Garry R. Morgan - Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day: Learn the basics of:<p>Islam<p>Buddhism<p>Hinduism<p>Mormonism<p>Christianity<p>And many more...

2012 by Garry R. Morgan

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-5988-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Cover design by Eric Walljasper

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. What Is Religion?

2. Why Learn About Other Religions?

3. Christianity: What Sets It Apart?

4. Roman Catholic Christianity

5. Eastern Orthodox Christianity

6. Protestant Christianity

7. Evangelical Christianity

8. Animism and Folk Religions

9. Native American Religions

10. African Traditional Religions

11. Judaism: Historical Development

12. Judaism: Today

13. Zoroastrianism

14. Islam: Beginnings

15. Islam: Foundations

16. Islam: Beliefs

17. Islam: Theology

18. Islam: Varieties and Issues

19. The Nation of Islam

20. Bahai

21. Hinduism: Origins

22. Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices

23. Hinduism: Today

24. Jainism

25. Sikhism

26. Theravada Buddhism

27. Mahayana Buddhism

28. Tibetan Buddhism

29. Confucianism

30. Taoism

31. Shinto

32. Secular Humanism

33. Cults, Isms, and Contemporary Religious Movements

34. The Unitarian-Universalist Association, The Unity School of Christianity, and The Unification Church

35. Christian Science and Scientology

36. Mormonism

37. Jehovahs Witnesses

38. Neopagan Religions

39. New Age Religions

40. Transcendental Meditation

T oday nearly six billion people profess some form of religion. Not only is there tremendous variety of religious beliefs, within any given religion there are disparities in some beliefs and practices. Add to this the cultural variations that impact any religion practiced in multiple parts of the world and a kaleidoscope of differences emerges.

The migration patterns of recent decades (over one billion people on the move since 1970) have brought previously isolated religious groups into contact with followers of other religions, or into new settings that have compelled some alteration of practices, resulting in even more changes. (This is not a new phenomenon in India, where Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Zoroastrians and Buddhists already have lived together for centuries.)

Trying to describe this vast religious array is challenging, since there are exceptions to almost anything one would say; trying to do so with brevity is even more difficult. It is my sincere hope that this book will bring clarity rather than confusion to those who may know little about religions outside (or including) their own. If you wish to know even more, I recommend Lewis Hopfe and Mark Woodwards Religions of the World , which I have used for many years in my World Religions courses. This college textbook is very readable and includes samples from the sacred texts of each religion covered.

At the publishers request, this book intends to be descriptive rather than evaluative or polemic. It is designed to offer a concise overview of the major world religions and a sampling of some newer religious movements. Undoubtedly my own convictions have impacted my writing, but I have tried to be accurate and fair even when describing belief systems with which I personally disagree. Far too much contemporary writing by followers of one religion about others utilizes caricature and straw man arguments. My goal always is to be respectful.

Garry Morgan
March 2012

I wish to thank my wife, Connie, whose patience and encouragement kept me going in the writing of this book. I am grateful for my colleagues at Northwestern College who made allowances for my limited schedule during this period. And most of all, I give thanks to God, who demonstrated his grace to me in Jesus Christ and gave me a life filled with opportunities to interact with the followers of other faiths. To him be the glory.