
Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions
The Quest for Personal, Spiritual and Social Transformation
Duncan S. Ferguson(Author)
Continuum Publishing Corporation
Published on 24. August 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
264 pages
978-1-4411-4645-8 (ISBN)
Description
This title presents an introduction to the spiritual pathways of the major world religions, exploring the core beliefs, values and practices of each tradition. "Spiritual Pathways of the World Religions" is an insightful guide to the diverse ways that religious faith is practiced and spirituality is understood. Discussing contemporary issues such as post-modernism and the emergence of a 'new paradigm', the new realities of geopolitics, globalization and global warming, this book explores the importance of religion in people's lives to provide direction in the society today. This book demonstrates the common quest among the world religions for a deeper and more profound spirituality. Describing the spiritual pathways of the various world religions, it assesses the ways that the beliefs, values and practices of these traditions can be life-giving, leading to personal and social responsibility and transformation, but also sometimes harmful and divisive, even used for dangerous purposes. Promoting constructive engagements between the world's religions, this book will connect social justice and ethical engagements with core religious practices and spiritualities.
This is an ideal introductory text for students of world religions, spirituality and interfaith relations, broadening their understanding of these lived faiths.
This is an ideal introductory text for students of world religions, spirituality and interfaith relations, broadening their understanding of these lived faiths.
Reviews / Votes
"A wise and seasoned guide, Duncan Ferguson leads readers through the dense and often confusing thicket of the world's religions into spaces of understanding and appreciation. With unparalleled clarity and insight, this work lays bare the life-affirming and the life-denying potential of the world's great religious traditions. This lucid exploration of spiritual pathways from animism to Zoroaster shows how religious traditions can and should contribute to the development of world peace. Ferguson's book is a must read for those who desire to build bridges of understanding between the religious communities of the world rather than to throw up dividing walls of hostility." - Rev. Dr. Gordon S. Mikoski, Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, and President, Association of Practical Theology Duncan Ferguson is similarly captivated by the best that religions have to offer, but also challenges naive readers to take seriously the less-than-best aspects. -- Theology Today (Volume 68, No. 4)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
555 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-4645-8 (9781441146458)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Duncan S. Ferguson
Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions
The Quest for Personal, Spiritual and Social Transformation
E-Book
06/2010
1st Edition
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€40.99
Available for download

Duncan S. Ferguson
Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions
The Quest for Personal, Spiritual and Social Transformation
E-Book
06/2010
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Continuum
€40.99
Available for download
Person
Duncan S. Ferguson is a freelance educator, author and consultant. He was Professor of Religious Studies and Director at the Center for Spiritual Life at Eckard College, USA, and was President of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (1993-2002).
Content
Introduction; Part I The Context and Approach to the Study of Religion and Spirituality; 1. The Spiritual Quest; Part II Spiritual Pathways Rooted in Nature and Culture; 2. The Indigenous Wisdom Traditions; 3. Classical Expressions of Culture-Based Religions; 4. Current Expressions of Nature/Culture Religions; Part III Spiritual Pathways of Transcendent Monism; 5. Spiritual Pathways within Hinduism; 6. Spiritual Pathways within Buddhism; 7. Spiritual Pathways of within Confucianism and Taoism; Part IV The Spiritual Pathways of the Abrahamic Monotheistic Religions; 8. Spiritual Pathways within Judaism; 9. Spiritual Pathways within Christianity; 10. Spiritual Pathways within Islam; Part V The Common Elements of Life-Giving Spiritualities; 11. Finding a Spiritual Pathway Bibliography Index.