World Religions: A Critical Focus

Chapter 1: Understanding Religion
Questions for Reflection

Chapter 2: Indigenous Religious Traditions
Cultural Diversity
Ideas Regarding Indigenous Religions
Rights Relationships
Storytellers
Spiritual Intermediaries
Points to Reflect On

Chapter 3: Hinduism
Questions for Reflection

Chapter 4: Buddhism
Questions for Reflection
Freeing the Mind: The Threefold Way Contributed by Lydia Kruse

Chapter 5: Daoism
Daoism Overview
Lao-tze
Wu-wei
Western World
Daoist Religious Traditions: First Few Centuries C.E. To the Medieval Period
Daoism and the Modern Ecological Movement
Zhuangzi (also Chuang Tzu): Teaching through Logical Absurdity and Paradox
ndian – Chinese Connections: Daoist Influence on Tantric Hindu and Buddhist Traditions
Questions to Reflect On

Chapter 6: Judaism
Introduction
Jewish Origins
Ancient Judaism and History/Archaeology
Return to Jewish Origins
Jewish History Review
Prophecy
Ezekiel’s Prophecy Continued: Yahweh’s Wrathful Judgment
Key Jewish Principles
Key Beliefs

Chapter 7: Christianity
Christian Origins
Christianity in the United States
A Unique Example: Original Sin
The Early Challenge for Christianity
Paul’s Messages to the Early Christians
The Gospels
Jesus and His Teachings
Constantine and the Council of Nicea
Early Christian Influences
Augustine of Hippo: The Fourth-Century Catholic Theologian
Points to reflect on

Chapter 8: Islam
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Life of Muhammad
The Message of Islam
Basic Muslim Beliefs
Pre-Islamic Arabian Religion
Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, the Founder of Islam
Historical Developments
The Importance of Arabic tin the practice of Islam
Readings: Selections from the Qur’an
1- Al-Fãtiha
2- Al-Baqarah
4 - An-Nisã’
80 - ‘Abasa
112 - Al-Ikhlãs
The Worship of El
Sufism: An Esoteric Islamic Movement
South Asian Sufis

Chapter 9: New Religious Movements
Questions for Reflection