World Religions All-in-One For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Prelude: In the Beginning: Religion Basics
	Defining Religion
	Acting It Out: Religion and Rituals
		Happy holidays to you
		Rites of passage
		Prayers from the faithful
		Understanding prayer
	Acting Ethically: Religion and Ethics
		I’ve heard that before: Universal ethics
		Hand in hand in hand: Ethics, beliefs, and rituals
	Figuring Out Why People Flock to Religion
		Dealing with problems, big and small
		Finding joy
		Being responsible
		Accepting suffering
	Comparing Religion with Philosophy and Spirituality
		Philosophy and religion
		Spirituality and religion
	Finding the Proof in the Pudding
		Cosmological proof: The existence of time proves God
		Teleological proof: The existence of the world proves God
		The ontological proof: The idea of God proves God
		The moral proof: The existence of morality proves God
	Understanding the Nature of the Divine
	Searching for Answers
		Searching for meaning
		Accounting for sin and suffering
			Sin: The devil made me do it
			Atonement and salvation: Getting right with the Lord
			Being negative
			Being born again . . . and again . . . and again . . .
		Practicing holiness
			(Not quite six) degrees of holiness
			Holiness and the avoidance of impurities
			Holy things
	Hanging On to Faith
Book 1 Hinduism
	Chapter 1 A Quick Overview of Hinduism
		Understanding the Hindu Worldview
			A broad set of key beliefs
			A brief look at Hindu gods and goddesses
			Hindu religious leaders
		Studying Hinduism’s Sacred Texts
			Revealed texts: The Vedas
			Remembered texts: The Shastras, the epics, and the puranas
			The Bhagavad Gita
		Exploring the Key Components of Hindu Worship
			Devotions
			Festivals
			Worship in temples and shrines
			Rituals to mark the stages of life
		Converting to Hinduism
		Looking at Societal Structure
	Chapter 2 Hinduism’s Core Beliefs and Values
		Exploring Truth: The Foundation of Hindu Belief
		Understanding Hinduism’s Three Core Beliefs
			Brahman: The one true (real) entity
			Belief in the authority of the Vedas
			Committing to the concept of dharma
				Understanding dharma
				Avoiding the six temptations
				Following your conscience
		Believing in the Existence of an Immortal Soul
			Transmigration, death, and rebirth
			Final release from the cycle of death and rebirth
		Contemplating Karma and Its Consequences
			Linking karma to character and willpower
			Good karma versus bad karma
			Breaking free of karma
		Understanding the Goal of Life: Moksha
			The path of duty
			The path of knowledge
			The path of devotion
		Translating Beliefs into Core Values
			Exercising tolerance
			Showing respect for elders
			Treating all life as sacred
	Chapter 3 Major Hindu Denominations
		Understanding the Origin of Hindu Denominations
		Following Vishnu: The Vaishnavas
			Worship traditions
			Vaishnava subsects
				The Madhvas
				Subsects based on Krishna worship
				The SriVaishnavas
		Following Shiva: The Shaivas
			Worship traditions
			Subsects of Shaivism
				The pre-Vedic approach: Ati Marga
				The post-Vedic approach: Mantra Marga
		Integrating Vaishnava and Shaiva Ideas: The Smartas
		Worshipping Devi, the Female Power: Shaktas
	Chapter 4 Worshipping at Home, at a Temple, and on Holydays and Festivals
		Discovering the Components of Hindu Worship
			The prayers
				Procedures using water: Achamana
				Procedures using air: Pranayama
			The arrangement of an altar
			The rituals
		Conducting Mealtime Worship
			Following mealtime procedures
			A night to fast: Ekadashi
		Praying Morning, Noon, and Night
			A simple morning prayer
			Sandhya vandanam: Worship for orthodox Hindus
				Before the ceremony
				The principal steps
			Ready to call it a day? Bedtime prayers
		Formally Worshipping a Deity
			Prayers to Ganapati, guru, and the family godhead
			Shuddhi (cleansing)
			Prayer of invocation to Goddess Lakshmi
			The 16 upacharas
			Conclusion
		Reviewing Temple Ceremonies
			Temple protocol
			Daily worship
			Chanting the names of God
			Special days for individual deities
		Recognizing a Few Festivals Celebrated Throughout India
			Makara Sankranti
			Shivaratri: The grand night of Shiva
			Ramanavami: Rama’s birthday
			Festivals marking the spring equinox and lunar new year
			Dressing down for the occasion: Holi
			Krishna Janmashtami: Krishna’s birthday
			Ganesha Chaturthi: Ganesha’s birthday
				Beginning the celebration: The homecoming
				Send-off ceremony
			Navaratri
				The most famous Navaratri: Dasara in Mysore
				Celebrating Vijayadashami in North India
				Navratri at Wesleyan University, Connecticut
				The doll festival
			Diwali
	Chapter 5 Hindu Gods and Goddesses
		Starting with the One Supreme Soul
		Identifying Gods by Their Portrayals
		Brahma, the Creator
			Attributes of Brahma
			Brahma’s consort: Saraswati, the goddess of learning
		Vishnu, the Preserver
			Attributes of Vishnu
			Divinities related to Vishnu
				Vishnu as Venkateshwara, lord of the seven hills
				Vishnu as Narayana
				Vishnu as Jagannath, lord of the universe
				Vishnu as the avatar Rama
				Vishnu as the avatar Krishna
			Vishnu’s consorts
		Shiva, the Destroyer
			Forms of Shiva
			The consorts of Shiva: Parvati and Sati
			Shiva’s sons
				Ganapati: The remover of obstacles
				Murugan
		The Feminine Divine
			Durga Devi
			Kali, the destructive power of time
		Introducing the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Firmament
			Indra and the Vedic storm gods
			The sun and planets as rulers of destiny
			Agni and the Vedic gods of home and community
		Discovering Where the Gods Reside
			Introducing the three worlds
			Looking at all 14 worlds
Book 2 Taoism
	Chapter 1 An Introduction to Taoism
		Delving into the Evolution of Taoism
			Taoist origins and development
			Tao now (brown cow)
		Considering Taoist Ideas
			It all begins with the Tao
			The expansion of the Tao
		Looking at the Practice of Taoism
			Methods of personal cultivation
			The ritual process
		Encountering Taoism for the First Time
			Seeing how Taoists are like Yankees
			Playing fast and loose with Taoism
		Making Sense of the Chaos: Some Important Distinctions
			From library classification to school of philosophy
				The place of philosophical Taoism
				Important names in Classical Taoism
				Important themes in Classical Taoism
			The fuzzy line between philosophy and religion
				The development of the Taoist religion
				Important subdivisions of religious Taoism
				Important characteristics of religious Taoism
		Knowing that for Every Yin, There is a Yang
			Exploring the School of Yin-Yang
			The five elements theory
				Production and generation
				Conquest and overwhelming
				Yin-yang and five phases
		Understanding the Concept of Ch’i: The Psychophysical Stuff of Existence
			What is ch’i?
			What isn’t ch’i?
			Contrasting ch’i and atomic theory
		Discovering T’ai-chi Ch’üan: The Boxing of the Great Ultimate
			The roots of t’ai-chi
			The steps of t’ai-chi
	Chapter 2 What Is the Tao, and What Does It Mean to Follow It?
		Understanding the Paradoxical Language of the Tao
			Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know
			Effing the ineffable
			The gateway of all subtleties
		Understanding the Tao as the Source of Existence
			The mother of the 10,000 things
			Spontaneous self-generation and self-perpetuation
			The temptation to think of the Tao as a deity
		Seeing Emptiness as the Wellspring of Power
			Thirty spokes unite in one hub
			Heaven and Earth are not humane
			The sun and moon can only go their courses
		Following, Experiencing, and Harmonizing with the Way
			The theme of returning
			The emulation of the Tao
			The question of mysticism
	Chapter 3 Doing Everything by Doing Nothing
		Considering the Counterintuitive Concept of Wu-wei
			Nothing left undone
			The spontaneous and the natural
			The metaphor of the uncarved block
			The role of feminine imagery
		Ruling by Not Doing
			The trouble with laws and government
			The sage-king as the empty center
			Mixed messages on military affairs
		Adapting to the Existential Circumstances
			The hinge of the Way
			The mind as a mirror
			The connection between wu-wei and nurturing life
	Chapter 4 Remembering to Keep Forgetting
		Experiencing Return, Reversal, and the Idea of Unlearning
			The farther you go, the less you know
			Learning not to learn
		Discovering the Goal of Unlearning and the Task of Forgetting
			Forgetting virtue and forgetting everything
			The fasting of the mind and heart
		Understanding the Treatise on Sitting and Forgetting
			The seven stages of forgetting
			From forgetting to spirit liberation
		Contemplating Contemporary Forgetfulness
	Chapter 5 Cosmic Renewal and Other Rituals
		Untangling the Truth about Taoism and Ritual
			What is ritual?
			Attitudes toward ritual in the classical texts
			The bare facts of Taoist ritual
			Swords and plaques and implements of petition
		Understanding Rituals of Purification and Offering
			Rituals of fasting, purification, purgation, and retreat
			The rite of cosmic renewal
			The great offering for a peaceful world
		Observing Taoist Funeral Rituals
			Negotiating a treacherous journey
			Crossing the bridge to Heaven
Book 3 Buddhism
	Chapter 1 Entering the World of Buddhism
		Figuring Out Whether Buddhism Is a Religion
		Recognizing the Role of the Buddha
		Understanding the Function of Philosophy in Buddhism
		Appreciating Buddhist Practices
			Living an ethical life
			Examining your life through meditation
			Practicing devotion
		Dedicating Your Life to the Benefit of All Beings
		Recognizing How Your Mind Shapes Your Experience
			Contrasting the body and the mind
			Approaching the mind from three different Buddhist perspectives
			Recognizing the six major types of consciousness
			Seeing how certain factors affect mental consciousness
			Feeling around for your emotions
		Appreciating the Law of Karmic Cause and Effect
		Following the Buddha’s Ethical Guidance
			Exploring the Buddhist precepts
			Arranging the precepts behind three doors
	Chapter 2 Surveying the Life and Teachings of the Historical Buddha
		Revealing the Buddha’s Early Life
			A miraculous birth
			An overprotective father
			The prince marries: Imprisoned in palaces of pleasure
			Forbidden knowledge revealed: The four visions
		Beginning the Quest
			Renouncing the royal life
			Going to extremes and discovering the middle way
		Sitting in the Shade of the Bodhi Tree: The Defeat of Mara
		Benefiting Others: The Buddha’s Career in Full Gear
			Providing spiritual guidance: Turning the wheel of Dharma
			Founding the community
			Listening to the Buddha’s final message: All things must pass
		Understanding the Four Noble Truths
			The truth of suffering
			The truth of suffering’s cause
			The truth of suffering’s cessation
			The truth of the path
		Envisioning the Future
			The advent of Maitreya
			Degeneration followed by hope
	Chapter 3 Turning to Buddhism
		Proceeding at Your Own Pace
			Taking responsibility for your own life
			Determining your level of involvement
		Getting Acquainted with the Teachings of Buddhism
			Reading books on Buddhist teachings
			Choosing a tradition
			Receiving meditation instruction
			Developing a meditation practice
			Finding a teacher
		Formally Becoming a Buddhist
			Focusing on the importance of renunciation
			Taking refuge in the Three Jewels
			Receiving the precepts
			Exploring further stages of practice
		Entering the Monastic Way
			Renouncing the world
			Ordaining as a monk or nun
			Dedicating your life to Buddhist practice
	Chapter 4 A Day in the Life of a Buddhist Practitioner
		Surveying the Role of Monasteries in Buddhism
		Renouncing Worldly Attachments: A Day in the Life of a Western Buddhist Monk
			Following a day in the life
			Punctuating the calendar with special events
		Growing a Lotus In the Mud: A Day in the Life of a Zen Practitioner
			Following a day in the life
			Attending silent retreats
		Devoting Yourself to the Three Jewels: A Day in the Life of a Vajrayana Practitioner
		Trusting the Mind of Amida: A Day in the Life of a Pure Land Buddhist
		Taking Part in Meditation Practices
			Defining meditation
			Practicing meditation
	Chapter 5 What Is Enlightenment, Anyway?
		Considering the Many Faces of Spiritual Realization
		Reviewing the Theravada Tradition’s Take on Nirvana
			Defining nirvana
			Revealing the four stages on the path to nirvana
		Getting a Handle on Two Traditions of Wisdom
		Realizing the Mind’s Essential Purity in the Vajrayana Tradition
			Taking the direct approach to realization
			Understanding the complete enlightenment of a Buddha
		Standing Nirvana on Its Head with Zen
			Tuning in to the direct transmission from master to disciple
			The ten ox-herding pictures
		Finding the Common Threads in Buddhist Enlightenment
Book 4 Judaism
	Chapter 1 Finding Out Who’s a Jew and Why
		Meeting the Jewish Tribe
			What’s in a name?
			Jews far and wide
			Who decides if you’re Jewish?
			It’s a small world
				Ashkenazi
				Sephardi
		Exploring the Major Branches of the Tree
			Orthodox Jews
				All the black clothes
				Different groups, different interpretations
				Hasidim and Mitnagdim
			Breakaway denominations
				Reform
				Conservative
				Reconstructionist
				Renewal
				Humanistic Judaism
	Chapter 2 Judaism’s Deep Roots in History
		From Abraham, Judaism Takes the Long Road
			Like father, like son: The leaders after Abraham
			Over the river and through the desert, to Pharaoh’s land we go
		Moses, Receiver of God’s Laws
			Relying on plagues and walls of water to escape slavery
			Counting on the Ten Commandments
			Joshua takes control
		The Days of the Judges
		The Time of Kings
			David starts a dynasty
			Solomon rules wisely
			Splitting into two kingdoms
		Getting Conquered: The Jews Find Themselves in Hot Water
			Monotheism arrives
			Living under foreign rule
		Christianity’s Emergence Puts the Jews on the Defensive (Yet Again)
		The Holocaust
			Too little, too late
			The war against the Jews
			The death camps
			The fall of the Third Reich
		Flying the Blue and White Banner of Israel
		From Religion to Race: Anti-Semitism in Modern Times
			Israel and anti-Semitism
			The color of anti-Semitism
		Toward Healing
	Chapter 3 Finding God in Everything
		A Little of This, A Little of That
		Pondering Jewish Beliefs about God
		Calling One God Many Names
		Looking behind the Name
			God creates
			God reveals
			God redeems
				Visions of redemption
				The paths of redemption
		Embarking on a Quest for Ultimate Reality
		Maintaining Daily Practice
			Let us pray
				The Shema
				No kneeling please, but you can rock away
			Exploring the worship wardrobe
			Keeping kosher
			Remembering the Sabbath
		Observing Jewish Holidays
			High Holy Days: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
			Passover: Recalling the great escape
			Planting and harvesting holidays
			Purim: A great reason to party
			Hanukkah: In praise of victory and light
			Other holidays
		Understanding Jewish Rituals
			Circumcision: No getting around it
			Bar mitzvah: All grown up in God’s eyes
			Mazel tov! Celebrating a Jewish wedding
		Understanding Jewish Symbols
			The menorah
			The ark
			The Jewish star
	Chapter 4 A Path of Blessing: Judaism as a Daily Practice
		Connecting With God and Community through Practice: The Mitzvot
			613 habits of highly effective people
			Women and mitzvot
			The reasons for mitzvot
		Connecting With God and Community through Blessings and Prayers
			Private worship
			The community worship service
				Sh’ma and its blessings
				The Amidah
				Reading the Torah
				Aleinu
				Kaddish
		Going to Synagogue
			Four things you’ll find in every synagogue
			Who’s who at shul
				The rabbi
				The cantor
		Purifying the Spirit: Rites and Rituals
		The Jewish Home
		So Go Now and Live
	Chapter 5 A Never-Ending Torah: The Unfolding of a Tradition
		Torah: The Light That Never Dims
			The five books of Moses
			The weekly readings
		The TaNaKH: The Hebrew Bible
			Nevi’im (“Prophets”)
			Ketuvim (“Writings”)
			The Haftarah
			Interpreting the Bible
		A Hidden Revolution: The Oral Torah
			The law of the land: The Mishnah
			The teachings explained: The Talmud
			Telling stories: The midrash
		The Expanding Torah
Book 5 Christianity
	Chapter 1 God, Jesus, and the Origins of Christianity
		Introducing the Trinity
		Examining the Three Parts of God
			God the Father
			God the Son
			God the Holy Spirit
		Studying Jesus’s Life and Death
			A remarkable birth
			Preaching and teaching God’s word
			Jesus’s claims stir the pot and create controversy
			A date with the cross
		Meeting the First Believers
			What the early followers believed
			The first missionary of Jesus
		Tracking the Growth of a New Religion
			The destruction of the Temple fuels growth
			Christians separate from Judaism
			Christian practices: It’s no mystery
			The big time arrives: Legitimacy in the Roman Empire
			Nicene council sets the belief
			The Greeks split while the Romans grow in influence
		Realizing It’s Hard to Keep Everyone Happy
			Martin Luther spells out his displeasure
			Protestants reform, the Church counterreforms, and fighting ensues
			The rise of science in a Christian world
		Looking at Christianity Today
	Chapter 2 Christian Beliefs and Practices
		Packing Christianity into a Nutshell
			Going back to the beginning: People choosing, God responding
			Understanding how Christians define their faith
				Definition #1: Jesus Christ
				Definition #2: Grace
				Definition #3: Truth
				Definition #4: Life
				Definition #5: The Bible
				Definition #6: A transformed life
			Being Born with Sin
			Enjoying Heaven for Eternity
			Being Purged of Sin in Purgatory
			Going to Hell: Considering the Underworld
			Awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
		Recognizing Rituals: Outward Expressions of Faith
			One bread, one body: Communion
			Welcoming new Christians through baptism
			Celebrating additional sacraments
		Marking the First Noel: Christmas and the Roots of Christianity
			Why a holiday for the Nativity?
			Why December?
		Considering Other Christian Holidays
			Hallelujah! He is risen: Easter
				Easter history
				How Easter is celebrated
				Easter symbols
			A solemn and somber season: Lent
			A weekly holy day: The Sabbath
		Reading Christianity: The Bible
			The structure of the New Testament
				Four Gospels
				Acts of the Apostles
				Epistles
				The Revelation of Saint John
			Who wrote the books?
			Where were they written?
			When were the books written?
			Drawing material from many sources
			Revising the Bible: Jerome
		Discovering the Symbols of Christianity
			The old rugged cross
			What’s the bright idea behind halos?
			Fish, lamb, doves, and more
	Chapter 3 Making Sense of Worship
		Defining the Christian Tradition: I Worship, You Worship, We All Worship
		Examining the Worship Service as a Whole
			Worshiping together: Why Christians believe it’s essential
			Deciding when to worship
		Exploring Ways to Worship: Liturgical Versus Free Worship
			Taking the high road with liturgy
			Worshiping freely along the low road
		Fellowshipping with a Church
			Considering why biblical Christianity says church is necessary
			Finding a church that you can call home
		Recognizing Christianity’s Leaders
			The pope becomes the point man
			Christianity’s organization
			The requirements and roles of Christian church leaders
	Chapter 4 What It Means to Be Catholic
		What Exactly Is Catholicism?
		Knowing What the Catholic Church Teaches
			Grasping the basic beliefs
			Respecting the role of the Church and its leaders
				What “the Church” really is
				The Catholic chain of command
		Worshipping as a Catholic: The Holy Mass
			Bringing body and soul into the mix
			Participating inside and out
		Behaving Like a Catholic
			Following the general ground rules
			Avoiding sin
			Heeding the Church’s stance on tough issues
		Praying as a Catholic: Showing Your Devotion
			Praying and using devotions
			Realizing the importance of Mary and the saints
			Following traditions
	Chapter 5 Back to Basics: The Protestant Church
		Exploring the Protestant Reformation
			Urging the Church to reform
				Reexamining the Bible
				Condemning indulgences and corruption
				Going to trial
			From reformation to separation
				Following Luther: The Lutherans
				Developing five-point Calvinism: The Reformed Church
				Furthering reform: The Anabaptists
				Taking a middle ground: The Anglican Church
		Examining Core Protestant Beliefs
			Yielding to the Bible as the one and only authority
			Seeing Christ as the one and only mediator
			Being saved by grace alone and faith alone
			Giving kudos to God alone
			Considering all Christians as equal in God’s eyes
			Answering the core questions
		Breaking It Down into Denominations
		Looking at More Protestant Labels
Book 6 Islam
	Chapter 1 Approaching Islam
		Taking In an Overview of Islamic Origins
		Summarizing Islamic Beliefs
		Affirming the Unity of God: Tawhid
		Clarifying the Terminology: Allah Equals God
		Understanding the Core of Islam: One God with Muhammad as His Last Prophet
		Testifying to God’s Supremacy
		Defining the Attributes of God
		Going to Heaven or Hell: From Life to Death to Resurrection
			Dying and the grave
			The resurrection and the final judgment
			Facing the unresolved issues
		Dividing Islam into Branches
			Believing in the Sufi manner
			Worshipping in Twelver Shi`ite fashion
				Remembering Husayn at `ashura’
				Shi`ite rituals
				Shi`ite thinking
			Other Muslim sects
				Ahmadiyya
				Ismailis
				Kahrijites
				Kurds
				Wahhabis (or Muwahiddun)
		Locating Islam on the World Map
	Chapter 2 The Birth of Islam: The Prophet Submits to Allah
		Islam: Born in the Desert
			All roads lead to Mecca
			Meccans become traders with the world
		The Prophet Arrives
			Muhammad’s early life
			Starting out as an average guy
			Beginning of a faith
			Solitude leads to action
			The faith develops: Introducing the Five Pillars of Islam
			Writing the Qur’an
		Muhammad Takes Command
			Spreading the new faith
			The Farewell Sermon
		Breaking Down from the Beginning: Sunnis and Shi`ites
			Choosing a leader causes strife
			How Sunnis and Shi`ites practice Islam
		The Ottoman Turks Dominate Islam
	Chapter 3 What Muslims Believe
		Stating the Essential Beliefs of Islam
			Believing in God
			Believing in God’s angels
			THE JINN
			Believing in God’s books and in God’s messengers
				Believing in the revealed books of God
				Believing in the messengers who reveal God’s books
			Believing in the last day and the resurrection from the tomb
		Explaining the Faith to Non-Muslims
		Expounding the Faith: Dealing with Difficult Faith Issues
		Identifying Important Theological Issues
			Defining a true Muslim
			Relating faith to works
			Degrees of faith
			Anthropomorphizing God
			Created or eternal Qur’an
			Knowing what is good and evil
		Rejecting Formal Creeds
		Reviewing the Starting Points for Islamic Ethics
			The principles of Islamic ethics
			Illustrative texts
			Sources for ethical guidance
			Dealing with sins, major and minor
		Applying Ethics to Practical Issues
			Understanding sexual ethics
			Outlining ethics regarding marriage and family
			Exploring the role of women
			Noting other ethical issues
	Chapter 4 Submission of the Faithful
		Discovering the Five Pillars of Islam
			First pillar: Creed (Shahadah)
			Second pillar: Prayer (Salat)
				Where do Muslims pray?
				Calling to prayer (adhan)
				Doing the first rak`a (bowing)
				Adding additional rak`as and voluntary prayers
			Third pillar: Purifying tax (Zakat)
			Fourth pillar: Fasting (Sawm)
			Fifth pillar: Pilgrimage (Hajj)
				Consecrating oneself: Ihram
				Circling the Ka`ba: Tawaf and `umra
				Standing at `Arafat: Wuquf
				Sacrificing: `Id al-adha
				Ending the pilgrimage
		Observing Muslim Holidays
			Ramadan: Remembering the revelation of the first Qur’an verses
			Hijra: Turning the page to a new year
			Ashurah: A day of many remembrances
			Id Milad al-Nabi: Marking Muhammad’s birth and death
				Typical elements in the celebration of the maulid
				The maulud poems
			Id al-Adha: Honoring Abraham’s dedication to God
			Lailat al-Baraa: Seeking and granting forgiveness
			15th of Sha’ban: Shaking things up
			27th of Rajab: A heavenly holiday
		Carrying Out Common Rituals and Daily Practices
			Getting hitched
			Other ways of keeping the faith
			Dietary requirements
			Symbols and colors
		Introducing the Qur’an
			The basics of the Qur’an
			Hearing the Qur’an
		Gathering and Organizing the Qur’an
			Putting the Qur’an into writing
			Organizing the Qur’an
			Compiling the Qur’an
		The Style of the Qur’an
			The idiom of the Qur’an
			Recurring thematic elements in the Qur’an
		Interpreting the Qur’an
			The process of interpreting the Qur’an
			Exoteric and esoteric interpretation
			The abrogated verses
	Chapter 5 Observing Other Religious Rituals and Customs
		Marking Life’s Transitions
			Being born
			Receiving a name
			Offering the sacrifice
			Circumcising (khitan)
			Coming of age
			Getting hitched
				In the eyes of the law
				Here comes the bride: The ceremony
				Taking many wives
				Marriage as a coming-of-age passage
			Knocking on death’s door
				Dying
				Preparing for burial
				Burial
				After burial
		Observing Everyday Customs
			Finding food for thought
			Dressing the part
			Minding your manners
		Looking at Women’s Rituals
Book 7 Mormonism
	Chapter 1 A New World Religion
		Following the Mormon Worldview
			Life before mortal life
			Life on earth
			Life after mortal life
		The Head Honcho: God the Father
		Second Mate: Christ the Son
			First and best
			Both mortal and divine
			The Savior’s post-crucifixion checklist
			When he comes again
				Signs of the times
				It’s a bird! It’s a plane!
		God’s Whisperer: The Holy Ghost
			The Spirit who never got a body
			The Holy Ghost’s many roles
				The witness of Christ
				The comforter
				The revealer of truth
				The sanctifier
		Figuring Out What Makes Mormonism Different
		Looking at Joseph Smith and Mormonism’s Beginnings
			Translating additional scriptures
			Establishing the Church
		Understanding the Priesthood
			For boys: The Aaronic Priesthood
				Step 1: Deacon
				Step 2: Teacher
				Step 3: Priest
				The bishop
			For men: The Melchizedek Priesthood
				Elders
				High Priests
				Patriarchs
				Seventies and Apostles
		Living Your Day-to-Day Life as a Mormon
		Considering Missionaries of All Shapes and Sizes
			Getting the basics
			Boy wonders
			Girl power
			Silver is golden
		Enlisting in God’s Army
			Receiving the call
			Following the rules
		Introducing the Eternal Family Unit
			Why families are so important
			“Till never do you part”: Eternal sealing
			Raising up seed
	Chapter 2 The Mormon Plan of Salvation
		Understanding Mormon Karma: The Premortal Life
			From intelligence to spirit
			You’ve already passed the first test
			Premortality in the here and now
				Effect on earthly circumstances
				Effect on earthly attitudes
		Acing the Test of Mortality
			Adam and Eve: Heroes of humanity
			Satan: A necessary evil
			Enduring to the end
		Exploring The Afterlife: Eternal Progression
			A waiting room for spirits
				Free parking: Spirit paradise
				Do not pass go: Spirit prison
			Reaching the three degrees of glory . . . or outer darkness
				Judging each person
				The bottom layer: Telestial kingdom
				The middle layer: Terrestrial kingdom
				The top layer: Celestial kingdom
				If you’re really, really, really bad: Outer darkness
	Chapter 3 Welcome to the Meetinghouse and Headquarters!
		What’s a Ward?
			Specialty wards
			Wards in the making: Branches
		Participating in the Ward
			Getting to work: Every member has a job
			Knowing what to do when you’re in the pew: Sacrament meetings
				What to wear
				Where to sit
				What about the kids?
				How the service proceeds
				Stepping up to the mike: Fast and testimony meeting
				Holding ward conference
			Getting dunked: Baptism
				Preparing for baptism
				Going through the baptism process
			Installing a direct line to God: Confirmation
			Welcoming a new lamb into the flock: Baby Blessings
			Saying farewell, for now: Funerals
			Getting hitched: Weddings
			Taking a look at weekday meetings
		Participating in the Stake
			Twice a year: Stake conference
			Finding Grandpa’s grandpa: Stake family history centers
		Touring Church Headquarters
	Chapter 4 Sacred, Not Secret: Inside Mormon Temples
		Distinguishing the Temple from the Meetinghouse
		Understanding Why Mormons Go to the Temple: Temple Ordinances
			Appreciating the essential ordinances
			Why perform ordinances for the dead?
		Becoming Eligible for Temple Ordinances
			Getting a temple recommend
			Performing baptisms for the dead
			A preparation checklist
		Receiving Your Own Temple Ordinances
			Receiving the preparatory ordinances
				Washing and anointing
				Donning the temple garment
			Becoming endowed
		Sealing Families for Eternity
			Temple sealings for the living
			When the going gets tough: Sealing complexities
	Chapter 5 The Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Other Scriptures
		Understanding the Bible: True, with a Few Tweaks
			Thus saith the King James Version
			Joseph Smith’s corrections to the Bible
		Getting Acquainted with the Book of Mormon
			Lehi’s journey to the New World
			The Nephites and the Lamanites
			The coming of Christ
			The end of the Nephites
		Discovering How the Book of Mormon Came to Be
			An angel in the night
			Translating the golden plates
			Contemplating what happened to the plates
		Reading The Pearl of Great Price: A Scriptural Hodgepodge
			Diving into the Pearl of Great Price
			Revisiting Moses
			Uncovering the writings of Abraham
			Expanding Matthew
			Chronicling Joseph Smith
			Lining up the Articles of Faith
		Examining Modern-Day Revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants
			God’s revelations to Joseph Smith and others
				Getting revelations
				Tracing the evolution of the D&C
			Wrapping up: Official declarations
				Making polygamy a no-no
				Extending the priesthood to all races
			Modern revelations not found in the D&C
				Picturing the ideal family
				Day-to-day wisdom from the prophet
Index
EULA