Shintoism method of reaching paradise

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SEVENTH EDITION

Experiencing the World’s Religions TRADITION, CHALLENGE, AND CHANGE

Michael Molloy

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EXPERIENCING THE WORLD’S RELIGIONS: TRADITION, CHALLENGE, AND CHANGE, SEVENTH EDITION Published by McGraw-Hill Education, 2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121. Copyright © 2018 by McGraw-

Hill Education. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Previous editions © 2013, 2010, and 2008. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education, including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed on acid-free paper. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 LCR 21 20 19 18 17

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 978-0-07811921-7 MHID 0-07-8119219

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Names: Molloy, Michael, 1942-author. Title: Experiencing the world’s religions : tradition, challenge, and change     / Michael Molloy. Description: SEVENTH EDITION. | Dubuque, IA : McGraw-Hill Education, 2018. Identifiers: LCCN 2017024745| ISBN 9780078119217 (alk. paper) | ISBN 0078119219 (alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Religions—Textbooks. Classification: LCC BL80.3 .M65 2018 | DDC 200—dc23 LC record available at     https://lccn.loc.gov/2017024745

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For John and Kathy Dracup and their family, with admiration

and thanks.

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Contents

1 Understanding Religion  3 Preface  xvi

FIRST ENCOUNTER  3 What Is Religion?  4

Key Characteristics of Religion  5

2 Indigenous Religions  33

The Sacred  7 Religious Symbolism  8 Speculations on the Sources of Religions  10

Patterns among Religions  14

First Pattern: Views of the World and Life  14 Second Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices  16 Third Pattern: Views of Male and Female  17

Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion  20

The Study of Religion  22 Recent Theories  23

Key Critical Issues  24 Why Study the Major Religions of the World?  26 The Journey  28 Reading: Discovering Mystery  29

FIRST ENCOUNTER  33 Discovering Indigenous Religions  35

Past Obstacles to the Appreciation of Indigenous Religions  36 The Modern Recovery of Indigenous Religions  36

Studying Indigenous Religions: Learning from Patterns  38

Human Relationships with the Natural World  39 Sacred Time and Sacred Space  42

Page viiiRespect for Origins, Gods, and Ancestors  42 Sacred Practices in Indigenous Religions  47

Life-Cycle Ceremonies  47 Taboo and Sacrifice  51 Shamanism, Trance, and Spiritual Powers  55 Artifacts and Artistic Expression in Indigenous Religions  59

3 Hinduism  73

Personal Experience: Meeting Maori People  61 Indigenous Religions Today  63 Reading: The Importance of Dreams  67

FIRST ENCOUNTER  73 The Origins of Hinduism  75

The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion  76 The Religion of the Vedic Period  78 The Vedas  79

The Upanishads and the Axis Age  80

4 Buddhism  119

The Origin of the Upanishads  80 Important Concepts of the Upanishads  81

Living Spiritually in the Everyday World  85

The Bhagavad Gita  85 The Caste System  87 The Stages of Life  88 The Goals of Life  89 The Yogas  89

Devotional Hinduism  92

The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva  94 Worship of the Divine Feminine: Devi  97 The Guru as Object of Devotion  99 Devotion to Animals  101 Other Forms of Religious Devotion  102

A Visit to the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple  103 Hinduism and the Arts  104 Hinduism: Modern Challenges  105

Mohandas Gandhi  107 Contemporary Issues  109 Hindu Influence beyond India  112

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Reading: Ramakrishna and the Experience of God  114

FIRST ENCOUNTER  119 The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha  120 The Basic Teachings of Buddhism  125

The Three Marks of Reality  126 The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path  128

The Influence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings  130

Ahimsa: “Do No Harm†​  131 The Soul and Karma  131 Nirvana  132

The Early Development of Buddhism  132 Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders  135

Theravada Teachings and Literature  139 Theravada Art and Architecture  139

Mahayana Buddhism: The “Big Vehicleâ€​  141

New Ideals: Compassion and the Bodhisattva  141 Mahayana Thought and Worldview  142 Mahayana Literature  145

5 Jainism and Sikhism  175

The Spread of Mahayana in East Asia  146 Some Major Schools of Mahayana  149

Vajrayana Buddhism: The “Diamond Vehicleâ€​  157

Origins, Practice, and Literature of Tibetan Buddhism  157 Ritual and the Arts  160

Personal Experience: New Year’s Day at Wat Saket  162 Buddhism and the Modern World  165 Reading: Approaching the End  170

FIRST ENCOUNTER  175 Shared Origins  176 Jainism  177 Background  177 Mahavira and the Origins of Jainism  178 Worldview  180

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Jain Ethics  181 The Development of Jainism and Its Branches  183

Digambaras  184 Shvetambaras  184

6 Daoism and Confucianism  199

Sthanakavasis  184 Terapanthis  185

Jain Practices  185 Jain Scriptures  186 Jain Art and Architecture  186 Sikhism  187 Background  187 Nanak and the Origins of Sikhism  188 The Worldview and Teachings of Nanak  188 The Development of Sikhism  189 Sikh Scriptures  191 Sikhism and the Modern World  192 Personal Experience: A Visit to the Golden Temple  193 Reading: The Eternal Law  195

FIRST ENCOUNTER  199 Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs  200

Daoism  203 The Origins of Daoism  203

Laozi (Lao Tzu)  204 The Daodejing  204 Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)  208

Basic Early Teachings  208 Daoism and the Quest for Longevity  210 The Development of Daoism  210 Daoism and the Arts  213 Daoism and the Modern World  217

7 Shinto  245

Confucianism  218 The Dao in Confucianism  218

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The Life of Confucius  219 Living According to Confucian Values  220

The Five Great Relationships  222 The Confucian Virtues  224

Confucian Literature  227 The Development of Confucianism  229

Schools of Philosophy  229 The Development of Confucianism as a Religious System  231

Confucianism and the Arts  233 Personal Experience: Qing Ming, a Ceremony in Spring  235 Confucianism and the Modern World  237 Reading: On Cloud-like Wandering  240

8 Judaism  271

FIRST ENCOUNTER  245 The Origins of Shinto  246 The Historical Development of Shinto  249

Accommodation with Buddhism and Confucianism  249 Shinto and Japanese National Identity  251

Essentials of Shinto Belief  252 Shinto Religious Practice  254

Worship at Shrines  254 Celebration of the New Year  256 Observances of the Seasons and Nature  257 Other Practices  258

Personal Experience: An Unexpected Shrine  259 Shinto and the Arts  260

Architecture  260 Music and Dance  261

Shinto Offshoots: The New Religions  262 Shinto and the Modern World  265 Reading: Loving the Whole Earth  266

FIRST ENCOUNTER  271 An Overview of Jewish History  272

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The Hebrew Bible  275 Biblical History  277

In the Beginning: Stories of Origins  277 The World of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs  279 Moses and the Law  282 The Judges and Kings  286 Exile and Captivity  289 Return to Jerusalem and the Second Temple  289

Cultural Conflict during the Second Temple Era  290

The Seleucid Period  290 Responses to Outside Influences  291

9 Christianity  319

The Development of Rabbinical Judaism  292

The Canon of Scripture and the Talmud  293 Islam and Medieval Judaism  294 The Kabbalah  294 Christianity and Medieval Judaism  295

Questioning and Reform  296 Judaism and the Modern World  297

Hitler and the Holocaust  298 Creation of the State of Israel  299

Personal Experience: A Visit to Masada  300 Jewish Belief  301 Religious Practice  301

The Jewish Sabbath  302 Holy Days  303 Jewish Dietary Practices  305 Other Religious Practices  305

Divisions within Contemporary Judaism  307

Culturally Based Divisions  307 Observance-Based Divisions  309

Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism  312 Reading: What It Means to Be Fully Alive  314

FIRST ENCOUNTER  319 The Life and Teachings of Jesus  321

Jesus in the New Testament Gospels  325 Page xiiiThe Two Great Commandments  328

Early Christian Beliefs and History  328

Paul and Pauline Christianity  329 The New Testament: Its Structure and Artistry  332 The Christian Canon  336

The Early Spread of Christianity  338 Influences on Christianity at the End of the Roman Empire  342

Augustine  343 Benedict and the Monastic Ideal  343

The Eastern Orthodox Church  345

Early Development  345 Monasticism in the Eastern Church  346 Eastern Orthodox Beliefs  347

Personal Experience: Mar Saba Monastery  349

10 Islam  389

Christianity in the Middle Ages  351

Christian Mysticism  351 The Crusades, the Inquisition, and Christian Control  353 The Late Middle Ages  354

The Protestant Reformation  355

Martin Luther  356 Forms of Protestantism  357

The Development of Christianity Following the Protestant Reformation  361

The Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation)  361 The International Spread of Christianity  362 Nontraditional Christianity  365

Christian Practice  369

Sacraments and Other Rituals  369 The Christian Year  371 Devotion to Mary  373

Christianity and the Arts  375

Architecture  375 Art  377 Music  378

Christianity Faces the Modern World  380

The Challenges of Science and Secularism  380 Contemporary Influences and Developments  381

Page xiv

Reading: How Saint Francis Made Brother Masseo Twirl Around  384

FIRST ENCOUNTER  389 The Life and Teachings of Muhammad  391 Essentials of Islam  395

The Five Pillars of Islam  397 Additional Islamic Religious Practices  403 Scripture: The Qur’an  406

The Historical Development of Islam  408

Expansion and Consolidation  409 The Shiite and Sunni Division within Islam  411

Sufism: Islamic Mysticism  416

Sufi Beliefs  417 Al-Ghazali and Sufi Brotherhoods  420 Sufi Practice and Poetry  421

Personal Experience: Visit to a Mosque  423 Islamic Law and Philosophy  424

11 Alternative Paths  449

Islamic Law and Legal Institutions  424 Islamic Philosophy and Theology  425

Islam and the Arts  427

Architecture  427 Fine Art  429

Islam and the Modern World  432

Islam and Contemporary Life  433 Islam and the Roles of Women  433 The Challenge of Secularism  435 A Range of Solutions  436 Islam in the West and Beyond  438

Reading: The Merciful  444

FIRST ENCOUNTER  449 Origins of New Religions  450 Contemporary Paganism: Wicca and Druidism  451

Page xv

Religions of the Yoruba Tradition: SanterÃ​a, Voodoo, and Candomblé  456 Theosophy  459 Scientology  462 Falun Gong  464 Cao Dai  465 Rastafarianism  467 Baha’i  470 New Religious Movements: A Special Role  474 Personal Experience: Celebrating the Goddess  475 Reading: The Goal of Scientology  478

12 The Modern Search  483

FIRST ENCOUNTER  483 Modern Influences on the Future of Religion  485

The New World Order  486 Multiculturalism and Interfaith Dialogue  487 Women’s Rights Movements  488 Reassessment of Human Sexuality  490 Science and Technology  491 Science and Ethical Issues  492 Secularism  494 Environmental Challenges  495

The Recurring Challenges of Change  497 Environmentalism: A Religious Phenomenon?  500 Eclectic Spirituality  503

Interrelatedness  504

DIGITAL EDIT ION

Reverence and Respect  506 Contemplative Practices  507

Personal Experience: Supper Together  509 Reading: Learning from a Tree  511

Answer Key  A-1 Notes  N-1 Index  I-1

Page xvi

Preface

The cover of this book continues the theme of water. Water flows and changes form. Water makes snow and ice. Water makes rivers and waterfalls. Water brings life.

Religions speak in symbols—fire, cloud, hills and high places, darkness and light, incense, candles, colors. Religions, though, perhaps love water best. Buddhists use water for blessing. Hindus purify themselves in rivers. Christians undergo baptism in water as a rite of initiation. Followers of Islam and Shinto cleanse themselves with water before prayer. Water means change, purification, and new beginnings.

Because water can signify so much to us, it is the major symbol of this book. By studying many religions, we also hope to be cleansed and brought to new life.

This book was written for my students. Keeping their needs in mind, I have tried to provide what is essential and to present it in clear language. I want to talk about doctrine and practice. Yet I also hope to show some of those things that have captivated me: religious music, art, and architecture. I want to show my respect for all religious traditions, both in a scholarly and an approachable way. Finally, I hope to invite students not only to read about religions, but also to experience them firsthand. It is like the difference between reading maps of a country and then actually traveling on its roads and seeing its sights. Experience brings the prize.

Page xvii

Boxed Features

CONFLICT IN RELIGION

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS

Religious Blends 24 Kamikaze Pilots and Shinto 252 Sunni versus Shiite: Why the Conflict? 439 Jihad and the Modern World 443 Religions, Sacred Texts, and Violence 496

Halloween: “Just Good Fun†​ or Folk Religion? 65 The Green Movement: A New Global Indigenous Religion? 66 The Chipko Movement 110 Pema Chödrön 166 Environmental Buddhism 168 The Confucius Institute 238 Eco-Judaism 312 Martin Luther King Jr. 365 Creation Care 383 Islamic Ecology 441 “Cults,†​ “Sects,†​ and “New Religious Movements†​ 451 Ecology and the New Religious Movements 462 Humanism: A New Religion? 473 Humor and Religion 474 Religion and Pop Culture 504

RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS

DEEPER INSIGHTS

Travel and Pilgrimage 27 The Vision Quest 51 Hindu Meditation: More Than Emptying the Mind 91 Hindu Celebrations 102 Buddhist Festivals 148 Buddhist Meditation 164 The Mass 379 The Islamic Religious Calendar: Festivals and Holy Days 404 The Contemporary Pagan Year 453

Multiple Images of the Female 18 Do Religions Oppose Science? 25 Australian Aboriginal Religion 40 Religion of the Pueblo Peoples 43 The Igbo: An Indigenous Religion in Transition 50 Traditional Hawaiian Religion 53 Traditional Maori Religion 56 Isaac Tens Becomes a Shaman 57 Buddhism in Thailand 138 Buddhism and Japanese Arts 154 Jains and a Holy Death 182 The Five “K’s†​ of the Sikh Khalsa 191 The Seasons of Life 207 The Chinese Garden—Bridge to the Infinite 213 Daoism and Nature 218 The Ideal Human Being 221 The Five Classics and the Four Books 228 Inari Shrine 255 Shinto and Nature 264 Books of the Hebrew Bible 276

The Gods of Egypt 284 The Ten Commandments 288 What’s in a Name? 303 The Christian System of Chronology: BC and AD 321 The Books of the New Testament 333 The Christian Worldview 337 Greek and Roman Religions and Early Christianity 340 Inside a Greek Orthodox Church 348 Emphases of Protestant Christianity 357 Emphases of Catholic Christianity 362 Examples of Nontraditional Christianity 367 Signs and Symbols 372 Color Symbolism 373 Zoroastrianism 418 The Meaning of Muslim Names 422 Major Orishas of SanterÃ​a 459

Page xviii

Changes in the Seventh Edition

Although the core of religions remains fairly constant, change is always happening. Followers of different religions split and form new branches, religious values change, new leaders arise. These transitions are reflected in the new edition. New reading selections have been added to each chapter.

NEW TO THE SEVENTH EDITION Chapter 1, Understanding Religion

Chapter 2, Indigenous Religions

Chapter 3, Hinduism

Chapter 4, Buddhism

Chapter 5, Jainism and Sikhism

Chapter 6, Daosim and Confucianism

Chapter 7, Shinto

New Contemporary Issues box: “Do Religions Oppose Science?†​

New Reading: “Discovering Mystery†​

New Deeper Insights box: “Traditional Maori Religion†​

New Reading: “The Importance of Dreams†​

New Personal Experience: “A Visit to Self-Realization Fellowship Lakeside Shrine†​

New Reading: “Ramakrishna and the Experience of God†​

New Contemporary Issues box: “Pema Chödrön”

New Personal Experience: “New Year’s Day at Wat Saket†​

New Reading: “Approaching the End†​

New Reading: “The Eternal Law†​Â​

New Reading: “On Cloud-like Wandering†​Â​

New Deeper Insights box: “Inari Shrine†​

New Personal Experience: “An Unexpected Shrine†