Sacred Words: A Source Book on Religions of the World

Sacred Words is one of the few "readable" books to examine the central teachings of major world religions. The text is divided into three parts: (1) The Great Religions of the West (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), (2) The Great Religions of the East (Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Chinese religions of Daoism and Confucianism), and (3) Indigenous Oral Traditions (traditional religions of the Americas, Africa, and Oceania). Chapters open with an Introduction, followed by a concise look into the Setting, Sacred Stores and Beliefs, Scriptures (or Sacred Oral Traditions), Subdivisions, and Sacred Observances and Practices of each religious tradition. Individual chapters conclude with "primary sources" from each religion's sacred texts (e.g. Hebrew Bible, Qur'an, Upanishads), with passages organized in such a way to analyze a tradition's understanding of Creation, Good and Evil, Justice, Gender, Etiquette, Worship, and Afterlife, just to name a few. Dr. Bilhartz' writing style and organization make for a surprisingly readable book about traditionally esoteric subject matter. One of the few textbooks that you'll want to read every word. An absolute must, not just for religious history enthusiasts, but for any layperson who wishes to have a better foundation for understanding the powerful influence that religion exerts on contemporary world events.