World Religions Eastern Traditions

Featuring work from expert contributors, World Religions: Eastern Traditions, Fourth Edition, provides students with an authoritative examination of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Chinese, Korean, and Japanese religions. Accessible and engaging, this acclaimed text explores the origins, central teachings, divisions and branches, rituals and practices, influences on culture, and responses to modern challenges for each tradition.

FEATURES

* New chapter structures better reflect the uniqueness of each tradition

* A new "Recent Developments" section for every tradition provides more focus on contemporary issues

* A revised and updated "Current Issues" chapter better tackles key challenges facing Eastern traditions today

* Additional coverage of the role of women offers students a more inclusive overview of each tradition

* Dynamic pedagogical features including "Traditions at a Glance," "Document," "Focus," and "Sites" boxes, bolded key terms, maps, photographs, timelines, sites, text extracts, and further reading lists help bring each tradition to life for students

* New learning tools including chapter outlines, chapter summaries, discussion questions, and "Sacred Text" tables make difficult topics easier for students to understand

* An exceptional support package includes a Companion Website at www.oupcanada.com/Oxtoby, an Instructor's Manual, a Test Generator, PowerPoint-based slides, a Student Study Guide, and more

Ideal for courses in Asian religions and comparative religions, World Religions: Eastern Traditions, Fourth Edition, combines a historically descriptive perspective with a spirit of sympathetic fascination.

The late Willard G. Oxtoby, the original editor of this text, was Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto.
Roy C. Amore is Professor and an Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Windsor.

Amir Hussain is Professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University.

Brief Contents
Full Contents
Contributors
Important Features of this Edition
Preface and Acknowledgements
1. About Religion
Basic Human Religion: Looking Both Ways from Stonehenge
Looking Forward from Stonehenge
What Is Religion?
Why Study Religion?
2. Hindu Traditions
Origins
Classical Hinduism
Schools and Communities of Theology
Practices, Rituals, and Arts
Recent Developments
Summary
3. Sikh Traditions
Overview
Crystallization
Practice
Differentiation
Cultural Expressions
Interaction and Adaptation
Recent Developments
Summary
4. Jaina Traditions
Overview
The Shramana Revolution
The Early Sangha
Major Developments
Practice
Expressive Dimensions
Jainas Among Others
Women
Recent Developments
Summary
5. Buddhist Traditions
Overview
The First Gem: The Buddha
The Second Gem: The Dharma
The Third Gem: The Sangha
Early Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana, The Second Vehicle
Vajrayana, The Third Vehicle
Interaction and Adaptation in East Asia
Cultural Expressions
Buddhism in the Modern World
Recent Developments
Summary
6. Chinese and Korean Traditions
Overview
The Classical Period to the Qin (c. 2300 BCE-206 BCE)
Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE)
The Six Dynasties Period (220-589)
Sui and Tang (589-907)
The Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties (960-1644)
The Qing Dynasty and the Republican Period (1644-present)
Korean Religions
Recent Developments: 1897 to the Present
Summary
7. Japanese Traditions
Overview
Foundations
Pivotal Developments in Japanese Religious History
New Emphases in Japanese Religious Practice
Continuities of Religious Practice
Global and Domestic Trends
Recent Developments
Summary
8. Current Issues
Religion and Politics
Fundamentalism
Bioethics
The Environment
Gender and Sexuality
Religious Diversity
Credits
Index