Table of Contents
Preface 9
Acknowledgments 11
1 What Is Religion? 13
2 Why Learn About Other Religions? 17
3 Christianity: What Sets It Apart? 21
4 Roman Catholic Christianity 25
5 Eastern Orthodox Christianity 30
6 Protestant Christianity 34
7 Evangelical Christianity 38
8 Animism and Folk Religions 42
9 Native American Religions 46
10 African Traditional Religions 50
11 Judaism: Historical Development 54
12 Judaism: Today 58
13 Zoroastrianism 62
14 Islam: Beginnings 66
15 Islam: Foundations 70
16 Islam: Beliefs 74
17 Islam: Theology 78
18 Islam: Varieties and Issues 82
19 The Nation of Islam 86
20 Baha'i 90
21 Hinduism: Origins 94
22 Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices 98
23 Hinduism: Today 102
24 Jainism 106
25 Sikhism 110
26 Theravada Buddhism 114
27 Mahayana Buddhism 118
28 Tibetan Buddhism 122
29 Confucianism 126
30 Taoism 130
31 Shinto 134
32 Secular Humanism 138
33 Cults, "Isms," and Contemporary Religious Movements 142
34 The Unitarian-Universalist Association, The Unity School of Christianity, and The Unification Church 146
35 Christian Science and Scientology 150
36 Mormonism 154
37 Jehovah's Witnesses 158
38 Neopagan Religions 162
39 New Age Religions 166
40 Transcendental Meditation 170
