World Religions

A Historical Approach

Fourth Edition

Publication Date: February 25, 2008

Paperback ISBN: 9780312442378

Pages: 576

A concise, balanced, and reasonably priced introductory text, World Religions takes a historical approach to the ideological and cultural aspects of several religions. More than just a collection of facts about beliefs and mores, this unique text offers students a complex portrait of each...

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Preface

Maps and Time Lines

About the Author

World Religions: A Chronology

1 Study of World Religions

Proper Point of View

Definitions of Religion

Critical Studies of Religion

Classification of Religions

Approach of This Text

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

PART ONE RELIGIONS OF THE PAST
2 Prehistoric Religion

Early Human Life

Archeological Discoveries

Works of Art

Tombs and Monuments

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

3 Egyptian Religion

Egyptian Civilization

Basic Beliefs

Important Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

4 Mesopotamian Religion

Mesopotamian Civilization

Basic Beliefs

Important Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

5 Greek Religion

Greek Civilization

Basic Beliefs

Philosophers

Dramatists

Popular Religion

Mystery Religions

Mythology

Festivals

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

6 Roman Religion

Roman Civilization

Basic Beliefs

Greek Accretions

Middle Eastern Mystery Cults

Important Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

7 Mayan and Aztec Religions

Mayan Civilization

Sources of Mayan Information

Mayan Beliefs and Practices

Aztec Civilization

Sources of Aztec Information

Aztec Beliefs and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

PART TWO RELIGIONS OF ORAL PEOPLE
8 African Religions

Archeological Discoveries

Traditional Religions

Dinka Religion

Yoruba Religion

Basic Common Beliefs

Important Practices

Transformation of Traditions

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

9 American Indian Religions

Origins of American Indians

Sources of Information

Basic Common Beliefs

Important Practices

Transformation of Traditions

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

PART THREE RELIGIONS OF INDIA
10 Hinduism

Archeological Discoveries

Hindu Characteristics

Hindu Social Structure

Hindu Sacred Texts

Hindu Teachings

Developments in Hinduism

Hindu Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

11 Buddhism

Buddhist Characteristics

The Buddha

Buddhist Groups

Buddhist Sacred Texts

Buddhist Teachings

Buddhist Observances and Practices

Buddhist Worldwide Expansion

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

12 Jainism

Origins of Jainism

Mahavira

Jain Groups

Jain Sacred Texts

Jain Teachings

Jain Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

13 Sikhism

Origins of Sikhism

Guru Nanak

Succession of Sikh Gurus

Sikh Groups

Sikh Sacred Text

Sikh Teachings

Sikh Observances and Practices

Modern Sikhism

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

PART FOUR RELIGIONS OF THE FAR EAST
14 Taoism and Confucianism

Archeological Discoveries

Chinese Characteristics

Basic Early Beliefs

Chinese Sacred Texts

Period of Intellectual Activity

Taoism (Daoism)

Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Taoist Groups

Taoist Sacred Texts

Taoist Teachings

Confucianism

Confucius

Confucian Sacred Texts

Confucian Teachings

Spread of Confucianism

Proscription of Religions

Chinese Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

15 Shinto

Shinto Characteristics

Shinto Sacred Texts

Shinto Mythology

Shinto Teachings

Syncretistic Character of Shinto

Shinto As National Religion

Shinto Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

PART FIVE RELIGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

16 Zoroastrianism

Zoroaster

Zoroastrian Sacred Texts

Zoroastrian Teachings

Zoroastrian Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

17 Judaism

Characteristics of Judaism

Abraham

Moses

Judaism through the Centuries

Jewish Groups

Jewish Scripture

The Talmud and the Midrash

Judaic Teachings

Jewish Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

18 Christianity

Christian Origins

Jesus Christ

Christian Scriptures

Christian Teachings

Christian Groups

History of Early Christianity

Christianity in the Middle Ages

Recent Developments in Christianity

Christian Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

19 Islam

Origins of Islam

Muhammad, Messenger of God

Islam through the Ages

Muslim Groups

Muslim Scripture

The Hadith (Tradition)

Muslim Teachings

Muslim Religious Duties

Muslim Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

20 Baha’i

Baha’i Origins

Baha’i Sacred Texts

Baha’i Teachings

Baha’i Observances and Practices

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

PART SIX MODERN ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS

21 New Syncretistic Groups

Global Awareness

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

(Mormon Church)

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Christian Science

Theosophy Society

Self-Realization Fellowship

Soka Gakkai International

Subud

Church of Scientology

Unification Church (Moonies)

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Church of All Worlds

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

(ISKCON)

The Healthy-Happy-Holy Organization (3HO) 498

Falun Gong (Falun Dafa)

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

22 Religions: A Comparison

Role of Religion

Traditional Faiths Questioned

Unity or Diversity?

Comparison of Paths

Comparison of Goals

East-West Comparison

Study Questions

Suggested Reading

Notes

Glossary
Index

A descriptive style and approach. Every chapter offers students a cohesive and engaging narrative of a particular religion. As in previous editions, Nigosian presents the historical and cultural context in which beliefs and rituals developed to create a complete and absorbing portrait of each religions development.

Traditional viewpoints and scholarly commentary. The views of leading scholars in the field provide a counterweight to the historical narrative, enabling students to see how others perceive each religion.

Coverage of religion in everyday life. Looking beyond the religious doctrine of holy leaders, the text shows students how religious belief influences all segments of society in every aspect of daily life, with a particular focus on gender roles.

Scriptural excerpts. Woven extensively throughout the text, excerpts from the sacred writings of the religions provide original source material and excellent springboards for class discussion or writing assignments.

Concise and reasonably priced. The economical price allows instructors the flexibility of supplementing the course with novels and primary source materials.

An Instructor’s Edition, which includes the instructor’s manual bound into the back of the student edition including test items, is available to adopters.

Extensively revised chapters on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Nigosian’s latest scholarship on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Islam brings compelling insights to each chapter. In particular, the rewritten Islam chapter provides students with a fuller understanding of the evolution of the religion and how it impacts the world today

New chapter on modern alternative religions. From the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to the Church of Scientology, Nigosian examines ten emerging religious movements from a historical perspective.

More original source materials and support for students. Students will now encounter twice as much primary source material for discussion and debate. To help students with this new material, the glossary has doubled in size.

Geographic organization. A part-based structure groups together religions with a shared geographic point of origin.

Solomon A. Nigosian

S. A. Nigosian, a research associate at Victoria College of the University of Toronto, has been teaching in the Religion Department for over twenty-five years. His most recent publications include Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices (2004); From Ancient Writings to Sacred Texts: The Old Testament and Apocrypha (2004); and The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research (1993). His articles on Near Eastern Religions and the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament are published frequently in professional journals such as Studies in Religion, Journal of Asian and African Studies, Theological Review, Vetus Testamentum, Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses, and Biblica.