Anthology of World Religions Sacred Texts and Contemporary Perspectives

Anthology of World Religions explores the world's religious traditions by combining substantial overviews of their history, beliefs, and practices with selections from their texts and scriptures and commentary by contemporary practitioners and scholars. It covers each major religion's history, teachings, founder, leaders, practices, and the factors that are now challenging and changing it--secularism, modernism, pluralism, science, the status of women, and sectarian or factional conflicts. The introductory chapter reviews various approaches to the study of religion, defines religious terms and concepts, discusses theories of religion, and distinguishes between the insider and outsider perspectives on religious traditions.

Lewis Vaughn is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including The Power of Critical Thinking, Eighth Edition (2024), Philosophy Here and Now, Fourth Edition (2021), Writing Philosophy, Third Edition (2023); and Living Philosophy, Fourth Edition (2023), all published by Oxford University Press.

Preface
1: The Beginning of Understanding
Modern Religious Studies
The Challenge of Definition
Religious Questions and Answers
Studying Scripture
Key Terms
Readings
Identifying Religions
The Nature of Religion, Ninian Smart
Comparative Studies
Comparing Religions, Will Deming
The Sacred and the Profane
The Sacredness of Nature and Cosmic Religion, Mircea Eliade
Subjective Belief
Religious Experience: The Root of Religion, William James
Religion as Human Invention
Religion is "the Opium of the People", Karl Marx
The Goddess
When Got Was a Woman, Merlin Stone
Belief and Practices
The Matter of Belief, David Morgan NEW
Religion, Sarah M. Pike NEW
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

2: Indigenous Religions: North America and Africa
Indigenous North American Religions
Indigenous African Religions
Key Terms
Readings
Indigenous North American Religions
Thunder Rides a Black Horse, Claire R. Farrer
Basic Call to Consciousness, Iroquois Nation
Iroquois Myth: The Creation
Cherokee Myth: How the World Was Made
Cherokee Myth: Origin of Disease and Medecine
Sioux Genesis
Native American Spirituality, Evan T. Prichard
Sacred Ways of a Lakota, Wallace Black Elk
The Gift of the Sacred Pipe, Wallace Black Elk
Misunderstanding Native Americans, Frederick W. Turner
Indigenous African Religions
Women in African Traditional Religions, Joseph Akinyele Omoyajowo
Traditional Religions in Contemporary Africa, Wande Abimbola
African Traditional Religions: Worldviews and Cosmology, Jacob K. Olupona
Contemporary Challenges
Justice Delayed for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, Wendelin Hume NEW
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

3: Hinduism
Hindu Beliefs
Hindu Ritual
Hindu Philosophies
Hindu Scriptures
Major Monotheisms
Challenges to Hinduism
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
Selections from the Rig Veda
Selections from the Upanishads
Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita
Selections from the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, Advaita Vedanta
The Path of Devotion: Bhagavata Purana
Shiva Purana
The Goddess Durga, David R. Kinsley
The Spirit of Indian Philosophy, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Selections from The Secret Garland
Practices
Yoga: Discipline of Freedom, Barbara Stoler Miller
Chanting the Sacred Syllable Om, Chandogya Upanishad
Bhakti Yoga, Baghavad Gita
Hindu Ritual: Cremation, Rig Veda
Domestic Worship, Vasudha Narayanan
Darsan: Seeing the Sacred, Diana L. Eck
Contemporary Challenges
The Case of Uma Bharati, Katherine K. Young
Untouchability, Mohandas Gandhi
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

4: Jainism
Jain History
Teachings and Practices
Jain Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
Nonviolence, Sutrakritanga
Wise and Foolish Men, Acaranga Sutra
Moral Verses, Naladiyar
There Is No Creator God, Mahapurana
Be Watchful, Uttaradhyayana Sutra
Practices
The Eternal Law, Acaranga Sutra
Sinning Against the Earth, Acaranga Sutra
The Five Great Vows, Acaranga Sutra
Life of a Jain Nun, N. Shanta
Contemporary Challenges
Jains Today, Vasudha Narayanan
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

5: Buddhism
Buddhist Complexities
The Buddha's Life
The Buddha's Teachings
Modern Challenges to Buddhism
Women and Buddhism
Social Engages Buddhism
Buddhist Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Buddha's First Sermon NEW
The Awakaned One
The Five Precepts
The Enlightenment
The Recollection of Death, Buddhaghosa
The heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra
The Lotus Sutra: A Parable
Buddha Nature, Peter Harvey
Guidelines for Studying the Way, Eihei Dogen
Practices
A Buddhist-American Monk, Heng Sure
Meditation, Damien Keown
No Need for Precepts, Bankei
The Koan Exercise, D.T. Suzuki
Rules for Zazen, Master Dogen
Contemporary Challenges
Freedom in Exile, The Dalai Lama
Thich Nhat Hanh on Engaged Buddhist Ethics, Sallie B. King
Women in Buddhism, Roy C. Amore and Julia Ching
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

6: Sikhism
Beginnings
Beliefs
Sikh Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
Hymns of Guru Gobind Singh
Hymns of Guru Amar Das
Hymns of Guru Ram Das
The Death of Guru Nanak
The Rahit: Code of Conduct
Selections from the Japii
Practices
The Rite of Khalsa Initiation, Hew McLeod
Devotions: THe Prakaash, Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa
Contemporary Challenges
Feminine Dimensions of Sikh Faith, Willard G. Oxtoby
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

7: Confucianism
Life of Confucius
Confucian Teachings
The Confucian Canon
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
Selections from The Analects
Selections from THe Book of Mencius
Human Neature is Evil, Xunzi
Confucianism as Religious Humanism, Julia Chung
The Confucian Way of Being Religious, Tu Wei-Ming
Practices
Sacred Space, Jennifer Oldstone-Moore
Confucian Holy Rite, Herbert Fingarette
Contemporary Challenges
The Revival of Confucian Values, Xinzhong Yao
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

8: Daoism
Teachings
Practices
The Daoist Canon
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
Selections from the Daodejing
Selections from the Zhuangzi
The Dao of Ecology, Huston Smith
Practices
T'ai Chi, Al Chung-liang Huang
Quiet Sitting with Master Yinshi, Jiang Weiqiao
Qingjing Jing
The Lady of Great Mystery
Contemporary Challenges
Daoism in the Twenty-First Century, William A. Young
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

9: Shinto
Beliefs and Practices
Sacred Writings
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Nihongi: THe Kami Create Kapan
Nihongi: THe Kami of the Sun and Moon
Kojiki: Kami, the Netherworld, and the Eclipse of the Sun
Life is Transitory
Mount Fugi
Practices
Rituals, Shrines, and Festivals, Ian Reader
Contemporary Challenges
Japanese Religion in Modern Times, Howard W. French
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

10: Zoroastrianism
Zarathustra and His Teachings 3
Zoroastrian Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Zoroastrian Creed
To Ahura and the Fire
Hymn to Ahur
Resurrection and Final Judgment
Good and Evil
Fate of the Soul at Death
Practices
The Four Main Prayers
Burial of the Dead
Zoroastrian Ceremonies, Rustom Masani
Contemporary Challenges
Zoroastrianism's Biggest Worry: Membership, Ariane Sherine
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

11: Judaism
History
Beliefs
Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Creation Store
The Covenant with Noah
The Covenant with Abraham
The Exodus
The Mosaic Covenant
The Holiness Code
The Entry into Canaan
Psalms of David
The Babylonian Conquest and Exile
Mishnah: The Ethics of the Fathers
Maimonides: Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith
Reform Judaism: The Pittsburgh Platform, 1885
To Be a Jew, Elie Wiesel
God in Search of Man, Abaraham Joshua Heschel
Practices
Observing the Sabbath, George Robinson
Yom Kippur, Herman Wouk
The Seder, George Robinson
Contemporary Challenges
Jewish Feminism, Judith Plaskow
Eve in the Hebrew Bible, Carol Meyers NEW
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

12: Christianity
History
Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Sermon of the Mount
Healing the Blind and Casting Out Demons
The Good Samaritan
Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
The Women at the Tomb
The Word Made Flesh
The Ascension and Pentecost
Paul: Life After Death
The Gnostic Gospel of Mary
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Augustine's Confessions
Orthodox Christianity, Ernst Benz
The Apostles' Creed
The Nicene Creed
PRactices
Prayer and Fasting
The Eucharist
Baptism
The Didache: Teaching of the Apostles
Contemporary Challenges
Women in the New Testament
Women and Christianity, Linda Woodhead
The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, Robert P. Jones
LGBTQ Bias May Be Driving Young Evangelicals from Church, Yonat Shimron
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

13: Islam
Beginnings
Practice
Scriptures
Key Terms
Readings
Teachings
The Quran, Suras 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 17, 53, 75, 96, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 107, 443
Hadith: Jihad, How Divine Revelation Came to the Holy Prophet, Divorce
Sunni Beliefs (al-Ash'ari)
Shi'a Beliefs (Ibn Babuya al-Saduq)
The Sufi Path: Doorkeeper of the Heart
Al-Ghazali: The Classes of Seekers
Practices
The Quran: The Cow (The Five Pillars), The Cow (Laws)
Hadith: Charity
Contemporary Challenges
Reforming Islam, John L. Esposito
Passages About Women: The Quran, Sura 4
Women and the Quran: Problematic Verses, Ruth Roded
Women and the Shari'a, Malise Ruthven
Tolerating the Beliefs of Others, Michael Cook
Study Questions
Further Reading
Online

14: New Religious Movements
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian Science
Baha'i
Wicca
Key Terms
Readings
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Joseph Smith's Introduction to the Book of Mormon
Christ Appearing in America
Statement of Beliefs
Vision and Conversion of Joseph Smith
Christian Science
Science and Health, Preface, Mary Baker Eddy
Science and Health, Recapitulation, Mary Baker Eddy
Baha'i
Baha'u'llah and Basic Baha'i Teaching
Baha'i Laws: Kitab-I-Aqdas
The Bab on Islam and Christianity
World Peace
Wicca
Drawing Down the Moon (1949)
Power (1953)
Study Questions
Further Readings
Online

Credits
Index