About the Book
With ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES, 9th Edition you will encounter the most notable and instructive sacred texts from major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. You'll also examine scriptures from new religious movements including Baha'i, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Christian Science Church, and the Unification Church. You'll study scriptural readings in context, see how each religion is actually practiced today, as well as be introduced to its history, teachings, organization, ethics, and rituals. To help you understand the readings, you'll find introductions, study questions, glossaries, extensive footnotes explaining more challenging parts of the readings, scriptural charts, and suggestions for further reading.
Table of Contents:
1. SCRIPTURE AMONG THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS. A Brief History of Scripture Scholarship. The Definition of Scripture. The Uses of Scripture. Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Religions through Their Scriptures. World Scriptures and Modern Scholarship. Scriptures and the World Wide Web. The Plan of This Book. Suggestions on How to Read Scriptures. Glossary. Questions for Study and Discussion. 2. HINDUISM. Introduction. Overview of Structure. Contemporary Use. Historical Origin and Development. TEACHING. Aditi and the Birth of the Gods (Rig-Veda 10.72). Two Philosophical Views of Creation (Rig-Veda 10.129; Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad 1.4.1'7). The God Indra (Rig-Veda 2.12). Rudra and Shiva (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.1'13). 'That You Are' (Chandogya Upanishad 6.1'2, 9'11). Hindu Rejection of Buddhism and Jainism (Vishnu Purana 3.18). ETHICS. Sin and Forgiveness (Rig-Veda 7.86). The Three Da's (Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad 5.2). The Way of Knowledge (Mundaka Upanishad 2.1'13). Stages of Life for a Twice-Born Man (Laws of Manu 2.69'74, 191'201; 19; 6.1'9, 33'49). The Life of Women (Laws of Manu 3.55'60; 5.147'165). ORGANIZATION. Creation and the Caste System (Rig-Veda 10.90.1'14). The Duties of the Four Castes (Institutes of Vishnu 2'1.17). The Outcastes (Laws of Manu 10.51'57). RITUAL AND MEDITATION. The Gayatri Mantra (Rig-Veda 3.62.10). Sacrifice to Agni in the Vedas and Brahmanas (Rig-Veda 1.1; Agni-Brahmana 1.1'19). Soma (Rig-Veda 8.48). Marriage (Rig-Veda 10.85.20'47). Cremation (Rig-Veda 10.16). Charms and Spells (Atharva-Veda 6.20; 7.70; 6.9; 3.16). Chanting of Om (Chandogya Upanishad 1.1.1'10). The Practice of Yoga (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 2.8'15). SELECTIONS FROM THE BHAGAVAD-GITA. TWO TAMIL POETS, APPAR AND TUKARAM. Appar: 'Confession of Sin', 'The Presence of God'. Tukaram: 'Waiting', 'The Burden of the Past'. Glossary. Questions for Study and Discussion. Scriptures in Film. 3. BUDDHISM. Introduction. Overview of Structure. Contemporary Use. Historical Origin and Development. HISTORY. The Past Lives of Siddhartha Gotama (Jataka 190). The Life of Siddhartha Gotama (Acts of the Buddha, selections). The Death of Gotama Buddha (Book of the Great Decease 6.1'12, 33'35, 45'48). TEACHING. The Four Noble Truths (Sutra on Turning the Wheel of the Law 1'8). The Noble Eightfold Path (Sutra on Turning the Wheel of the Law 9'20). The Skandhas and the Chain of Causation (Acts of the Buddha 16.1, 28'48). The Essence of Mahayana Buddhism (Sutra on the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom). A Mahayana View of the Buddha (Lotus Sutra of the True Teaching 2.36; 10.1). The Blessings of the Pure Land (Array of the Joyous Land Sutra). ETHICS. Conduct of the Monk (Path of Teaching 25, 360'382). Admonition to Laity (Sutra for Dammika 18'27). Parable of the Burning House (Lotus Sutra 3). ORGANIZATION. Founding of the Monastic Order (Large Group of Sutras 1.6.10, 11'16, 27'30, 32, 34, 37). Founding of the Order of Nuns (Small Group of Sutras 10.1.1'6). The Rules of Defeat for Monks and Nuns (Teaching on Rules of Defeat 1'4). Rules Requiring Formal Meetings of Monks (Teaching on Rules Requiring Meetings of the Monks 1'13). RITUAL. The Relics of the Buddha (Book of the Great Decease 6.58'60). Mindfulness in Meditation (Sutra on the Establishment of Mindfulness 10.1'9). A Mahayana View of the Merit of Making Images (Taisho Revised Tripitaka 16.694). Tibetan Scripture to Guide the Soul after Death (Tibetan Book of the Dead 1.1'2). A Collection of Tibetan Magical Formulas (Rituals of the Goddess Kurukulla 3.76). A Zen Koan, 'What Is Extraordinary?' (The Blue Cliff Record 26). Glossary. Questions for Study and Discussion. Scriptures in Film. 4. JAINISM. Introduction. Overview of Structure. Historical Origin and Development, and Contemporary Use. HISTORY. The Life of Mahavira (Acaranga Sutra 2.15.6'9, 14, 16'20, 22'25, 27). TEACHING. The Causes of Sin (Acaranga Sutra 1.1'2). The Road to Final Deliverance (Uttaradhyayana Sutra 28). ETHICS. Ahimsa (Kritanga Sutra 1.7.1'9). Rules for Monastic Life
About the Author :
Dr. Robert E. Van Voorst is Professor of New Testament Studies at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and former professor of religion at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1995. He has written frequently on religious studies in noted journals and reference works. In addition, he has authored numerous books, including six with Cengage Learning: RELG: WORLD, 2nd Edition; READINGS IN CHRISTIANITY, 3rd Edition; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES, 9th Edition; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES: EASTERN RELIGIONS; ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES: WESTERN RELIGIONS; and READING THE NEW TESTAMENT TODAY, now also in a Chinese version. Other books by Van Voorst include BUILDING YOUR NEW TESTAMENT GREEK VOCABULARY, 3rd Edition; THE ASCENTS OF JAMES, a recovery and commentary on a second-century Jewish-Christian document; and JESUS OUTSIDE THE NEW TESTAMENT, an examination of traditions about Jesus in ancient classical and Jewish documents, now also in Italian.
Review :
"This is a concise, well-written introduction to the major world religions' basic concepts and texts."
"This is the best anthology I have found, which is why I use it every year."
