Full Subtitle: When the World's Religions Sit Down to Talk about the Future of Human Life and the Plight of This PlanetThis short volume seeks to capture the energy and dynamism of these world religious traditionsa central force in human history and societyfor illuminating and addressing major global issues: population growth, environmental destruction, freedom, the rights of women and minorities, the place of economics and work, issues of sexuality and the body. Based on consultations of leading scholars and religious leaders from a variety of traditions, and worked out in conjunction with international conferences sponsored by the Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Health, and Ethics, this book highlights the special insights and lessons each major religious tradition has to offer today.
Daniel C. Maguire is Professor of Ethics at Marquette University. He also is President of the Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Health and Ethics. Among his many books are Death by Choice (1974), The Moral Choice (1975), The Moral Revolution (1986), The Moral Core of Judaism and Christianity (Fortress Press, 1993), Sacred Energies: When the World's Religions Sit Down to Talk about the Future of Human Life and the Plight of This Planet (Fortress Press, 2000), and Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions (Fortress Press, 2001).
1. The Wake-Up Call Bad News Acts of Hope 2. The Religion of the Marketplace Snake Oil Consumerism on the Rampage Reimagining Our World Lessons from Europe 3. Pledging Allegiance to the Corporations "In the Beginning . . ." Gated Communities Any Hope Out There? 4. This Thing Called Religion Common Concerns Ants and Humans I-Self or We-Self 5. The Poetry of Africa The Nature of African Religions Private Property Rituals Population Questions Visions from Africa 6. Buddhism: Lessons on Downsizing Wants The Four Noble Truths The Ethics of Buddhism Buddhist Wisdom 7. Hinduism's Rivers of Wisdom Caricature Assassination Ghandi as Hindu Hero Ahimsa Dharma Karma The Meditative Pause 8. Ancient Chinese Secrets A Very Different Worldview Yin and Yang Chinese Hope for Humanity 9. The Unveiling of Islam Toward the Real Islam Who's in Charge? Solutions The Qu'ran and Economics 101 Good Government What about the Women? 10. Judaism: Workshop for a New Humanity The Significance of Exile Judaism's Grand Paradox Justice as the Price of Peace 11. Protestant Christianity and the Recovery of Lost Fragrance What's Wrong with Protestantism? Antinature, Prowork It's Off to Work We Go. . . . Good Protestant News 12. Catholic Liberation Theology The Piety Bypass The Anger of Justice The Catholic Case for Moral Pluralism "Conscientizing" Capitalism Conclusion A Brief Annotated Bibliography Index
