World Religions
Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 Origins of the Concept of “Religion” and Definitions .............................. 2 Aspects ...................................................................................................... 6 Academic Study of Religion ...................................................................... 7 Classification ............................................................................................. 9 Related Aspects ........................................................................................ 15 Criticism of Religion ............................................................................... 20 Chapter 2 Judaism .............................................................................................. 36 History ..................................................................................................... 36 Judaism and Other Religions ................................................................... 41 Defining Characteristics and Principles of Faith ..................................... 43 Jewish Religious Texts ............................................................................ 46 Jewish Religious Movements .................................................................. 74 Jewish Observances ................................................................................. 76 Community Leadership ........................................................................... 84 Chapter 3 Christianity ........................................................................................ 89 History ..................................................................................................... 88 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 120 Worship .................................................................................................. 128 Demographics ........................................................................................ 132 Major Denominations ............................................................................ 134 Christian Culture ................................................................................... 137 Preface ix vi Ecumenism ............................................................................................ 138 Apologetics and Criticism ..................................................................... 139 Chapter 4 Islam ................................................................................................. 143 History ................................................................................................... 142 Articles of Faith ..................................................................................... 147 Acts of Worship ..................................................................................... 150 Law and Jurisprudence .......................................................................... 171 Society ................................................................................................... 173 Denominations ....................................................................................... 176 Demographics ........................................................................................ 178 Culture ................................................................................................... 179 Criticism ................................................................................................ 180 Chapter 5 Babism ............................................................................................. 184 Beliefs and Teachings ............................................................................ 181 History ................................................................................................... 183 Writings ................................................................................................. 190 Criticism ................................................................................................ 191 Chapter 6 Druze ................................................................................................ 195 Location ................................................................................................. 193 History ................................................................................................... 193 Modern History ..................................................................................... 200 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 203 Religious Symbol .................................................................................. 206 Prayer Houses and Holy Places ............................................................. 207 Initiates and “Ignorant” Members ......................................................... 207 Culture ................................................................................................... 208 Origins ................................................................................................... 208 Chapter 7 Mandaeism ...................................................................................... 215 History ................................................................................................... 212 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 214 Possibly Related Groups ........................................................................ 217 Mandaeans Today .................................................................................. 218 Chapter 8 Rastafari .......................................................................................... 223 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 220 Practices ................................................................................................. 226 History ................................................................................................... 232 Organization .......................................................................................... 236 Demographics ........................................................................................ 238 vii Chapter 9 Samaritanism .................................................................................. 246 History ................................................................................................... 242 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 244 Festivals and Observances ..................................................................... 244 Religious Texts ...................................................................................... 245 Chapter 10 Buddhism ......................................................................................... 247 Life of the Buddha ................................................................................. 248 The Problem of Life: Endless Rebirth ................................................... 249 The Path to Liberation: Bhavana (Practice, Cultivation) ...................... 252 Buddhist Texts ....................................................................................... 262 History ................................................................................................... 264 Schools and Traditions .......................................................................... 269 Buddhism Today .................................................................................... 271 Chapter 11 Hinduism ......................................................................................... 273 Definitions ............................................................................................. 274 Diversity and Unity ............................................................................... 277 Beliefs .................................................................................................... 279 Main Traditions ..................................................................................... 284 Scriptures ............................................................................................... 285 Practices ................................................................................................. 286 Person and Society ................................................................................ 289 History ................................................................................................... 291