RELIGIOUSE
CONTENTS
Preface
Teaching and learning resources
map Religions of the World Today
TIMELINE
CHAPTER 1 RELIGIOUS RESPONSES
Attempts to define religion
Why are there religions?
— Materialistic perspective: humans invented religion
— Functional perspective: religion is useful
— Faith perspective: Ultimate Reality exists
Understandings of Sacred Reality
EXCLUSIVISM VS. UNIVERSALISM A letter from I. H. Azad Faruqi
Ritual, symbol, and myth
TEACHING STORY Descendants of the Eagle
Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity
BOX Angels Weep
The encounter between science and religion
RELIGION IN PRACTICE When Science Approaches Religion
Women in religions
Negative aspects of organized religions
Lenses for studying religion
Key terms
Review questions
,Discussion questions
CHAPTER 2 INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS
Understanding indigenous sacred ways
map Distribution of Indigenous Groups
Cultural diversity
The circle of right relationships
— Relationships with spirit
YORUBA TEACHING STORY Osun and the Power of Woman
— Kinship with all creation
— Relationships with power
Spiritual specialists
— Storytellers and other sacred roles
— Mystical intermediaries
LIVING INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS
An Interview with Nadezhda Ananyevna Stepanova
Group observances
RELIGION IN PRACTICE The Sun Dance Way of Self-Sacrifice
— Individual observances
Globalization
RELIGION IN PRACTICE The Orang Asli of Malaysia: Traditions
Being Lost
Development issues
RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE Damaris Parsitau
Key terms
Review questions
,Discussion questions
CHAPTER 3 HINDUISM
Philosophical and metaphysical origins
— The Indus Valley civilization
map The Indian Subcontinent
TIMELINE Hinduism
— The Vedas
Major philosophical systems
— Samkhya
— Advaita Vedanta
— Yoga
Religious foundations and theistic paths
— Shaktas
— Shaivites
— Vaishnavites
— The epics and Puranas
TEACHING STORY Hanuman, the Monkey Chief
The Hindu way of life
— Rituals
LIVING HINDUISM An Interview with Somjit Dasgupta
— Castes, duties, and life goals
RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE Anna Hazare
— Life stages
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Sacred Thread Ceremony
, — The guru
— Women’s position
— Fasts, prayers, and auspicious designs
— Reverence of trees and rivers
— Pilgrimages
— Festivals
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Holi
Hinduism in the modern world
— Modern movements
— Global Hinduism
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Dharmic Principles: The Swadhyaya
Movement
— Hindu identity
Key terms
Review questions
Discussion questions
CHAPTER 4 JAINISM
The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders
Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars
— Karma
TEACHING STORY The Story of Bahubali
— Ahimsa
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Jain Purification
— Aparigraha
— Anekantwad
CONTENTS
Preface
Teaching and learning resources
map Religions of the World Today
TIMELINE
CHAPTER 1 RELIGIOUS RESPONSES
Attempts to define religion
Why are there religions?
— Materialistic perspective: humans invented religion
— Functional perspective: religion is useful
— Faith perspective: Ultimate Reality exists
Understandings of Sacred Reality
EXCLUSIVISM VS. UNIVERSALISM A letter from I. H. Azad Faruqi
Ritual, symbol, and myth
TEACHING STORY Descendants of the Eagle
Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity
BOX Angels Weep
The encounter between science and religion
RELIGION IN PRACTICE When Science Approaches Religion
Women in religions
Negative aspects of organized religions
Lenses for studying religion
Key terms
Review questions
,Discussion questions
CHAPTER 2 INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS
Understanding indigenous sacred ways
map Distribution of Indigenous Groups
Cultural diversity
The circle of right relationships
— Relationships with spirit
YORUBA TEACHING STORY Osun and the Power of Woman
— Kinship with all creation
— Relationships with power
Spiritual specialists
— Storytellers and other sacred roles
— Mystical intermediaries
LIVING INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS
An Interview with Nadezhda Ananyevna Stepanova
Group observances
RELIGION IN PRACTICE The Sun Dance Way of Self-Sacrifice
— Individual observances
Globalization
RELIGION IN PRACTICE The Orang Asli of Malaysia: Traditions
Being Lost
Development issues
RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE Damaris Parsitau
Key terms
Review questions
,Discussion questions
CHAPTER 3 HINDUISM
Philosophical and metaphysical origins
— The Indus Valley civilization
map The Indian Subcontinent
TIMELINE Hinduism
— The Vedas
Major philosophical systems
— Samkhya
— Advaita Vedanta
— Yoga
Religious foundations and theistic paths
— Shaktas
— Shaivites
— Vaishnavites
— The epics and Puranas
TEACHING STORY Hanuman, the Monkey Chief
The Hindu way of life
— Rituals
LIVING HINDUISM An Interview with Somjit Dasgupta
— Castes, duties, and life goals
RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE Anna Hazare
— Life stages
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Sacred Thread Ceremony
, — The guru
— Women’s position
— Fasts, prayers, and auspicious designs
— Reverence of trees and rivers
— Pilgrimages
— Festivals
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Holi
Hinduism in the modern world
— Modern movements
— Global Hinduism
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Dharmic Principles: The Swadhyaya
Movement
— Hindu identity
Key terms
Review questions
Discussion questions
CHAPTER 4 JAINISM
The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders
Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars
— Karma
TEACHING STORY The Story of Bahubali
— Ahimsa
RELIGION IN PRACTICE Jain Purification
— Aparigraha
— Anekantwad
