LooseLeaf for Experiencing the World's Religions

Michael Molloy has made the study of religion his life's work. Fascination with religion began with interest in the architecture of temples, mosques, churches, and shrines. Experiencing ceremonies at those places led to a love of religious music and art. In his early graduate work, he focused on the imagery of clouds and darkness in mystical literature. In his doctoral work, he examined the mystical thought of Aldous Huxley, after Huxley had been influenced by Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. To do this, he interviewed Huxley's wife Laura, Huxley's sister-in-law, and friends of Huxley. Molloy received a grant from the East-West Center in Hawai`i to study there, and he received his doctorate from the University of Hawai`i. During this time, he studied in Japan with Abe Masao in Kyoto and with Sobharani Basu at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. He practiced Zen meditation at Bushinji in Shikoku and later received a certificate from the Oomoto School of Traditional Japanese Arts in Kameoka, Japan. He has written Experiencing the World's Religions (McGraw-Hill) and The Christian Experience (Bloomsbury). Currently he is writing a memoir of his grandparents and parents and their religious background.Molloy has taught many philosophy and religion courses, including World Religions, Asian Philosophies, Western Mysticism, Greek and Roman Philosophy, Ethics, Nietzsche, Religion and the Meaning of Existence, and Indian Philosophy. He is a Professor Emeritus of the University of Hawai`i.   To complement his academic work, he has had three exhibitions of his paintings"Landscapes of the Mind," "Luminous Darkness," and "Renaissance." He co-directed two radio series ofi nterviews with musicians, writers, and artists on KAIM-FM and Hawai`i Public Radio. He worked on the Inari Shrine Preservation Committee to move the shrine to a new location and then to renovate it.  

Table of Contents:

 

Chapter 1 Understanding Religion　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

What Is Religion?　　

Key Characteristics of Religion

The Sacred

Religious Symbolism

Speculations on the Sources of Religions

Patterns among Religions　　

First Pattern: Views of the World and Life

Second Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices

Third Pattern: Views of Male and Female

Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion　　

The Study of Religion

Recent Theories

Key Critical Issues　　

Why Study the Major Religions of the World?　　

The Journey

Reading: Discovering Mystery

 

Chapter 2 Indigenous Religions　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

Discovering Indigenous Religions　　

Past Obstacles to the Appreciation of Indigenous Religions

The Modern Recovery of Indigenous Religions

Studying Indigenous Religions: Learning from Patterns　　

Human Relationships with the Natural World

Sacred Time and Sacred Space

Respect for Origins, Gods, and Ancestors

Sacred Practices in Indigenous Religions　　

Life-Cycle Ceremonies

Taboo and Sacrifice

Shamanism, Trance, and Spiritual Powers

Artifacts and Artistic Expression in Indigenous Religions

Personal Experience: Gods in Hawai`i　　

Indigenous Religions Today　　

Reading: The Importance of Dreams

 

Chapter 3 Hinduism　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

The Origins of Hinduism　　

The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion

The Religion of the Vedic Period

The Vedas

The Upanishads and the Axis Age　　

The Origin of the Upanishads

Important Concepts of the Upanishads

Living Spiritually in the Everyday World　　

The Bhagavad Gita

The Caste System

The Stages of Life

The Goals of Life

The Yogas

Devotional Hinduism　　

The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Worship of the Divine Feminine: Devi

The Guru as Object of Devotion

Devotion to Animals

Other Forms of Religious Devotion

Personal Experience: A Visit to Self-Realization Fellowship Lakeside Shrine

Hinduism and the Arts　　

Hinduism: Modern Challenges　　

Mohandas Gandhi

Contemporary Issues

Hindu Influence beyond India

Reading: Ramakrishna and the Experience of God

 

Chapter 4 Buddhism　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　123

The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha　　

The Basic Teachings of Buddhism　　

The Three Marks of Reality

The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path

The Infl uence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings　　

Ahimsa: “Do No Harm”

The Soul and Karma

Nirvana

The Early Development of Buddhism　　

Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders　　

Theravada Teachings and Literature

Theravada Art and Architecture

Mahayana Buddhism: The “Big Vehicle”　　

New Ideals: Compassion and the Bodhisattva

Mahayana Thought and Worldview

Mahayana Literature

The Spread of Mahayana in East Asia

Some Major Schools of Mahayana

Vajrayana Buddhism: The “Diamond Vehicle”　　

Origins, Practice, and Literature of Tibetan Buddhism

Ritual and the Arts

Personal Experience: New Year’s Day at Wat Saket

Buddhism and the Modern World　　

Reading: Approaching the End

 

Chapter 5 Jainism and Sikhism　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

Shared Origins　　

Jainism　　

Background　　

Mahavira and the Origins of Jainism　　

Worldview　　

Jain Ethics　　

The Development of Jainism and Its Branches　　

Digambaras

Shvetambaras

Sthanakavasis

Terapanthis

Jain Practices　　

Jain Scriptures　　

Jain Art and Architecture　　

Sikhism　　

Background　　

Nanak and the Origins of Sikhism　　

The Worldview and Teachings of Nanak　　

The Development of Sikhism　　

Sikh Scriptures　　

Sikhism and the Modern World　　

Personal Experience: A Visit to the Golden Temple　　

Reading: The Eternal Law

 

Chapter 6 Daoism and Confucianism　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

Basic Elements of Traditional Chinese Beliefs　　

Daoism　　                                                               

The Origins of Daoism　　

Laozi (Lao Tzu)

The Daodejing

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)

Basic Early Teachings　　

Daoism and the Quest for Longevity　　

The Development of Daoism　　

Daoism and the Arts　　

Daoism and the Modern World　　

Confucianism　　

The Dao in Confucianism　　

The Life of Confucius　　

Living According to Confucian Values　　

The Five Great Relationships

The Confucian Virtues

Confucian Literature　　

The Development of Confucianism　　

Schools of Philosophy

The Development of Confucianism as a Religious System

Confucianism and the Arts　　

Personal Experience: Qing Ming, a Ceremony in Spring　　

Confucianism and the Modern World　　

Reading: On Cloud-Like Wandering

 

Chapter 7 Shinto　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

The Origins of Shinto　　

The Historical Development of Shinto　　

Accommodation with Buddhism and Confucianism

Shinto and Japanese National Identity

Essentials of Shinto Belief　　

Shinto Religious Practice　　

Worship at Shrines

Celebration of the New Year

Observances of the Seasons and Nature

Other Practices

Personal Experience: An Unexpected Shrine

Shinto and the Arts　　

Architecture

Music and Dance

Shinto Off shoots: The New Religions　　

Shinto and the Modern World　　

Reading: Loving the Whole Earth

 

Chapter 8 Judaism　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

An Overview of Jewish History　　

The Hebrew Bible　　

Biblical History　　

In the Beginning: Stories of Origins

The World of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs

Moses and the Law

The Judges and Kings

Exile and Captivity

Return to Jerusalem and the Second Temple

Cultural Conflict during the Second Temple Era　　

The Seleucid Period

Responses to Outside Influences

The Development of Rabbinical Judaism　　

The Canon of Scripture and the Talmud

Islam and Medieval Judaism

The Kabbalah

Christianity and Medieval Judaism

Questioning and Reform　　

Judaism and the Modern World　　

Hitler and the Holocaust

Creation of the State of Israel

Personal Experience: A Visit to Masada

Jewish Belief　　

Religious Practice　　

The Jewish Sabbath

Holy Days

Jewish Dietary Practices

Other Religious Practices 318

Divisions within Contemporary Judaism　　

Culturally Based Divisions

Observance-Based Divisions

Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism　　

Reading: What it Means to be Fully Alive

 

Chapter 9 Christianity　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

The Life and Teachings of Jesus　　

Jesus in the New Testament Gospels

The Two Great Commandments

Early Christian Beliefs and History　　

Paul and Pauline Christianity

The New Testament: Its Structure and Artistry

The Christian Canon

The Early Spread of Christianity　　

Infl uences on Christianity at the End of the Roman Empire　　

Augustine

Benedict and the Monastic Ideal

The Eastern Orthodox Church　　

Early Development

Monasticism in the Eastern Church

Eastern Orthodox Beliefs

Personal Experience: Mar Saba Monastery

Christianity in the Middle Ages　　

Christian Mysticism

The Crusades, the Inquisition, and Christian Control

The Late Middle Ages

The Protestant Reformation　　

Martin Luther

Forms of Protestantism

The Development of Christianity Following the

Protestant Reformation　　

The Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation)

The International Spread of Christianity

Nontraditional Christianity

Christian Practice　　

Sacraments and Other Rituals

The Christian Year

Devotion to Mary

Christianity and the Arts　　

Architecture

Art

Music

Christianity Faces the Modern World　　

The Challenges of Science and Secularism

Contemporary Influences and Developments

Reading: How Saint Frances Made Brother Masseo Twirl Around

 

Chapter 10 Islam　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

The Life and Teachings of Muhammad　　

Essentials of Islam　　

The Five Pillars of Islam

Additional Islamic Religious Practices

Scripture: The Qur’an

The Historical Development of Islam　　

Expansion and Consolidation

The Shiite and Sunni Division within Islam

Sufism: Islamic Mysticism　　

Sufi Beliefs

Al-Ghazali and Sufi Brotherhoods

Sufi Practice and Poetry

Personal Experience: A Visit to a Mosque     

Islamic Law and Philosophy　　

Islamic Law and Legal Institutions

Islamic Philosophy and Theology

Islam and the Arts　　

Architecture

Fine Art

Islam and the Modern World　　

Islam and Contemporary Life

Islam and the Roles of Women

The Challenge of Secularism

A Range of Solutions

Islam in the West and Beyond

Reading: The Merciful

 

Chapter 11 Alternative Paths　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

Origins of New Religions　　

Contemporary Paganism: Wicca and Druidism　　

Religions of the Yoruba Tradition: Santería, Voodoo, and Candomblé　　

Theosophy　　

Scientology　　

Falun Gong　　

Cao Dai　　

Rastafarianism　　

Baha’i　　

New Religious Movements: A Special Role　　

Personal Experience: Celebrating the Goddess　　

Reading: The Goal of Scientology

 

Chapter 12 The Modern Search　　

FIRST ENCOUNTER　　

Modern Infl uences on the Future of Religion　　

The New World Order

Multiculturalism and Interfaith Dialogue

Women’s Rights Movements

Reassessment of Human Sexuality

Science and Technology

Science and Ethical Issues

Secularism

Environmental Challenges

The Recurring Challenges of Change　　

Environmentalism: A Religious Phenomenon?　　

Eclectic Spirituality　　

Interrelatedness

Reverence and Respect

Contemplative Practices

Personal Experience: Supper Together 

Reading: Learning From A Tree

 

Answer Key　　

Notes　　

Credits　　

Index