Experiencing the World's Religions provides a clear and compelling account of religion as a diverse, lived experience by peoples around the world. Global in its coverage, the text conveys the vitality and richness of the world's religions as a living cultural wellspring that not only concerns systems of belief but how those beliefs are expressed in ceremonies, food, clothing, art, architecture, pilgrimage, scripture, and music. The text demonstrates why an understanding of the world's religions enriches our lives. In an engaging narrative emphasizing the experience of religion, the text takes students on a personal voyage through doctrines, history, the religious inspired arts, ceremonies, and everyday expressions of belief and combines these with powerful photographs from around the globe. The text goes beyond traditional approaches to personally connect students with the vitality of the great religions and how they reach into the lives of individuals and the culture at large. This fourth edition has been thoroughly updated in both content and illustration, to address recent world events and political changes, and provide additional insight into current theory and practice.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Understanding Religion
What Is Religion?
Patterns Among Religions
Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion
Key Critical Issues
Why Study the Major Religions of the World?
The Pilgrimage
Chapter 2. Indigenous Religions
Discovering Indigenous Religions
Studying Indigenous Religions: Learning from Patterns
Sacred Practices in Indigenous Religions
Indigenous Religions Today
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Mahayana Buddhism: The "Big Vehicle"
Vajrayana Buddhism: The "Diamond Vehicle"
Buddhism and the Modern World
Chapter 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
Chapter 6. Daoism and Confucianism
Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs
Daoism
The Origins of Daoism
The Basic Early Teachings
Daoism and the Quest for Longevity
The Development of Daoism
Daoism and the Arts
Daoism and the Modern World
Confucianism
The Dao 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
Chapter 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
Chapter 8. Judaism
An Overview of Jewish History
The Hebrew Bible
Biblical History
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
Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism
Chapter 9. Christianity
The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Early Christian Beliefs and History
The Early Spread of Christianity
Influences on Christianity at the End of the Roman Empire
The Eastern Orthodox Church
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 Modern World
Chapter 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
Chapter 11. Alternative Paths
Origins of New Religions
Contemporary Paganism: Wicca and Druidism
Religions of the Yoruba Tradition: Santería, Voodoo, Candomblé
Theosophy
Scientology
Falun Gong
Cao Dai
Rastafarianism
Baha'i
New Religious Movements: A Special Role
Chapter 12. The Modern Search
Modern Influences on the Future of Religion
The Recurring Challenge of Change
Environmentalism: A Religious Phenomenon?
Eclectic Spirituality
Notes
Credits
Index
In each chapter:
Related Readings
Key Terms