World Religions Today

Preface
1. Introduction
Globalization: World Religions in a Multicultural Society
Understanding 'World Religions'
Understanding Religious Experience and Its Expressions
The Great Transition
The Great Religious Stories of the World
Modernization in Global Perspective
Modern Colonialism, the Socialist Challenge, and the End of Modernity
Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
2. Primal Religions
The Modern Human as Homo Religiosus
Hunter-Gatherers and the Prehistoric Origins of Religion
Animism and Afterlife
The Shaman
Primal Religions and the Cataclysms of Colonialism
Primal Religions Today
3. The Many Stories of Judaism: Sacred and Secular
Encounter with Modernity: Modern Judaisms and the Challenge of Ultra-Orthodoxy
Premodern Judaism: The Formative Era
Premodern Judaism: The Classical Era
Judaism and Modernity
Judaism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
4. Christian Diversity and the Road to Modernity
Encounter with Modernity: The Fundamentalist - Modernist Controversy
Premodern Christianity: The Formative Era
Premodern Christianity: The Classical Era
Christianity and Modernity
Christianity and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
5. Islam: The Many Faces of the Muslim Experience
Encounter with Modernity: The Challenge of Western Colonialism
Premodern Islam: The Formative Era
Premodern Islam: The Classical Era
Islam and Modernity
Islam and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
Islam: Postmodern Challenges
6. Hinduism: Myriad Paths to Salvation
A Far-Ranging Spiritual Tradition
Encountering Modernity: Hindu Challenges to India as a Secular State
Premodern Hinduism: The Formative Era
Premodern Hinduism: The Classical Era (180 BCE-900 CE)
Premodern Hinduism: The Postclassical Era (1500 BCE-900 CE)
Hinduism and Modernity
Hinduism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
Hinduism in Practice
7. Buddhism: Ways to Nirvana
Encounter with Modernity: Socially Engaged Buddhism
Premodern Buddhism: The Formative Era
Premodern Buddhism: The Classical Era
Premodern Buddhism: Buddhist Expansion
Buddhism and Modernity
Buddhism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
8. Sikhism: Becoming a World Religion
Geography and Demography of Sikhism
Encounter with Modernity
Guru Nanak, 1469-1539
Sikhism and Modernity: Sikhs and the Responses to Colonialism
Sikhism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
9. East Asian Religions: Traditions of Human Cultivation and Natural Harmony
Encounter with Modernity: Postcolonial Confucian Economics
East Asian Religions in the Premodern Era
East Asian Religions in the Early Modern Era
East Asian Religions and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World
10. Globalization: From New to New Age Religions
New Religions
New Age Religions
Religious Postmodernism and Global Ethics
Glossary
Art Credits
Index

Instructor's Manual
Student Study Guide

John L. Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs, Professor of Islamic Studies, and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. He specializes in Islam, political Islam from North Africa to Southeast Asia, and religion and international affairs. Darrell J. Fasching is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida. Todd Lewis is Professor of World Religions at the College of the Holy Cross.
Paul Bowlby is Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Saint Mary's University. His current research interest is on new religious diversity in Canada.

Special Features

• Canadian perspective. Fully revised to incorporate a Canadian perspective and Canadian examples, providing relevant material to students in this country.
• Contemporary approach. With its unique focus on how religion intersects with today's world, the text offers students a timely account of the relationship between religion and society.
• Primary sources. Excerpts-including current Canadian news articles-have been added throughout to familiarize students with important historical and contemporary documents.
• New chapter on Sikhism has been added to properly reflect the prominence of this faith in Canada and around the world.
• Eye-catching design. Stunning full-colour design, with new art and photos throughout, will appeal to today's students.
• Accessible. Straightforward language is used throughout and the chapter on East Asian religions has been revised and re-organized for greater clarity.
• Helpful learning aids. New boxes, chapter summaries, and key terms along with discussion questions, timelines, and a glossary have been included to encourage in-depth engagement with the material.