[Dummies 01] • Religion For Dummies by Gellman, Rabbi Marc -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Contents Introduction

About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here

Part I : In the Beginning: Religion Basics Chapter 1: Holy Smoke! Defining Religion

Religion: A (Relatively) Quick Definition Acting It Out: Religion and Rituals Ethically Speaking: Religion and Ethics Why People Flock to Religion Comparing Religion with Philosophy and Spirituality

Chapter 2: Four Big Mysteries and a Couple of Recent Conundrums

Why Are We Here? How Should We Live? What Happens after We Die? Why Does Evil Exist? Religion, Science, and a Basic Mystery: Who Creates Life?

Chapter 3: The God Questions: Does He Exist and What’s He Like?

The Proof Is in the Pudding The Nature of the Divine Other Questions about God

Chapter 4: When Good Religions Go Bad

Can’t We All Just Get Along? Understanding “Bad” Religion A Final Thought

Part II : Religious Beliefs Chapter 5: The Foundations of Faith

Joining Up It’s a Mystery to Me: Religion and the Search for Answers Hanging On to Faith Knowing through Revelation Heeding the Divine Commandment Providence and Karma: The Consequences of Our Actions Love, Love, and More Love: Grace

Chapter 6: The Amazing Variety of Spiritual Beings

Angels: Direct Line from God Devils, Demons, and other Bad Guys Prophets: Direct Lines to God Messiahs: Anointed by God Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Lamas, and Saints

Part III : Religious Rituals Chapter 7: Rituals of Communal Worship

Understanding Prayer Making Sacrifices Gettin’ Down with God: It’s All about Noise and Movement Healing Is Believing A Dieter’s Delight: The Joy of Fasting Receiving the Eucharist: It’s a Christian Thing

Chapter 8: Rituals of Individual Devotion

Getting Bent into Shape: Yoga Walking the Stations of the Cross Praying with Beads Goin’ on a Road Trip: Pilgrimages Private Prayer

Chapter 9: Holy Days in Our Lives: Rites of Passage

Christian Life Cycle Rituals Jewish Life Cycle Rituals Islamic Life Cycle Rituals Buddhist Life Cycle Rituals Hindu Life Cycle Rituals Life Cycle Rituals of Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto Sikh Life Cycle Rituals Life Cycle Rituals of Indigenous Religions

Part IV : Religious Ethics Chapter 10: Personal Virtues

The Golden Rule: A Universal Principle Compassion: I Feel Your Pain Humility: Remembering Your Place Respect: Minding Your Ps and Qs Hope: Living in a Scary World Bliss: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy Honesty: Cross My Heart Curiosity: Asking Critical Questions Patience: It’s a Virtue (So Are Diligence and Perseverance) Gratitude and Thankfulness: Saying Please and Thank You Purity: Everything You Always Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask

Chapter 11: Public Virtues

Charity: Sharing the Wealth Repentance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation: Repaying Evil with Good Obedience: Doing Your Duty Ahimsa: Respecting Life and Practicing Nonviolence Evangelism: Spreading the Faith Justice: Doing Right Tranquility: Finding Peace Tolerance: Accepting Other Ways up the Mountain Community: Gathering Together

Chapter 12: Religion and Some Really Hot Ethical Issues

Abortion: Who Can End a Pregnancy? Euthanasia and Suicide: Who Can End Life? Genetic Engineering: Who Creates Life? Capital Punishment Homosexuality and Lesbianism Separation of Church and State

Part V : All (Other) Things Holy Chapter 13: Holy Books

Hindu Holy Books Tao Holy Books Sacred Writings of Buddhism Confucian Texts Shinto Texts Jain Holy Books The Hebrew Bible The Christian Bible Islam: The Qur’an Zoroastrian Holy Books Sikh Holy Books Holy Texts of the Bahá’í Faith The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The Book of Mormon

Chapter 14: Holy People

Founders of Faith Famous Messengers of God The Smart Guys: Theologians and Scholars Contemporary Religious Leaders and Activists

Chapter 15: Holy Places

Jerusalem: Hot Spot and Holy City The Holy Rivers of Hinduism Calling All Muslims to Mecca Medina: The Early Political Center of Islam The Vatican: A City within a City The Promised Land for Latter-day Saints The Holy Pilgrimage Sites of the Bahá’í Faith Two Hills and a Mount: Sacred Jain Sites Holy Places of Taoism Sacred Sites for Other Religions

Chapter 16: Holy Houses

Synagogues: Jewish Houses of Worship A Temple Here, a Temple There Shrines: Places of Remembrance Churches: Alike and Different Mosques: Places of Ritual Prostration

Chapter 17: Holy Days on the Calendar

Types of Calendars—Just in Case You’re Curious Calendars of the World Religions

Part VI : The Part of Tens Chapter 18: Ten (or so) Jobs for the Devoted

Roman Catholic Priest Catholic Monk and Nun Protestant Minister Jewish Rabbi Jewish Cantor Muslim Imam Zoroastrian Magus Buddhist Monk and Nun Confucian Sage Hindu Priest Sikh Granthi and Ragi Jain Monk Shinto Priest and Miko Shaman

Chapter 19: Ten Tales for Your Reading Enjoyment

Creation Stories Miraculous Conceptions and Virgin Births Morality Tales and Lessons for Living

Appendix: A Few Religions of the World

Bahá’í Faith Buddhism Christianity Confucianism Hinduism Indigenous Religions and Belief Systems Islam Jainism Judaism Shinto Sikhism Taoism Zoroastrianism

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