Comparing Religions - Coming to Terms

Informationen zum Autor Jeffrey J. Kripal is the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University. His most recent publications include Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal (2011); Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred (2010); Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion (2007); and The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion (2007). Klappentext Comparing Religions is a next-generation textbook which expertly guides, inspires, and challenges those who wish to think seriously about religious pluralism in the modern world.* A unique book teaching the art and practice of comparing religions* Draws on a wide range of religious traditions to demonstrate the complexity and power of comparative practices* Provides both a history and understanding of comparative practice and a series of thematic chapters showing how responsible practice is done* A three part structure provides readers with a map and effective process through which to grasp this challenging but fascinating approach* The author is a leading academic, writer, and exponent of comparative practice* Contains numerous learning features, including chapter outlines, summaries, toolkits, discussion questions, a glossary, and many images* Supported by a companion website (available on publication) at www.wiley.com/go/kripal, which includes information on individual religious traditions, links of other sites, an interview with the author, learning features, and much more Zusammenfassung Comparing Religions is a next-generation textbook which expertly guides, inspires, and challenges those who wish to think seriously about religious pluralism in the modern world. Inhaltsverzeichnis An Important Note to the Instructor xi   A Comment on the Cover Image and the Paintings xv   List of Illustrations xvi   Acknowledgments xx   Part I Prehistory, Preparation, and Perspective 1   Introduction: Beginnings 3   1 Comparative Practices in Global History: If Horses Had Hands 9   The Comparative Practices of Polytheism 11   The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Judaism 16   The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Christianity 20   The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Islam 27   The Comparative Practices of Asia: Hinduism 33   The Comparative Practices of Asia: Sikhism 36   The Comparative Practices of Asia: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism in China 38   The Tough Questions 39   2 Western Origins and History of the Modern Practice: From the Bible to Buddhism 43   Deep Upstream: Mystical Humanists, Protesters, Rationalists, and Romantics 44   Mid-Upstream: "Not as Moses Said," or the Biblical Beginnings of Critical Theory 54   Just Upstream: Colonialism and the Modern Births of Spirituality and Fundamentalism 58   The Immediate Wake: Counterculture, Consciousness, Context, and Cosmopolitanism 67   The Tough Questions 73   3 The Skill of Reflexivity and Some Key Categories: The Terms of Our Time Travel 77   The History of Religions 79   Patterns of Initiation 82   The Humanities: Consciousness Studying Consciousness 85   Cultural Anthropology and Initiation Rites 88   Working Definitions and Their Histories 89   The Uncertainty Principle: The Insider-Outsider Problem (and Promise) 103   Religious Questions as Ultimate Concerns 105   The Tough Questions 106   Part II Comparative Acts 109   4 The Creative Functions of Myth and Ritual: Performing the World 111   Myth: Telling the Story Telling Us 113   Ritual: Acting Out the Story Acting Us 116   Patterns in Myth 120   Patterns in Ritual 125   Comparative Practice: The Awakened One and the Great He...

Sommario

An Important Note to the Instructor xi
 
A Comment on the Cover Image and the Paintings xv
 
List of Illustrations xvi
 
Acknowledgments xx
 
Part I Prehistory, Preparation, and Perspective 1
 
Introduction: Beginnings 3
 

1 Comparative Practices in Global History: If Horses Had Hands 9
 
The Comparative Practices of Polytheism 11
 
The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Judaism 16
 
The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Christianity 20
 
The Comparative Practices of Monotheism: Early Islam 27
 
The Comparative Practices of Asia: Hinduism 33
 
The Comparative Practices of Asia: Sikhism 36
 
The Comparative Practices of Asia: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism in China 38
 
The Tough Questions 39
 

2 Western Origins and History of the Modern Practice: From the Bible to Buddhism 43
 
Deep Upstream: Mystical Humanists, Protesters, Rationalists, and Romantics 44
 
Mid-Upstream: "Not as Moses Said," or the Biblical Beginnings of Critical Theory 54
 
Just Upstream: Colonialism and the Modern Births of Spirituality and Fundamentalism 58
 
The Immediate Wake: Counterculture, Consciousness, Context, and Cosmopolitanism 67
 
The Tough Questions 73
 
3 The Skill of Reflexivity and Some Key Categories: The Terms of Our Time Travel 77
 
The History of Religions 79
 
Patterns of Initiation 82
 
The Humanities: Consciousness Studying Consciousness 85
 
Cultural Anthropology and Initiation Rites 88
 
Working Definitions and Their Histories 89
 
The Uncertainty Principle: The Insider-Outsider Problem (and Promise) 103
 
Religious Questions as Ultimate Concerns 105
 
The Tough Questions 106
 
Part II Comparative Acts 109
 
4 The Creative Functions of Myth and Ritual: Performing the World 111
 
Myth: Telling the Story Telling Us 113
 
Ritual: Acting Out the Story Acting Us 116
 
Patterns in Myth 120
 
Patterns in Ritual 125
 
Comparative Practice: The Awakened One and the Great Hero in Ancient India 133
 
Beginning a Toolkit 138
 
The Tough Questions 139
 
5 Religion, Nature, and Science: The Super Natural 143
 
Religion and Contemporary Science 145
 
The Paradox of the Super Natural 146
 
Food and Purity Codes: "You Are What You Eat" 149
 
New Directions: Space Exploration, Dark Green Religion, and Popular Culture 154
 
Comparative Practice: The Human Plant 164
 
The Toolkit 172
 
The Tough Questions 173
 
6 Sex and the Bodies of Religion: Seed and Soil 177
 
In the Beginning ... 178
 
The Social Body: Sexuality, Gender, and Sexual Orientation 181
 
Sex and Transgression 188
 
Super Sexualities 192
 
The Sexual Ignorance of the Religions 195
 
Comparative Practice: The Two Ann(e)s 198
 
The Toolkit 204
 
The Tough Questions 205
 
7 Charisma and the Social Dimensions of Religion: Transmitting the Power 209
 
Charisma and Community 211
 
The Institutionalization of Charisma: Passing on the Charge 215
 
Patterns of Special Institutions 221
 
The Miracle and the Saint: Signs of the (Im)possible 226
 
Comparative Practice: The Flying Saint and the Levitating Medium 229
 
The Toolkit 234
 
The Tough Questions 235
 
8 The Religious Imagination and Its Paranormal Powers: Angels, Aliens, and Anomalies 239
 
System and Anomaly: Paranthropology 241
 
The Sixth Super Sense 244
 
The Imaginal: Not Everything I

Relazione

"This volume is highly recommended for undergraduates, andeven graduate students and general readers." ( Religious Studies Review , 1 September 2014)

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Ata Anzali, Andre Jain, Andrea Jain, Andrea R. Jain, J Kripal, Jeff Kripal, Jeffrey Kripal, Jeffrey J Kripal, Jeffrey J. Kripal, Jeffrey J. (Rice University Kripal, Jeffrey J. Jain Kripal, Erin Prophet, Erin et al Prophet, Erin L. Prophet
• Editore: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 21.03.2014
• EAN: 9781405184588
• ISBN: 978-1-4051-8458-8
• Pagine: 448
• Con la collaborazione di: Andrea R. Jain
• Categorie: Saggistica > Filosofia, religione > Religione: tematiche generali, opere di consultazione; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Religione / teologia; Religion, Religionswissenschaft, Religious Studies, Vergleichende Religionswissenschaft, Religion & Theology, Religion u. Theologie, Comparative & World Religions