The Religions Book (Big Ideas Simply Explained)
RELIGIONSBOOK
THE
RELIGIONSBOOK
THE
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First American Edition, 2013
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SHULAMIT AMBALU
Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu MA studied at Leo Baeck College, London,
where she was ordained in 2004 and now lectures in Pastoral Care
and Rabbinic Literature.
MICHAEL COOGAN
One of the leading biblical scholars in the United States, Michael
Coogan is Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic
Museum and Lecturer on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at
Harvard Divinity School. Among his many works are The Old
Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction and The
Illustrated Guide to World Religions.
EVE LEVAVI FEINSTEIN
Dr. Eve Levavi Feinstein is a writer, editor, and tutor in Palo Alto,
California. She holds a PhD on the Hebrew Bible from Harvard
University, and is the author of Sexual Pollution in the Hebrew Bible
as well as articles for Jewish Ideas Daily and other publications.
PAUL FREEDMAN
Rabbi Paul Freedman studied Physics at Bristol University and
Education at Cambridge. Following a career in teaching, he gained
rabbinic ordination and an MA in Hebrew and Jewish studies at
Leo Baeck College, London.
NEIL PHILIP
Neil Philip is the author of numerous books on mythology and
folklore, including the Dorling Kindersley Companion Guide to
Mythology (with Philip Wilkinson), The Great Mystery: Myths
of Native America, and the Penguin Book of English Folktales.
Dr. Philip studied at the universities of Oxford and London,
and is currently an independent writer and scholar.
ANDREW STOBART
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Stobart is a Methodist minister. He studied
Christian theology to the doctoral level at the London School of
Theology and Durham and Aberdeen universities, and has taught
and written in the areas of theology, church history, and the Bible,
contributing to Dorling Kindersley’s The Illustrated Bible.
MEL THOMPSON
Dr. Mel Thompson BD, M.Phil, PhD, AKC was formerly a teacher,
lecturer, and examiner in Religious Studies, and now writes on
philosophy, religion, and ethics. Author of more than 30 books,
including Understand Eastern Philosophy, he blogs on issues of
religious belief, and runs the “Philosophy and Ethics” website at
www.philosophyandethics.com.
CHARLES TIESZEN
Dr. Charles Tieszen completed his doctorate at the University of
Birmingham, where he focused on medieval encounters between
Muslims and Christians. He is currently a researcher and adjunct
professor of Islamic studies, specializing in topics related to Islam,
Christian–Muslim relations, and religious freedom.
MARCUS WEEKS
A writer and musician, Marcus Weeks studied philosophy
and worked as a teacher before embarking on a career as an
author. He has contributed to many books on the arts, popular
sciences, and ideas, including the Dorling Kindersley title
The Philosophy Book.
CONTRIBUTORS
10 INTRODUCTION
PRIMAL BELIEFS
FROM PREHISTORY
20 Unseen forces are at work
Making sense of the world
24 Even a rock has a spirit
Animism in early societies
26 Special people can visit
other worlds
The power of the shaman
32 Why are we here?
Created for a purpose
33 Why do we die?
The origin of death
34 Eternity is now
The Dreaming
60 The triumph of good over
evil depends on humankind
The battle between good
and evil
66 Accept the way of
the universe
Aligning the self with the dao
68 The Five Great Vows
Self-denial leads to
spiritual liberation
72 Virtue is not sent
from heaven
Wisdom lies with the
superior man
78 A divine child is born
The assimilation of myth
79 The oracles reveal the
will of the gods
Divining the future
80 The gods are just like us
Beliefs that mirror society
82 Ritual links us to our past
Living the Way of the Gods
86 The gods will die
The end of the world as we
know it
36 Our ancestors will
guide us
The spirits of the dead live on
38 We should be good
Living in harmony
39 Everything is connected
A lifelong bond with the gods
40 The gods desire blood
Sacrifice and blood
offerings
46 We can build a
sacred space
Symbolism made real
48 We are in rhythm with
the universe
Man and the cosmos
50 We exist to serve the gods
The burden of observance
51 Our rituals sustain
the world
Renewing life through ritual
ANCIENT AND
CLASSICAL BELIEFS
FROM 3000 BCE
56 There is a hierarchy
of gods and men
Beliefs for new societies
58 The good live forever in
the kingdom of Osiris
Preparing for the afterlife
CONTENTS