduction	p. 252
Stages of Development and Sacred Texts	p. 252
Founder: Nanak	p. 252
The Gurus After Nanak	p. 253
Guru Adi Granth (The Granth Sahib)	p. 254
The Resurgence of Sikhism in Modern India	p. 255
The Sikh Worldview	p. 256
Humanity: A Pearl in an Oyster	p. 256
Problem: Living Apart from God	p. 256
Cause: Egoism	p. 257
End: Absorption in God	p. 257
Means: Praise and Compassion	p. 257
Reality: Penetrating the "Wall of Falsehood"	p. 259
Sacred: The True Name	p. 259
Sikhism in the Twenty-First Century	p. 260
Chapter Summary	p. 260
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 261
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 261
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 261
The New Religious Movements-Renewal and Innovation	p. 262
Introduction	p. 262
The Rapid Growth of New Religious Movements	p. 262
Problems in Studying New Religious Movements	p. 263
Preparing for the End: Apocalyptic New Religious Movements	p. 265
Seventh-Day Adventism: Living in the Final Days	p. 265
Branch Davidians: Unlocking the Seven Seals	p. 266
Aum Shinrikyo: Teaching the Supreme Truth	p. 267
Faith and Spirit: New Religious Movements of Healing and Awareness	p. 268
Christian Science: Recovering Lost Healing	p. 268
International Raelian Religion: Preparing for the Elohim	p. 270
Jediism: Star Wars Religion	p. 270
Reviving the Church: Christian New Religious Movements of Renewal	p. 272
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons): Christ's Kingdom in America	p. 272
The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (the Unification Church): Restoration of Original Harmony	p. 274
Nature and Spirit: Earth-Based and Ecological New Religious Movements	p. 276
Wicca: Renewing European Witchcraft	p. 276
Deep Ecology: Ecological Egalitarianism	p. 277
Liberation and Enlightenment: New Religious Movements with Asian Roots	p. 279
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness: The Hare Krishnas	p. 279
Falun Dafa (Falun Gong): Cultivating the Universal Life Energy	p. 281
Soka Gakkai: The Society for Value Creation	p. 282
African-American and Afro-Caribbean New Religious Movements	p. 282
The Nation of Islam: The "Black Muslims"	p. 283
The Ras Tafari Movement: The Black Messiah	p. 284
Native American New Religious Movements	p. 285
The Native American Church: Peyote Religion	p. 285
Focusing on the Human and the Natural: Secular New Religious Movements	p. 286
Secular Humanism: Humanity as Ultimate	p. 286
Marxism: Toward a Classless Society	p. 287
Satanism: Indulging Self	p. 288
The Quest for Unity: Universalist New Religious Movements	p. 289
The Baha'i Faith: Toward World Unity	p. 290
Unitarian Universalist Association: The Unity of God	p. 291
Chapter Summary	p. 292
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 292
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 293
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 293
The World's Religions and Contemporary Ethical Issues	p. 295
The Ecological and Economic Crises-Humans and Resources	p. 297
The Ecological Crisis: Is the Balance of Life on Planet Earth in Jeopardy?	p. 297
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 297
Religious Responses	p. 298
The Economic Crisis: Why Hunger and Abject Poverty in a World of Plenty?	p. 310
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 310
Religious Responses	p. 311
Chapter Summary	p. 321
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 322
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 322
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 322
War and Capital Punishment-Society and Violence	p. 331
War: When, If Ever, Is War Justified?	p. 331
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 331
Religious Responses	p. 332
Capital Punishment: When May the State Take a Criminal's Life?	p. 339
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 339
Religious Responses	p. 340
Chapter Summary	p. 343
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 343
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 344
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 344
Abortion and Euthanasia-Life and Death	p. 348
Abortion: Right to Life or Right to Choose?	p. 348
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 348
Religious Responses	p. 349
Euthanasia: A "Good Death" or "Playing God"?	p. 357
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 357
Religious Responses	p. 358
Chapter Summary	p. 363
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 363
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 363
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 364
Gender and Sexual Orientation-Roles and Identity	p. 368
The Changing Roles of Women: Liberation or Confusion?	p. 368
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 368
Religious Responses	p. 369
Homosexuality: Orientation, Preference, or Perversion?	p. 385
The Nature of the Issue and the Role of Religion	p. 385
Religious Responses	p. 386
Chapter Summary	p. 396
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 397
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	p. 397
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 397
Conclusion	p. 407
The Future of the World's Religions	p. 408
How the World's Religions Will Relate to One Another: Three Possible Futures	p. 408
Exclusivism	p. 408
Inclusivism	p. 410
Pluralism	p. 410
The Search for Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis	p. 413
The World's Religions after September 11, 2001	p. 416
Important Terms and Phrases	p. 416
Sources and Suggestions for Further Study	p. 417
Glossary	p. 419
Index	p. 427
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

9780205675111

0205675115

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

The World's Religions Worldviews and Contemporary Issues

9780205675111

0205675115

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Related Products