Preface Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION Understanding World Religions in Global Perspective Why Study World Religions? Our Task Understanding Religious Experience and Its Formative Elements The Great Religious Stories of the World The Fundamental Terms and Organization of This Book Historical Overview: From Premodern to Postmodern The Modern/Postmodern Transition: Colonialism and Socialism Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World Chapter 2. INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS Origins of Homo religiosus: Prehistory Confrontation with Modernity Religion's Origins Among Hunter-Gatherers Indigenous Religious Traditions: Soul Belief and Afterlife Shamans: "Technicians of the Sacred" Indigenous Religions Today Conclusion Chapter 3. THE MANY STORIES OF JUDAISM: SACRED AND SECULAR What Does It Mean to Be Jewish? Encounter with Modernity: Modern Judaisms and the Challenge of Ultra-Orthodoxy Premodern Judaism: The Formative Era (2 BCE-500 CE) Premodern Judaism: The Classical Era (500 CE-1729 CE) Judaism and Modernity (1729-1967) Conclusion Chapter 4. CHRISTIAN DIVERSITY AND THE ROAD TO MODERNITY Encounter with Modernity: The Fundamentalist-Modernist COntroversy (1859-) Premodern Christianity: The Formative Era (31-313 CE) The Life of the Early Church Premodern Christianity: The Classical Era (313-1517 CE) The Medieval Church Christianity and Modernity (1517-1962) Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World (1962-) Conclusion: The Challenge of Religious Pluralism Chapter 5. ISLAM: THE MANY FACES OF THE MUSLIM EXPERIENCE Encounter with Modernity: The Challenge of Western Colonialism Premodern Islam: The Formative Era Premodern Islam: The Classical Era Islam and Modernity Islam and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World Islam: Postmodern Challenges Conclusion Chapter 6. HINDUISM, JAINISM, AND SIKHISM: SOUTH ASIAN RELIGIONS Defining Hinduism: Univty, Diversity, Localities Encounter with Modernity: Hindu Challenges to India as a Secular State Premodern Hinduism: The Formative Era Premodern Hinduism: The Classical Era (180 BCE-900 CE) Premodern Hinduism: The Postclassical Era (900 CE-1500 CE) Hinduism and Modernity Hinduism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World Hindu and Sikh Festival Practice The Religious Institutions of Contemporary Hinduism Conclusion Chapter 7. BUDDHISM: PATHS TOWARD NIRVANA Encounter with Modernity: Socially "Engaged Buddhism" Premodern Buddhism: The Formative Era (600 BCE-100 CE) Premodern Buddhism: The Classical Era (100-800 CE) Premodern Buddhism: Buddhist Expansion (400-1500 CE) Buddhism and Modernity Buddhism and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World Conclusion Chapter 8.

EAST ASIAN RELIGIONS: CONFUCIANISM, DAOISM, SHINTO, BUDDHISM Encounter with Modernity: The Fall and Return of Confucianism East Asian Religions in the Formative Era (1500 BCE-617 CE) East Asian Religions in the Classical Era (645-1271 CE) East Asian Religions in the Early Modern Era East Asian Religions and Postmodern Trends in a Postcolonial World Conclusion: Have We Entered a Third Confucian Age? Chapter 9. GLOBALIZATION: FROM NEW TO NEW AGE RELIGIONS The Challenge of Global Diversity New Religions Part I: Global Trends in World Religions Today Part II: Religions Today and the Nation State Part III: The Future of World Religions admist Global Crises Part IV: "Passing Over": World Citizenship Facing Global Challenges Glossary Art Credits Index.