ISE 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 ReligionThe SacredReligious SymbolismSpeculations on the Sources of ReligionsPatterns among Religions　　First Pattern: Views of the World and LifeSecond Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and PracticesThird Pattern: Views of Male and FemaleMultidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Religion　　The Study of ReligionRecent TheoriesKey Critical Issues　　Why Study the Major Religions of the World?　　The JourneyReading: Discovering Mystery Chapter 2 Indigenous Religions　　FIRST ENCOUNTER　　Discovering Indigenous Religions　　Past Obstacles to the Appreciation of Indigenous ReligionsThe Modern Recovery of Indigenous ReligionsStudying Indigenous Religions: Learning from Patterns　　Human Relationships with the Natural WorldSacred Time and Sacred SpaceRespect for Origins, Gods, and AncestorsSacred Practices in Indigenous Religions　　Life-Cycle CeremoniesTaboo and SacrificeShamanism, Trance, and Spiritual PowersArtifacts and Artistic Expression in Indigenous ReligionsPersonal 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 ReligionThe Religion of the Vedic PeriodThe VedasThe Upanishads and the Axis Age　　The Origin of the UpanishadsImportant Concepts of the UpanishadsLiving Spiritually in the Everyday World　　The Bhagavad GitaThe Caste SystemThe Stages of LifeThe Goals of LifeThe YogasDevotional Hinduism　　The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and ShivaWorship of the Divine Feminine: DeviThe Guru as Object of DevotionDevotion to AnimalsOther Forms of Religious DevotionPersonal Experience: A Visit to Self-Realization Fellowship Lakeside ShrineHinduism and the Arts　　Hinduism: Modern Challenges　　Mohandas GandhiContemporary IssuesHindu Influence beyond IndiaReading: Ramakrishna and the Experience of God Chapter 4 Buddhism　　FIRST ENCOUNTER　　123The Beginnings of Buddhism: The Life of the Buddha　　The Basic Teachings of Buddhism　　The Three Marks of RealityThe Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold PathThe Infl uence of Indian Thought on Early Buddhist Teachings　　Ahimsa: “Do No Harm”The Soul and KarmaNirvanaThe Early Development of Buddhism　　Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders　　Theravada Teachings and LiteratureTheravada Art and ArchitectureMahayana Buddhism: The “Big Vehicle”　　New Ideals: Compassion and the BodhisattvaMahayana Thought and WorldviewMahayana LiteratureThe Spread of Mahayana in East AsiaSome Major Schools of MahayanaVajrayana Buddhism: The “Diamond Vehicle”　　Origins, Practice, and Literature of Tibetan BuddhismRitual and the ArtsPersonal Experience: New Year’s Day at Wat SaketBuddhism 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　　DigambarasShvetambarasSthanakavasisTerapanthisJain 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 DaodejingZhuangzi (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 RelationshipsThe Confucian VirtuesConfucian Literature　　The Development of Confucianism　　Schools of PhilosophyThe Development of Confucianism as a Religious SystemConfucianism 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 ConfucianismShinto and Japanese National IdentityEssentials of Shinto Belief　　Shinto Religious Practice　　Worship at ShrinesCelebration of the New YearObservances of the Seasons and NatureOther PracticesPersonal Experience: An Unexpected ShrineShinto and the Arts　　ArchitectureMusic and DanceShinto 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 OriginsThe World of the Patriarchs and MatriarchsMoses and the LawThe Judges and KingsExile and CaptivityReturn to Jerusalem and the Second TempleCultural Conflict during the Second Temple Era　　The Seleucid PeriodResponses to Outside InfluencesThe Development of Rabbinical Judaism　　The Canon of Scripture and the TalmudIslam and Medieval JudaismThe KabbalahChristianity and Medieval JudaismQuestioning and Reform　　Judaism and the Modern World　　Hitler and the HolocaustCreation of the State of IsraelPersonal Experience: A Visit to MasadaJewish Belief　　Religious Practice　　The Jewish SabbathHoly DaysJewish Dietary PracticesOther Religious Practices 318Divisions within Contemporary Judaism　　Culturally Based DivisionsObservance-Based DivisionsJewish 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 GospelsThe Two Great CommandmentsEarly Christian Beliefs and History　　Paul and Pauline ChristianityThe New Testament: Its Structure and ArtistryThe Christian CanonThe Early Spread of Christianity　　Infl uences on Christianity at the End of the Roman Empire　　AugustineBenedict and the Monastic IdealThe Eastern Orthodox Church　　Early DevelopmentMonasticism in the Eastern ChurchEastern Orthodox BeliefsPersonal Experience: Mar Saba MonasteryChristianity in the Middle Ages　　Christian MysticismThe Crusades, the Inquisition, and Christian ControlThe Late Middle AgesThe Protestant Reformation　　Martin LutherForms of ProtestantismThe Development of Christianity Following theProtestant Reformation　　The Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation)The International Spread of ChristianityNontraditional ChristianityChristian Practice　　Sacraments and Other RitualsThe Christian YearDevotion to MaryChristianity and the Arts　　ArchitectureArtMusicChristianity Faces the Modern World　　The Challenges of Science and SecularismContemporary Influences and DevelopmentsReading: 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 IslamAdditional Islamic Religious PracticesScripture: The Qur’anThe Historical Development of Islam　　Expansion and ConsolidationThe Shiite and Sunni Division within IslamSufism: Islamic Mysticism　　Sufi BeliefsAl-Ghazali and Sufi BrotherhoodsSufi Practice and PoetryPersonal Experience: A Visit to a Mosque      Islamic Law and Philosophy　　Islamic Law and Legal InstitutionsIslamic Philosophy and TheologyIslam and the Arts　　ArchitectureFine ArtIslam and the Modern World　　Islam and Contemporary LifeIslam and the Roles of WomenThe Challenge of SecularismA Range of SolutionsIslam in the West and BeyondReading: 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 OrderMulticulturalism and Interfaith DialogueWomen’s Rights MovementsReassessment of Human SexualityScience and TechnologyScience and Ethical IssuesSecularismEnvironmental ChallengesThe Recurring Challenges of Change　　Environmentalism: A Religious Phenomenon?　　Eclectic Spirituality　　InterrelatednessReverence and RespectContemplative PracticesPersonal Experience: Supper Together  Reading: Learning From A Tree Answer Key　　Notes　　Credits　　Index