World Religions Almanac World Religions Almanac VOLUME 1 Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, Editors WorldReligions:Almanac WrittenbyMichaelJ.O’NealandJ.SydneyJones EditedbyNeilSchlagerandJayneWeisblatt ProjectEditor ImagingandMultimedia Composition NancyMatuszak LezlieLight,DanNewell, EviSeoud ChristineO’Bryan,RobynYoung Editorial Manufacturing JulieL.Carnagie ProductDesign RitaWimberley JenniferWahi RightsandAcquisitions EdnaHedblad,EmmaHull,SueRudolph (cid:1)c2007ThomsonGale,apartof Forpermissiontousematerialfromthis priest),(cid:1)cMichaelS.Yamashita/Corbis- TheThomsonCorporation. product,submityourrequestviaWebat Bettmann(childinamosque). http://www.gale-edit.com/permissions, ThomsonandStarLogoaretrademarks oryoumaydownloadourPermissions Sincethispagecannotlegiblyaccommo- andGaleisaregisteredtrademarkused Requestformandsubmityourrequest dateallcopyrightnotices,theacknowl- hereinunderlicense. byfaxormailto: edgementsconstituteanextensionofthe copyrightnotice. 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LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA Jones,J.Sydney. World religions reference library / edited by Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt; writtenbyJ.SydneyJonesandMichaelO’Neal;NancyMatuszak,contentprojecteditor. p.cm.--(Worldreligionsreferencelibrary) Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex. ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0227-7(Almanac:set:alk.paper)-- ISBN-10:1-4144-0227-9(Almanac:set:alk.paper)-- ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0228-4(Almanac:vol.1:alk.paper)-- ISBN–10:1-4144-0228-7(Almanac:vol.1:alk.paper)-- [etc.] 1.Religions.I.O’Neal,Michael,1949-II.Schlager,Neil,1966-III.Weisblatt,Jayne. IV.Title.V.Series. BL74.J662006 200--dc22 2006012295 ISBN-13: ISBN-10: 978-1-4144-0229-1 978-1-4144-0232-1 1-4144-0229-5 1-4144-0232-5 (Almanacvol.2) (Biographiesvol.2) (Almanacvol.2) (Biographiesvol.2) 978-1-4144-0230-7 978-1-4144-0232-8 1-4144-0230-9 1-4144-0233-3 (Biographiesset) (PrimarySources) (Biographiesset) (PrimarySources) 978-1-4144-0231-4 978-1-4144-0234-5 1-4144-0231-7 1-4144-0234-1 (Biographiesvol.1) (CumulativeIndex) (Biographiesvol.1) (CumulativeIndex) Thistitleisalsoavailableasane-book. ISBN-13:978-1-4144-0232-1,ISBN-10:1-4144-0612-6 ContactyourThomsonGalesalesrepresentativefororderinginformation. PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Reader’s Guide vii Timeline of Events xi Words to Know xv Research and Activity Ideas xxxiii VOLUME 1 Chapter 1: What is Religion? 1 Chapter 2: Agnosticism and Atheism 19 Chapter 3: Ancient Religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia 37 Chapter 4: Baha´(cid:1)´ı 69 Chapter 5: Buddhism 87 Chapter 6: Christianity 119 Chapter 7: Confucianism 151 Chapter 8: Daoism 177 Chapter 9: Greco-Roman Religion and Philosophy 207 Where to Learn More xxxvii Index xxxix VOLUME 2 Chapter 10: Hinduism 239 Chapter 11: Indigenous Religions 271 Chapter 12: Islam 291 Chapter 13: Jainism 323 v CONTENTS Chapter 14: Judaism 345 Chapter 15: Neo-Paganism 371 Chapter 16: Shinto 393 Chapter 17: Sikhism 419 Chapter 18: Zoroastrianism 443 Where to Learn More xxxvii Index xxxix vi WorldReligions:Almanac Reader’s Guide Religion influences the views and actions of world’s population participates in it in one many people in the world today in both politi- wayoranother.Thoughhardtodefine,religion cal and personal ways. In some instances reli- seems to be a universal experience and need. Of gious fervor compels people to perform selfless the nearly 6.5 billion people on Earth, only acts of compassion, while in others it spurs about 16 percent (about 1.1. billion) say they them to bitter warfare. Religion opens some do not believe in a god or do not believe in a peopletoallhumanitybutrestrictsotherstore- specificreligion.Therestoftheworld’spopula- main loyal to small groups. tion belongs to one of more than twenty differ- In general, religion can be described as a ent major religions. unified system of thought, feeling, and action thatissharedbyagroupandthatgivesitsmem- Features and Format bers an object of devotion—someone or some- World Religions: Almanac covers the history, tra- thing sacred to believe in, such as a god or a ditions, and worldviews of dominant and less spiritual concept. Religion also involves a code prominent religions and their sects and off- of behavior or personal moral conduct by shoots. This title examines the development of which individuals may judge the personal and religions throughout history and into modern social consequences of their actions and the times: their philosophies and practices, sacred actions of others. Most of the time, religion texts and teachings, effects on everyday life, also deals with what might be called the super- influences on society and culture, and more. natural or the spiritual, about forces and a power beyond the control of humans. In this The two-volume set features eighteen chap- function, religion attempts to answer questions ters on today’s prominent world religions and thatsciencedoesnottouch,suchasthemeaning also explores ancient beliefs, such as those of of life and what happens after death. Egypt and Mesopotamia; smaller movements Perhaps one of the most amazing things like that of neo-paganism and Baha´(cid:1)´ı; and phi- about religion is that there is no commonly losophies, including those of ancient Greece and held way of looking at it. Yet most of the Rome, agnosticism, and atheism. In addition, vii READER’S GUIDE an introductory chapter, ‘‘What Is Religion?,’’ Creation Stories and Foundation Myths; explores the concept of religion in more depth. Characteristics of the Divine; and Reli- Numerous black-and-white images illustrate gion as a Guide to Living. The first the text, while sidebars highlight interesting explores the creation stories of religions, such as those relayed in Islam’s Qur(cid:1)an, people and fascinating facts connected with and foundational myths, such as the one the world’s religions. The title includes a glos- told in Black Elk Speaks, that provide a sary, a timeline, research and activity ideas, unifying cultural basis for many people. sources for further reading, and a subject index. The second chapter, Characteristics of the Divine, explores the aspects and per- World Religions Reference Library sonalities of God or the gods as revealed World Religions: Almanac is only one compo- through religious documents such as nent of the three-part World Religions Refer- TheEpicofGilgameshandSwamiViveka- ence Library. The set also includes a two- nanda’s ‘‘Paper on Hinduism.’’ The final volume set of biographies and one volume of chapter examines how religion provides primary source documents: guidelines that people can use in their ev- eryday lives. These include selections (cid:1) World Religions: Biographies (two volumes) from the Christian Bible; the Avesta, the presents the biographies of fifty men and sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism; and women who have played a critical role in Emma Goldman’s essay ‘‘The Philosophy the world’s religions throughout history. of Atheism.’’ Among those profiled are Abraham, whose influence is seen in three of the modernworld’smostinfluentialreligions: Acknowledgments (cid:2) (cid:2) Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Muham- U X L would like to thank several individuals mad,consideredthefinalandmostimpor- for their assistance with World Religions: Alma- tantprophet by Muslims; and Siddhartha nac. At Schlager Group, Jayne Weisblatt and Gautama, who became known as the Neil Schlager oversaw the writing and editing, Buddha. Modern figures include the while Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones Hindu teacher Swami Vivekananda and wrote the text. Thanks also to Ken Shepherd, Baha´(cid:1)u(cid:1)lla´h, the founder of the Baha´(cid:1)´ı who assisted with copyediting, Nora Harris for faith. Women who made significant indexing, and Gloria Lam for proofing. impacts on religion are also featured, including Mother Maria Skobtsova, an Special thanks are due for the inv(cid:2)alu(cid:2)able Orthodox Christian nun who worked to commentsandsuggestionsprovidedbyU X L’s save many during the Holocaust. World Religions Reference Library advisors and consultants: (cid:1) World Religions: Primary Sources (one vol- ume) offers eighteen excerpted writings, (cid:1) George Alscer, Associate Professor and speeches, and sacred texts from across Chair of Religious Studies, Philosophy the religious spectrum. The selections and Pastoral Ministry, Marygrove Col- are grouped into three thematic chapters: lege, Detroit, Michigan. viii WorldReligions:Almanac READER’S GUIDE (cid:1) Janet Callahan, Ford Interfaith Network, (cid:1) Chuen Pangcham, Midwest Buddhist Dearborn, Michigan. MeditationCenter(BuddhaViharaTem- (cid:1) MaryAnnChristopher,Librarian,Yellow ple), Warren, Michigan. Springs High School, Yellow Springs, (cid:1) Gene Schramm, Retired professor of Ohio. SemiticLanguagesandNearEasternStud- (cid:1) Margaret Hallisey, Retired library media ies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, specialist and former board member of Michigan. the American Association of School (cid:1) Cheryl Youse, Media specialist, Hatherly Librarians; the Massachusetts School Elementary School,Plymouth, Michigan. Library Media Association; and the New England Educational Media Association. Comments and Suggestions (cid:1) Fatima al-Hayani, Professor of Religious Studies,UniversityofToledo,Toledo,Ohio. We welcome your comments on World Reli- (cid:1) Madan Kaura, Bharatyia Temple, Ford gions: Almanac and suggestions for other topics Interfaith Network, Dearborn, Michigan. in history to consider. Please write to Editors, (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:1) Ann Marie LaPrise, Huron School Dis- World Religions: Almanac U X L, Thomson trict, Monroe, Michigan. Gale, 27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, (cid:1) Ann W. Moore, Librarian, Schenectady Michigan 48331-3535; call toll-free 800-877- County Public Library, Schenectady, New 4253; send faxes to 248-699-8097; or send York. e-mail via http://www.gale.com. WorldReligions:Almanac ix Timeline of Events 10,000–400BCE The span of the Jomon period in Japan, during which Shinto first emerged. 3500–2000 BCE Duration of religion in ancient Sumer. 3110 BCE–550 CE Duration of religion in ancient Egypt. 3102 BCE Emergence of Hinduism. 1700BCE TheBabyloniansdeviseanewcreationmyth,theEnumaElish. c. 1353–34 BCE The pharaoh Akhenaten rules Egypt and enforces the worship of a single god, Aten. All evidence of his reign is wiped out after his death. Tenth century BCE The Jewish Temple of Solomon is constructed in Jerusalem. SeventhcenturyBCE Beginning of the Milesian School of philosophy in ancient Greece. 600BCE OfficialformalizationoftheRigVeda,oneofHinduism’smost sacred texts. 586BCE TheBabyloniankingNebuchadnezzardestroystheJewishTemple in Jerusalem and drives the Jews into exile (the Babylonian exile). 563 BCE Siddhartha Gautama, who will become the Buddha, is born in present-day Nepal. c. 551–479 BCE Life span of the scholar Kongzi, who is known in the West by his Latinized name, Confucius. xi