Table of Contents
What Is Religion? 6
Author's Preface
Ancient Religions David Bowker 14
Introduction 16
Egyptian Religion 18
Zoroastrianism 20
Greek Religion 22
Roman Religion 24
Norse Religions 26
Celtic Religions 28
Hinduism Dr. Heather Elgood 30
Introduction 32
Origins of Hinduism 36
Shiva the Destroyer 39
The Mother Goddess 42
Vishnu the Preserver 45
Other Gods 48
Sacred Writings 51
Hindu Worship 54
Pilgrimages 57
Routes to Moksha 60
Festivals 63
Truth and the Universe 66
Jainism Dr. Paul Dundas 70
Introduction 72
The Five Supreme Beings 76
The Life of Mahavira 79
Cosmology 82
Asceticism 85
Temple and Image Worship 88
Buddhism 92
Consultants Dr. Ian Harris Denise Cush
Introduction 94
The Life of the Buddha 98
The Buddha Image 101
Stupas, Temples, and Relics 104
Buddhist Devotion 108
Cosmology 111
Texts and Monasteries 114
Celestial Beings 118
Chinese Buddhism 121
Japanese Buddhism 124
Tantric Buddhism 127
Sikhism Dr. Eleanor Nesbitt 130
Introduction 132
The Life of Guru Nanak 136
The Ten Gurus 139
Special Occasions 142
The Guru Granth Sahib 145
The Golden Temple 148
Chinese Religions Consultants: Dr. Stewart McFarlane Dr. Will Buckingham 152
Introduction 154
Confucianism 158
The Heavenly Mandate 162
Popular Religion 166
Religious Daoism 170
Daoism-Body and Mind 173
Japanese Religions Consultant. Dr. Clark Chilson 176
Introduction 178
The Origins of Shinto 182
Addressing the Gods 185
Shrines and Festivals 188
Religious Action 191
New Religions 194
Judaism Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok 198
Introduction 200
The Origins of Judaism 204
The Laws of God 207
Waiting for the Messiah 210
Jewish Worship 214
Studying the Torah 218
The Kabbalah 221
Divisions in Judaism 224
Festivals 227
Rites of Passage 230
Jerusalem-City of Zion 233
The Holocaust 237
Christianity Dr. Margaret Bowker 240
Introduction 242
The Incarnation 246
The Life of Christ 249
The Last Supper 252
The Crucifixion 256
The Resurrection 259
Saints and Martyrs 262
The Church 266
The Reformation 269
The Religious Life 272
The Orthodox Church 276
The Last Judgment 280
Islam David Thomas FBA 284
Introduction 286
No God but Allah 290
The Prophet Muhammad 293
The Quran 296
The Five Pillars of Islam 299
The Six Articles of Belief 302
The Islamic State 306
Sufi Orders and Beliefs 309
Islam and Science 312
The Mosque 315
Indigenous Religions Dr Paul Heelas Miranda Bruce-Mitford 318
Introduction 320
Shamanism 324
Creation Stories 327
Forces of Good and Evil 331
Rites of Passage 334
The Golden Rule 336
Religious Timelines 338
Index 342
Acknowledgments 351
