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The World's Religions, 4th edition

Published by Pearson (July 23, 2021) © 2013

  • William A. Young Westminster College
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The World’s Religions provides an orientation to the study of religion.

Surveying the stages of development, worldviews, and current situations of the major world religions, this text discusses the ways these religions respond to contemporary ethical issues. It also presents a sampling of new religious movements and looks to the possible ways the world's religions may interact in the 21st century. Its distinctive “framework for understanding” religious worldviews allows readers to compare and contrast the teachings of religions objectively.

Teaching and Learning Experience

  • Personalize Learning— MyReligionLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals. 
  • Improve Critical Thinking- The “framework for understanding” allows students to think critically about varying religious worldviews. 
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Brief Table of Contents

Part 1. Introduction

  1. An Introduction to Religions and the Study of Religion

Part 2. The World's Religions—Histories and Worldviews

  1. Indigenous Religions—Quest for Harmony
  2. Hinduism—Many Paths to the Summit
  3. Theravada Buddhism—The Middle Way
  4. Jainism—The Way of Noninjury
  5. Daoism—The Way of Nature
  6. Confucianism—The Way of Virtue
  7. Mahayana Buddhism (The Great Vehicle) and Vajrayana Buddhism (The Thunderbolt Vehicle)
  8. Shinto—The Way of Kami
  9. Judaism—The Way of Torah
  10. Christianity—The Way of Jesus Christ
  11. Islam—The Way of Submission to Allah
  12. Sikhism—The Way of the Guru
  13. The New Religious Movements—Renewal and Innovation

Part 3. The World's Religions and Contemporary Ethical Issues

  1. The Ecological and Economic Crises—Humans and Resources
  2. War and Capital Punishment—Society and Violence
  3. Abortion and Euthanasia—Life and Death
  4. Gender and Sexual Orientation—Roles and Identity

Part 4. Conclusion

  1. The Future of the World's Religions

Detailed Table of Contents.

Part 1. Introduction

  1. An Introduction to Religions and the Study of Religion
    • What Is Religion?
    • Why Are People Religious?
    • Why So Many Religions?
    • Why Is the Study of Religion So Important in the Twenty-First Century?
    • What Is the Relationship Between Science and Religion?
    • How Might Religion Be Studied?
    • How Will We Study the World's Religions?
    • Looking Ahead. An Overview of the Rest of the Text

Part 2. The World's Religions—Histories and Worldviews

  1. Indigenous Religions—Quest for Harmony
    • An Orientation to Indigenous Peoples and Their Religions
    • The Yoruba of West Africa
    • The Oglala Lakota (Souix) of the Great Plains of North America
    • The Continuing Impact of Indigenous Religions in the Twnty-First Century
  2. Hinduism—Many Paths to the Summit
    • An Orientation to South and Southeast Asia
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Hindu Worldview
    • Hinduism in the Twenty-First Century
  3. Theravada Buddhism—The Middle Way
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Theravada Buddhist Worldview
    • Theravada Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century
  4. Jainism—The Way of Noninjury
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Jain Worldview
    • Jainism in the Twenty-First Century
  5. Daoism—The Way of Nature
    • An Orientation to East Asia
    • Daoism. The Way of Nature
  6. Confucianism—The Way of Virtue
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Confucian Worldview
    • Confucianism and Other Religions in the People's Republic of China
  7. Mahayana Buddhism (The Great Vehicle) and Vajrayana Buddhism (The Thunderbolt Vehicle)
    • A Brief History of Korea and Japan
    • Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in East Asia
    • Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada Buddhism Contrasted
    • Major Mahayana Schools in East Asia
    • Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet
    • Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century
  8. Shinto—The Way of Kami
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Shinto Worldview
    • Religion in Twenty-First-Century Japan and Korea
  9. Judaism—The Way of Torah
    • An Orientation to the Middle East
    • Judaism. The Way of Torah
  10. Christianity—The Way of Jesus Christ
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Christian Worldview
    • Christianity in the Twenty-First Century
  11. Islam—The Way of Submission to Allah
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Islamic Worldview
    • Islam in the Twenty-First Century
  12. Sikhism—The Way of the Guru
    • Stages of Development and Sacred Texts
    • The Sikh Worldview
    • Sikhism in the Twenty-First Century
  13. The New Religious Movements—Renewal and Innovation
    • Preparing for the End: Apocalyptic New Religious Movements
    • Faith and Spirit: New Religious Movements of Healing and Awareness
    • Reviving the Church: Christian New Religious Movements of Renewal
    • Nature and Spirit: Earth-Based and Ecological New Religious Movements
    • Liberation and Enlightenment: New Religious Movements with Asian Roots
    • African-American and Afro-Caribbean New Religious Movements
    • Native American New Religious Movements
    • Focusing on the Human and the Natural: Secular New Religious Movements
    • The Quest for Unity: Universalist New Religious Movements

Part 3. The World's Religions and Contemporary Ethical Issues

  1. The Ecological and Economic Crises—Humans and Resources
    • The Ecological Crisis: Is the Balance of Life on Planet Earth in Jeopardy?
    • The Economic Crisis: Why Hunger and Abject Poverty in a World of Plenty?
  2. War and Capital Punishment—Society and Violence
    • War: When, If Ever is War Justified
    • Capital Punishement: When May the State Take a Criminal's Life?
  3. Abortion and Euthanasia—Life and Death
    • Abortion: Right to Life or Right to Choose?
    • Euthanasia: A "Good Death" or "Playing God"?
  4. Gender and Sexual Orientation—Roles and Identity
    • The Changing Roles of Women: Liberation or Confusion?
    • Homosexuality: Orientation, Preference, or Perversion?

Part 4. Conclusion

  1. The Future of the World's Religions
    • How the World's Religions Will Relate to One Another: Three Possible Futures
    • The Search for Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis
    • The World's Religions after September 11, 2001

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