World Religions RL. Almanac

269 Pages·2006·22.26 MB·English

by  O'neal

World Religions
Almanac
World Religions
Almanac
VOLUME 1
Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones
Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, Editors
WorldReligions:Almanac
WrittenbyMichaelJ.O’NealandJ.SydneyJones
EditedbyNeilSchlagerandJayneWeisblatt
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Jones,J.Sydney.
World religions reference library / edited by Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt;
writtenbyJ.SydneyJonesandMichaelO’Neal;NancyMatuszak,contentprojecteditor.
p.cm.--(Worldreligionsreferencelibrary)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0227-7(Almanac:set:alk.paper)--
ISBN-10:1-4144-0227-9(Almanac:set:alk.paper)--
ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0228-4(Almanac:vol.1:alk.paper)--
ISBN–10:1-4144-0228-7(Almanac:vol.1:alk.paper)--
[etc.]
1.Religions.I.O’Neal,Michael,1949-II.Schlager,Neil,1966-III.Weisblatt,Jayne.
IV.Title.V.Series.
BL74.J662006
200--dc22
2006012295
ISBN-13: ISBN-10:
978-1-4144-0229-1 978-1-4144-0232-1 1-4144-0229-5 1-4144-0232-5
(Almanacvol.2) (Biographiesvol.2) (Almanacvol.2) (Biographiesvol.2)
978-1-4144-0230-7 978-1-4144-0232-8 1-4144-0230-9 1-4144-0233-3
(Biographiesset) (PrimarySources) (Biographiesset) (PrimarySources)
978-1-4144-0231-4 978-1-4144-0234-5 1-4144-0231-7 1-4144-0234-1
(Biographiesvol.1) (CumulativeIndex) (Biographiesvol.1) (CumulativeIndex)
Thistitleisalsoavailableasane-book.
ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0232-1,ISBN-10:1-4144-0612-6
ContactyourThomsonGalesalesrepresentativefororderinginformation.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Reader’s Guide vii
Timeline of Events xi
Words to Know xv
Research and Activity Ideas xxxiii
VOLUME 1
Chapter 1: What is Religion? 1
Chapter 2: Agnosticism and Atheism 19
Chapter 3: Ancient Religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia 37
Chapter 4: Baha´(cid:1)´ı 69
Chapter 5: Buddhism 87
Chapter 6: Christianity 119
Chapter 7: Confucianism 151
Chapter 8: Daoism 177
Chapter 9: Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy 207
Where to Learn More xxxvii
Index xxxix
VOLUME 2
Chapter 10: Hinduism 239
Chapter 11: Indigenous Religions 271
Chapter 12: Islam 291
Chapter 13: Jainism 323
v
CONTENTS
Chapter 14: Judaism 345
Chapter 15: Neo-Paganism 371
Chapter 16: Shinto 393
Chapter 17: Sikhism 419
Chapter 18: Zoroastrianism 443
Where to Learn More xxxvii
Index xxxix
vi WorldReligions:Almanac
Reader’s Guide
Religion influences the views and actions of world’s population participates in it in one
many people in the world today in both politi- wayoranother.Thoughhardtodefine,religion
cal and personal ways. In some instances reli- seems to be a universal experience and need. Of
gious fervor compels people to perform selfless the nearly 6.5 billion people on Earth, only
acts of compassion, while in others it spurs about 16 percent (about 1.1. billion) say they
them to bitter warfare. Religion opens some do not believe in a god or do not believe in a
peopletoallhumanitybutrestrictsotherstore- specificreligion.Therestoftheworld’spopula-
main loyal to small groups. tion belongs to one of more than twenty differ-
In general, religion can be described as a ent major religions.
unified system of thought, feeling, and action
thatissharedbyagroupandthatgivesitsmem-
Features and Format
bers an object of devotion—someone or some-
World Religions: Almanac covers the history, tra-
thing sacred to believe in, such as a god or a
ditions, and worldviews of dominant and less
spiritual concept. Religion also involves a code
prominent religions and their sects and off-
of behavior or personal moral conduct by
shoots. This title examines the development of
which individuals may judge the personal and
religions throughout history and into modern
social consequences of their actions and the
times: their philosophies and practices, sacred
actions of others. Most of the time, religion
texts and teachings, effects on everyday life,
also deals with what might be called the super-
influences on society and culture, and more.
natural or the spiritual, about forces and a
power beyond the control of humans. In this The two-volume set features eighteen chap-
function, religion attempts to answer questions ters on today’s prominent world religions and
thatsciencedoesnottouch,suchasthemeaning also explores ancient beliefs, such as those of
of life and what happens after death. Egypt and Mesopotamia; smaller movements
Perhaps one of the most amazing things like that of neo-paganism and Baha´(cid:1)´ı; and phi-
about religion is that there is no commonly losophies, including those of ancient Greece and
held way of looking at it. Yet most of the Rome, agnosticism, and atheism. In addition,
vii
READER’S GUIDE
an introductory chapter, ‘‘What Is Religion?,’’ Creation Stories and Foundation Myths;
explores the concept of religion in more depth. Characteristics of the Divine; and Reli-
Numerous black-and-white images illustrate gion as a Guide to Living. The first
the text, while sidebars highlight interesting explores the creation stories of religions,
such as those relayed in Islam’s Qur(cid:1)an,
people and fascinating facts connected with
and foundational myths, such as the one
the world’s religions. The title includes a glos-
told in Black Elk Speaks, that provide a
sary, a timeline, research and activity ideas,
unifying cultural basis for many people.
sources for further reading, and a subject index.
The second chapter, Characteristics of
the Divine, explores the aspects and per-
World Religions Reference Library sonalities of God or the gods as revealed
World Religions: Almanac is only one compo- through religious documents such as
nent of the three-part World Religions Refer- TheEpicofGilgameshandSwamiViveka-
ence Library. The set also includes a two- nanda’s ‘‘Paper on Hinduism.’’ The final
volume set of biographies and one volume of chapter examines how religion provides
primary source documents: guidelines that people can use in their ev-
eryday lives. These include selections
(cid:1) World Religions: Biographies (two volumes)
from the Christian Bible; the Avesta, the
presents the biographies of fifty men and
sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism; and
women who have played a critical role in
Emma Goldman’s essay ‘‘The Philosophy
the world’s religions throughout history.
of Atheism.’’
Among those profiled are Abraham,
whose influence is seen in three of the
modernworld’smostinfluentialreligions: Acknowledgments
(cid:2) (cid:2)
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Muham-
U X L would like to thank several individuals
mad,consideredthefinalandmostimpor-
for their assistance with World Religions: Alma-
tantprophet by Muslims; and Siddhartha
nac. At Schlager Group, Jayne Weisblatt and
Gautama, who became known as the
Neil Schlager oversaw the writing and editing,
Buddha. Modern figures include the
while Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones
Hindu teacher Swami Vivekananda and
wrote the text. Thanks also to Ken Shepherd,
Baha´(cid:1)u(cid:1)lla´h, the founder of the Baha´(cid:1)´ı
who assisted with copyediting, Nora Harris for
faith. Women who made significant
indexing, and Gloria Lam for proofing.
impacts on religion are also featured,
including Mother Maria Skobtsova, an Special thanks are due for the inv(cid:2)alu(cid:2)able
Orthodox Christian nun who worked to commentsandsuggestionsprovidedbyU X L’s
save many during the Holocaust. World Religions Reference Library advisors and
consultants:
(cid:1) World Religions: Primary Sources (one vol-
ume) offers eighteen excerpted writings, (cid:1) George Alscer, Associate Professor and
speeches, and sacred texts from across Chair of Religious Studies, Philosophy
the religious spectrum. The selections and Pastoral Ministry, Marygrove Col-
are grouped into three thematic chapters: lege, Detroit, Michigan.
viii WorldReligions:Almanac
READER’S GUIDE
(cid:1) Janet Callahan, Ford Interfaith Network, (cid:1) Chuen Pangcham, Midwest Buddhist
Dearborn, Michigan. MeditationCenter(BuddhaViharaTem-
(cid:1) MaryAnnChristopher,Librarian,Yellow ple), Warren, Michigan.
Springs High School, Yellow Springs, (cid:1) Gene Schramm, Retired professor of
Ohio.
SemiticLanguagesandNearEasternStud-
(cid:1) Margaret Hallisey, Retired library media ies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
specialist and former board member of Michigan.
the American Association of School
(cid:1) Cheryl Youse, Media specialist, Hatherly
Librarians; the Massachusetts School
Elementary School,Plymouth, Michigan.
Library Media Association; and the New
England Educational Media Association.
Comments and Suggestions
(cid:1) Fatima al-Hayani, Professor of Religious
Studies,UniversityofToledo,Toledo,Ohio. We welcome your comments on World Reli-
(cid:1) Madan Kaura, Bharatyia Temple, Ford gions: Almanac and suggestions for other topics
Interfaith Network, Dearborn, Michigan. in history to consider. Please write to Editors,
(cid:2) (cid:2)
(cid:1) Ann Marie LaPrise, Huron School Dis- World Religions: Almanac U X L, Thomson
trict, Monroe, Michigan. Gale, 27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills,
(cid:1) Ann W. Moore, Librarian, Schenectady Michigan 48331-3535; call toll-free 800-877-
County Public Library, Schenectady, New 4253; send faxes to 248-699-8097; or send
York. e-mail via http://www.gale.com.
WorldReligions:Almanac ix
Timeline of Events
10,000–400BCE The span of the Jomon period in Japan, during which
Shinto first emerged.
3500–2000 BCE Duration of religion in ancient Sumer.
3110 BCE–550 CE Duration of religion in ancient Egypt.
3102 BCE Emergence of Hinduism.
1700BCE TheBabyloniansdeviseanewcreationmyth,theEnumaElish.
c. 1353–34 BCE The pharaoh Akhenaten rules Egypt and enforces the
worship of a single god, Aten. All evidence of his reign is
wiped out after his death.
Tenth century BCE The Jewish Temple of Solomon is constructed in
Jerusalem.
SeventhcenturyBCE Beginning of the Milesian School of philosophy in
ancient Greece.
600BCE OfficialformalizationoftheRigVeda,oneofHinduism’smost
sacred texts.
586BCE TheBabyloniankingNebuchadnezzardestroystheJewishTemple
in Jerusalem and drives the Jews into exile (the Babylonian exile).
563 BCE Siddhartha Gautama, who will become the Buddha, is born in
present-day Nepal.
c. 551–479 BCE Life span of the scholar Kongzi, who is known in the
West by his Latinized name, Confucius.
xi