Anthology of Living Religions

The Anthology of Living Religions, 3/ecombines classic texts with contemporary issues in order to provide an anthology that is meaningful and captivating to students. Written by Mary Pat Fisher and Lee Worth Bailey, the Anthology of Living Religionsincludes samples of scriptures and classical historical texts - while also include many articles on the study of world religions, including descriptions of how believers are living their faiths today.

Brief Contents

CHAPTER 1

RELIGIOUS RESPONSES 2

CHAPTER 2

INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS 39

CHAPTER 3

HINDUISM 64

CHAPTER 4

JAINISM 96

CHAPTER 5

BUDDHISM 114

CHAPTER 6

CHINESE RELIGIONS 144

CHAPTER 7

SHINTO 182

CHAPTER 8

JUDAISM 198

CHAPTER 9

CHRISTIANITY 235

CHAPTER 10

ISLAM 275

CHAPTER 11

SIKHISM 316

CHAPTER 12

NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS 335

CHAPTER 13

RELIGION IN A NEW ERA 352

 

Comprehensive

CHAPTER 1

RELIGIOUS RESPONSES 2

The study of world religions 3

Methodologies for Studying Religions by Lee W. Bailey 3

The Sacredness of Nature and Cosmic Religion by Mircea Eliade 8 Dimensions of the Sacred by Ninian Smart 10

Materialistic perspectives on religion 11

The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud 11 Religion as the Opium of the People by Karl Marx 13

God is Dead by Friedrich Nietzsche 14

God is Society by Emile Durkheim 14

Ritual, symbol, and myth 16

Mandalas: Deity Unfolding in the World by Carl G. Jung 16

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell 18

Myth and Religion: The Irish Voyage of Bran 21

The Sound of One Hand: Ritual in Zen Buddhism 22

Religious points of view 24

The Oneness of the Divine by Abraham Heschel 24

The New Polytheism by David Miller 25

The Ground of Being by Tarthang Tulku 27

Scientific perspectives on religion 28

The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins 28

Deeper than Darwin by John F. Haught 30 Women and the feminine in religion 32

The Spiritual Idea of the "Feminine" by Vijaya Ramaswamy 32

The need for religion today 34

The Lost Dimension in Religion by Paul Tillich 34

Glossary 37

Review Questions 38

Discussion Questions 38

Information Resources 38

 

CHAPTER 2

INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS 39

Understanding indigenous sacred ways 40

African Spiritual Tradition by Harvey J. Sindima 40

The Talking Drum: African Sacred Liturgy by Georges Niangoran-Bouah 41

The Theft of Light by the Tsimshian Nation 43

The circle of right relationships 45

That Mountain Has Spirit by Southwest Indigenous Peoples 45

The Energy of Oya by Judith Gleason 45

Maori Environmental Ethics by Manuka Henare 46

Spiritual specialists 49

Calling of the Shaman by John A. Grim 49

Group observances 51

An African Boy’s Initiation by Malidoma Patrice Somé 51

Women’s Health Rituals by Diane Bell 56

Contemporary issues 57

The Hopi Message to the United Nations General ssembly by Thomas Banyacya 57

Adivasis in India Encounter Modernity and Majority bySmitu Kothari 58

Glossary 60

Typical Holy Ways 61

Historical Outline 61

Review Questions 62

Discussion Questions 62

Information Resources 62

CHAPTER 3

HINDUISM 64

Sruti texts 65

Hymn to Agni, God of Fire from the Rig Vedas 65

Hymn on Creation from the Rig Vedas 65

Married Life from the Rig Vedas and Atharvaveda 66

The Brahman Taught by the Upanishads from the Svetasvatara Upanishad 67

Realise the Brahman from the Upanishads 68

The Soul Takes a New Body from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 69

Smrti texts 70

Worship Me with Love from the Bhagavad Gita 70 Karma Yoga: Selfless Service from the Bhagavad Gita 71

Rama, Sita, and Lakshman Enter the Forest from the Ramayana 72

Duties of the Four Castes from the Manu smrti 74

The Faithful Wife from the Manu smrti 75

A Method of Enlightening the Disciple by Sankara 76

Yoga Sutras by Patanjali 77

In Praise of Durga from the Siva Purana 78

The Way of Devotion from the Bhagavata Purana 79

Songs of the saints 80

The World of Illusion by Ravi Das 81

Without Krishna I Cannot Sleep by Mirabai 82

Two Poems by Kabir 83

Modern texts 84

Vision of the Mother by Paramahansa Yogananda 84

The Hindu way of life 85

Pilgrimage to the City of Light by Diana Eck 85

Contemporary issues 87

Untouchability by Mahatma Gandhi 87 Hindu-ness by V. D. Savarkar 88

The Secular Face of Hinduism by Joseph Vellaringatt 90 Awakening of Universal Motherhood by Mata Amritanandamayi 91

Glossary 93

Holy Days 93

Historical Outline 94

Review Questions 94

Discussion Questions 94

Information Resources 95

 

 

CHAPTER 4

JAINISM 96

Teachings of Mahavir 96

Mahavir’s Stoicism from the Akaranga Sutra 97

Harmlessness 99

On Non-Violence from the Jain Sutras 99

On Self-Restraint from the Jain Sutras 99

Respect for Life from the Akaranga Sutra 100

Perfection of the soul 101

The Five Great Vows from the Akaranga Sutra 101

The principles of anekantavada and syadvada 103

Anekantavada (The Doctrine of Manifold Aspects) by L. M. Singhvi 103 The Blind Men and the Elephant A traditional Jain fable 104

Renunciation 104

The Righteous Path for Laity and Ascetics by Acharya Kund-Kund 105 The Renunciate Life of Sa¯dhvi Vicaks.an.a by N. Shanta 106

Jain ethics today 109

Remembering our own First Principles by Michael Tobias 109

Glossary 111

Holy Days 112

Historical Outline 112

Review Questions 112

Discussion Questions 112

Information Resources 113

 

CHAPTER 5

BUDDHISM 114

The Awakened One 115

The Birth of the Holy One from the Buddhacarita by Asvaghosha 115

The Prince’s Perturbation from the Buddhacarita by Asvaghosha 115

The Middle Way from the Buddhacarita by Asvaghosha 116 Speculations Undeclared from the Culamalunkya Sutta 117

Mindful Breathing from the Anapanasati Sutta 118 119

Theravada 120

The Dhammapada 120

Rejection of Birth Castes from the Vasettha Sutta 122

Mahayana 122

The Heart Sutra 123

Discovering Universal Emptiness by Dogen 124

Zen and Koans by Daisetz T. Suzuki 125

Nothing to Do with Rules by Bankei 127

Vajrayana 128

Love, Kindness, and Universal Responsibility by the Dalai Lama 128

Living engaged Buddhism 131

Engaged Buddhism in Asia by Christopher Queen and Sallie King 132

North American Buddhism: Looking Forward by Charles Prebish 134 Precepts for an Engaged Buddhism by Thich Nhat Hanh 139

Glossary 140

Holy Days 141

Historical Outline 142

Review Questions 142

Discussion Questions 142

Information Resources 143

 

CHAPTER 6

CHINESE RELIGIONS 144

Chinese folk religions 145

The Great Goddesses of China by Lee Irwin 145

The Kitchen God by Clarence Day 148

Confucianism 149

THE CONFUCIAN CLASSICS 150

The Analects of Confucius 150 The Book of Mencius 152

The Doctrine of the Mean 153SCHOLARS’ COMMENTARIES 154

Lessons for Women by Ban Zhao 154NEO-CONFUCIANISM 155

The Great Ultimate by Zhou Dunyi 155 The Western Inscription by Zhang Zai 156LIVING CONFUCIANISM 156

Confucianism and the Twenty-first Century by Xinzhong Yao 157 The Staying Power of Religion in China by Peng Liu 158

Daoism 160

THE TRADITIONAL CANON 160

The Dao de jing by Laozi 161

The Great and Venerable Teacher by Zhuangzi 164

LATER DEVELOPMENTS 165

The Way of Perfect Truth by Wang Zhe 165

The Story of He Xiangu, A Female Immortal 167

The Essence of Tai Ji by Al Chung-liang Huang 169

The Significance of Daoist Ethical Thought in the Building of a Harmonious Society by Zhou Zhongzhi 170

Chinese Buddhism 171

The Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra 172

Pure Land, Pure Mind by Zhu Hong and Cong Ben 173

The Gates of Chan by Venerable Jing Hui 175

Glossary 177

Holy Days 178

Historical Outline 179

Review Questions 180

Discussion Questions 180

Information Resources 180

 

CHAPTER 7

SHINTO 182

Scriptural sources 182

The Kojiki, Chapter 3 182

The Kojiki, Chapter 11 183

Purification 184

Purification Ritual from the Engishiki 184

Shrine worship 185

After the Spirit of Kami Descends, a Place Becomes Jinja by MotohisaYamakage 186

Sect Shinto 187

The Origin of Oomoto by Sahae Oishi 187

Shinto today 190

Misogi Shuho by Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America 190

Glossary 191

Review Questions 191

Discussion Questions 191

Information Resources 192

 

ZOROASTRIANISM 193

The Gathas by Zarathushtra 193

The Zoroastrian Creed 195

The Towers of Silence by Tina Mehta 196

 

CHAPTER 8

JUDAISM 198

The Jewish Bible: Tanakh 199 TORAH 199

In the Beginning from Genesis 1:1–2:4, 2:4–3:24 199 Abraham’s Covenant from Genesis 17:1–8 203

The Mosaic Covenant from Exodus 19:17–18, 20:1–14 204 An Eye for an Eye from Leviticus 24:15–20 205

The Davidic Covenant from II Samuel 7:8–16 205PROPHETS 206

The Prophecies of Isaiah 1:4–20, 9:1–2, 5–6 206WISDOM LITERATURE 207

Psalm 23 208

The Earth Will Teach You from Job 12:7–10 208

Where Were You When I Laid the Earth’s Foundations? from Job 38:1–7,12–13, 17–18 208

Commentaries on the Tanakh 208

Midrash 209

Talmud 209

Prayer and ceremony 210

Prayer: Shema 210

The Passover Story from the Seder Meal Ceremony 211

Evolving theology and spirituality 212

Thirteen Principles of Faith by Maimonides 212

The Baal Shem Tov and the Doctor by Doug Lipman 213

Branches of Judaism 215 ORTHODOX 215

Religion Allied to Progress by Samson Hirsch 215CONSERVATIVE 216

The Conservative Jewish Doctrine of Revelation by Seymour Siegel 216REFORM 217

Principles of Reform Judaism 218RECONSTRUCTIONIST 220

Reconstructionism on One Foot by Rabbi Les Bronstein 221

Living Judaism 222

The Perils of Indifference by Elie Wiesel 222

Women in Jewish Life by Ellen M. Umansky 224

Ten Commitments, Not Commandments by Michael Lerner 228

Glossary 231

Holy Days 232

Historical Outline 232

Review Questions 233

Discussion Questions 233

Information Resources 234

 

CHAPTER 9

CHRISTIANITY 235

Jesus the Christ 236

The Annunciation from Luke 1:26–35 236 The Magnificat from Luke 1:46–55 236 Jesus’s Birth from Luke 2:1–14 237

Jesus’s Ministry Begins from Matthew 4:23–5 237

The Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1–12 238

Sincerely Motivated Faith and Works from Matthew 5:21–4 238

True Treasures from Matthew 6:19–21 238 Healing the Blind from Matthew 9:27–30 238

The Light of the World from John 1:1–5 239

The Word (Logos) from John 1:14 239

The Last Supper from Mark 14:10–12, 16–25 239 The Crucifixion from Mark 15:12–24, 31–8, 43–6 239 The Resurrection from Mark 16:1–8 240

Paul’s Conversion from Acts 9:1–9, 17–20 241

Paul’s letters to new Christian churches 241

Paul on Faith and Works from Romans 3:28–31 242

Paul on Faith, Hope, and Love from I Corinthians 13:1–13 242

History and literature 242

EARLY NON-CANONICAL TEXTS 243

The Gospel of Mary from the Nag Hammadi Library 243

The Thunder, Perfect Mind from the Nag Hammadi Library 244

Eastern Orthodox Church 245

How to Interpret Scripture by Origen 245

The Nicene Creed 247

Grief and Joy by Gregory of Sinai 248

Roman Catholic Church 249

 

xii CONTENTS

The Eucharistic Prayer from the Roman Catholic Mass 249

The Confessions of Augustine by Augustine of Hippo 249

Everything Lives in God by Hildegard of Bingen 251

Protestant Churches 252

Baptism from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer 252LUTHERAN CHURCH 253

Faith Can Rule Only in the Inward Man by Martin Luther 253ANGLICAN CHURCH 254

The Link Between the Environment and Millennium Development Goals 254REFORMED CHURCH 255

Essential Things by Christine Chakoian 255FREE CHURCHES 256

The Fire Falls in Los Angeles by Harvey Cox 257

Why the Amish Forgave a Killer by Steven M. Nolt 258

Living Christianity 260

Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. 260 I Don’t Want to Eat Any Sugar by Mother Teresa 262

Will South Korea Become Christian? by Christopher Landau 263 Rising Protestant Tide Sweeps Catholic Brazil by Todd Benson 264 African Christian Communities by David Chidester 266

God’s Earth is Sacred by the National Council of Churches USA 269

Glossary 271

Holy Days 271

Historical Outline 272

Review Questions 273

Discussion Questions 273

Information Resources 273

 

CHAPTER 10

ISLAM 275

The Prophet Muhammad 276

The Beginning of Muhammad’s Revelation from Sahih Muslim,Chapter 74 276

The Night Journey from Sahih Muslim 277

Islamic scripture: The Qur’an 279

The Outward and Inward Aspects of the Qur’an by Sayyid MuhammadHusayn Tabatabai 280

Faith in Allah 281 The Faitha 282 Allah 282 Messengers 282

People of the Book 283

Unity of Humanity 283

Righteousness 283

Mecca 284

Jihad 284

Family Relationships 285

Self-restraint 286

Adam 286

Mary and Jesus 286

The Day of Judgment 287

Hadith 287

Allah’s Mercy 288

Allah is a Light 288

Seeking Consent for Marriage 288

Prohibition of Killing Women and Children in War 288

Removal of the Idols from the Vicinity of the Ka’ba 288

The Merits of Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him) 289

It is Forbidden to Commit Oppression 289

Shari’ah 289

Hajj: Asceticism and Social Leveling by Maulana Muhammad Ali 289 Legal Dictates in Saudi Arabia by Khaled Abou El Fadl 290

Reason and revelation 293

Rationalism by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) 294

Mysticism by al-Ghazali 295

Sufism 296

The Rarest Treasure by Rabi’a 296 The Sound of Love by Rumi 297

Between the Yea and the Nay by Ibn ’Arabi 298

Teachings of the Sufi Masters: Nizam Ad-Din Awliya by Amir Hasan 299

Living Islam 300

Rights of Women: Qur’anic Ideals Versus Muslim Practice by Riffat Hassan 300

Islamic Governance by Ayatolla Khomeini 303

Rules Concerning the Aspect of War in Jihad by Hamza Aktan 304

Jihad and Just War by James Turner Johnston 308

Glossary 313

Holy Days 313

Historical Outline 314

Review Questions 314

Discussion Questions 314

Information Resources 315

CHAPTER 11

SIKHISM 316

Guru Nanak at Mecca 317

Daily prayers 318

JapJi Sahib by Guru Nanak 318

Jaap Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh 31

Sikh scripture: The Guru Granth Sahib 320

One Reality Is by Nikky Gunninder Kaur Singh 320HYMNS OF THE SIKH GURUS 322

"Oh honey-bee, thou art lost in worldly flowers" by Guru Nanak(the First Guru) 322

"Oh my mind, remember the Holy Name" by Guru Amar Das(the Third Guru) 323

"The true Guru is an ocean of pearls" by Guru Arjun Dev (the Fifth Guru) 323 "The one who mingles with God" by Guru Tegh Bahadur (the Ninth Guru) 324HYMNS OF THE HINDU AND MUSLIM SAINTS 324

"God is the object of the yearning of my soul" by Nam Dev 324

"How can there be any difference between me and Thee?" by Ravi Das 325 "Pray crow, peck not these eyes, so that I may see the Beloved" by Sheikh Farid,

with commentary by Guru Nanak 326

Writings of the Tenth Guru: Dasam Granth 327

"This is the purpose for which God sent me" by Guru Gobind Singh 327 "Let all humanity be recognized as one" by Guru Gobind Singh 328

Living Sikhism 329

The Sikh Gurus’ Vision of an Ideal Society by Dharam Singh 329

Glossary 332

Holy Days 332

Historical Outline 333

Review Questions 333

Discussion Questions 333

Information Resources 334

 

CHAPTER 12

NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS 335

Following a charismatic leader 336

God’s Model Ideal Family and Nation, and the Peace Kingdom by Rev. Dr. SunMyung Moon 336

Offshoots of older religions 338

The Re-appearance of Jesus from The Book of Mormon 338

Continuing Revelation from the official website of The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints 340

Combinations of older religions 341

The Religious Constitution of Caodaism by His Saintness Ho Phap 341 A New Revelation from the Unifier by Baha’u’llah 343

Social Trends 344

The Goddess and Women’s Spirituality by Charlene Spretnak 344

Principles of Wiccan Belief by The American Council of Witches 346

The fate of new religious movements 347

After the Founder’s Death by J. Gordon Melton 348

Glossary 350

Review Questions 351

Discussion Questions 351

Information Resources 351

 

CHAPTER 13

RELIGION IN A NEW ERA 352

Globalization and religions 352

The Global Village by Lester Kurtz 352

Secularism versus exclusivism 356

The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong 356

Demonizing the "Other"—A Self-Critique from Islam by Farish A. Noor 357

Interfaith movement 362

The Essential Truth is One by Hazrat Inayat Khan 363

God Will Break All the Barriers! by Baba Virsa Singh 364

Religion and social issues 366

Sacred Whispers in the World by Lee W. Bailey 367

Spirituality 370

Authentic Spirituality by David Elkins 370

Review Questions 372

Discussion Questions 372

Information Resources 373

Literary Acknowledgments 375

Index 378