Our Religions: The Seven World Religions Introduced by Preeminent Scholars from Each Tradition

Seven living faiths explored from the inside by leading scholars who speak both of their traditions and for them.

Editor Arvind Sharma gathers seven scholar-practitioners to survey Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam within Western academic scholarship.

The volume presents Sharma on Hinduism, Masao Abe on Buddhism, Tu Wei-ming on Confucianism, Liu Xiaogan on Taoism, Jacob Neusner on Judaism, Harvey Cox on Christianity, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr on Islam. Each contributor addresses the contemporary challenges facing his heritage while detailing foundational doctrines, rites, and histories.

An essential introduction to the world's living religions by experts from each tradition -- published in conjunction with the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions.

• Comparative Religion: The contributors evaluate how distinct faiths define ultimate reality, from Hinduism’s nondual Brahman and Buddhism’s Sunyata to the personal Creator of monotheism.


• Eastern Traditions: Essays examine the balance between inward spiritual discipline and social responsibility, contrasting Taoist nonaction and Confucian ethical learning with the Buddhist path to nirvana.


• Theological Foundations: Detailed studies trace Judaism’s enduring rhythm of exile and return, Christianity’s global shifts, and Islam’s unwavering adherence to divine unity and revealed law.


• Historical Evolution: Each account investigates major historical crossroads, exploring how ancient sacred texts and rituals have adapted to modern secularism, political upheaval, and scientific inquiry.