Preface 1: The Beginning of Understanding Modern Religious Studies The Challenge of Definition Religious Questions and Answers Studying Scripture Key Terms Readings Identifying Religions The Nature of Religion, Ninian Smart Comparative Studies Comparing Religions, Will Deming The Sacred and the Profane The Sacredness of Nature and Cosmic Religion, Mircea Eliade Subjective Belief Religious Experience: The Root of Religion, William James Religion as Human Invention Religion is "the Opium of the People", Karl Marx The Goddess When Got Was a Woman, Merlin Stone Belief and Practices The Matter of Belief, David Morgan NEW Religion, Sarah M. Pike NEW Study Questions Further Reading Online 2: Indigenous Religions: North America and Africa Indigenous North American Religions Indigenous African Religions Key Terms Readings Indigenous North American Religions Thunder Rides a Black Horse, Claire R. Farrer Basic Call to Consciousness, Iroquois Nation Iroquois Myth: The Creation Cherokee Myth: How the World Was Made Cherokee Myth: Origin of Disease and Medecine Sioux Genesis Native American Spirituality, Evan T. Prichard Sacred Ways of a Lakota, Wallace Black Elk The Gift of the Sacred Pipe, Wallace Black Elk Misunderstanding Native Americans, Frederick W. Turner Indigenous African Religions Women in African Traditional Religions, Joseph Akinyele Omoyajowo Traditional Religions in Contemporary Africa, Wande Abimbola African Traditional Religions: Worldviews and Cosmology, Jacob K. Olupona Contemporary Challenges Justice Delayed for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, Wendelin Hume NEW Study Questions Further Reading Online 3: Hinduism Hindu Beliefs Hindu Ritual Hindu Philosophies Hindu Scriptures Major Monotheisms Challenges to Hinduism Key Terms Readings Teachings Selections from the Rig Veda Selections from the Upanishads Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita Selections from the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, Advaita Vedanta The Path of Devotion: Bhagavata Purana Shiva Purana The Goddess Durga, David R. Kinsley The Spirit of Indian Philosophy, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Selections from The Secret Garland Practices Yoga: Discipline of Freedom, Barbara Stoler Miller Chanting the Sacred Syllable Om, Chandogya Upanishad Bhakti Yoga, Baghavad Gita Hindu Ritual: Cremation, Rig Veda Domestic Worship, Vasudha Narayanan Darsan: Seeing the Sacred, Diana L. Eck Contemporary Challenges The Case of Uma Bharati, Katherine K.

Young Untouchability, Mohandas Gandhi Study Questions Further Reading Online 4: Jainism Jain History Teachings and Practices Jain Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings Nonviolence, Sutrakritanga Wise and Foolish Men, Acaranga Sutra Moral Verses, Naladiyar There Is No Creator God, Mahapurana Be Watchful, Uttaradhyayana Sutra Practices The Eternal Law, Acaranga Sutra Sinning Against the Earth, Acaranga Sutra The Five Great Vows, Acaranga Sutra Life of a Jain Nun, N. Shanta Contemporary Challenges Jains Today, Vasudha Narayanan Study Questions Further Reading Online 5: Buddhism Buddhist Complexities The Buddha''s Life The Buddha''s Teachings Modern Challenges to Buddhism Women and Buddhism Social Engages Buddhism Buddhist Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings The Buddha''s First Sermon NEW The Awakaned One The Five Precepts The Enlightenment The Recollection of Death, Buddhaghosa The heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra The Lotus Sutra: A Parable Buddha Nature, Peter Harvey Guidelines for Studying the Way, Eihei Dogen Practices A Buddhist-American Monk, Heng Sure Meditation, Damien Keown No Need for Precepts, Bankei The Koan Exercise, D.T. Suzuki Rules for Zazen, Master Dogen Contemporary Challenges Freedom in Exile, The Dalai Lama Thich Nhat Hanh on Engaged Buddhist Ethics, Sallie B. King Women in Buddhism, Roy C. Amore and Julia Ching Study Questions Further Reading Online 6: Sikhism Beginnings Beliefs Sikh Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings Hymns of Guru Gobind Singh Hymns of Guru Amar Das Hymns of Guru Ram Das The Death of Guru Nanak The Rahit: Code of Conduct Selections from the Japii Practices The Rite of Khalsa Initiation, Hew McLeod Devotions: THe Prakaash, Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa Contemporary Challenges Feminine Dimensions of Sikh Faith, Willard G. Oxtoby Study Questions Further Reading Online 7: Confucianism Life of Confucius Confucian Teachings The Confucian Canon Key Terms Readings Teachings Selections from The Analects Selections from THe Book of Mencius Human Neature is Evil, Xunzi Confucianism as Religious Humanism, Julia Chung The Confucian Way of Being Religious, Tu Wei-Ming Practices Sacred Space, Jennifer Oldstone-Moore Confucian Holy Rite, Herbert Fingarette Contemporary Challenges The Revival of Confucian Values, Xinzhong Yao Study Questions Further Reading Online 8: Daoism Teachings Practices The Daoist Canon Key Terms Readings Teachings Selections from the Daodejing Selections from the Zhuangzi The Dao of Ecology, Huston Smith Practices T''ai Chi, Al Chung-liang Huang Quiet Sitting with Master Yinshi, Jiang Weiqiao Qingjing Jing The Lady of Great Mystery Contemporary Challenges Daoism in the Twenty-First Century, William A. Young Study Questions Further Reading Online 9: Shinto Beliefs and Practices Sacred Writings Key Terms Readings Teachings The Nihongi: THe Kami Create Kapan Nihongi: THe Kami of the Sun and Moon Kojiki: Kami, the Netherworld, and the Eclipse of the Sun Life is Transitory Mount Fugi Practices Rituals, Shrines, and Festivals, Ian Reader Contemporary Challenges Japanese Religion in Modern Times, Howard W.

French Study Questions Further Reading Online 10: Zoroastrianism Zarathustra and His Teachings 3 Zoroastrian Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings The Zoroastrian Creed To Ahura and the Fire Hymn to Ahur Resurrection and Final Judgment Good and Evil Fate of the Soul at Death Practices The Four Main Prayers Burial of the Dead Zoroastrian Ceremonies, Rustom Masani Contemporary Challenges Zoroastrianism''s Biggest Worry: Membership, Ariane Sherine Study Questions Further Reading Online 11: Judaism History Beliefs Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings The Creation Store The Covenant with Noah The Covenant with Abraham The Exodus The Mosaic Covenant The Holiness Code The Entry into Canaan Psalms of David The Babylonian Conquest and Exile Mishnah: The Ethics of the Fathers Maimonides: Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith Reform Judaism: The Pittsburgh Platform, 1885 To Be a Jew, Elie Wiesel God in Search of Man, Abaraham Joshua Heschel Practices Observing the Sabbath, George Robinson Yom Kippur, Herman Wouk The Seder, George Robinson Contemporary Challenges Jewish Feminism, Judith Plaskow Eve in the Hebrew Bible, Carol Meyers NEW Study Questions Further Reading Online 12: Christianity History Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings The Sermon of the Mount Healing the Blind and Casting Out Demons The Good Samaritan Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Resurrection The Women at the Tomb The Word Made Flesh The Ascension and Pentecost Paul: Life After Death The Gnostic Gospel of Mary The Infancy Gospel of Thomas Augustine''s Confessions Orthodox Christianity, Ernst Benz The Apostles'' Creed The Nicene Creed PRactices Prayer and Fasting The Eucharist Baptism The Didache: Teaching of the Apostles Contemporary Challenges Women in the New Testament Women and Christianity, Linda Woodhead The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, Robert P. Jones LGBTQ Bias May Be Driving Young Evangelicals from Church, Yonat Shimron Study Questions Further Reading Online 13: Islam Beginnings Practice Scriptures Key Terms Readings Teachings The Quran, Suras 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 17, 53, 75, 96, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 107, 443 Hadith: Jihad, How Divine Revelation Came to the Holy Prophet, Divorce Sunni Beliefs (al-Ash''ari) Shi''a Beliefs (Ibn Babuya al-Saduq) The Sufi Path: Doorkeeper of the Heart Al-Ghazali: The Classes of Seekers Practices The Quran: The Cow (The Five Pillars), The Cow (Laws) Hadith: Charity Contemporary Challenges.