Preface PART I: PreliminariesChapter 1: Thinking about Being a Student of Religion 1.1 Insider's and Outsider's Perspectives1.2 Qualities Worth Having1.2.1 Openness1.2.2 Honesty1.2.3 Critical Intelligence1.2.4 Careful Observing, Reading, and Listening1.2.5 Critical Tolerance1.3 Why Study Religion?1.4 Plan of the Book1.5 Review QuestionsExplorationsSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 2: On Defining and Studying Religion2.1 Marks of a Good Definition2.1.1 Usefulness2.1.2 Precision2.1.3 Freedom from Bias2.2 Two Definitions2.3 Superstition, Magic, and Religion2.4 Toward a Working Definition of Religion2.5 A Simple Map of the Field2.6 Goals and Methods2.6.1 Description2.6.2 Interpretation2.6.3 Explanation2.6.4 Evaluation2.7 Fieldwork2.8 A Controversy2.9 Review QuestionsExplorationsSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesPART II: LiminariesChapter 3: Sacred Power3.1 Two Case Studies3.1.1 Dao (Tao)3.1.2 Anselm on God3.2 Comparison3.3 Forms of Sacred Power3.3.1 Spirits, Ancestors, and Totems3.3.2 Goddesses and Gods3.3.3 Monotheism and Deism3.3.4 Dualism Divine3.3.5 Pantheism and Monism3.4 Agnosticism and Atheism3.5 Review Questions3.6 Research Case: GaneshaQuestions on the Case of GaneshaSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 4: Myth as Sacred Story4.1 Two Case Studies4.1.1
Enuma elish4.1.2 Moses4.2 Comparison4.3 Types and Functions4.4 Theories of Myth4.5 Myth and Science4.6 Review Questions4.7 Research Case: The Primal ManQuestions on the Case of the Primal ManSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 5: Ritual as Sacred Action5.1 Two Case Studies5.1.1 Akitu Festival5.1.2 Her Alone They Sing Over (
Ishna Ta Awi Cha Lowan)5.2 Comparison5.3 Types and Functions5.4 Sacrifice5.5 Magic, Performatives, and Ritual5.6 Myth and Ritual5.7 Review Questions5.8 Research Case: SederQuestions on the Case of the SederSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 6: Sacred Space, Time, and Art6.1 Two Case Studies6.1.1 Mount Kilimanjaro6.1.2 The Dreamtime6.2 Comparison6.3 Features of Sacred Space and Time6.4 Religion and Art6.4.1 Architecture6.4.2 Music6.5 Review Questions6.6 Research Case: The Cathedral of St. AndrewQuestions on the Case of the Cathedral of St. AndrewSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 7: Experiencing the Sacred7.1 Two Case Studies7.1.1 Muhammad7.1.2 The Buddha7.2 Comparison7.3 Debates about the Nature of Religious Experiences7.4 Shamanic Ecstasy7.5 Mystical Techniques and States7.5.1 Typologies of Mystical Experiences7.5.2 Mystical Experience: Pure or Culturally Conditioned?7.5.3 Mystical Techniques7.6 Psychoanalytic Theories7.7 Review Questions7.8 Research Case: St. Teresa of AvilaQuestions on the Case of St. Teresa of AvilaSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 8: Evil8.1 Two Case Studies8.1.1 Karma8.1.2 The Mahdi8.2 Comparison8.3 Types of Theodicies8.3.1
Karma Theodicies8.3.2 Eschatological Theodicies8.3.3 Theodicies of Participation8.3.4 Dualistic Theodicies8.4 The Theological Problem of Evil8.5 How Theodicies Work8.6 Review Questions8.7 Research Case: ManichaeismQuestions on the Case of ManichaeismSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 9: Religion and Morality9.1 Two Case Studies9.1.1 Divine Command Theory9.1.2 Confucian Virtue9.2 Comparison9.3 Identifying and Legitimating Moral Norms9.4 What Is Morality?9.5 Retribution and Guilt9.5.1 Avoidance9.5.2 Purification9.5.3 Beyond Morality9.6 Review Questions9.7 Research Case: Jain NonviolenceQuestions on the Case of Jain NonviolenceSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 10: Organizing the Sacred10.1 Two Case Studies10.1.1 Tibetan Buddhism10.1.2 Jonestown10.2 Comparison10.3 Types of Religious Organizations10.4 The Dilemmas of Institutionalization10.5 Types of Authority10.6 Scripture10.7 Gender10.8 Civil Religion10.9 Review Questions10.10 Research Case: ShintoQuestions on the Case of ShintoSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesChapter 11: Human Existence and Destiny11.1 Two Case Studies11.1.1 Sikhism11.1.2 Christianity11.2 Comparison11.3 Religions of Salvation and Society11.4 What Is Wrong with Human Existence?11.5 Three Paths to Salvation11.5.1 Merit11.5.2 Grace through Faith11.5.3 Worship11.6 Where Are We Going?11.7 Review Questions11.8 Research Case: Zen BuddhismQuestions on the Case of Zen BuddhismSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet ResourcesPART III: PostliminariesChapter 12: Religious Diversity and Truth12.1 Why Can't We All Get Along?12.2 Exclusivism, Inclusivism, and More12.2.1 Exclusivism12.2.2 Inclusivism12.2.3 Pluralism12.3 What Is Truth?12.3.1 The Proposals of D'Costa and Ward12.3.2 Why Judge at All?12.3.3 Language Games12.4 Critical Tolerance and the Principle of Charity12.4.1 The Blind People and the Elephant12.4.2 The Elephant Principle12.5 Review Questions12.6 Research Case: Baha'iQuestions on the Case of Baha'iSuggestions for Further ReadingInternet Resources
NotesGlossaryIndex
