Forward: Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria
Preface:
Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB
Introduction
Differences and Commonalities
Spirituality versus Religiousness
Human Rights and Losses
Building a Better World
Chapter
One: In the Beginning: Stories of Good and Evil
The Splitting of Heaven and Earth
Creation Myths: Stories of Nature and Guidance
The Hindu Trinity: Stories of Wrath and Devotion
Ancient Myths and Legends of China
Shintoism: A Native Religion of Japan
Ancient Egyptians: The Dream of Paradise on Earth
Greek Influences
Ancient Middle Eastern Roots
Satan’s Fall From Heaven: Evil in Judaism, Christianity
and Islam
Conclusions
Chapter
Two: Violence in the Name of One’s God
Religious
Founders and Gender Balance
Failing to Hear and Heed: The Message of the Prophets
The
Jewish Story
The Christian Story
The Islamic Story
The Hindu Story
The Story of Buddhism
Native American Tales
Religious Beliefs and the Problem of Obedience
Conclusions
Chapter
Three: Who Among Us is Chosen?
Evolution and Aggression
Beneath the Reasoning Mind
Social Ills and Sibling Rivalry
An Anthropological Perspective
Religion, Wars and Competition for First Place
Radical Fundamentalism: A Serious Threat to Humanity’s
Survival
Conclusions
Chapter
Four: Tales of Power and Corruption: The Collusion of Religion
and Politics in the U.S.
A
Systemic World View
Closed
Systems
Open Systems
First Nations Peoples: Democracy and Native American Spirituality
The Separation of Church and State
The Power of Symbols and the Problems
of Capitalism
Manifest Destiny: The White Man’s Burden
Women’s Struggles for Equal Rights
A New World Order: Globalization and Commercialization and Greed
A Clash of Civilizations
Dreams and Realities
Conclusions
Chapter
Five: Partitions and Global Conflict: Further Tales of Politics
and Religion
Colonialism
and European Expansion
Two People; One Land: Israel and Palestine
The
Creation of A Jewish State
The High Price of Sovereignty
The Blending of Religious and Political Influences
Military Action and Palestinian Rights
Separate Religions, Separate States: India and Pakistan
Kashmir
The People’s Republic: Communism and the Attempt to Annihilate
Religion
Islam: The Melding of Religion and Law
The Rise and Fall of Islamic Civilizations
Reforms and Setbacks
Islamic Law
Africa: The Clash of Religions, Politics and Culture
Ethiopia and Eritria
Crises in Sudan
Nigeria: Problem of Implementing Shari’a
Conclusions
Chapter
Six: Armageddon or A New Paradigm?
Healthy
Psychology
Integrating the Shadow
Healing the Past
Balancing History: Creating Gender Balanced Culture
Religion and Gender
Politics and Gender
Healing Religion
Human Transcendence and the New Story
Epilogue
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