Why Is There Religion? / Patterns among Religions / Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion / Key Critical Questions / Why Study the Major Religions of the World? / The Pilgrimage

2. Oral Religions

Discovering Oral Religions / Studying Oral Religions: Learning from Patterns / Sacred Practices in Oral Religions / Oral Religions Today

3. Hinduism

The Origins of Hinduism / The Upanishads and the Axis Age / Living Spiritually in the Everyday World / Devotional Hinduism / Hinduism and the Arts / Hinduism: Modern Challenges

4. Buddhism

The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha / The Basic Teachings of Buddhism / The Influence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings / The Early Development of Buddhism / Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders / Mahayana Buddhism: The "Big Vehicle" / Zen Buddhism: Enlightenment Through Experience / Vajrayana Buddhism: The "Diamond Vehicle" / Buddhism, the West, and Modern Challenges

5. Jainism and Sikhism

Shared Origins / Jainism / Background / Mahavira and the Origins of Jainism / Worldview / Jain Ethics / The Development of Jainism and Its Branches / Jain Practices / Jain Scriptures / Jain Art and Architecture / Sikhism / Background / Nanak and the Origins of Sikhism / The Worldview and Teachings of Nanak / The Development of Sikhism / Sikh Scriptures / Sikhism and the Modern World

6. Taoism and Confucianism

Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs / Taoism / The Origins of Philosophical Taoism / The Basic Teachings of Philosophical Taoism / Taoism and the Quest for Longevity / Religious Taoism / Taoism and the Arts / Taoism and the Modern World / Confucianism / The Tao in Confucianism / The Life of Confucius / Living According to Confucian Values / Confucian Literature / The Development of Confucianism / Confucianism and the Arts / Confucianism and the Modern World

7. Shinto

The Origins of Shinto / The Historical Development of Shinto / Essentials of Shinto Belief / Shinto Religious Practice / Shinto and the Arts / Shinto Offshoots: The New Religions / Shinto and the Modern World

8. Judaism

An Overview of Jewish History / The Hebrew Bible / Biblical History / Exile and Captivity / Cultural Conflict during the Second-Temple Era / The Development of Rabbinical Judaism / Questioning and Reform / Judaism and the Modern World / Jewish Belief / Religious Practice / Divisions within Contemporary Judaism / The Contributions of Judaism / Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism

9. Christianity

The Life and Teachings of Jesus / Early Christian Beliefs and History / The Essential Christian Worldview / The Early Spread of Christianity / Influences on Christianity at the End of the Roman Empire / Christianity in the Middle Ages / The Protestant Reformation / The Development of Christianity Following the Protestant Reformation / Christian Practice / Christianity and the Arts / Christianity Faces the Twenty-First Century

10. Islam

The Life and Teachings of Muhammad / Essentials of Islam / The Historical Development of Islam / Sufism: Islamic Mysticism / Islamic Law and Philosophy / Islam and the Arts / Islam and the Modern World

11. Alternative Paths

Origins of New Religions / Neo-Paganism: Wicca and Druidism / Religions of the Yoruba Tradition: Santera, Voodoo, Candombl / Theosophy / Scientology / Falun Gong / Cao Dai / Rastafarianism / Bahai / New Religious Movements: A Special Role

12. The Religious Search in the Modern World

Modern Influences on the Future of Religion / The Recurring Challenge of Change / Naturism: A New Religious Phenomenon? / Eclectic Spirituality / Notes / Credits / Index

In each chapter:

Religion Beyond the Classroom

For Fuller Understanding

Related Readings

Key Terms