A Comparative Study of Religions J.N.K. Mugambi

Published by African Books Collective

Mugambi, J.N.K. A Comparative Study of Religions: Second Edition.African Books Collective, 2010. Project MUSE.muse.jhu.edu/book/39862. https://muse.jhu.edu/.

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Abaluhyia, 58 Abbasid dynasty, 279 Aborigines, 31 Abraham, 216 Abu Bakr, 277 African Christians, 366 African religion, 346 African Religion, 45–66, 286–

88, 328 conception of divinities, 61 conception of God, 57–59 conception of spirits, 61 impact of christianity, 65 impact of colonialism, 65 integration of culture, 51 main elements, 53 monotheism, 57 polytheism, 57 stereotype terms, 47 studies, 45

African Traditional Religion, 45, 353

Africans, 343, 350, 361, 372 Ahimsa, 99, 103, 109 Ahura Mazda, 200–206 Ajiva, 101 Alexander the Great, 242 Alienation, 326 All Africa Conference of

Churches, 259, 360 Allah, 262, 266, 270–72, 289,

306 Allat, 262 Alms giving, 273

Al-Uzza, 262 Amaterasu Omi Kami, 167 American Society for Foreign

Mission, 259 Amerindian religion, 35 Amerindians, 35–42 Ancestor cult, 18 Ancestor worship, 19, 49 Ancestral spirits, 61–64 Ancient religions of China, 153 Ancient religions of Japan, 153 Angels, 270, 332 Angra Mainyu, 207 Animatism, 17–18 Animism, 17–18, 48–49 Anthropology, 9 Antioch, 249 Anti-semitism, 223–24 Apostolic Christianity, 255 Apostolic church, 250 Apostolic Council of

Jerusalem, 250 Aquinas, 351 Arabian Religious Heritage,

262–63, 274 Arabic, 276 Aristotle, 242, 351 Arya Samaj, 93 Aryans, 73 Asceticism, 73 Asceticism and austerities, 99 Assertions about God, 226

380

Augustine of Hippo, 321, 330–32, 338

Aztecs, 36 Bahai Movement, 360 Baiame, 32 Baker, Sir S., 46 Bangladesh, 276 Baptism of the Sword, 146 Baptist Missionary Society,

259 Barnabas, 249 Barrett, D., 364 Barrett, D.B., 371 Belief in immortality, 352 Bergson, 352 Bhagavata (devotionalism), 84 Bhakti (devotion), 84 Brahma Samaj, 92 Brahman, 90 Brown, A.R.R., 9 Buddha Amida, 186 Buddha death, 122 Buddha, Siddartha Gautama,

111–17 enlightenment, 117 quest for enlightenment, 114 renunciation, 113

Buddhahood, 126 Buddhas, 172–76 Buddha's sermon, 118 Buddhism, 95, 123–29, 171,

327, 337 enlightenment, 118 history, 111, 131 Mahayana-Hinayana split, 132 missionary expansion, 133 Nirvana, 118 noble path, 125 noble truth, 124 order of monks, 121 order of nuns, 120

origins, 111 philosophical foundations, 123 precepts, 119 spread, 131 suffering, 124 the middle path, 118

Buddhism in China, 179–81 Ching-tu-sect, 181

Buddhism in India, 194 decline, 194

Buddhism in Japan, 183 sects, 185

Buddhism in Korea, 182 Buddhist Council, 131 Buddhist Councils, 133 Buddhist monks, 119–22 Buddhist nuns, 120 Buddhist scriptures, 131, 135 Bukusu, 58 Bull, sitting, 41 Burials, 349 Caliphs, 277 Calvin, J., 257 Camus, A., 344 Canaan, 215 Catholic Reformation, 258 Catholicism in Portuguese

Africa, 367 Chan Buddhism, 182 Charms, 49 Chetterji, G., 93 China

ancient religions, 153 communist revolution, 154

Chinese culture, 164 Chinese personality, 164 Ching-tu, 181 Chiu K’ung, 154 Christian church presentations,

256 Christian denominations, 259

381

Christian martyrs, 347 Christian theodicy, 330 Christianity, 240, 250, 253,

290, 301, 366 growth, 253 history, 239 social aspects, 243 spread, 253

Christianity in the Roman World, 254

Christmas feasts, 370 Church attendance, 368 Church Missionary Society,

259 Church of Scotland Mission,

259 Circumcision, 250, 288 Classical Hinduism, 83 Codrington, R.H., 36 Colonialism, 65 Colonization, 65, 281 Commercialisation of Religion,

369 Communities of Sikhs, 148 Comparative Religion, 3, 9–12

form-comparative approach, 12 hermeneutical approach, 12 historical perspective, 11 psychological approach, 11 sociological approach, 11

Competion Between Religions, 364

Complexity of religion, 365, 366

Confucianism, 153–57, 163 definition, 153 development, 157 moral philosophy, 156 scriptures, 156

Confucius, 153–57, 245 teachings, 154

Constantine, 256

Contemporary Ideas, 357 Contemporary Religion, 362 Cortez, H, 37 Counter Reformation, 258 Creation, 291, 308, 330 Creation in African Religion,

287 Creative act of God, 286 Creative God, 291 Creative power, 290 Crucifixion and resurrection,

310 Crusades, 256 Cults, 369 Dalai Lama, 192–94 Dark Continent, 46 Darwin, C., 7, 357 de Brosses, C., 15, 49 Death, 210, 318, 342, 346

meaning, 341

Death and birth, 344 Decision, 322 Demon possession, 333 Departed spirits, 63 Destiny, 322–23 Destiny of Man, 315 Devil, 331 Dhammapada, 136 Digo, 66 Dimensions of religion, 365 Dini ya Musambwa, 66 Diophysite Christianity, 265 Disorderliness, 325 Divine spirit, 340 Divinities, 61 Diwali celebrations, 370 Domestic Sacrifice, 82 Driberg, J.H., 47 Dualism, 300, 302

382

Dualism in Comparative Religion, 300

Dualism in the universe, 300 Dualistic views, 328 Durkheim, E., 5, 8, 20, 32 Dynamism of Religion, 368 East Africa coast, 280 Easter feasts, 370 Ecumenical Council of Nicea,

265 Ecumenical Movement, 259 Ecumenism, 359–61 Egyptians, 350 Einstein, A., 358 Ekeya, B.J., 215, 225 Eliade, M., 39 Emanation, 292 Emperor Asoka, 134 Emperor Haile Selassie, 367 Emperor Ming Ti, (58-75 AD),

179 Emperor Nero, 255 Emperor of Japan, 168 Empiricism, 358 Enlightenment, 117 Eskimo Taboo system, 28 Eskimos, 25–27

sexual activity, 29

Essenes, 241 Eternal universe, 101 Ethical Monotheism, 205 Ethiopian Orthodox Church,

367 Euhemerism, 18–19 Euhemerus, 19 European colonialism, 281 Evangelization, 363 Evil, 228, 325–33 Evolutionism, 357 Facticity, 317

Faith, 352 Fall of Man, 331 Fasting, 274 Fear of Death, 343 Fetishism, 15, 48–49 Fire worship, 200 First sin, 332 Five Pillars of Islam, 272 Forgiveness, 338 Foundations of the Church, 248 Four signs

Buddhist, 113

Frazer, J., 16 Freedom, 322 Freud, S., 9 Freudian psychoanalysis, 351 Funeral rites, 64 Future of Religion, 365–72 Future of Religion in Africa,

371 Gandhi, Mahatma, 109 Garden of Eden, 332 Gautama (Buddha). See

Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama

Geiger, A., 223 Gennep, V., 343 Gentile Christianity, 249 Ghost Dance, 40–41 Giriama, 66 God, 285–88 God and the world, 306

monarchical model, 305 organic model, 308

God in African Religion, 55 God in Christian theology, 312 God in Judaism, 226–28 God’s Language, 311 God’s omnipotence, 309 Golden Rule, 157

383

Good, 325, 337 Grace of God, 246 Great Raven, 25 Greco-Roman World, 242 Greek civilization, 218 Greek empire, 242 Greek philosophers, 346 Greeks, 242 Guru, 140 Guru Arjan 1581-1606, 143 Guru Govind Singh

1675-1708, 144–47

Guru Har Govind 1606-45, 144 Guru Nanak 1469-1538, 137–

39 ministry, 140 teachings, 141

Hadith, 275 Hare Krishna Movement, 361 Hartmann, V., 297 Hartshorne, C., 298 Hasidism, 222 Hebrew, 216 Hebrew Bible, 230 Heidegger, 344 Henotheism, 78 Herods, 218 Herzl, Theodore, 224 Hinayana, 132 Hindu philosophies, 87 Hinduism, 79, 148, 181, 321

bhakti systems, 84 classical, 83 cultic practice, 79 history, 75, 83, 87, 92 medieval, 87 pre-vedic, 69–74 reform, 19th Century, 92 reform, 20th Century, 92 sacrificial practices, 79

Hindusim, 69, 329, 336

history, 69 vedic, 75

Holy Ghost Mission, 259 Holy land, 216, 239 Holy Spirit, 187, 243, 248 Horse Sacrifice, 81 Howell, W., 49 Huxley, T., 357 Ibis, 270 Iblis, 332 Idowu, Bolaji, 53 Image of God, 292, 318 Imanation, 293 Immanence of God, 293, 295 Immortality, 349–54

development, 351 early concepts, 349

in Tibet, 191 Independent churches, 366 Independent Churches, 66 India, 276 Indigenous Americans, 35 Indigenous Australians, 31–34 Individualism, 368 Indonesia, 276 International Society for

Krishna Consciousness, 361 Iran, 201, 281 Isaiah’s prophecy, 245 Islam, 149, 221, 256, 261, 265,

288–91 expansion, 277–79 influence of christianity, 264 influence of judaism, 263

Islam and Judaism, 263 Islam as a Movement, 275 Islamic communities, 276 Islamic Consolidation, 279 Islamic Expansion, 279 Islamic law, 279, 281 Islamic Way of Life, 275

384

Israel, 215, 224, 236, 368 Jacob, 217 Jain Sects, 107 Jainism

character, 96 ethical codes, 105 history, 95 lay aspects, 105 origins, 95 teachings, 100 temple worship, 106 vows for monks, 103

Jainism in Kenya, 108 Japan

ancient religions, 153 emperor, 168 national religion, 167

Japanese Buddhist sects, 185 Japanese culture, 170 Jerusalem, 249 Jesuits, 258 Jesus, 244, 366 Jesus Christ, 241, 245–48

early life, 247 ministry, 247

Jesus of Nazareth, 310 Jewish Communities, 223, 263 Jewish festivals, 235 Jewish people, 215, 236 Jewish World, 240 Jews, 240 Jews in America, 223 Jews of the Diaspora, 241 Jihad, 281 Jihads (Holy Wars), 256 Jiva, 101 Jodo Buddhism, 186 Jodo Shinshu Sect, 188 John the Baptist, 247 Judaism, 215, 221, 227, 241,

243, 301, 307, 366 conception of God, 226

essential features, 225 history, 216 service, 233

Judaizers, 249 K’ung fu-tze. See Confucius Kaaba, 140 Kabah, 274 Kabir (1440-1518)

teachings, 137

Kant, 351 Karma, 72, 102, 126 Kasiera, E.M., 3, 15, 25, 31,

35, 69, 75, 83 Kent, E., 306 Khadija, 269 Khalsa, 146 Kibicho, S.G., 45, 51, 55, 61,

95, 105, 111, 117, 123, 131, 137, 143, 171, 179, 185, 191

King Vishtaspa, 203 King, Dr. M.L., 109 Krishna Bhakti, 85 Lamaism, 193 Lamas, 193 Lang, A., 47 Lao Tse, 161 Lao-Tse, 163 Last Day, 246 Last Judgment, 272 Laws of Moses, 250 League of Nations, 359 Lebanon, 288 Lepp, I., 345, 352–54 Lessa, W., 6 Levi-Strauss, C., 9 Liberation, 102

Jain, 102

Life of Jesus, 247 Life of Muhammad, 269 Logos, 247

385

London Missionary Society, 259

Lord of Hosts, 240 Lory-Bruhl, L., 47 Lowie, R.H., 47 Ludwig, E., 55 Lugbara, 58 Luhya, 58, 66 Luo, 58 Luther, M., 257 Lutheran church, 257 Maasai, 66 Macquarrie, J., 290 Madhva, 92 Magic, 16 Mahavira, 97–100

asceticism and austerity, 100

Mahayana, 132 Mahayana Buddhas

characteristics, 175

Mahayana Buddhism, 132, 171–74, 185, 191 characteristics, 172–75 scriptures, 176 spread, 179

Mahayana-Hinayana Split, 132 Making theory, 293 Malinowski, B., 9 Malraux, A., 345 Man in nature, 316 Man the human being, 315 Man’s nature, 315 Mana, 36 Mani, 38, 301 Manichaeism, 301 Man's uniqueness, 319–22 Marett, R.R., 18 Mau Mau movement, 66 Mbiti, J., 316, 328 Mcquarrie, J., 306, 312, 322,

326

Meaning of death, 341 Medicine-man, 33 Medieval Hinduism, 87 Meditation, 126 Messiah, 246 Mill Hill Fathers, 259 Missionary Societies in Africa,

259 Modern Christianity, 258 Modern Ecumenical

Movement, 360 Modern Nationalism, 368 Modern Zoroastrinism, 212 Monasticism, 257 Mongolia, 194 Monophysite Christianity, 264 Monotheism, 264 Month of Ramadhan, 274 Moon, Rev. S.M., 360 Moral evil, 327 Moses, 217 Mugambi, J.N.K., 261, 269,

357, 365 Muhammad, 262, 266, 269,

275–78 Muhammad’s teaching, 270 Muller, M., 16 Muslim communities, 277, 281 Muslim fundamentalism, 281 Muslim traders, 280 Names, 286 Nandi, 58 National Council of Churches,

259 National Council of Churches

of Kenya, 360 Native American Church, 41 Natural Evil, 326 Nature cult, 18 Nature of Man, 315

386

Nature-myth theory, 16 Naturism, 16, 19 Neill, Bishop S., 371 New Testament, 251, 309 Newton, Isaac, 358 Nicene Creed, 246 Nirvana, 117, 126, 128, 173,

181 Non-Thestic Religions, 327 Norberck, N., 47 North Africa, 278 Northern Buddhism, 121, 133 Nyaya, 87 Ogutu, G.E.M., 239, 245, 253 Old Testament, 309 Ongong’a, J.J., 285, 295, 305,

315, 325, 335, 341, 349 Origin of Religion

theories, 15

Orthodox Xhuyrexh, 257 p’Bitek, O., 56 Pagans, 278 Pakistan, 276 Palestine, 215, 224, 240 Panentheism, 298–300

philosophical development, 298

Pantheism, 292, 296, 297 Pantheism and Platonic Ideas,

296 Pantheism in India, 296 Pantheism today, 297 Parinirvana, 128 Parsis, 212 Parsis in Kenya, 212 Parsva, 97 Passover festival, 248 Paul, 249, 310

missionary journeys, 254

Pentecost, 248 Persecution of Jews, 224

Persia, 201 Peyote religion, 41 Peyotism, 41 Pharisees, 241 Pilgrimage to Israel, 370 pilgrimage to Mecca, 370 Pilgrimage to Mecca, 274 Plato, 242, 296, 347 Pokomo, 66 Pokot, 66 Polytheism, 262, 264 Pope Paul IV, 239 Postponement of death, 345 Pre-Vedic Hinduism, 69 Pre-Zoroastrian Religion, 199 Problem of Evil, 327 Propaganda, 363 Prophets, 271 Protestant churches, 257 Purva Mimamsa, 88 Quantitative evaluation of

religion, 361 Quetzalcoatl, 37 Quran, 265, 270, 275, 279, 332 Rabbi Raphael Hirsch, 223 Radin, P., 47 Rama Bhakti, 85 Ramakrishna, 93 Ramananda, 137 Ramanuja, 90–92 Rationality, 317 Rebirth, 126 Reform Judaism, 223 Reformation, 257 Relativism, 358 Religion

commercialization, 369 definitions, 3–5 study, 7

evolutionism, 7 functionalism, 8

387

psycho-analysis, 9 structuralism, 8

Religion in contemporary world, 357–63

Religions Commitment, 364 Religions in India

history, 70

Religions of the Far East, 151 Religions of the Near East, 197 Religious mass communication

media, 370 Religious Movements, 369 Religious Plurality, 366 Religious Schism, 366 Religious themes, 286 Resettlement of the Jews, 224 Rites of passage, 52, 64 Robertson, R., 6 Role of women, 370 Roman Catholic Church, 257 Roman religion, 242 Romans, 242 Routledge, K., 47 Routledge, W.S., 47 Roy, Ram Mohan, 93 Sabbath, 231, 235 Sacrifice, 79 Sadducees, 241 Saint (St.) Honen (1133–1212),

186 Salvation, 251, 339–40

Jain, 102 Judaic christianity, 337 meaning, 335

Salvation in Christianity, 338 Samburu, 66 Sangha, 121 Sankhya, 88 Saraswati, Dayananda, 93 Sartre, J.P., 316 Satan, 270, 332

Schism, 366 Secularism, 358, 362 Secularization, 362–64 Sedna, 25–27 Seventh Day Adventists, 259 Shakti Bhakti, 86 Shaman, 27, 39 Shamanism, 25–27 Shankara, 90 Shanker, Mula, 93 Sharia, 275, 279, 281 Shen-tao, 167 Shin Sect, 188 Shinto, 167, 183 Shinto religious practices, 169 Shintoism, 167, 170

history, 167 religious practices, 169 teaching, 167

Shiva, 72 Shiva Bhakti, 86 Shonin, Honin, 186 Shonin, Shinran (1173–1263),

188 Sikh communities, 148 Sikh Religion Today, 148 Sikh Scriptures, 147 Sikhism, 142

baptism of the sword, 146 origins, 137

Sikhism after Nanak, 143 Sikhism and Hinduism, 148 Sikhism and Islam, 148 Sikhism to-day, 148 Sikhs in Kenya, 148 Sila, 27 Sin, 331, 337 Singhs, 145–47 Sky Being, 31 Smart, N., 361 Smith, E., 55

388

Social aspects of christianity, 241–44

Society of Jesus, 258 Society of the Propagation of

the Gospel, among others, 259

Socrates, 346 Soma sacrifice, 81 Soul, 317, 349 Southern Buddhism, 121, 133 Sovereignty of God, 289 Spencer, H., 18 Spirits, 61–64 Spirits of the departed, 63 Spiro, M.E., 5 Spread of Christianity, 253 St. Peter’s basilica, 257 Steinberg, Milton, 225 Suffering and evil, 325 Suffering in Buddhism, 124 Supernatural beings, 31–34 Swanson, G.E., 47 Synagogue, 231 Syncretistic Movements, 66 Talmud, 221 Tantric Buddhism, 191–92 Tao, 154, 157, 161, 164, 167 Tao Te Ching, 161 Taoism, 153, 161–64, 328

teachings, 162

Technology, 320 Telepathy, 352 Television preachers, 370 Temple of Jerusalem, 217–19

destruction, 221

Thailand, 368 Thanatology, 342 Theism

forms, 295

Theistic Religions, 329

Theodicy, 329 Theravada Buddhism, 132, 171 Theravadan scriptures, 135 Tibet, 191 Tibetan Buddhism, 191

main schools, 192

Tillich, P., 6, 322 Tipitaka, 135 Torah, 232, 236, 241 Torah-Book, 231, 233 Totemism, 19, 32, 38 Transcedence of God, 307 Transcendence of God, 293 Transformation of Life, 346 Trickster, 37 Turkana, 66 Tylor, E.B., 5, 16–19, 47–48 Ungud, 32 Unification Church, 360 Unification Movement, 360 United Nations, 359 Upanishads, 83 Uttara Mimmamsa, 88 Vaishesika, 87 Vatican City, 368 Vedanta, 89 Vedanta Thinkers, 89 Vedas, 77

collections, 75–77

Vedic Gods, 78 Vedic Hindusim, 75 Vedic Literature, 76 Vedism, 75 Verona Fathers, 259 Virgin Mary, 247 Visa Oshwal Education and

Relief Board, 109 Visa Oshwals, 108 Vishnu Bhakti, 86 Vision quest, 39–40

389

Vogt, E., 6 Wallanganda, 32 Wapare, 59 Waruta, D.W., 153, 161, 167,

199, 205, 277 Weber, M., 8 West Africa, 280 White Fathers Mission, 259 Women, 370 World Council of Churches,

259, 360 Worship of one God, 290 Yahweh, 218, 241 Yoga, 88 Yoruba, 61 Yoruba divinities, 61

Zarathustra, 201–6 Zarathustra’s dualism, 207 Zarathustra’s Mission, 203 Zen Buddhism, 189 Zionism, 224 Zorastrianism

ethics, 209 ideas of death, 210 modern, 212 monotheism, 207 scriptures, 210 teachings, 205

Zoroaster, 201, 205 Zoroastrianism, 199, 278, 300,

328 Zwingli, U., 258