Origin The Challenge to the Global Community of Religions
"In this new ecological age of developing global community and interfaith dialogue, the world religions face what is perhaps the greatest challenge that they have ever encountered. Each is inspired by a unique vision of the divine and has a distinct cultural identity. At the same time, each perceives the divine as the source of unity and peace. The challenge is to preserve their religious and cultural uniqueness without letting it operate as a cause of narrow and divisive sectarianism that contradicts the vision of unity and peace. It is a question of whether the healing light of religious vision will overcome the social and ideological issues that underline much of the conflict between religions." ~ Dr. Steven C. Rockefeller, Middlebury College, Spirit and Nature, p. 169
CONTENTS | INVOCATION | INTRODUCTION | PROLOGUE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
WS FORUM

INVOCATION

Synopsis
Title Page
This Archive
Advisors and Contributors
Foreword by Ninian Smart
How to obtain a printed (hardbound/paperback) version

PROLOGUE:
MANY PATHS TO ONE GOAL

The Truth in Many Paths
Tolerance and Respect for All Believers

INTRODUCTION
The Purpose of World Scripture
The Organization of World Scripture
The World's Religions and Their Scriptures
Acknowledgements
Notes

ESSAY:
World Scripture and Education for Peace

PART ONE:
Ultimate Reality and the Purpose of Human Existence

CHAPTER 1: Ultimate Reality
Traces of God's Existence
The One
Formless, Emptiness, Mystery
Transcendent, All-Pervasive Reality
Sovereign and Omnipotent
Omniscient
Immanent and Near at Hand
Eternal -- in a World of Transience
The Creator
Goodness and Love
Divine Father and Mother

CHAPTER 2: Divine Law, Truth, and Cosmic Principle
Eternal Truth
Moral Law
The Decalogue
The Golden Rule
Polarity, Relationality, and Interdependence
Cosmic Justice

CHAPTER 3: The Purpose of Life for the Individual
Joy and Happiness
For God's Good Pleasure
Image of God and Temple of God
Inborn Goodness and Conscience
Original Mind, No Mind
Perfection
True Love

CHAPTER 4: The Purpose of Life in the Family and in Society
The Family
Parents and Children
Husband and Wife
Friendship
Unity and Community
Equality
The People of God
The Ideal Society

CHAPTER 5: The Purpose of Life in the Natural World
The Sanctity of Nature
Reverence for Life
The Microcosm
Dominion
The Lord of Spirits
Creation Rejoices

CHAPTER 6: Life Beyond Death and the Spiritual World
The Spiritual World: Mystery, Multiplicity, Analogy, Harmony
The Immortal Soul
Prepare Now for Eternity
Passage Beyond
Heaven
Hell
Spiritual Benefactors
Spiritual Error and the Occult

PART TWO:
Evil, Sin, and the Human Fall

CHAPTER 7: The Human Condition
Ill
The War Within
Ignorance
Idolatry
Pride and Egotism
Selfish Desire, Lust, and Greed

CHAPTER 8: Fall and Deviation
The Human Fall
Demonic Powers
Heresy
Degraded Human Nature
God's Grief

CHAPTER 9: The Major Sins
Good and Evil
Adultery
Murder
Theft
Lying and Deceit
Hypocrisy
Slander, Gossip and Foul Speech
Addiction

PART THREE:
Salvation and the Savior

CHAPTER 10: Salvation-Liberation-Enlightenment
Grace
Universal Salvation
Atonement and Forgiveness of Sins
Healing
Liberation
Enlightenment
Crossing the Waters
Reversal and Restoration
Peace
Help and Deliverance
The Refining Fire
Born Anew
Eternal Life
The Unitive State

CHAPTER 11: The Founder
Call and Awakening
Rejected by the World
The Victor
He Who Subjugates Satan
The Revealer of Truth
The Man for Others
The Living Presence
The Person and Character of the Founder: Divine Person
Human Person
The Succession of Founders and Messengers

PART FOUR:
The Religious Life

CHAPTER 12: Responsibility and Predestination
Decision
Individual Responsibility
Synergy
Predestination
Karma and Inherited Sin
Duty

CHAPTER 13: Self-cultivation and Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Growth
Cultivate the Good
Sincerity
Purity
Self-Control
Preparing the Start
Vigilance
Perseverance and Patience

CHAPTER 14: Faith
Faith
Devotion and Praise
Fear, Submission, and Obedience
Anxiety
Gratitude
Argument with God

CHAPTER 15: Wisdom
The Search for Knowledge
Scripture and Tradition
Poverty of Conceptual Learning
Scripture Teaches in Parables
Learning and Practice
Teacher and Disciple
New Wine and Old Wineskins

CHAPTER 16: Worship
Prayer
The Name of God
Meditation
Ritual
Beyond Ritual

CHAPTER 17: Offering and Sacrifice
Offering
Donations
Self-Sacrifice
Persecution and Martyrdom

CHAPTER 18: Self-Denial and Renunciation
Self-denial and No-self
Repentance, Confession, and Restitution
Humility
Restraint and Moderation
Control Anger
Subdue Desires and Passions
Detachment from the Senses
Renunciation of Wealth
Asceticism and Monasticism
Separation from Family
Separation from the World

CHAPTER 19: Live for Others
Loving-kindness
Serving Others
Sacrificial Love
Giving and Receiving
Charity and Hospitality
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Judge Not
Love Your Enemy
Turn the Other Cheek
Good Deeds
Labor and Industry
Honesty and Expediency
Witness

PART FIVE:
Providence, Society, and the Kingdom of Heaven

CHAPTER 20: Good Government and the Welfare of Society
The Pillars of Society
The Prophet and Reformer
War Against Evil
Respect for Legitimate Governments
Government by Divine Law
Consideration for the People
Leadership by Example and Honest Government
Judgments and Punishments
Providence and the Mandate of Heaven

CHAPTER 21: Eschatology and Messianic Hope
Tribulation
The Last Judgment
The Messiah
The Kingdom of Heaven

Interspirit Network for global illumination
- 1 -

 

World Scripture
A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts

Dr. Andrew Wilson, Editor
International Religious Foundation, 1991

Archived by Bruce Schuman, United Communities of Spirit
914 pages, Hardbound Edition

A global network for interfaith insight and understanding

Invocation
Prologue: Many Paths to One Goal
The Truth in Many Paths
Tolerance and Respect for All Believers
INTRODUCTION
  • Synopsis
  • Title Page
  • This Archive
  • Advisors and Contributors
  • Foreword by Ninian Smart
  • Essay: World Scripture and Education for Peace
  • How to obtain a printed (hardbound/paperback) version
  • The Purpose of World Scripture
  • The Organization of World Scripture
  • The World's Religions and Their Scriptures
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • PART ONE:
    Ultimate Reality and the Purpose of Human Existence
    C HAPTER 1: Ultimate Reality
  • Traces of God's Existence
  • The One
  • Formless, Emptiness, Mystery
  • Transcendent, All-Pervasive Reality
  • Sovereign and Omnipotent
  • Omniscient
  • Immanent and Near at Hand
  • Eternal -- in a World of Transience
  • The Creator
  • Goodness and Love
  • Divine Father and Mother
  • CHAPTER 2: Divine Law, Truth, and Cosmic Principle
  • Eternal Truth
  • Moral Law
  • The Decalogue
  • The Golden Rule
  • Polarity, Relationality, and Interdependence
  • Cosmic Justice
  • CHAPTER 3: The Purpose of Life for the Individual
  • Joy and Happiness
  • For God's Good Pleasure
  • Image of God and Temple of God
  • Inborn Goodness and Conscience
  • Original Mind, No Mind
  • Perfection
  • True Love
  • CHAPTER 4: The Purpose of Life in the Family and in Society
  • The Family
  • Parents and Children
  • Husband and Wife
  • Friendship
  • Unity and Community
  • Equality
  • The People of God
  • The Ideal Society
  • CHAPTER 5: The Purpose of Life in the Natural World
  • The Sanctity of Nature
  • Reverence for Life
  • The Microcosm
  • Dominion
  • The Lord of Spirits
  • Creation Rejoices
  • CHAPTER 6: Life Beyond Death and the Spiritual World
  • The Spiritual World: Mystery, Multiplicity, Analogy, Harmony
  • The Immortal Soul
  • Prepare Now for Eternity
  • Passage Beyond
  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Spiritual Benefactors
  • Spiritual Error and the Occult
  • PART TWO:
    Evil, Sin, and the Human Fall
    CHAPTER 7: The Human Condition
  • Ill
  • The War Within
  • Ignorance
  • Idolatry
  • Pride and Egotism
  • Selfish Desire, Lust, and Greed
  • CHAPTER 8: Fall and Deviation
  • The Human Fall
  • Demonic Powers
  • Heresy
  • Degraded Human Nature
  • God's Grief
  • CHAPTER 9: The Major Sins
  • Good and Evil
  • Adultery
  • Murder
  • Theft
  • Lying and Deceit
  • Hypocrisy
  • Slander, Gossip, and Foul Speech
  • Addiction
  •  
    PART THREE:
    Salvation and the Savior
    CHAPTER 10: Salvation-Liberation-Enlightenment
  • Grace
  • Universal Salvation
  • Atonement and Forgiveness of Sins
  • Healing
  • Liberation
  • Enlightenment
  • Crossing the Waters
  • Reversal and Restoration
  • Peace
  • Help and Deliverance
  • The Refining Fire
  • Born Anew
  • Eternal Life
  • The Unitive State
  • CHAPTER 11: The Founder
  • Call and Awakening
  • Rejected by the World
  • The Victor
  • He Who Subjugates Satan
  • The Revealer of Truth
  • The Man for Others
  • The Living Presence
  • The Person and Character of the Founder: Divine Person
  • Human Person
  • The Succession of Founders and Messengers
  • PART FOUR:
    The Religious Life
    CHAPTER 12: Responsibility and Predestination
  • Decision
  • Individual Responsibility
  • Synergy
  • Predestination
  • Karma and Inherited Sin
  • Duty
  • CHAPTER 13: Self-cultivation and Spiritual Growth
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Cultivate the Good
  • Sincerity
  • Purity
  • Self-Control
  • Preparing the Start
  • Vigilance
  • Perseverance and Patience
  • CHAPTER 14: Faith
  • Faith
  • Devotion and Praise
  • Fear, Submission, and Obedience
  • Anxiety
  • Gratitude
  • Argument with God
  • CHAPTER 15: Wisdom
  • The Search for Knowledge
  • Scripture and Tradition
  • Poverty of Conceptual Learning
  • Scripture Teaches in Parables
  • Learning and Practice
  • Teacher and Disciple
  • New Wine and Old Wineskins
  • CHAPTER 16: Worship
  • Prayer
  • The Name of God
  • Meditation
  • Ritual
  • Beyond Ritual
  • CHAPTER 17: Offering and Sacrifice
  • Offering
  • Donations
  • Self-Sacrifice
  • Persecution and Martyrdom
  • CHAPTER 18: Self-Denial and Renunciation
  • Self-denial and No-self
  • Repentance, Confession, and Restitution
  • Humility
  • Restraint and Moderation
  • Control Anger
  • Subdue Desires and Passions
  • Detachment from the Senses
  • Renunciation of Wealth
  • Asceticism and Monasticism
  • Separation from Family
  • Separation from the World
  • CHAPTER 19: Live for Others
  • Loving-kindness
  • Serving Others
  • Sacrificial Love
  • Giving and Receiving
  • Charity and Hospitality
  • Forgiveness and Reconciliation
  • Judge Not
  • Love Your Enemy
  • Turn the Other Cheek
  • Good Deeds
  • Labor and Industry
  • Honesty and Expediency
  • Witness
  • PART FIVE:
    Providence, Society, and the Kingdom of Heaven
    CHAPTER 20: Good Government and the Welfare of Society
  • The Pillars of Society
  • The Prophet and Reformer
  • War Against Evil
  • Respect for Legitimate Governments
  • Government by Divine Law
  • Consideration for the People
  • Leadership by Example and Honest Government
  • Judgments and Punishments
  • Providence and the Mandate of Heaven
  • CHAPTER 21: Eschatology and Messianic Hope
  • Tribulation
  • The Last Judgment
  • The Messiah
  • The Kingdom of Heaven
  • IRF material (c) copyright 1991