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Preface | |
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Introduction | |
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The Breadth and Depth of Religious Experience | |
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A Brief Outline of the Phenomenological Method | |
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Attitudes and Institutions in the Study of Religion | |
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A Final Word | |
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Notes | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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Toward a Definition of Religion | |
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The Search for a Definition of Religion | |
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Elements of Religion | |
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Religion and Human Thought | |
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Religion and Feeling | |
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Religion and Action | |
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Individual and Social Existence | |
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Values and Religion | |
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Substance or Function? | |
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Toward Resolution | |
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A Proposal | |
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In Conclusion | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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The Nature of the Sacred | |
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The Complex Character of the Sacred | |
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The Concept of Sacred Reality | |
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Specially Distinctive | |
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To Some Extent, Beyond the Volitional Control of Human Beings | |
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Specially Prominent with Respect to Human Welfare | |
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Properly Determinative of Various Aspects of Human Existence | |
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Summary | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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The Appearance of the Sacred | |
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Types of Sacred Appearance | |
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Varieties of Media | |
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Sacred Objects | |
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Sacred Time | |
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Sacred Space | |
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Sacred Appearance and the Complexity of Traditions | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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The Language(s) of the Sacred | |
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Myth | |
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Stories | |
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Story as Parable | |
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The Preservation of Sacred Language | |
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Oral Cultures | |
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Scriptural Cultures | |
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A Summary and Synthesis | |
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The Language of Theology | |
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The Visual Language of Religion | |
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Language and Truth | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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Ritual | |
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Myth(os) and Ritual | |
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The Passover | |
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Holy Communion (The Eucharist) | |
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Rites of Passage | |
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Birth Rituals | |
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Rituals of Initiation | |
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Rituals of Mourning and Death | |
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Temporal Rites and Celebrations | |
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The Religious Meaning(s) of Ritual | |
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Adoration | |
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Thanksgiving | |
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Petition | |
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Penance/Purification | |
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Ritual as a Problem | |
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Ritual as a System | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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Sacred Communities | |
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The Social Character of Religion | |
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Religion and Social Resistance | |
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Heresy/Schism/Division | |
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Tradition and Innovation | |
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The Social Aspects of Worship | |
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A Word of Conclusion | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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The Problem of Evil | |
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Identifying Evil | |
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Responses to Evil: Some Classic Patterns | |
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Evil and Karma: The Indian Context | |
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The Consolation of Promise | |
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The Appeal to Sovereignty | |
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Dualism | |
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Are the Answers Adequate? | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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Religion and Morality | |
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Defining the Issues | |
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Religion, Morality, and Justification | |
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Justification: General Considerations | |
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Practical Justification: Three Cases | |
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Hinduism: The Caste System | |
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Islam: The Justification and Limitation of War | |
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Christianity: Why Pray? | |
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Religion and Morality: Patterns | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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The Quest for Salvation | |
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Concepts of Salvation | |
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Individual Salvation in This World | |
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The Search for Meaning | |
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The Desire to Be Remembered | |
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The Ideal of Completion | |
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Individual Salvation in Another World | |
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Joining the Spirit World | |
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Cosmic Cycling or Expansion | |
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The Idea of Judgment | |
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Group Salvation in This World | |
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Salvation Through the People | |
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Salvation Through the Tradition | |
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Salvation in the Kingdom of God in This World | |
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Group Salvation in Another World | |
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Now That Distinctions Have Been Made | |
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Paths to Salvation | |
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The Path of Knowledge | |
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The Path of Action | |
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The Path of Aesthetics | |
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The Path of Submission | |
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The Path of Grace | |
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A Closing Reminder | |
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Notes | |
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Thought Experiments | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |
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Glossary | |
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Index | |