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Preface to the Third Edition | |
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Exploring the Sacred Paths | |
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Perspectives on the Religious Path | |
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Studying Religious Experience | |
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Some Dimensions of Religious Experience | |
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Basic Human Concerns and Religious Responses | |
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Sacred Story and Historical Context | |
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Worlds of Meaning: Theoretical Teachings | |
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Ritual Practices and the Good Life | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Exploring the Sacred Paths | |
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Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure | |
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Story of Humankind Before History | |
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Religions of the Great Ancient Civilizations | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure | |
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Sacred Paths Among Indigenous Peoples | |
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Identity Through Sacred Stories | |
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Recounting the Tribal Sacred History | |
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Identifying with the Culture Heroes | |
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Map: The Americas and the Pacific | |
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Worlds of Meaning of Indigenous Peoples | |
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Sacred Reality in Sky and Earth | |
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Map: African Peoples | |
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The World and Human Existence | |
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Paths of Healing and Transformation | |
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Ritual Activity and the Good Life | |
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Sacred Time, Ritual, and Art | |
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Society and the Good Life | |
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Modern Transformations of Indigenous Societies | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Sacred Paths Among Indigenous Peoples | |
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Religions Arising in the Mediterranean World | |
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Religions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece | |
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Ancient Egyptian Religion | |
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Cosmic Harmony and Human Existence | |
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Ritual and Ethical Life | |
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MAP: Ancient Civilizations | |
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Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia | |
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Cosmic State and Human Service | |
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Ritual and Ethical Life | |
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Religion in Ancient Greece | |
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Worlds of Meaning in Ancient Greece | |
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Ritual Activities and the Good Life | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Religions of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece | |
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The Zoroastrian Tradition | |
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Sacred Story and Historical Context | |
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Zarathustra's Life and Teachings | |
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Development of the Zoroastrian Tradition | |
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Zoroastrian Worlds of Meaning | |
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Supreme God and Lesser Divine Powers | |
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Creation and Human History | |
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The Path of Human Transformation | |
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Ritual and the Good Life for Zoroastrians | |
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Prayer, Rituals, and Art | |
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Community and Ethical Ideals | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Zoroastrianism | |
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Jewish Sacred Story and Historical Context | |
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Foundations of the Jewish Story | |
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Beginnings: Israel, People of the Covenant | |
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The Promised Land and the Kingdom | |
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MAP: Ancient Israe | |
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Decline of the Kingdom: The Prophets | |
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The Founding of Judaism | |
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Further Transformations of Judaism | |
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Jewish Life and Thought in Islamic Contexts | |
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Tragedy and Response in Christian Medieval Europe | |
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Emancipation and the Modern Age | |
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Continuing Struggles and Hopes | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Jewish Worlds of Meaning | |
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One God as Creator, Revealer, and Redeemer | |
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The Development of Monotheism | |
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Jewish Vision of the One God | |
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The World and Human Existence | |
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Creation and Preservation of the World | |
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The Shadow of Sin | |
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Following the Path of Torah | |
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God as Redeemer | |
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The Human Movement of Repentance | |
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On the Path of Transformation | |
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Universal Blessing, Now and Hereafter | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Jews | |
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Jewish Rituals and Worship | |
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Sabbaths for Rest, Festivals for Rejoicing | |
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Mitzvot of Ritual and Worship | |
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Healing and Medicine Among Jews | |
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Artistic Expression in Jewish Religious Life | |
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The Life of Torah: Jewish Community and Ethics | |
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The Jewish People | |
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The Life of Halakhah | |
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The Missions of Peoplehood | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Judaism | |
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Christian Sacred Story and Historical Context | |
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Foundations of the Christian Story | |
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Jewish Roots of the Christian Way | |
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Life and Teachings of Jesus | |
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Crucifixion and Resurrection | |
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Beginnings of the Christian Church | |
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Further Transformations of the Christian Way | |
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The Early Christian Church in the Roman World | |
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MAP: THe Mediterranean World | |
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Medieval Christianity: The Age of Faith | |
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Renaissance and Reformation | |
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Struggles with Modernity | |
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Christians in the World Today | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Christian Worlds of Meaning | |
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Loving Parent and Triune God | |
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Seeing God's Face in Christ | |
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One God, Three Persons: The Trinity | |
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Creation and Human Existence | |
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The Nature of Creation | |
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Sin and Separation from God | |
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The Path: Salvation by Grace | |
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Saved by Jesus Christ | |
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The Way of Faith | |
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The Life of the World to Come | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Christians | |
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Christian Worship and Ritual | |
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Breaking Bread and Praising God | |
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Festivals and Holy Days | |
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Worship in Daily Life | |
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Healing and Medicine Among Christians | |
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Art in Christian Worship and Ritual | |
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The Life of Love: Society and Ethics | |
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The Society of the Church | |
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Sanctification of Life in Ethics | |
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Responsibility and Mission in the World | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Christianity | |
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Muslim Sacred Story and Historical Context | |
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The Story of the Prophet and the Book | |
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The Times Before Muhammad | |
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Muhammad as the Final Prophet | |
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Establishing the Ummah in Medina | |
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A Religion for All Peoples: Expansion of Islam | |
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The Islamic Ummah in History | |
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The Classical Period of Islam | |
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MAP: The Spread of Islam | |
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Medieval Empires: Stability and Flourishing Muslim Culture | |
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Reform Movements and the Modern World | |
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MAP: The Contemporary Middle East and Surrounding Countries | |
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Muslims in the World Today | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Muslim Worlds of Meaning | |
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Allah, Lord of the Worlds | |
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Life Centered in One God | |
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God in the World | |
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Nature of the World and Humans | |
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The World as God's Creation | |
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Negligence and Unbelief | |
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Guidance on the Straight Path | |
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Islam as a Path of Knowledge | |
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Blessings Now and in the Life Hereafter | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Ritual Practices and the Good Life for Muslims | |
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Ritual Worship and Sacred Times | |
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The Five Pillars | |
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Other Festivals and Rituals | |
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Muslim Views of Healing and Medicine | |
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Art in Islamic Worship and Life | |
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The Life of Shari'ah: Society and Ethics | |
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Social Structure of Islam | |
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The Way of Shari'ah | |
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Transformation of Human Society | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: Islam | |
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Ongoing Explorations on the Sacred Paths | |
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New Religious Movements | |
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Spiritual Searching and Alternative Sacred Paths | |
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Rise of New Sectarian Movements | |
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Attraction to Alternative Paths in the West | |
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Nontraditional New Religious Movements | |
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New Sacred Paths: Nineteenth-Century Roots | |
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New Spiritual Movements of the Twentieth Century | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Key Terms: New Religious Movements | |
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Guideposts and Crossings on the Paths | |
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Discussion Questions | |
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Glossary | |
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Notes | |
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Suggestions for Further Reading | |