World Religions in Practice

Paul Gwynne lectures in comparative religion in the General Education Program of the University of New South Wales. He completed his doctoral studies in Rome and has taught theology and religious studies in Indonesia and at the Melbourne College of Divinity. His previous books include Special Divine Action (1996), the first edition of World Religions in Practice (2008, Wiley Blackwell) and Buddha, Jesusand Muhammad: A Comparative Study (2014, Wiley Blackwell).

• List of Boxes ixList of Tables xiList of Figures xiiiPreface xvNote on Scriptural References xviAcknowledgments xviiIntroduction 1Part I Beyond Time and Space 131 Image 151.1 Introduction 161.2 The Second Commandment 161.3 Shirk 201.4 Incarnate Son 231.5 Murti 271.6 Opening the Radiance 311.7 The Three Bodies 34Summary 37Discussion Topics 39Notes 39Further Reading 412 Book 432.1 Introduction 442.2 Shruti and Smriti 442.3 Daozang 472.4 The Three Baskets 512.5 New Testament 542.6 Tanach 582.7 Qur’an 61Summary 64Discussion Topics 67Notes 68Further Reading 69Part II Within Time and Space 713 Ethics 733.1 Introduction 743.2 Dharma 743.3 Pancasila 773.4 Inner Power 813.5 The Ten Words 843.6 A New Commandment 873.7 The Greater Jihad 90Summary 93Discussion Topics 95Notes 96Further Reading 974 Birth 994.1 Introduction 1004.2 Baptism 1004.3 B’rit Milah 1044.4 Aqiqah 1074.5 Birth Samskaras 1094.6 The Buddhist Exception 1134.7 Chinese Customs 115Summary 116Discussion Topics 118Notes 119Further Reading 1205 Death 1215.1 Introduction 1225.2 The Wheel of Rebirth 1225.3 The Last Sacrifice 1265.4 Hun and Po 1295.5 Resurrection of the Body 1315.6 Salat al]Janazah 1355.7 First Fruits 139Summary 142Discussion Topics 145Notes 146Further Reading 1486 Marriage 1516.1 Introduction 1526.2 Nikah 1526.3 Under the Huppah 1556.4 Householder and Forest]Dweller 1596.5 Bride of Christ 1636.6 The Renunciation 1666.7 Arts of the Bedchamber 169Summary 172Discussion Topics 175Notes 175Further Reading 1787 Food 1817.1 Introduction 1827.2 Cuisines of Immortality 1827.3 Ahimsa and Samadhi 1857.4 Blessed Leftovers 1897.5 Bread and Wine 1917.6 Kosher 1957.7 Halal 198Summary 201Discussion Topics 203Notes 203Further Reading 2068 Clothing 2078.1 Introduction 2088.2 The Veil of Modesty 2088.3 Kippah, Tefillin and Tallit 2128.4 The Thread and the Mark 2158.5 Vestments and Habits 2188.6 Garments of the Gods 2228.7 The Three Robes 225Summary 227Discussion Topics 229Notes 229Further Reading 231Part III Time and Space 2339 Year 2359.1 Introduction 2369.2 Four Seasons 2369.3 Full Moons and Monsoons 2409.4 Day of Brahma 2449.5 The 78th Cycle 2499.6 Harvests, History and High Holy Days 2529.7 Lunar Year 258Summary 262Discussion Topics 263Notes 264Further Reading 26610 Building 26710.1 Introduction 26810.2 Mosque 26810.3 Synagogue 27210.4 Church 27510.5 Mandir 27810.6 Temple Complex 28110.7 Guan 284Summary 287Discussion Topics 290Notes 290Further Reading 29211 Journey 29311.1 Introduction 29411.2 The Sacred Ford 29411.3 Reverencing the Mountain 29911.4 Traces of Tathagata 30311.5 The Quest of the Magi 30711.6 Aliyah 31211.7 Hajj 315Summary 319Discussion Topics 321Notes 321Further Reading 323Conclusion 325Glossary 331Select Bibliography 343Index 351