In this Section: 1) Brief Table of Contents 2) Full Table of Contents BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS: Chapter 1: Religious Responses Chapter 2: Indigenous Sacred Ways Chapter 3: Hinduism Chapter 4: Jainism Chapter 5: Buddhism Chapter 6: Daoism and Confucianism Chapter 7: Shinto Special Section: Zoroastrianism Chapter 8: Judaism Chapter 9: Christianity Chapter 10: Islam Chapter 11: Sikhism Chapter 12: New Religious Movements Chapter 13: Religion in the Twenty-first Century FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS: Chapter 1: Religious Responses Attempts to define religion Why are there religions? Understandings of Sacred Reality Ritual, symbol, and myth Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity The encounter between science and religion Women in religions Negative aspects of organized religions Lenses for studying religions Chapter 2: Indigenous Sacred Ways Understanding indigenous sacred ways Cultural diversity The circle of right relationships Spiritual specialists Group observances Globalization Development issues Chapter 3: Hinduism Philosophical and metaphysical origins Major philosophical systems Religious foundations and theistic paths The Hindu way of life Hinduism in the modern world Chapter 4: Jainism The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars Spiritual practices World Jainism Chapter 5: Buddhism The life and legend of the Buddha The Dharma Branches of Buddhism Buddhism in the West Socially engaged Buddhism Chapter 6: Daoism and Confucianism Ancient traditions Daoism - the way of nature and immorality Confucianism - the practice of the virtue Chapter 7: Shinto The roots of "Shinto" Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian influences State Shinto "Sect Shinto" Shinto today Zoroastrianism Chapter 8: Judaism A history of the Jewish people Torah Sacred practices Holy days Contemporary Judaism Chapter 9: Christianity Historical evidence Evidence of the Bible The life and teachings of Jesus The early Church Church administration Intellectual revival and monasticism Medieval mysticism The Protestant Reformation The Roman Catholic Reformation Liberal trends The Second Vatican Council The Orthodox world today Central beliefs in contemporary Christianity Sacred practices Contemporary trends Chapter 10: Islam Pre-Islamic Arabia The Prophet Muhammad The Qur'an The central teachings The Five Pillars Sunni and Shi'a Sufism The spread of Islam Relationships with the West Muslim resurgence Chapter 11: Sikhism Guru Nanak The succession of Gurus Central beliefs Sacred practices Sikhism today Chapter 12: New Religious Movements Social context for new religious movements Charismatic leadership Offshoots of older religions Combinations of older religions Universalism Social trends Opposition to new religious movements Will new religious movements last? Chapter 13: Religion in the Twenty-first Century Globalization Secularism Religious pluralism Religion in politics Interfaith movement Religion and social issues Religion and materialism Religion and the future of humanity

"[The text is teachable], given the variety of pedagogical tools on display within each chapter, as well as the MyReligionLab option. This text would prove an excellent companion and dialogue partner for the student." - Chris Newcomb, Bethune-Cookman University "I believe the text does a very nice job of providing detail without becoming overwhelming from the perspective of the introductory student." -Charles Johnson, Washtenaw Community College "The organization is well done and logical. The consistent layout helps the readers to organize and compare the religions in their understanding of it - Ivory Lyons, University of Mount Union "My students consistently find the book interesting and compelling." - Barbara Darling-Smith, Wheaton College