Understanding Religion In A Global Society

UNDERSTANDING RELIGION IN GLOBAL SOCIETY is an accessible and timely introduction to religion that encourages students to explore actively thebreadth and depth of the religious within the context of the current geo-political outlook. Using the phenomenological method, major religioustraditions are analyzed in light of the opportunities and challenges posed by the forces of globalization. Organized topically, this textbookfosters deeper levels of understanding via engaging commentary and pedagogy and a robust website. Above all, this text assists students inquestioning, exploring, and analyzing diverse religious contexts and in comparing the beliefs, rituals, texts, art, and individual and social aspectsof religion.

Preface

viii

Introduction: Studying Religion in Global Society

1

(28)

Introductory Questions

3

(1)

Welcome

3

(2)

Why Study Religion?

5

(5)

Preparing for Global Society

10

(9)

Globalization and the Creation of Global Society

19

(7)

Conclusion

26

(1)

Works Cited

27

(1)

For Further Reading

28

(1)

What Is Religion?

29

(32)

Introductory Questions

30

(1)

What Is Religion?

31

(13)

Religion as Illusion

44

(2)

Religion: Individual and Society

46

(11)

Conclusion

57

(1)

Works Cited

57

(3)

For Further Reading

60

(1)

The Absolute, the Ultimate, the Holy

61

(26)

Introductory Questions

63

(1)

Introduction

64

(1)

The Holy and the Numinous Experience

64

(2)

The Absolute, Ultimate, and Holy

66

(3)

The Logic of the Absolute

69

(4)

Conceptions of the Absolute

73

(7)

Religious Disagreement in a Global Community

80

(5)

Conclusion

85

(1)

Works Cited

85

(2)

Origins and Founders

87

(24)

Introductory Questions

89

(1)

Approaches to Origins

89

(14)

Origins

103

(2)

Globalization, the Mother Goddess, and History

105

(2)

Conclusion

107

(2)

Works Cited

109

(1)

For Further Reading

110

(1)

World Scriptures

111

(28)

Introductory Questions

113

(1)

World Scriptures

114

(2)

Sources of Scripture: Writers and Revelation

116

(2)

Authority and Canon

118

(3)

Interpretation of Scriptures

121

(9)

Creeds and Philosophies

130

(3)

Anti-Doctrine and Ineffability

133

(1)

Scripture, Changing Worlds, and Globalization

134

(2)

Conclusion

136

(1)

Works Cited

137

(1)

For Further Reading

138

(1)

Myths, Stories, and History

139

(30)

Introductory Questions

141

(1)

Text and Language

142

(1)

Language Games

143

(2)

Myth

145

(6)

Poetry

151

(2)

Historical Language in Scripture

153

(5)

Instruction

158

(2)

Humor

160

(2)

Silence

162

(1)

Globalization, History, and Faith

163

(3)

Conclusion

166

(1)

Works Cited

166

(1)

For Further Reading

167

(2)

Suffering and Evil

169

(27)

Introductory Questions

170

(1)

Introduction

171

(2)

The Sacred Canopy

173

(2)

Origins of Evil

175

(5)

Suffering and Monotheism

180

(2)

Haunting Spirits/Helping Spirits

182

(1)

Karma and Reincarnation

183

(4)

Balance and Acceptance

187

(1)

Responses to Suffering

188

(2)

Globalization and an Unspeakable Evil

190

(3)

Conclusion

193

(1)

Works Cited

194

(1)

For Further Reading

195

(1)

Suggested Viewing

195

(1)

Religion and Art

196

(28)

Introductory Questions

198

(1)

Religion and Art

198

(1)

Art and Experience

199

(4)

Religious Art

203

(9)

The Power of Art

212

(9)

Conclusion

221

(1)

Works Cited

222

(1)

For Further Reading

223

(1)

Images

223

(1)

Ritual

224

(27)

Introductory Questions

226

(1)

Introduction

226

(1)

What Is Ritual?

227

(1)

Rites of Passage

228

(5)

Seasonal Rituals and Historical Commemoration

233

(3)

Worship, Prayer, and Magic

236

(7)

The Problem of Ritual

243

(2)

Globalization and Religious Ritual

245

(3)

Conclusion

248

(1)

Works Cited

249

(1)

For Further Reading

250

(1)

Religion, Morality, and Ethics

251

(29)

Introductory Questions

254

(1)

The Moral Imperative of Religion

255

(4)

Historical Origins and Sources of Morality

259

(4)

External and Internal Sources of Religious Morality

263

(4)

Categorizations of the Sources of Morality

267

(3)

Morality and Ethics as an Expression of Religion and Culture

270

(2)

Globalization, Religion, Ethics, Violence, and Peace

272

(3)

Religious Morality and Rational Morality

275

(2)

Works Cited

277

(2)

For Further Reading

279

(1)

Religious Experience

280

(30)

Introductory Questions

282

(1)

Introduction to Religious Experience

283

(1)

The Importance of Religious Experience

283

(2)

Experiencing the Holy

285

(4)

Experiences of Oneself

289

(4)

Experiencing the World

293

(2)

The Problem of Evaluating Religious Experience

295

(8)

Globalization, Experiencing the World, and the Environment

303

(3)

Conclusion

306

(1)

Works Cited

307

(2)

For Further Reading

309

(1)

Salvation and the Meaning of Life

310

(22)

Introductory Questions

312

(1)

Salvation and the Meaning of Life

312

(2)

Soteriological Goals

314

(6)

Soteriological Means

320

(7)

Globalization, Evangelism, Human Rights, and Cultural Identity

327

(2)

Conclusion

329

(1)

Works Cited

330

(1)

For Further Reading

331

(1)

Religion, Personality, and the Individual

332

(27)

Introductory Questions

334

(1)

Introduction

334

(1)

Individuality, the Soul, and the Existential Self

335

(3)

Personality, Community, and Religion

338

(3)

The Mind, Human Behavior, and Religion

341

(3)

Religion and Personality

344

(9)

Identity, Religion, and Globalization

353

(3)

Conclusion

356

(1)

Works Cited

356

(1)

For Further Reading

357

(2)

Religion and Society in a Global Age

359

(23)

Introductory Questions

361

(1)

Introduction

361

(1)

Religion and Culture

362

(2)

Religion, Culture, and Civilization

364

(1)

Religion, Culture, and the World

365

(3)

Religion and Social Structure

368

(7)

The Changing Context: Religion and Globalization

375

(4)

Conclusion

379

(1)

Works Cited

380

(1)

For Further Reading

381

(1)

Glossary

382

(7)

Index

389

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Understanding Religion In A Global Society

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials