Scripture in the World Religions: A Short Introduction

by Harold Coward

From the Torah to the Qur'an, the New Testament to the Theravada canon, this concise introduction to scripture in the world religions offers a thorough evaluation of the sacred word and its role in religious tradition. IN a systematic and accessible analysis of six major faiths, the author carefully explores the scriptures -written and spoken - of each, examining their interpretation, their role in devotion and education, and their relationship with each other, Key areas covered include: what makes a sacred text - what the different religions call "scripture"; the lives of the ancient scribes and the rituals governing their work; revelation, reception and transmission of the holy word; materials and methods: from papyrus and palm leaves to printing; language, mantra and sacred sound. Combining an authoritative a survey with a unique perspective on the transforming power of the spoken word, this text should be of interest to students, academics and anyone interested in the wore religions.

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2000

About the author

Harold G. Coward is a professor emeritus of history and the founding director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He served as president of the Canadian Society for the Study of Religion and was the founding editor of the Journal for Hindu-Christian Studies and editor of the WLU Press series The Study of Religion in Canada. He has authored twenty books along with many edited books, chapters and articles. His publications include Scripture in the World Religions (2002), Mantra: Hearing the Divine in India and America (2004), and The Perfectibility of Human Nature in Eastern and Western Thought (2008).

Reviews

[Liz]

From the Torah to the Qur'an, the New Testament to the Theravada canon, this concise introduction to scripture in the world religions offers a thorough evaluation of the sacred word and its role in religious tradition.