Sacred Quest : An Invitation to the Study of Religion,9780131923775

Sacred Quest : An Invitation to the Study of Religion

by ;
Edition: 4th
ISBN13: 9780131923775
ISBN10: 0131923773
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2010-01-01
Publisher(s): PEARSON
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Summary

For undergraduate courses in Introduction to Religion. This text provides a thematic and comparative approach to the study of religion. the focus of individual chapters gives equal weight to both theoretical issues and to practices as they are reflected in the major religions of the world.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
Introduction 1(10)
The Breadth and Depth of Religious Experience
1(2)
A Brief Outline of the Phenomenological Method
3(3)
Attitudes and Institutions in the Study of Religion
6(3)
A Final Word
9(1)
Notes
10(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
10(1)
1 Toward a Definition of Religion 11(16)
The Search for a Definition of Religion
12(1)
Elements of Religion
13(3)
Religion and Human Thought
13(1)
Religion and Feeling
14(1)
Religion and Action
14(1)
Individual and Social Existence
15(1)
Values and Religion
16(1)
Substance or Function?
16(3)
Toward Resolution
19(2)
A Proposal
21(2)
In Conclusion
23(1)
Notes
24(1)
Thought Experiments
25(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
25(2)
2 The Nature of the Sacred 27(12)
The Complex Character of the Sacred
27(1)
The Concept of Sacred Reality
28(9)
Specially Distinctive
29(3)
To Some Extent, Beyond the Volitional Control of Human Beings
32(2)
Specially Prominent with Respect to Human Welfare
34(1)
Properly Determinative of Various Aspects of Human Existence
35(2)
Summary
37(1)
Notes
37(1)
Thought Experiments
38(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
38(1)
3 The Appearance of the Sacred 39(19)
Types of Sacred Appearance
40(1)
Varieties of Media
41(13)
Sacred Persons
41(5)
Sacred Objects
46(2)
Sacred Time
48(3)
Sacred Space
51(3)
Sacred Appearance and the Complexity of Traditions
54(2)
Notes
56(1)
Thought Experiments
57(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
57(1)
4 The Language(s) of the Sacred 58(18)
Myth
59(2)
Stories
61(3)
Story as Parable
64(1)
The Preservation of Sacred Language
65(2)
Oral Cultures
65(1)
Scriptural Cultures
66(1)
A Summary and Synthesis
67(2)
The Language of Theology
69(1)
The Visual Language of Religion
70(2)
Language and Truth
72(2)
Notes
74(1)
Thought Experiments
74(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
74(2)
5 Ritual 76(15)
Myth(os) and Ritual
77(2)
The Passover
77(1)
Holy Communion (The Eucharist)
78(1)
Rites of Passage
79(3)
Birth Rituals
80(1)
Rituals of Initiation
80(1)
Rituals of Mourning and Death
81(1)
Temporal Rites and Celebrations
82(1)
The Religious Meaning(s) of Ritual
83(3)
Adoration
84(1)
Thanksgiving
84(1)
Petition
85(1)
Penance/Purification
85(1)
Ritual as a Problem
86(2)
Ritual as a System
88(1)
Notes
89(1)
Thought Experiments
89(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
89(2)
6 Sacred Communities 91(17)
The Social Character of Religion
92(1)
Religion and Social Resistance
93(4)
Heresy/Schism/Division
97(3)
Tradition and Innovation
100(3)
The Social Aspects of Worship
103(2)
A Word of Conclusion
105(1)
Notes
106(1)
Thought Experiments
106(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
107(1)
7 The Problem of Evil 108(17)
Identifying Evil
109(4)
Responses to Evil: Some Classic Patterns
113(7)
Evil and Karma: The Indian Context
113(2)
The Consolation of Promise
115(2)
The Appeal to Sovereignty
117(2)
Dualism
119(1)
Are the Answers Adequate?
120(2)
Notes
122(1)
Thought Experiments
123(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
123(2)
8 Religion and Morality 125(17)
Defining the Issues
126(1)
Religion, Morality, and Justification
127(1)
Justification: General Considerations
128(2)
Practical Justification: Three Cases
130(8)
Hinduism: The Caste System
130(3)
Islam: The Justification and Limitation of War
133(3)
Christianity: Why Pray?
136(2)
Religion and Morality: Patterns
138(2)
Notes
140(1)
Thought Experiments
141(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
141(1)
9 The Quest for Salvation 142(17)
Concepts of Salvation
143(1)
Individual Salvation in This World
144(2)
The Search for Meaning
144(1)
The Desire to Be Remembered
145(1)
The Ideal of Completion
146(1)
Individual Salvation in Another World
146(4)
Joining the Spirit World
147(1)
Cosmic Cycling or Expansion
148(1)
The Idea of Judgment
149(1)
Group Salvation in This World
150(2)
Salvation Through the People
150(1)
Salvation Through the Tradition
151(1)
Salvation in the Kingdom of God in This World
151(1)
Group Salvation in Another World
152(1)
Now That Distinctions Have Been Made
153(1)
Paths to Salvation
153(4)
The Path of Knowledge
153(1)
The Path of Action
154(1)
The Path of Aesthetics
155(1)
The Path of Submission
155(1)
The Path of Grace
156(1)
A Closing Reminder
157(1)
Notes
157(1)
Thought Experiments
157(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading
158(1)
Glossary 159(8)
Index 167

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