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World Religions Biographies World Religions Biographies VOLUME 1 Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt, Editors World Religions: Biographies Written by Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones Edited by Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt Project Editor Nancy Matuszak Editorial Julie L. Carnagie Rights and Acquisitions Edna Hedblad, Emma Hull, and Sue Rudolph Imaging and Multimedia Lezlie Light, Michael Logusz, Christine O’Bryan, and Robyn Young Product Design Jennifer Wahi Composition Evi Seoud Manufacturing Rita Wimberley  c 2007 Thomson Gale, a part of The Thomson Corporation. Thomson and Star Logo are trademarks and Gale is a registered trademark used herein under license. For more information, contact Thomson Gale 27500 Drake Rd. 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Errors brought to the attention of the publisher and verified to the satisfaction of the publisher will be corrected in future editions. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Jones, J. Sydney. World religions reference library / edited by Neil Schlager and Jayne Weisblatt; written by J. Sydney Jones and Michael O’Neal; Nancy Matuszak, content project editor. p. cm. (World religions reference library) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0227-7 (Almanac : set : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4144-0227-9 (Almanac : set : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0228-4 (Almanac : vol. 1 : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4144-0228-7 (Almanac : vol. 1 : alk. paper) [etc.] 1. Religions.I. O’Neal, Michael, 1949-II. Schlager, Neil, 1966-III. Weisblatt, Jayne. IV. Title.V. Series. BL74.J66 2006 200 dc22 2006012295 ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0229-1 (Almanac vol. 2) 978-1-4144-0230-7 (Biographies set) 978-1-4144-0231-4 (Biographies vol. 1) 978-1-4144-0232-1 (Biographies vol. 2) 978-1-4144-0232-8 (Primary Sources) 978-1-4144-0234-5 (Cumulative Index) ISBN-10: 1-4144-0229-5 (Almanac vol. 2) 1-4144-0230-9 (Biographies set) 1-4144-0231-7 (Biographies vol. 1) 1-4144-0232-5 (Biographies vol. 2) 1-4144-0233-3 (Primary Sources) 1-4144-0234-1 (Cumulative Index) This title is also available as an e-book. ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0232-1, ISBN-10: 1-4144-0612-6 Contact your Thomson Gale sales representative for ordering information. Printed in the United States of America 10987654321 Contents Reader’s Guide ix Timeline of Events xiii Words to Know xix VOLUME 1 Abraham 1 Akhenaten 9  Alı ¯ ibn Abı ¯ Ta ¯ lib 17 Anaxagoras 25 Aristotle 33 Baha ´  u  lla ´ h 41 Black Elk 51 The Buddha 59 Caitanya Mahaprabhu 67 John Calvin 75 Confucius 83 Dalai Lama 91 Dayananda Sarasvati 101 Anagarika Dharmapala 107 Dipa Ma 115 Enheduanna 121 Mahatma Gandhi 129 Gerald Brousseau Gardner 137 v Abu Ha ¯ mid Muhammad al-Ghaza ¯ lı ¯ 145 Gobind Singh 153 Ibn Khaldu ¯ n 163 Israel ben Eliezer 171 Jala ¯ l ad-Dı ¯ n ar-Ru ¯ mı ¯ 179 Jesus Christ 187 Khadijah 195 Where to Learn More xxxvii Index xxxix VOLUME 2 Laozi 203 Nechama Leibowitz 211 Ignatius of Loyola 217 Martin Luther 225 Madhva 235 Mahavira 241 Moses Maimonides 249 Karl Marx 257 Moses Mendelssohn 267 Moses 277 Muhammad 285 Nichiren 293 Saint Paul 301 Plato 311 Ra ¯ bi  ah al-Adawiyah 319 Ramanuja 327 Mother Maria Skobtsova 335 Malidoma Patrice Some ´ 343 Mother Teresa 351 Thich Nhat Hanh 359 Desmond Mpilo Tutu 367 Usuman Dan Fodio 375 CONTENTS vi World Religions: Biographies Swami Vivekananda 383 Isaac Mayer Wise 391 Zarathushtra 399 Where to Learn More xxxvii Index xxxix World Religions: Biographies vii CONTENTS Reader’s Guide Religion influences the views and actions of many people in the world today in both politi- cal and personal ways. In some instances reli- gious fervor compels people to perform selfless acts of compassion, while in others it spurs them to bitter warfare. Religion opens some people to all humanity but restricts others to re- main loyal to small groups. In general, religion can be described as a unified system of thought, feeling, and action that is shared by a group and that gives its mem- bers an object of devotion—someone or some- thingsacredtobelievein,suchasagodora spiritual concept. Religion also involves a code of behavior or personal moral conduct by which individuals may judge the personal and social consequences of their actions and the actions of others. Most of the time, religion also deals with what might be called the super- natural or the spiritual, about forces and a power beyond the control of humans. In this function, religion attempts to answer questions that science does not touch, such as the meaning of life and what happens after death. Perhaps one of the most amazing things about religion is that there is no commonly heldwayoflookingatit.Yetmostofthe world’s population participates in it in one way or another. Though hard to define, religion seems to be a universal experience and need. Of thenearly6.5billionpeopleonEarth,only about 16 percent (about 1.1. billion) say they do not believe in a god or do not believe in a specific religion. The rest of the world’s popula- tion belongs to one of more than twenty differ- ent major religions. Features and Format World Religions: Biographies presents the biogra- phies of fifty men and women who have played a critical role in the world’s religions throughout history. Among those profiled are Abraham, whose influence is seen in three of the modern world’s most dominant religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Muhammad, consid- ered the final and most important prophet by Muslims; and Siddhartha Gautama, who be- came known as the Buddha. More modern fig- ures are also included, from the Hindu teacher Swami Vivekananda to Baha ´  u  lla ´ h, who founded the Baha ´  ı ´ faith. Women who made significant impacts on religion are also featured, including Mother Teresa, the Buddhist nun Dipa Ma, and the ancient Mesopotamian priestess Enheduanna. ix Nearly one hundred black-and-white photos and maps illustrate the text, while sidebars high- light interesting concepts and fascinating facts connected to the individuals being profiled. The set also includes a glossary, a timeline, sources for further reading, and a subject index. World Religions Reference Library World Religions: Biographies is only one compo- nent of the three-part World Religions Refer- ence Library. The set also includes two almanac volumes and one volume of primary source documents:  World Religions: Almanac (two volumes) covers the history, traditions, and world- views of dominant and less prominent religions and their sects and offshoots. This title examines the development of religions throughout history and into modern times: their philosophies and prac- tices, sacred texts and teachings, effects on everyday life, influences on society and cul- ture, and more. The set features eighteen chapters on today’s prominent world reli- gions and also explores ancient beliefs, such as those of Egypt and Mesopotamia; smaller movements like that of neo-paganism and Baha ´  ı ´ ; and philosophies, including those of ancient Greece and Rome, agnosticism, and atheism. In addition, an introductory chapter explores the concept of religion in more depth.  World Religions: Primary Sources (one vol- ume) offers eighteen excerpted writings, speeches, and sacred texts from across the religious spectrum. These include selections from the Bible, including both the Old and New Testament (Judaism and Christianity); the Qur  an (Islam); and the Dhammapada (Buddhism). Among the other selections are the Daoist text Dao De Jing; the Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism; the Sikh sacred scripture, Shri Guru Granth Sahib; and Thomas Henry Huxley’s essay ‘‘Ag- nosticism and Christianity.’’ Acknowledgments U Á X Á L would like to thank several individuals for their assistance with the World Reli gions: Biographies. At Schlager Group, Jayne Weisblatt and Neil Schlager who oversaw the writing and editing, while Michael J. O’Neal and J. Sydney Jones wrote the text. Thanks also to Shannon Kelly, who assisted with copyediting, Nora Harris for indexing, and Gloria Lam for proofing. Special thanks are due for the invaluable comments and suggestions provided by U Á X Á L’s World Religions Reference Library advisors and consultants:  George Alscer, Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, Philosophy and Pastoral Ministry, Marygrove Col- lege, Detroit, Michigan.  Janet Callahan, Ford Interfaith Network, Dearborn, Michigan.  Mary Ann Christopher, Librarian, Yellow Springs High School, Yellow Springs, Ohio.  Margaret Hallisey, Retired library media specialist and former board member of the American Association of School Librarians; the Massachusetts School Library Media Association; and the New England Educational Media Association.  Fatima al-Hayani, Professor of Religious Studies, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. x World Religions: Biographies READER’S GUIDE  Madan Kaura, Bharatyia Temple, Ford Interfaith Network, Dearborn, Michigan.  Ann Marie LaPrise, Huron School Dis- trict, Monroe, Michigan.  Ann W. Moore, Librarian, Schenectady County Public Library, Schenectady, New York.  Chuen Pangcham, Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center (Buddha Vihara Tem- ple), Warren, Michigan.  Gene Schramm, Retired professor of Semitic Languages and Near Eastern Studies, Uni- versity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Cheryl Youse, Media specialist, Hatherly Elementary School, Plymouth, Michigan. Comments and Suggestions We welcome your comments on World Reli- gions: Biographies and suggestions for other topics in history to consider. Please write to Editors, World Religions: Biog raphies, U Á X Á L, 27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, Michi- gan 48331-3535; call toll-free 800-877-4253; send faxes to 248-699-8097; or send e-mail via http://www.gale.com. World Religions: Biographies xi READER’S GUIDE Timeline of Events c. 2300–c. 2260 BCE Life span of En heduanna. The daughter of the Sumerian ruler Sargon of Akkad, Enheduanna is made High Priestess to the Sumerian Moon God, Nanna, beginning a tra- dition that will last for the next five hundred years among the princesses of the kings of the Middle Eastern region of Mesopo- tamia. Enheduanna also establishes the religious cult of Inanna, the daughter of the Moon God. c. 2050–c. 195 0 BCE Life span of Abraham, a central figure in three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 1353 BCE Akhenaten, also known as Amenhotep IV, becomes pharaoh of Egypt. c. thirteenth century BCE According to Judeo-Christian belief, Moses leads the Israelites, the Jewish people, out of slavery from Egypt. c. 1200 BCE Date perhaps marking the life of Zarathushtra, the founder of Zoroastrianism. c. 604 BCE Laozi, considered the founder of Daoism, is born in China. c. 569 BCE Vardhamana, who later takes the name Mahavira and is con- sidered the founder of Jainism, gives up all of his worldly pos- sessions to live a life of piety. c. 551–479 BCE Life span of the scholar Kong zi, who is known in the West by his Latinized name, Confucius. 528 According to Buddhist belief, Siddhartha Gautama achieves en- lightenment after a night of meditation, thus becoming the Buddha. xiii [...]... Cairo’s Jewish community c 11 99–c 12 87 Life span of Madhva, the founder of a sect of Hindu- ism called Madhvism xiv World Religions: Biographies TIMELINE OF EVENTS 12 53 Japanese Buddhist monk Nichiren claims that the only true Buddhist religion is Nichiren Buddhism c 12 70 The Sufi Muslim poet Jalal ad-Dın ar-Rumı finishes his most ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ important work, the Masnavi After his death in 12 73, his name becomes... part of the literature and oral tradition of Islam 10 17 11 37 Life span of Ramanuja, one of the great Hindu teachers of medieval India c 11 05 The Islamic philosopher Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazalı ¯ ¯¯ publishes his greatest work, The Revival of the Religious Sciences The book explains the doctrines or rules and practices of Islam, especially Sufi Islam 11 77 Moses Maimonides, a Jewish scholar best known... http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/ abraham.html (accessed on May 22, 2006) Howlett, J A ‘‘Abraham.’’ Catholic Encyclopedia Online http://www.newadvent org/cathen/ 010 51a.htm (accessed on May 22, 2006) 8 World Religions: Biographies Akhenaten B O R N : c 13 71 D I E D: c 13 34 BCE BCE  Egypt  Egypt Egyptian pharaoh ‘‘How numerous are your works, though hidden from sight / Unique god, there is none beside him / You mould... black population 19 89 The Dalai Lama wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on behalf of his homeland, Tibet, which has been under Chinese control since 19 50 ´ 19 94 Malidoma Patrice Some publishes his autobiography, Of Water and the Spirit In it, he describes his youth as a member of the Dagara tribe in West Africa World Religions: Biographies xvii Abraham B O R N : c 2050 D I E D: c 19 50 BCE BCE ... nationalism 18 93 The paper ‘‘What Is Hinduism?’’ by Swami Vivekananda, pre- sented at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, exposes many Westerners to Hinduism for the first time Also in Chicago at this conference, Anagarika Dharmapala speaks movingly of his religion, Theravada Buddhism He gains converts in the United States and opens a U.S chapter of the Maha Bodhi Society 19 11 19 89 Life span... and religious leader Moses (c 13 92–c 12 72 BCE; see entry) 12 World Religions: Biographies Akhenaten Akhenaten makes offerings to the god Aten, represented as a sun disk The style of art during Akhenaten’s reign was quite different from the traditional style and is often referred to as Amarna Art Ó ARCHIVO ICONOGRAFICO, S.A./ CORBIS For example, Sigmund Freud (18 56 19 39), the father of modern psychiatry... archaeologists uncovered the riches of this era in Egyptian history World Religions: Biographies 15 Akhenaten The site of Akhetaten was initially investigated by archaeologist John Gardner Wilkinson in 18 24 Its story was then gradually revealed to the public For More Information BOOKS Aldred, Cyril Akhenaten: King of Egypt New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 19 91 Assmann, Jan The Mind of Egypt: History and Meaning... Ancient Egypt http://www.touregypt.net /18 dyn10.htm/ (accessed on May 22, 2006) ‘‘Great Hymn to the Aten.’’ Digital Egypt http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/ amarna/belief.html (accessed on May 22, 2006) Spence, Kate ‘‘Akhenaten and the Amarna Period.’’ BBC Online http://www bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/akhenaten_ 01. shtml (accessed on May 22, 2006) 16 World Religions: Biographies  Alı ibn Abı Talib... HarperCollins, 19 98 Montserrat, Dominic Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt London; New York: Routledge, 2000 Redford, Donald Akhenaten, the Heretic King Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 19 84 Reeves, Nicholas Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet London; New York: Thames & Hudson, 20 01 PERIODICALS Ohayon, Stephen ‘‘In Search of Akhenaten.’’ American Imago (summer 19 82): 16 5 17 9 Ray, John... died suddenly, Tutankhaten took over the leadership He soon changed his name to Tutankhamen, embracing the old god Amen and moving the capital back to Thebes 14 World Religions: Biographies Akhenaten To Hermopolis N 0 0 0.5 0.5 Akhetaten 1 mi 1 km North Palace NORTH CITY North Tombs Akhenaten founded the city of Akhetaten, modern-day Tell el-Amarna, and moved Egypt’s capital there The city was dedicated . dc22 2006 012 295 ISBN -13 : 978 -1- 414 4-0229 -1 (Almanac vol. 2) 978 -1- 414 4-0230-7 (Biographies set) 978 -1- 414 4-02 31- 4 (Biographies vol. 1) 978 -1- 414 4-0232 -1 (Biographies vol. 2) 978 -1- 414 4-0232-8 (Primary. 2) 978 -1- 414 4-0232-8 (Primary Sources) 978 -1- 414 4-0234-5 (Cumulative Index) ISBN -10 : 1- 414 4-0229-5 (Almanac vol. 2) 1- 414 4-0230-9 (Biographies set) 1- 414 4-02 31- 7 (Biographies