Western ways of being religious / [compiled by] Gary E. Kessler.

Includes bibliographical references.

PART I. INTRODUCTION 1. A Challenge Lee H. Yearley: “New Religious Virtues and the Study of Religion” 2. What Is Religion? Rem B. Edwards: The Search for Family Resemblances of Religion 3. How Should We Study Religion? William E. Paden: Comparative Perspectives / Wayne Proudfoot: Explanation PART II. WAYS OF BEING RELIGIOUS ORIGINATING IN THE NEAR EAST 4. Jewish Ways of Being Religious Jacob Neusner: The Four Periods in the History of Judaism / Torah (Pentateuch) / Creation (Genesis 1–3) • Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17) • Passover and Exodus (Exodus 12:29–41, 14) • Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19, 20) • Holiness Code (Leviticus 19) / Isaiah (1:1–28, 6) / Psalms (8, 23, 51, 137) • Esther (3–5:5a, 7) / Philo of Alexandria: On the Intelligible World / Community Rule (1QS) / Misnah (Abot, Chapter 1) • Talmud (Baba Mezia 59a–59b) • Talmud (Yebanot 61b–64a) / Moses ben Maimon: The Thirteen Principles / Moses de Leon: The Zohar / Nahman of Bratslav: “The Loss of the Princess” / “The Pittsburgh Platform” • Solomon Schechter: The Charter of the Seminary / Theodor Herzl: The Jewish State / Martin Buber: “The Dialogue Between Heaven and Earth” / Elie Wiesel: “To Be a Jew” / Judith Plaskow: “The Wife/Sister Stories” 5. Christian Ways of Being Religious Lawrence S. Cunningham: Christianity / Paul: Faith and Freedom (Galatians 1–2) • Paul: Life After Death (I Cornithians 15:12–28, 35–57) • Paul: Justification by Faith (Romans 3:9–28) / The Birth of Jesus (Mt. 1:18–25; Lk 2:1–21) • Sermons on the Mount (Mt. 5–7, Lk. 6:17–49) • Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11–32) • The Last Supper (Mk. 14:12–25; Mt. 26:20–29; Lk. 22:7–38) • Crucifixion and Resurrection (Mk. 15:21–16:8; Mt. 27:27–28:20; Lk. 23:26–24:11) / The Word Made Flesh (Jn. 1:1–18) • The Resurrection of Lazarus (Jn. 11:17–44) / Mary Magdalene Teaches Peter / Perpetua: Perpetua’s Vision / The Nicene Creed / Augustine of Hippo: The City of God (Bk. 14:4; 25–28) / Hesychios of Sinai: The Jesus Prayer / Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica, Q. 110, Art. 2; Q. 112, Art. 1; Q. 114, Art. 2) / Martin Luther: The Three Walls / Teresa of Avila: The Interior Castle (7.2) / The Book of Mormon (“Mormon,” Chapter 9) / Mary Baker Eddy: Science and Health / Benjamin B. Warfield: “The Inspiration of Scripture” / Thomas Merton: New Seeds of Contemplation / Ernst Benz: “The Greatness and Weakness of Orthodoxy” / Delores S. Williams: Black Women’s Surrogacy Experience 6. Islamic Ways of Being Religious Richard C. Martin: Islam / Qur’an: The Opening (surah 1) • Creation (surah 15:1–48, 2:28–39) • Allah (surah 2:255–257; 112:1–4) • Evils of Idolatry (surah 10:26–38) • People of the Book (surah 5:44–51, 65–78) • Ethics (surah 17:21–37) • Laws on Marriage (surah 4:13–25, 34–35, 128–135) • Pillars of Islam and Jihad (surah 2:144–150, 183–200, 216–218) / The Resurrection (surah 75) / Hadith: The Night Journey (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:227) • Reciting the Qur’an (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6:514) • The Death of Muhammad (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:727, 730, 736) • The Definitive Qur’an (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6:510) / Law (Shari’a): Al-Shafi’i: Roots of Law • Al-Quyrawani: Ritual Prayer • Al-Marghinani: Marriage and Divorce • Al-Muwardi: Caliphate / Theology (Kalam): Al-Maturidi: God and the World • Al-Ashari: Whatever God Wills Is Right • Al-Hilli: Twelver Shiite Theology / Rabi’a: Love of God • Al-Ghazali: Deliverance From Error • Attar: The Conference of the Birds • Rumi: Union and Separation / Islam in the Modern Age: Al-Afghani: Islamic Solidarity • Naguib Mahfouz: Preparing for Hajj (Midaq Alley) / Khurshid Ahmad: “The Nature of the Islamic Resurgence” / Fatima Mernissi: “Feminity as Subversion” Appendix: Religion on the Web

This historically organized collection of scriptural sources and interpretive essays can be used on its own or as a supplement. Its overall goal is to help beginning students read and understand significant source material pertaining to the great religions of the West.