Invitation to World Religions

CONTENTS

Preface xix

1

An Invitation to the Study of World Religions 3 APPROACHING THE STUDY OF WORLD RELIGIONS 4 Religion as a Subject of Academic Inquiry 5 WHAT RELIGIONS DO 10 Religious Questions and Challenges 12 Religion and Violence 19 Dimensions of Religions 20 Teachings 20 Historical Development 21 Way of Life 22 RELIGIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD 22 Modernization and Related Phenomena 23 Gender Issues in Religions 24 The Encounter of Religion and Science 25 AN ACADEMIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS 26 Balance and Empathy 26 Comparative and Multidisciplinary Approaches 27 CONCLUSION 29 Indigenous Religions of North America 33 THE TEACHINGS OF INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS 36 Creation and Origins 37 Life Lessons in Myths 40 The Importance of Balance: Humanity and the Natural World 41 Sacred Language and Sacred Time 44 VOICES: An Interview with Brian Melendez 45 THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS 47

ix Religion in Early Civilizations and States 48 Conquest, Colonization, and Christianity 49 PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2