Anthology of world scriptures / Robert E. Van Voorst.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Van Voorst, Robert E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sacred books.

Physical Description:

xviii, 376 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

Australia ; Belmont, CA : Wadsworth Thomson Learning, [2003]

Contents:

Chapter 1 Scripture among the World's Religions 1

A Brief History of Scripture Scholarship 2

The Nature and Definition of Scripture 5

The Uses of Scripture 10

Advantages and Disadvantages 13

World Scriptures and Modern Scholarship 16

Scriptures and the World Wide Web 18

The Plan of This Book 19

A Guide to Pronunciation 20

Suggestions on How to Read Scriptures 22

Chapter 2 Hinduism 27

Overview of Structure 27

Origin and Development 30

Use 32

Teaching 34

Aditi and the Birth of the Gods (Rig-Veda 10.72) 34

Two Philosophical Views of Creation (Rig-Veda 10.129; Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad 1.4.1-7) 35

The God Indra (Rig-Veda 2.12) 36

The God Shiva (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 3.1-13) 37

"That You Are" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.1-2,9-11) 38

Organization 39

The Creation of the Caste System (Rig-Veda 10.90) 39

The Four Castes (Institutes of Vishnu 2.1-17) 40

Ethics 41

Sin and Forgiveness (Rig-Veda 7.86) 41

The Way of Asceticism (Mundaka Upanishad 2.1-3, 5-8, 10-13) 42

Stages of Life for a Twice-Born Man (Laws of Mann 2.69-74, 191-201; 3.1-19; 6.1-9, 33-49) 42

The Life of Women (Laws of Mann 3.55-60; 5.147-165) 46

Ritual and Meditation 47

The Gayatri Mantra (Rig-Veda 3.62.10) 47

Devotion to Agni in Prayer and Sacrifice (Rig-Veda 1.1; Agni-Brahmana 1.1-19) 47

Soma (Rig-Veda 8.48) 48

Marriage (Rig-Veda 10.85.20-47) 49

Cremation (Rig-Veda 10.16) 51

Charms and Spells (Atharva-Veda 6.20; 7.70; 6.9; 3.16) 52

Chanting of Om (Chandogya Upanishad 1.1.1-10) 53

The Practice of Yoga (Shvetashvatara Upanishad 2.8-15) 53

Appendix 1 Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita 54

Appendix 2 Non-Sanskrit Sources (Two Tamil Poets) 63

Chapter 3 Buddhism 69

Overview of Structure 70

Origin and Development 74

Use 75

History 76

The Past Lives of Gotama Buddha (Jataka 190) 76

The Life of Gotama Buddha (Selections from the Buddhacarita) 77

The Death of Gotama Buddha (Mahaparinibbana Sutta 6.1-12, 31-35, 45-48) 82

Teaching 84

The Sermon on the Four Noble Truths (Dhammacakkapparattana Sutta, 1-8) 84

The Skandhas and the Chain of Causation (Buddhacarita 16.1, 28-50) 85

The Essence of Buddhism (The Heart Sutra) 86

A Mahayana View of the Buddha (Saddharma-pundarika Sutra 2.36; 10.1) 87

Ethics 89

Conduct of the Monk (Dhammapada 25.360-382) 89

Admonition to Laity (Cullavagga, Dhammikasutta 18-29) 90

The Wisdom of the Buddha (Dhammapada 1-20, 157-166) 91

Organization 92

Founding of the Order (Mahavagga 1.6.10, 11-16, 27-30, 32, 34, 37) 92

The Rules of Defeat (Patimokkha, Parajika Dhamma 1-4) 94

Rules Requiring Formal Meetings (Patimokkha, Samghadisesa Dhamma 1-13) 95

The Order of Nuns (Cullavagga 10.1.1-6) 97

Ritual and Meditation 99

The Relics of the Buddha (Mahaparinibbana Sutta 6.58-60) 99

Mindfulness in Meditation (Majjhima-Nikaya, Satipatthanasutta 10.1-9) 99

The Merit of Making Images (Taisho Shinshu Daizokyo, 16, no. 694) 102

Scripture to Guide the Soul After Death (Bardo Thodol 1.1-2) 104

Chapter 4 Jainism 109

Overview of Structure 109

Origin, Development, and Use 110

History 111

The Life of Mahavira (Acaranga Sutra 2.15.6-9, 14, 16-20, 22-25, 27) 111

Teaching 113

The Causes of Sin (Acaranga Sutra 1.1-2) 113

The Road to Final Deliverance (Uttaradhyayana 28) 114

Organization 116

The Five Great Vows (Acaranga Sutra 2.15.i-v) 116

Ethics 117

Ahimsa (Sutrakritanga 1.7.1-9) 117

Rules for Monastic Life (Uttaradhyayana 35) 117

Chapter 5 Sikhism 121

Overview of Structure 121

Origin and Development 122

Use 123

Teaching 124

Selections from the Japji (1-3, 5-6, 9-10, 12-13, 15, 17-18, 20-22, 25, 28-29, 33, 37-Epilogue) 124

Remembering God (Gauri Sukhmani, M. 5) 128

Creation of the World (Asa Ki Var, M. 1) 128

Dancing for Krishna (Rag Gurji, M. 3) 129

The Hindu Thread (Asa Ki Var, M. 1) 130

Ethics 131

Prayer for Forgiveness (Rag Bihagra, M. 5) 131

Against the Use of Wine (Rag Bihagra, M. 1) 131

Ritual 132

Hymn for the Installation of the Guru Granth (Rag Devgandhari, M. 5) 132

A Marriage Hymn (Rag Asa, M. 5) 132

Organization 133

The Guru (Rag Gauri, M. 3) 133

God's Power in the Sikh Community (Rag Gauri, M. 5) 133

Appendix Selections from the Dasam Granth 134

Guru Gobind Singh's Story (Vichitar Natak, 6) 134

God as the Holy Sword (Vichitar Natak, 1) 135

Chapter 6 Confucianism 139

Overview of Structure 139

Origin and Development 141

Use 142

History 143

The Character of Confucius (Analects 2.4; 7.1-9, 19-24; 10.1-4, 8-12) 143

Ethics 145

The Virtues of the Superior Man (Analects 1.1-4, 6-9, 14; 15.17-23) 145

Benevolence (Analects 4.1-6) 146

The Actions and Attitude of Filiality (Classic of Rites, 10.1, 4, 7, 10-11, 13-15; Analects 2.5-8; 4.18-21; 13.18) 147

Propriety (Analects 3.3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17-19) 149

The Way (Analects 16.2) 150

The Love of Learning (Analects 17.8-9, 12) 151

The Goodness of Human Nature (Mencisu 6.1.1-4, 6) 151

The Basis of Good Government (The Great Learning 1-7; 9.1, 3-5) 153

Confidence and Prosperity in Government (Mencius 4.3, 9; 1.6.20-24) 154

Ritual 155

Divination (Classic of Changes 1, 47, 54) 155

Songs for Sacrifice (Classic of Poetry, Kau 7; Minor Odes 10.1, 3, 5) 157

Music and Morality (Classic of Rites 17.2.10-11, 15-16, 18) 159

Chapter 7 Taoism 163

Overview of Structure 163

Origin, Development, and Use 164

Teaching 165

The Nature of the Tao (Tao Te Ching, 1, 6, 25, 34; Chuang-tzu 29) 165

The World (Tao Te Ching 7, 42, 52) 167

Ethics 167

Nonaction (Chuang-tzu, book 7) 167

Individual Life in Harmony with the Tao (Tao Te Ching 16, 22, 33, 44) 168

The Superior Man (Chuang-tzu, book 12) 169

Government (Tao Te Ching 3, 18, 57, 64) 170

On Death (Chuang-tzu, book 18) 171

Reward and Retribution (T'ai-Shang, book 1) 171

Ritual 173

Methods of Prolonging Life (Pao-p'u tzu 15.6b-7a; 19.6b-7a) 173

Chapter 8 Shinto 177

The Kojiki 177

The Nihongi 178

Selections from the Kojiki 178

Preface to the Kojiki 178

The Creation of Japan (Kojiki, Chapters 1-5, 33) 181

Emperor Yuryaku and the Story of the Woman Akawi-ko (Kojiki 154) 184

Chapter 9 Zoroastrianism 187

Overview of Structure 187

Origin and Development 189

Use 189

History 190

The Call of Zarathushtra (Yasna 29) 190

A Hymn of Praise to Zarathushtra (Yasht 24: 87b-94) 191

Teaching 192

Hymn to Ahura and the Purifying Fire (Yasna 36) 192

Hymn to Ahura Mazda the Creator (Yasna 37:1-5) 193

The Doctrine of Dualism (Yasna 30) 193

Worship and Ritual 194

The Place of the Gathas (Yasna 55:1-3) 194

The Zoroastrian Confession (Yasna 12) 195

The Four Great Prayers (From the Yasna) 196

Disposal of the Dead (Vendidad, Fargard 6, section 5, 44-51) 197

Chapter 10 Judaism 201

Names 202

Overview of Structure 202

Origin and Development 204

Use 207

History 209

The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-9) 209

The Call of Moses (Exodus 3:1-20) 210

Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31) 211

The Covenant with Israel (Exodus 19:1-8) 212

A Psalm for David (Psalm 132) 213

Ezra's Enforcement of Torah Observance (Ezra 9:1-7, 13-15; 10:1-12) 213

Teaching 215

The Oneness of God (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) 215

God's Creation of the World (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-9, 15-25) 215

The Revolt of Humanity (Genesis 3:1-24) 217

Prayer for Divine Deliverance (Psalm 5) 218

The Messianic King (Isaiah 11:1-9) 219

The Final Judgment of the World (Daniel 7:1-14) 220

Resurrection of the Dead (Daniel 12:1-3) 221

Ethics 221

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-14) 221

Laws on Slaves, Violence, Property (Exodus 21:1-36; 22:15-26) 222

Justice for All (Exodus 23:1-9) 224

Holy War (Deuteronomy 20:1-20) 224

Sexual Love (Song of Songs 1:1-2:17) 225

God's Call to an Unfaithful People (Amos 4:1-13) 227

Two Views of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-33; Ecclesiastes 1:1-9) 228

The Virtuous Wife

(Proverbs 31:10-31) 229

Organization 230

The Ordination of Priests (Exodus 29:1-37) 230

A Call to Be a Prophet (Isaiah 6:1-13) 231

Women as Judges and Prophets (Judges 4:4-10, 12-16; II Kings 22:11-20) 232

Ritual 233

The Establishment of Circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14, 23-27) 233

The Establishment of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-19, 24-27) 234

The Observance of the Sabbath (Exodus 31:12-17) 235

Offerings for the Forgiveness of Sin (Leviticus 4:27-5:7) 235

The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1-5, 11-19, 29-34) 236

Kosher and Nonkosher Foods (Leviticus 11:1-31, 41-45) 237

Appendix Selections from the Mishnah and Talmud 239

The Sayings of the Fathers (Mishnah, Aboth 1.1-18) 239

The Duty to Marry and Have Children (Babylonian Talmud, Yebamoth 61b-63) 240

Chapter 11 Christianity 245

Names 245

Overview of Structure 246

Origin and Development 248

Use 250

History 252

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:18-25) 252

Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Lawyers (Luke 11:37-54) 252

Jesus' Miracles (Luke 8:26-56) 253

The Arrest, Trial, and Death of Jesus (Mark 14:43-50, 53-65; 15:1-41) 254

The Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16:1-8) 256

The Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:6-11) 257

The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-21) 257

Persecution of the Apostles (Acts 5:27-42) 258

The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-21) 259

Teaching 260

The Parables of Jesus (Mark 4:1-34) 260

The Word Became Human (John 1:1-18) 261

Nicodemus Visits Jesus (John 3:1-21) 262

A Sinful Woman Forgiven (Luke 7:36-50) 263

Results of Justification (Romans 5:1-11) 263

The Resurrection of Christ and the Believer (I Corinthians 15:1-11, 35-58) 264

The End of Time (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:1-21:4) 265

Ethics 267

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) 267

Directions Concerning Marriage (I Corinthians 7:1-16, 25-40) 270

Love (I Corinthians 13:1-13) 272

Ethics in the Christian Household (Ephesians 5:21-6:9) 272

Being Subject to Authorities (Romans 13:1-10) 273

The Fall of Rome (Revelation 17:1-18:5) 274

Organization 275

The Twelve Apostles and Their Mission (Matthew 10:1-15) 275

Matthew's Church Order (Matthew 18:1-10, 15-22) 276

Peter as the Rock (Matthew 16:13-20) 276

Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons (I Timothy 3:1-13) 277

Women in the Early Church (Luke 10:38-42; I Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:27-28; I Timothy 2:8-15) 278

Ritual 279

The Eucharist (Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29; John 6:22-40, 52-59) 279

Baptism (Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 6:1-14) 280

Confession and Anointing (James 5:13-18) 281

Chapter 12 Islam 285

Name 286

Overview of Structure 286

Origin and Development 288

Use 289

History 291

The Call of Muhammad (Quran 96; 53:1-18) 291

The Mission of Muhammad (Quran 11:1-16; 93) 292

Opposition to Muhammad (Quran 52:30-49; 63) 293

The Night Journey (Quran 17:1-2) 294

The Flight to Medina (Quran 9:40) 294

The Wives of Muhammad (Quran 33:28-40, 48-49) 295

The Death of Muhammad (Quran 21:34-37) 296

Teaching 296

God's Absolute Oneness (Quran 6:100-103; 112) 296

God's Names (Quran 59:22-24) 297

God's Power (Quran 24:41-46; 6:95-99) 297

God's Predestination (Quran 42:8-13; 7:177-182) 298

Jinn (Quran 72:1-15) 299

Creation (Quran 15:16-48; 16:1-17) 299

Adam, Eve, and the Fall (Quran 2:28-37) 301

The Holy Quran (Quran 42:50-53; 46:1-11; 2:81-85) 302

On Unbelievers, Jews and Christians (Quran 9:1-7, 3:38-50; 2:111-121, 132-137) 303

Resurrection and Judgment (Quran 75:1-15; 69:14-35) 305

Heaven and Hell (Quran 76:1-22; 56:1-39; 77:1-39) 306

Ethics 308

The Conduct of Believers (Quran 17:23-39) 308

Women (Quran 4:19-22, 34-39; 2:220-223, 227-233) 309

Against Evil Magic (Quran 113; 114) 310

Holy War (Quran 48:11-21; 2:190-194, 216-218) 311

Law Codes (Quran 4:1-10) 312

Worship and Ritual 313

The Opening of the Quran (Quran 1) 313

Confession of Faith (Quran 57:1-7; 37:32-39) 313

Prayer (Quran 2:142-149) 314

Alms (Quran 107; 9:53-60) 315

The Fast (Quran 2:183-186) 315

Pilgrimage (Quran 2:124-130; 106; 2:196-199) 316

The Mosque (Quran 24:36-38; 9:15-18) 317

Appendix Selections from the Hadith 318

On Innovations 318

On Ritual Washings 318

On Prayer 319

On Alms 319

On God 319

On the Power of Reading the Quran 320

On the Martyr in Holy War 320

On Plunder in Holy War 320

On Women and Children in Holy War 320

On the Steps for Struggle against Enemies 320.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0534602010

OCLC:

48399010