Table of Contents

Table of Contents 

Preface………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. iii

Chapter 1 Introduction…………………………………………………………… 1

World Religion’s Population………………………………………………………………. 4

Religion versus Spirituality………………………………………………………………… 8

Historical Timeline of the World Religions………………………………………… 9

Chapter 2 Hinduism……………………………………………………………… 15

Understanding the Practical Character of Indian Philosophy…………….. 16

The Self as the Focus of Philosophy and Religion………………………………. 18

Historical Background of Hinduism………………………………………………….. 19

Hindu Beliefs…………………………………………………………………………………….. 22

The Hindu Concept of a Deity…………………………………………………………… 23

The Hindu Practices………………………………………………………………………….. 27

Hindu Organization…………………………………………………………………………… 29

The Status of Hinduism Today…………………………………………………………… 29

The Significance of Hinduism……………………………………………………………. 30

Chapter 3 Judaism………………………………………………………………. 35

History of Judaism…………………………………………………………………………….. 36

From Abraham to Moses: From the Chosen People

to the Covenanted People……………………………………………………………. 36

From Joshua to the Fall of Jerusalem: The Story of Faith …………….. 44

Exile in Babylon: Lessons of Judaism …………………………………………. 48

The Persian Period: Story of the faith reformation

and birth of a religion………………………………………………………………… 49

The Judaic Beliefs………………………………………………………………………………. 51

Jewish Practices…………………………………………………………………………………. 51

Chapter 4 Zoroastrianism……………………………………………………….. 57

The History of Zoroastrianism…………………………………………………………… 58

The Zoroastrian Beliefs……………………………………………………………………… 59

The Zoroastrian Practices………………………………………………………………….. 59

The Zoroastrian Populace………………………………………………………………….. 61

Chapter 5 Jainism……………………………………………………………….. 67

History of Jainism……………………………………………………………………………… 68

The Jain Teachings…………………………………………………………………………….. 69

The Jain Beliefs and Practices…………………………………………………………….. 72

The Jains in the Modern World………………………………………………………….. 73

Chapter 6 Taoism……………………………………………………………….. 77

History of Taoism………………………………………………………………………………. 77

The Taoist Philosophy……………………………………………………………………….. 79

Understanding the Way of the Human Person…………………………………… 80

The Wu-Wei Principle……………………………………………………………………….. 81

The Taoist Religion……………………………………………………………………………. 83

Chapter 7 Buddhism…………………………………………………………….. 87

The Life of Siddhartha Gautama………………………………………………………… 88

The Buddhist Philosophy of the Human Person…………………………………. 89

The Fourfold Noble Truth………………………………………………………………….. 91

The Noble Eightfold Path…………………………………………………………………… 92

The Buddhists’ Guide to Doing Good………………………………………………… 94

The Buddhist Religion……………………………………………………………………….. 96

Buddhists’ Celebration of Festivals…………………………………………………….. 99

Chapter 8 Confucianism…………………………………………………………. 105

The Life of Confucius………………………………………………………………………… 106

The Confucian Philosophy………………………………………………………………… 107

The Human Person……………………………………………………………………………. 109

The Virtues of Li, Yi, Hsiao and Cheng-ming………………………………………. 110

Confucianism as a Religion……………………………………………………………….. 113

Sacred Writings and Symbols…………………………………………………………….. 113

Worships and Festivals………………………………………………………………………. 114

Chapter 9 Christianity…………………………………………………………… 121

History of Christianity………………………………………………………………………. 122

Jesus’ Life as the Revelation of God’s Kingdom………………………………….. 126

The Christian Beliefs………………………………………………………………………….. 128

Practices……………………………………………………………………………………………. 129

Chapter 10 Shintoism…………………………………………………………….. 135

History of Shintoism………………………………………………………………………….. 136

Religious Beliefs and Practices of Shintoism………………………………………. 137

Sacred Writings and Symbols…………………………………………………………….. 138

Shinto Worship………………………………………………………………………………….. 139

Shinto Symbols………………………………………………………………………………….. 140

Days of Worship, Holidays and Festivals……………………………………………. 140

Chapter 11 Islam………………………………………………………………….. 147

History of Muslim……………………………………………………………………………… 148

Beliefs of Islam ………………………………………………………………………………….. 150

Sacred Writings…………………………………………………………………………………. 151

Symbols…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 151

Holidays and Festivals……………………………………………………………………….. 151

Chapter 12 Sikhism.………………………………………………………………. 157

History of Sikhism…………………………………………………………………………….. 158

The Sikh Beliefs and Practices……………………………………………………………. 159

Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………….. 165

References ……………………………………………………………………….. 173