The Religion Toolkit

Understanding Religion in the World Today
2. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-1-394-18392-0
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Buch, Englisch, 384 Seiten, Format (B × H): 179 mm x 254 mm, Gewicht: 824 g

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Morreall, John

Sonn, Tamara

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Buddhismus
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Hinduismus
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam & Islamische Studien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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

Über Autor(innen)

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.