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 ix List of Tables xi List of Figures xiii Preface xv Note on Scriptural References xvi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction 1 Part I Beyond Time and Space 13 1 Image 15 1.1 Introduction 16 1.2 The Second Commandment 16 1.3 Shirk 20 1.4 Incarnate Son 23 1.5 Murti 27 1.6 Opening the Radiance 31 1.7 The Three Bodies 34 Summary 37 Discussion Topics 39 Notes 39 Further Reading 41 2 Book 43 2.1 Introduction 44 2.2 Shruti and Smriti 44 2.3 Daozang 47 2.4 The Three Baskets 51 2.5 New Testament 54 2.6 Tanach 58 2.7 Quran 61 Summary 64 Discussion Topics 67 Notes 68 Further Reading 69 Part II Within Time and Space 71 3 Ethics 73 3.1 Introduction 74 3.2 Dharma 74 3.3 Pancasila 77 3.4 Inner Power 81 3.5 The Ten Words 84 3.6 A New Commandment 87 3.7 The Greater Jihad 90 Summary 93 Discussion Topics 95 Notes 96 Further Reading 97 4 Birth 99 4.1 Introduction 100 4.2 Baptism 100 4.3 Brit Milah 104 4.4 Aqiqah 107 4.5 Birth Samskaras 109 4.6 The Buddhist Exception 113 4.7 Chinese Customs 115 Summary 116 Discussion Topics 118 Notes 119 Further Reading 120 5 Death 121 5.1 Introduction 122 5.2 The Wheel of Rebirth 122 5.3 The Last Sacrifice 126 5.4 Hun and Po 129 5.5 Resurrection of the Body 131 5.6 Salat al]Janazah 135 5.7 First Fruits 139 Summary 142 Discussion Topics 145 Notes 146 Further Reading 148 6 Marriage 151 6.1 Introduction 152 6.2 Nikah 152 6.3 Under the Huppah 155 6.4 Householder and Forest]Dweller 159 6.5 Bride of Christ 163 6.6 The Renunciation 166 6.7 Arts of the Bedchamber 169 Summary 172 Discussion Topics 175 Notes 175 Further Reading 178 7 Food 181 7.1 Introduction 182 7.2 Cuisines of Immortality 182 7.3 Ahimsa and Samadhi 185 7.4 Blessed Leftovers 189 7.5 Bread and Wine 191 7.6 Kosher 195 7.7 Halal 198 Summary 201 Discussion Topics 203 Notes 203 Further Reading 206 8 Clothing 207 8.1 Introduction 208 8.2 The Veil of Modesty 208 8.3 Kippah, Tefillin and Tallit 212 8.4 The Thread and the Mark 215 8.5 Vestments and Habits 218 8.6 Garments of the Gods 222 8.7 The Three Robes 225 Summary 227 Discussion Topics 229 Notes 229 Further Reading 231 Part III Time and Space 233 9 Year 235 9.1 Introduction 236 9.2 Four Seasons 236 9.3 Full Moons and Monsoons 240 9.4 Day of Brahma 244 9.5 The 78th Cycle 249 9.6 Harvests, History and High Holy Days 252 9.7 Lunar Year 258 Summary 262 Discussion Topics 263 Notes 264 Further Reading 266 10 Building 267 10.1 Introduction 268 10.2 Mosque 268 10.3 Synagogue 272 10.4 Church 275 10.5 Mandir 278 10.6 Temple Complex 281 10.7 Guan 284 Summary 287 Discussion Topics 290 Notes 290 Further Reading 292 11 Journey 293 11.1 Introduction 294 11.2 The Sacred Ford 294 11.3 Reverencing the Mountain 299 11.4 Traces of Tathagata 303 11.5 The Quest of the Magi 307 11.6 Aliyah 312 11.7 Hajj 315 Summary 319 Discussion Topics 321 Notes 321 Further Reading 323 Conclusion 325 Glossary 331 Select Bibliography 343 Index 351