Religion Toolkit - Understanding Religion in the World Today

A comprehensive survey of the study of religion worldwide, from ancient indigenous traditions to today's religious nationalism. "This is an excellent book that is a good, comprehensive overview of the history of religions and the ways of studying religion within Religious Studies... it really brings religions to life for the reader."
-Gavin Flood, Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion, Oxford University "The authors provide a clear, first-rate introduction to the study of religions, origins, leading scholars and their theories and beliefs.... This is by far the best introductory volume I am aware of both in terms of substance, clarity, and insights."
- John L. Esposito, Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University, and Past President of the American Academy of Religion The Religion Toolkit: Understanding Religion in the World Today is a clear and comprehensive introduction to the academic study of religions, providing readers an introduction to the history and theories of Religious Studies, a survey of global religious traditions, and an overview of religion in the public sphere today.

• Discusses theory and methodology in religion, including the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, philosophy, biblical studies, and theology
• Describes the early development of religion, with overviews of traditions around the world, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto
• Covers traditions not commonly addressed in introductory textbooks, such as Santeria, Vodou, Tengrism, and indigenous traditions of the Americas
• Examines recent developments and contemporary issues such as secularization, bioethics, and the rise of religious nationalism
• Includes access to a companion website with discussion questions, additional material, and helpful primary and secondary sources

Providing the knowledge and tools required to explore and understand the nature and roles of religion, The Religion Toolkit: Understanding Religion in the World Today, Second Edition is an excellent introductory textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in Religious Studies, History of Religion, Religions of the World, and Theory and Method in the Study of Religion, as well as a valuable resource for general readers interested in the role of religion in the world today.

List of contents

List of Figures and Maps x
Acknowledgments xiii
Credits xiv
About the Companion Website xvi
Part I Introducing Religious Studies 1
1 Introduction: Religious Studies: Overview and Terminology 2
Religious Studies: Prepare to Be Surprised 3
Overview of Religion 12
Identity 13
The Importance of Order 16
Order Out of Chaos 16
Order and Predictability: Eschatology and Divination 17
Social Order 20
Ethics/Morality and Law 20
Authority and Power 22
Explaining Evil, Suffering, and Death 24
Theodicy 24
Explaining Death 27
Ghosts 28
Resurrection 29
Souls 30
Reincarnation 31
Ritual and Prayer 32
Conclusion 33
Discussion Questions 34
References 34
Further Reading 34
2 Theory and Method in Religious Studies 36
Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies 37
The Relationship Between Philosophy and Theology 38
Two Kinds of Christian Theology 39
Scriptural (Biblical) Studies and the Impact of the Printing Press 41
Baruch Spinoza (d. 1677): The Beginnings of Source Criticism 41
William Robertson Smith (d. 1894): Historical Criticism 43
The Rise of Modernity and Its Impact on the Study of Religion 44
Philosophy and the Study of Religion 45
Karl Marx (d. 1883) 46
Edmund Husserl (d. 1938) 48
Rudolf Otto (d. 1937) 49
Mircea Eliade (d. 1986) 50
Oriental Studies and Religion 51
Max Müller (d. 1900) 51
Anthropology and Religion 53
Edward Burnett Tylor (d. 1917) 53
James Frazer (d. 1941) 56
Clifford Geertz (d. 2006) 59
Mary Douglas (d. 2007) 61
Psychology of Religion 63
William James (d. 1910) 63
Sigmund Freud (d. 1939) 65
Carl Gustav Jung (d. 1961) 67
Sociology of Religion 68
Emile Durkheim (d. 1917) 68
Max Weber (d. 1920) 69
Peter L. Berger (d. 2017) 71
Robert N. Bellah (d. 2013) 72
Conclusion 73
Discussion Questions 74
References 74
Further Reading 75
Part II Survey of Global Religious Traditions 77
Introduction to Part II 77
References 80
Further Reading 80
3 Prehistoric Religiosity? 82
Animism and Anthropomorphism 84
Death Rituals 88
Fertility Goddesses 88
Hunting Rituals 89
Shamans 89
Ancient Traditions, Oral Traditions, and Religion 90
The Neolithic Revolution and the Rise of Historic Religions 92
Conclusion 95
Discussion Questions 96
References 96
Further Reading 96
4 The Prophetic Traditions: Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Baha'i 98
Introduction 99
Zoroastrianism 100
History and Teachings 100
Zoroastrian Rituals 102
Judaism 104
The Torah, the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament 104
History and Teachings 111
The First Five Centuries 111
The Middle Ages (500-1500 CE) 113
The Modern Period (1750 to the Present) 116
The Development of Reform Judaism 116
Conservative Judaism 121
Reconstructionist Judaism 122
Rituals 122
Judaism Today 124
Christianity 125
History and Teachings 125
Origins 125
The Development of Christian Doctrine 128
The Institutionalization and Politicization of Christianity 131
Eastern and Western Christians 133
Eastern Christianity 133
Western Christianity 135
The Protestant Reformation 137
Christian Rituals 139
Christianity Today 139
Islam 141
History and Teachings 141
Core Teachings 141
Early History: The Life of Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphs 147
The Dynastic Caliphates 150
The Modern Period: Reform and Recovery 153
Islamic Rituals 154
Major Divisions Today 156
Baha'i 156
History and Teachings 156
Baha'i Rituals 159
Discussion Questions 160
References 161
Further Reading 161
5 The Dharmic Traditions of India: Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh 162
Hindus 164
History and Teachings 164
Indus Valley Civilization (3000-1500 BCE) 165
The Aryans and the Vedas (1500-600 BCE) 165
The Mystical Worldview of the Upanishads 167
Classical Hinduism (3rd century BCE-7th century CE) 170
The Ramayana 170
The Mahabharata 170
The Puranas 174
The Laws of Manu 175
Hinduism Today 177
Rituals 177
Jains 181
Origins and Early History 182
Core Teachings and Practice 182
Jain Scripture 184
Historical Development 185
Jainism Today 186
Buddhists 188
History and Teachings 189
Understanding the Four Noble Truths 191
The Ethics of "Awakening" 193
The Core of All Buddhist Traditions 193
The Development of the Three Main Traditions 195
Theravada (Hinayana) 195
Mahayana 196
Vajrayana 198
Buddhism Today 199
Rituals 200
Sikhs 201
Origins and Core Teachings 201
Scriptures 202
Historical Development 202
Rituals and Celebrations 206
Sikhs Today 207
Conclusion 207
Discussion Questions 208
References 208
Further Reading 208
6 The Three Teachings and Traditions of China: Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Folk 210
Historical Development 213
Confucius (551-479 BCE) 214
Daoism 217
Buddhism in China 220
Tiantai (Tendai) Buddhism 222
Pure Land Buddhism 222
Huayan (Kegon) Buddhism 223
Chan (Zen) Buddhism 223
Chinese Folk Traditions 226
Rituals in Chinese Traditions 227
Weddings 228
Funerals 229
Chinese Traditions Today 230
Discussion Questions 233
References 233
Further Reading 234
7 Ancient Indigenous Traditions Today 236
Shinto 238
History and Teachings 238
Rituals 241
The Seneca Longhouse Religion 242
History and Teachings 242
Rituals 246
African Traditional Religion in Diaspora 249
Haitian Vodou 249
Santeria 251
Tengrism 254
History of Central Asian Tengrism 255
Beliefs and Practices of Tengrism 258
Contemporary Central Asian Tengrism 260
Yanomami Traditions 261
Historical Background 261
Yanomami Worldview 263
Discussion Questions 265
References 265
Further Reading 266
8 New Religious Movements 268
Wicca 270
History and Teachings 270
Rituals 272
Scientology 276
History and Teachings 276
Practices 279
Is Scientology a Religion? 281
Discussion Questions 281
References 282
Further Reading 282
Part III Religion in The Public Sphere 283
Introduction to Part III 283
References 287
9 Religion and Bioethics 288
Euthanasia 289
Christianity 290
Judaism 293
Islam 294
Hinduism 295
Buddhism 296
Abortion 296
Clarifying Terminology 296
Judaism 297
Christianity 298
Islam 299
In Vitro Fertilization, Embryonic Stem-cell Research and Therapy 300
Christianity 301
Judaism 303
Islam 303
Discussion Questions 303
References 304
Further Reading 305
10 Scripture, History, and Science 306
Oral Style in Scripture 308
Scriptural Literalism in Christian Fundamentalism 309
The Roman Catholic Church and the Galileo Affair 312
Scriptural Literalism and Ethics 314
Religious Approaches to Environmental Stewardship 315
Discussion Questions 318
References 318
Further Reading 318
11 Religion, Identity, and Politics 320
Notes on Terminology 322
Religious Nationalism in the United States 325
The Development of Religious Nationalism in the United States 326
US Religious Nationalism Today 328
The Dangers of Religious Nationalism 332
Religious Nationalism Around the World 333
Brazil 334
Europe 336
India 338
Israel 339
China 341
Myanmar 342
Final Observations 344
Discussion Questions 345
References 345
Further Reading 347
Glossary 349
Index 357

About the author

John Morreall is Emeritus Professor at the College of William & Mary. A Professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy for four decades, Morreall has taught dozens of courses in world religions, theories of religion, philosophy of religion, and ethics. As the preeminent expert in the philosophy of humor, he specializes in the value of humor in both religion and life generally. He has given more than 600 lectures and seminars for academic, medical, and professional groups in North America, Europe, Africa, Japan, and China. Tamara Sonn is Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor Emerita in the History of Islam at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Author of numerous books on Islamic history, she has lectured in Canada, Britain, South Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, and across the United States. She was Senior Editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Islam, Associate Editor of The Islamic World Past and Present, and founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal Religion Compass.

Summary

THE RELIGION TOOLKIT

A comprehensive survey of the study of religion worldwide, from ancient indigenous traditions to today's religious nationalism.

"This is an excellent book that is a good, comprehensive overview of the history of religions and the ways of studying religion within Religious Studies... it really brings religions to life for the reader."
--Gavin Flood, Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion, Oxford University

"The authors provide a clear, first-rate introduction to the study of religions, origins, leading scholars and their theories and beliefs.... This is by far the best introductory volume I am aware of both in terms of substance, clarity, and insights."
-- John L. Esposito, Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University, and Past President of the American Academy of Religion

The Religion Toolkit: Understanding Religion in the World Today is a clear and comprehensive introduction to the academic study of religions, providing readers an introduction to the history and theories of Religious Studies, a survey of global religious traditions, and an overview of religion in the public sphere today.
* Discusses theory and methodology in religion, including the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, philosophy, biblical studies, and theology
* Describes the early development of religion, with overviews of traditions around the world, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto
* Covers traditions not commonly addressed in introductory textbooks, such as Santeria, Vodou, Tengrism, and indigenous traditions of the Americas
* Examines recent developments and contemporary issues such as secularization, bioethics, and the rise of religious nationalism
* Includes access to a companion website with discussion questions, additional material, and helpful primary and secondary sources

Providing the knowledge and tools required to explore and understand the nature and roles of religion, The Religion Toolkit: Understanding Religion in the World Today, Second Edition is an excellent introductory textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in Religious Studies, History of Religion, Religions of the World, and Theory and Method in the Study of Religion, as well as a valuable resource for general readers interested in the role of religion in the world today.

Product details

• Authors: John Morreall, John (College of William and Mary Morreall, Tamara Sonn, Tamara (The College of William and Mary Sonn, Sonn Tamara
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.2024
• EAN: 9781394183920
• ISBN: 978-1-394-18392-0
• No. of pages: 384
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Soziologie, Religion, Sociology of Religion, Sociology, Religionssoziologie, Vergleichende Religionswissenschaft, Religion & Theology, Religion u. Theologie, Allg. Religion u. Theologie, Comparative & World Religions