[Big Ideas Simply Explained 01] • The Religions Book by Kindersley, Dorling -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Front Cover Contents INTRODUCTION Primal Beliefs_From Prehistory

20 Unseen forces are at work 24 Even a rock has a spirit 26 Special people can visit other worlds 32 Why are we here? 33 Why do we die? 34 Eternity is now 36 Our ancestors will guide us 38 We should be good 39 Everything is connected 40 The gods desire blood 46 We can build a sacred space 48 We are in rhythm with the universe 50 We exist to serve the gods 51 Our rituals sustain the world

Ancient and Classical Beliefs_From 3000 BCE

56 There is a hierarchy of gods and men 58 The good live forever in the kingdom of Osiris 60 The triumph of good over evil depends on humankind 66 Accept the way of the universe 68 The Five Great Vows 72 Virtue is not sent from heaven 78 A divine child is born 79 The oracles reveal the will of the gods 80 The gods are just like us 82 Ritual links us to our past 86 The gods will die

Hinduism_From 1700 BCE

92 Through sacrifice we maintain the order of the universe 100 The divine has a female aspect 101 Sit up close to your guru 102 Brahman is my self within the heart 106 We learn, we live, we withdraw, we detach 110 It may be your duty to kill 112 The practice of yoga leads to spiritual liberation 114 We speak to the gods through daily rituals 116 The world is an illusion 122 So many faiths, so many paths 124 Nonviolence is the weapon of the strong

Buddhism_From 6th Century BCE

130 Finding the Middle Way 136 There can be an end to suffering 144 Test Buddha’s words as one would the quality of gold 145 Religious discipline is necessary 146 Renounce killing and good will follow 148 We cannot say what a person is 152 Enlightenment has many faces 158 Act out your beliefs 160 Discover your Buddha nature

Judaism_From 2000 BCE

168 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God 176 Beside me there is no other God 178 The Messiah will redeem Israel 182 Religious law can be applied to daily life 184 God is incorporeal, indivisible, and unique 186 God and humankind are in cosmic exile 188 The holy spark dwells in everyone 189 Judaism is a religion, not a nationality 190 Draw from the past, live in the present, work for the future 196 If you will it, it is no dream 198 Where was God during the Holocaust?

Christianity_From 1st Century CE

199 Women can be rabbis 204 Jesus is the beginning of the end 208 God has sent us his Son 209 The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church 210 The body may die but the soul will live on 212 God is three and God is one 220 God’s grace never fails 222 In the world, but not of the world 224 There is no salvation outside the Church 228 This is my body, this is my blood 230 God’s word needs no go-betweens 238 God is hidden in the heart 239 The body needs saving as well as the soul 240 Scientific advances do not disprove the Bible 246 We can influence God

Islam_From 610 CE

252 Muhammad is God’s final messenger 254 The Qur’an was sent down from heaven 262 The Five Pillars of Islam 270 The imam is God’s chosen leader 272 God guides us with shari‘a 276 We can think about God, but we cannot comprehend him 278 Jihad is our religious duty 279 The world is one stage of the journey to God 280 God is unequaled 282 Arab, water pot, and angels are all ourselves 284 The latter days have brought forth a new prophet 286 Islam must shed the influence of the West 291 Islam can be a modern religion

Modern Religions_From 15th Century

296 We must live as saint-soldiers 302 All may enter our gateway to God 304 Messages to and from home 306 Ask yourself: “What would Jesus do?” 308 We shall know him through his messengers 310 Brush away the dust of sin 311 These gifts must be meant for us 312 The end of the world is nigh 314 The lion of Judah has arisen 316 All religions are equal 317 We have forgotten our true nature 318 Find a sinless world through marriage 319 Spirits rest between lives in Summerland 320 Negative thoughts are just raindrops in an ocean of bliss 321 What’s true for me is the truth 322 Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart 323 Through qigong we access cosmic energy

DIRECTORY GLOSSARY INDEX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS