Prime Video: Sacred Texts of the WorldSacred Texts of the World
Season 1
Throughout history, religious expression has been an essential human activity, influencing the development of civilizations. Humanity’s religions are grounded in their sacred texts - foundational writings that crystallize the principles and vision of the faiths, forming the basis of belief and action. Reveal a global legacy of faith, thought, and spirituality.
2020
36 episodes
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Documentary
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
Play Season 1, Episode 1
Trailer
Watchlist
Download Episode 1
Share
EpisodesRelatedDetails
Episodes
Sort
S1 E1 - Reading Other People’s Scriptures
June 1, 2020
28min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Throughout history, the world's sacred texts have held profound significance for the cultures that produced them. Consider five key reasons for the importance of studying them, from their accessibility and centrality to their cultures of origin to the wisdom they contain and the enlarged perspective they offer on our own traditions.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E2 - Hinduism and the Vedas
June 1, 2020
29min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Grasp the nature and roles of sacred writings within Hinduism, as contrasted with the Judeo-Christian tradition. Learn about the structure of the Vedas, comprising collections of hymns and commentaries, and their meaning and function in Hindu ritual. Read compelling excerpts from the Vedas, and learn how Western religious scholars have approached them.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E3 - What Is Heard - Upanishads
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The Upanishads constitute the philosophical or wisdom texts of the Hindu Vedas. Study the composition of the Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads, containing spiritual arguments and dialogues revealing the underlying unity of brahman (ultimate reality) and atman (the self or soul). Trace the Upanishads' influence on Westerners.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E4 - What Is Remembered - Epics
June 1, 2020
33min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
A second body of Hindu sacred writings encompasses literature, texts that explore the nature of dharma, the eternal laws and principles that give meaning and shape to life. Here, discover two great Indian epics: the Ramayana, a mythic narrative of kingship; and the Mahabharata, a complex story of familial bonds and discord.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E5 - Laws of Manu and Bhagavad Gita
June 1, 2020
30min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Learn about the huge canon of Hindu sutras, shastras, Puranas, and Tantra. Delve into two highly influential texts: the Laws of Manu, outlining rules, customs and guidelines for living for the four Indian castes; and the beloved Bhagavad Gita, which speaks to matters of spiritual insight, social obligation, and worldly success.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E6 - Related Traditions - Sikh Scriptures
June 1, 2020
30min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Trace the evolution of the Sikh religion, and the lineage of gurus that produced the faith's sacred text, the Adi Granth. Study the composition of the Adi Granth; sample its beautiful hymns, poems, and prayers; and learn how the book is treated by Sikhs as a living guru.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E7 - Judaism - People of the Book
June 1, 2020
29min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
In approaching the sacred texts of Judaism, learn the dramatic history of the Aleppo Codex, a historically significant copy of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). Track the origins of the Tanakh and its constituent sections - the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings - and grasp how the Tanakh became the focus of Jewish identity.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E8 - Five Books of Torah
June 1, 2020
29min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Study the contents of the Torah - the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Then consider two kinds of responses to the text - the religious perspective that regards it as a repository of eternal truths, and the historical-critical perspective that approaches the text with the tools of the scholar.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E9 - Prophets and Writings
June 1, 2020
30min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Through the Prophets, chart the unfolding of the political and religious history of ancient Israel. Then explore the rich spectrum of the Writings, containing stories, proverbs, poetry, psalms, and theological explorations. Contemplate the core themes of these texts, from ethical monotheism and the destiny of Israel to the nature of God and humanity.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E10 - Apocrypha and Dead Sea Scrolls
June 1, 2020
32min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Taste the stories and historical narratives of the Apocrypha (included in Catholic but not Jewish or Protestant Bibles), noting their thematic emphasis on the spiritual and political challenges faced by the Jews. Learn what the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us about the community that produced them and the evolution of the Hebrew Bible.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E11 - Oral Torah - Mishnah and Talmud
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Within Judaism, two central texts form the basis for devotion to God through study. Grasp the nature of the Mishnah, a body of legal judgments and maxims teaching students how to think critically. Then encounter the Talmud, a vast analysis and commentary on the Mishnah and Jewish life - a marvel of world literature.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E12 - Related Traditions - Zoroastrian Scriptures
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Zoroastrianism envisions the universe as ruled by good and evil beings of equal status. Study its principal sacred text, the Avesta, comprising books of hymns, myths, and religious regulations promoting holiness. Sample the Gathas, dialogues between the priest Zoroaster and the creator god, Ahura Mazda, and trace Zoroastrianism's influence on the monotheistic faiths.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E13 - The Three Baskets of Buddhism
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Get an introduction to the huge library of Buddhist scriptures. Study the origins and contents of the three major Buddhist canons - the Pali canon, the Chinese canon, and the Tibetan canon. Learn about the devoted efforts through Buddhist history to preserve these texts, and the nature of their significance to Buddhists.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E14 - Vinaya and Jataka
June 1, 2020
32min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Here, investigate two prominent types of Buddhist scriptures and how they are used. Delve into the Vinaya, regulations and stories comprising rules for living for monks and nuns. Then sample excerpts from the Jataka, the large body of stories concerning the Buddha's past lives, used for teaching Buddhist morality.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E15 - Theravada Sutras
June 1, 2020
28min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Among textual riches of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism is the Buddha's teaching on the origins of suffering. Contemplate the Therigatha, poems of women's enlightenment; the Dhammapada, verses of advice and inspiration; and the Discourse to the Kalamas, where the Buddha outlines a spiritual path of direct experience and observation.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E16 - Mahayana Sutras
June 1, 2020
30min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The Mahayana Sutras are those of the East Asian tradition. Study the Mahayana conceptions of the perfection of wisdom and the nature of emptiness, non-duality, and no-self. Observe how these notions were expressed through the renowned Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Heart Sutra, and how the texts were venerated as sacred objects.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E17 - Pure Land Buddhism and Zen
June 1, 2020
30min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Two distinctive forms of Buddhism took root in Japan. Learn first about the Pure Land School, which directs spiritual efforts toward entering a celestial realm where seekers can learn the dharma. Through Zen scriptures and koans (paradoxical sayings used in teaching), contemplate the tradition's direct, experiential approach to enlightenment.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E18 - Tibetan Vajrayana
June 1, 2020
29min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
In studying the remarkable and elaborate Tibetan canon, grasp how Vajrayana Buddhism combines the Mahayana philosophy of the perfection of wisdom with Tantra, secret rituals and practices that offer shortcuts to enlightenment. Also encounter the Tibetan Book of the Dead - in reality, a treatise on rebirth.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E19 - Related Traditions - Jain Scriptures
June 1, 2020
32min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Jainism, a sister religion to Buddhism, maintains an unusual relationship to scripture. Explore the principles and ascetic customs of the faith's two groups, the Shvetambara and Digambara, which reject each other's scriptures as forgeries. Study excerpts from each group's sacred texts, revered yet never held as the heart of the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E20 - Five Confucian Classics
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Here, confront the intriguing question of whether Confucianism is a religion or a philosophy. Learn about the Confucian canon and how it became the foundation of Chinese state ideology. Sample texts encompassing poetry, history, ritual, rules for living, and explorations of morality, and consider why we refer to them as "classics" rather than "scripture."
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E21 - Four Books of Neo-Confucianism
June 1, 2020
33min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
In a second look at Confucianism, investigate the renowned Yijing and how its system of divination has actual practical applications. Then delve into Neo-Confucianism, its principles of self-cultivation and harmony with humanity and the cosmos, and its embodiment in the texts of the Analects, the Mencius, the Great Learning, and the Constant Mean.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E22 - Daoism and the Daodejing
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The foundational text of Daoism, the Daodejing, speaks of the Way (Dao), a transcendent order underlying all phenomena. In excerpts from the text, contemplate the Daodejing's compelling expression of harmonious duality and its conception of effortless, spontaneous human action. Also sample the Zhuangzi, a related masterpiece of literature and philosophy.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E23 - The Three Caverns of Daoist Scriptures
June 1, 2020
32min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The full canon of Daoism comprises roughly 1500 texts. Study seminal scriptures such as the Neiye, the Huainanzi, the Scripture on Great Peace, and the Declarations of the Perfected. Grasp how the Daozang, or complete canon, is organized into three "Caverns" or divisions, reflecting the major schools of Daoism.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E24 - Related Traditions - Shinto and Tenrikyo
June 1, 2020
31min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Explore the customs and rituals of the Japanese Shinto religion, aimed at harmonizing the human and natural worlds. Study excerpts from its revered texts, comprising histories of Japan and ritual prayers, and learn about its integral role in Japanese life. Also encounter the Tenrikyo faith and its three distinctive books of scripture.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E25 - Christian Testaments Old and New
June 1, 2020
32min
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
In approaching Christian scripture, trace the complex origins of the New Testament, beginning with the letters of Paul and the Gospels. Follow the proliferation of later Christian texts and how they were categorized, and study the composition of the first complete Christian Bibles in comparison with more recent versions and translations.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E26 - Gospels and Acts
June 1, 2020
29min
PG
The New Testament Gospels present four distinct accounts of the life of Jesus of equal authority. Compare the discrepancies between the four Gospels, taking note of key hypotheses regarding the sources and theological motivations underlying them. Continue with the Acts of the Apostles as it outlines Christian practices that serve to define the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E27 - Letters and Apocalypse
June 1, 2020
29min
PG
Letters, as exemplified in the New Testament writings, were an important means of instruction in the early church. Study seven key letters written by Paul, speaking to theological understanding, challenges faced by early Christians, and essential doctrine. Conclude with Revelation and its dramatic vision of the coming kingdom of God.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E28 - Apocryphal Gospels
June 1, 2020
29min
PG
Alongside the four canonical Gospels, competing accounts of Jesus's life emerged, which we now call "apocryphal." Here, discover the Gospel of Peter, which directly portrays the Resurrection, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which recounts events of Jesus's childhood. Finally, encounter Gnostic Christianity in the Gospel of Thomas, containing mystical sayings of Jesus.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E29 - Related Traditions - Mormon Scriptures
June 1, 2020
31min
PG
The Mormon religion offers its own unique scriptures, used in conjunction with the Christian Bible. Learn about the Book of Mormon, an epic religious-historical narrative, as well as its other sacred texts, including Mormonism's oral temple ceremony, and grasp how they are used as expressions of the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E30 - Islam and Scriptural Recitation
June 1, 2020
31min
PG
The remarkable oral tradition in Islam mandates that the Qur'an be recited and regards memorization as an act of devotion. Delve into the Qur'an's origins in the life of Muhammad, the conception of its text as direct revelation, and its recitation as a sophisticated and esteemed art form.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E31 - Holy Qur’an
June 1, 2020
31min
PG
Study the Qur'an's structure and contents, noting how the message of faith - revolutionary for its time - is spread throughout the suras (chapters). Read the beautiful poetry, explore the Qur'an's major themes, and consider how its stories compare to the same stories as told in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E32 - Hadith and Sufism
June 1, 2020
31min
PG
The Islamic Hadith recounts the actions and sayings of Muhammad. Study the sources and composition of this revered body of texts, and observe how they provide guidance on essential matters of Muslim life. Also encounter the superlative poetry of Sufism, Islam's mystical tradition, which employs refined spiritual practices to reach direct union with God.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E33 - Related Traditions - Baha'i Scriptures
June 1, 2020
30min
PG
Trace the 19th-century emergence of Baha'i, a distinctive faith with origins in Iran. Learn about the tenets of the religion and the huge canon of scriptures written by the faith's founders. Read from foundational Baha'i texts as they speak to the oneness of God, the oneness of humanity, and the unity of religions.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E34 - Abandoned Scriptures - Egyptian and Mayan
June 1, 2020
33min
PG
Explore the value of studying sacred texts from traditions that have not survived. Read striking excerpts from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a compendium of spells guiding the deceased in the afterlife. Then discover the Popol Vuh, a text containing sacred mythological stories of the Maya.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E35 - Secular Scripture - U.S. Constitution
June 1, 2020
30min
PG
Here, uncover thought-provoking parallels between religious texts and certain secular ones. With reference to the key ways in which scriptures are received and employed within religious faiths, delineate how the founding documents of the United States have come to function as many sacred texts do in other cultures.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E36 - Heavenly Books, Earthly Connections
June 1, 2020
31min
PG
Conclude with Professor Hardy's recommendations, from each of the major religious traditions, of specific texts with which to begin your own reading of sacred writings. Finally, contemplate the question of what difference the comparative study of sacred texts might make in our lives when we read them with empathy and understanding.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
Sacred Texts of the World
Season 1
Throughout history, religious expression has been an essential human activity, influencing the development of civilizations. Humanity’s religions are grounded in their sacred texts - foundational writings that crystallize the principles and vision of the faiths, forming the basis of belief and action. Reveal a global legacy of faith, thought, and spirituality.
202036 episodes
DocumentaryIncluded with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
Play Season 1, Episode 1Trailer
Watchlist
Download Episode 1
Share
EpisodesRelatedDetails
Episodes
Sort
S1 E1 - Reading Other People’s Scriptures
June 1, 2020
28min
Throughout history, the world's sacred texts have held profound significance for the cultures that produced them. Consider five key reasons for the importance of studying them, from their accessibility and centrality to their cultures of origin to the wisdom they contain and the enlarged perspective they offer on our own traditions.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E2 - Hinduism and the Vedas
June 1, 2020
29min
Grasp the nature and roles of sacred writings within Hinduism, as contrasted with the Judeo-Christian tradition. Learn about the structure of the Vedas, comprising collections of hymns and commentaries, and their meaning and function in Hindu ritual. Read compelling excerpts from the Vedas, and learn how Western religious scholars have approached them.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E3 - What Is Heard - Upanishads
June 1, 2020
31min
The Upanishads constitute the philosophical or wisdom texts of the Hindu Vedas. Study the composition of the Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads, containing spiritual arguments and dialogues revealing the underlying unity of brahman (ultimate reality) and atman (the self or soul). Trace the Upanishads' influence on Westerners.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E4 - What Is Remembered - Epics
June 1, 2020
33min
A second body of Hindu sacred writings encompasses literature, texts that explore the nature of dharma, the eternal laws and principles that give meaning and shape to life. Here, discover two great Indian epics: the Ramayana, a mythic narrative of kingship; and the Mahabharata, a complex story of familial bonds and discord.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E5 - Laws of Manu and Bhagavad Gita
June 1, 2020
30min
Learn about the huge canon of Hindu sutras, shastras, Puranas, and Tantra. Delve into two highly influential texts: the Laws of Manu, outlining rules, customs and guidelines for living for the four Indian castes; and the beloved Bhagavad Gita, which speaks to matters of spiritual insight, social obligation, and worldly success.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E6 - Related Traditions - Sikh Scriptures
June 1, 2020
30min
Trace the evolution of the Sikh religion, and the lineage of gurus that produced the faith's sacred text, the Adi Granth. Study the composition of the Adi Granth; sample its beautiful hymns, poems, and prayers; and learn how the book is treated by Sikhs as a living guru.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E7 - Judaism - People of the Book
June 1, 2020
29min
In approaching the sacred texts of Judaism, learn the dramatic history of the Aleppo Codex, a historically significant copy of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). Track the origins of the Tanakh and its constituent sections - the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings - and grasp how the Tanakh became the focus of Jewish identity.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E8 - Five Books of Torah
June 1, 2020
29min
Study the contents of the Torah - the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Then consider two kinds of responses to the text - the religious perspective that regards it as a repository of eternal truths, and the historical-critical perspective that approaches the text with the tools of the scholar.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E9 - Prophets and Writings
June 1, 2020
30min
Through the Prophets, chart the unfolding of the political and religious history of ancient Israel. Then explore the rich spectrum of the Writings, containing stories, proverbs, poetry, psalms, and theological explorations. Contemplate the core themes of these texts, from ethical monotheism and the destiny of Israel to the nature of God and humanity.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E10 - Apocrypha and Dead Sea Scrolls
June 1, 2020
32min
Taste the stories and historical narratives of the Apocrypha (included in Catholic but not Jewish or Protestant Bibles), noting their thematic emphasis on the spiritual and political challenges faced by the Jews. Learn what the Dead Sea Scrolls tell us about the community that produced them and the evolution of the Hebrew Bible.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E11 - Oral Torah - Mishnah and Talmud
June 1, 2020
31min
Within Judaism, two central texts form the basis for devotion to God through study. Grasp the nature of the Mishnah, a body of legal judgments and maxims teaching students how to think critically. Then encounter the Talmud, a vast analysis and commentary on the Mishnah and Jewish life - a marvel of world literature.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E12 - Related Traditions - Zoroastrian Scriptures
June 1, 2020
31min
Zoroastrianism envisions the universe as ruled by good and evil beings of equal status. Study its principal sacred text, the Avesta, comprising books of hymns, myths, and religious regulations promoting holiness. Sample the Gathas, dialogues between the priest Zoroaster and the creator god, Ahura Mazda, and trace Zoroastrianism's influence on the monotheistic faiths.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E13 - The Three Baskets of Buddhism
June 1, 2020
31min
Get an introduction to the huge library of Buddhist scriptures. Study the origins and contents of the three major Buddhist canons - the Pali canon, the Chinese canon, and the Tibetan canon. Learn about the devoted efforts through Buddhist history to preserve these texts, and the nature of their significance to Buddhists.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E14 - Vinaya and Jataka
June 1, 2020
32min
Here, investigate two prominent types of Buddhist scriptures and how they are used. Delve into the Vinaya, regulations and stories comprising rules for living for monks and nuns. Then sample excerpts from the Jataka, the large body of stories concerning the Buddha's past lives, used for teaching Buddhist morality.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E15 - Theravada Sutras
June 1, 2020
28min
Among textual riches of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism is the Buddha's teaching on the origins of suffering. Contemplate the Therigatha, poems of women's enlightenment; the Dhammapada, verses of advice and inspiration; and the Discourse to the Kalamas, where the Buddha outlines a spiritual path of direct experience and observation.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E16 - Mahayana Sutras
June 1, 2020
30min
The Mahayana Sutras are those of the East Asian tradition. Study the Mahayana conceptions of the perfection of wisdom and the nature of emptiness, non-duality, and no-self. Observe how these notions were expressed through the renowned Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Heart Sutra, and how the texts were venerated as sacred objects.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E17 - Pure Land Buddhism and Zen
June 1, 2020
30min
Two distinctive forms of Buddhism took root in Japan. Learn first about the Pure Land School, which directs spiritual efforts toward entering a celestial realm where seekers can learn the dharma. Through Zen scriptures and koans (paradoxical sayings used in teaching), contemplate the tradition's direct, experiential approach to enlightenment.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E18 - Tibetan Vajrayana
June 1, 2020
29min
In studying the remarkable and elaborate Tibetan canon, grasp how Vajrayana Buddhism combines the Mahayana philosophy of the perfection of wisdom with Tantra, secret rituals and practices that offer shortcuts to enlightenment. Also encounter the Tibetan Book of the Dead - in reality, a treatise on rebirth.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E19 - Related Traditions - Jain Scriptures
June 1, 2020
32min
Jainism, a sister religion to Buddhism, maintains an unusual relationship to scripture. Explore the principles and ascetic customs of the faith's two groups, the Shvetambara and Digambara, which reject each other's scriptures as forgeries. Study excerpts from each group's sacred texts, revered yet never held as the heart of the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E20 - Five Confucian Classics
June 1, 2020
31min
Here, confront the intriguing question of whether Confucianism is a religion or a philosophy. Learn about the Confucian canon and how it became the foundation of Chinese state ideology. Sample texts encompassing poetry, history, ritual, rules for living, and explorations of morality, and consider why we refer to them as "classics" rather than "scripture."
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E21 - Four Books of Neo-Confucianism
June 1, 2020
33min
In a second look at Confucianism, investigate the renowned Yijing and how its system of divination has actual practical applications. Then delve into Neo-Confucianism, its principles of self-cultivation and harmony with humanity and the cosmos, and its embodiment in the texts of the Analects, the Mencius, the Great Learning, and the Constant Mean.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E22 - Daoism and the Daodejing
June 1, 2020
31min
The foundational text of Daoism, the Daodejing, speaks of the Way (Dao), a transcendent order underlying all phenomena. In excerpts from the text, contemplate the Daodejing's compelling expression of harmonious duality and its conception of effortless, spontaneous human action. Also sample the Zhuangzi, a related masterpiece of literature and philosophy.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E23 - The Three Caverns of Daoist Scriptures
June 1, 2020
32min
The full canon of Daoism comprises roughly 1500 texts. Study seminal scriptures such as the Neiye, the Huainanzi, the Scripture on Great Peace, and the Declarations of the Perfected. Grasp how the Daozang, or complete canon, is organized into three "Caverns" or divisions, reflecting the major schools of Daoism.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E24 - Related Traditions - Shinto and Tenrikyo
June 1, 2020
31min
Explore the customs and rituals of the Japanese Shinto religion, aimed at harmonizing the human and natural worlds. Study excerpts from its revered texts, comprising histories of Japan and ritual prayers, and learn about its integral role in Japanese life. Also encounter the Tenrikyo faith and its three distinctive books of scripture.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E25 - Christian Testaments Old and New
June 1, 2020
32min
In approaching Christian scripture, trace the complex origins of the New Testament, beginning with the letters of Paul and the Gospels. Follow the proliferation of later Christian texts and how they were categorized, and study the composition of the first complete Christian Bibles in comparison with more recent versions and translations.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E26 - Gospels and Acts
June 1, 2020
29minPG
The New Testament Gospels present four distinct accounts of the life of Jesus of equal authority. Compare the discrepancies between the four Gospels, taking note of key hypotheses regarding the sources and theological motivations underlying them. Continue with the Acts of the Apostles as it outlines Christian practices that serve to define the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E27 - Letters and Apocalypse
June 1, 2020
29minPG
Letters, as exemplified in the New Testament writings, were an important means of instruction in the early church. Study seven key letters written by Paul, speaking to theological understanding, challenges faced by early Christians, and essential doctrine. Conclude with Revelation and its dramatic vision of the coming kingdom of God.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E28 - Apocryphal Gospels
June 1, 2020
29minPG
Alongside the four canonical Gospels, competing accounts of Jesus's life emerged, which we now call "apocryphal." Here, discover the Gospel of Peter, which directly portrays the Resurrection, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which recounts events of Jesus's childhood. Finally, encounter Gnostic Christianity in the Gospel of Thomas, containing mystical sayings of Jesus.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E29 - Related Traditions - Mormon Scriptures
June 1, 2020
31minPG
The Mormon religion offers its own unique scriptures, used in conjunction with the Christian Bible. Learn about the Book of Mormon, an epic religious-historical narrative, as well as its other sacred texts, including Mormonism's oral temple ceremony, and grasp how they are used as expressions of the faith.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E30 - Islam and Scriptural Recitation
June 1, 2020
31minPG
The remarkable oral tradition in Islam mandates that the Qur'an be recited and regards memorization as an act of devotion. Delve into the Qur'an's origins in the life of Muhammad, the conception of its text as direct revelation, and its recitation as a sophisticated and esteemed art form.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E31 - Holy Qur’an
June 1, 2020
31minPG
Study the Qur'an's structure and contents, noting how the message of faith - revolutionary for its time - is spread throughout the suras (chapters). Read the beautiful poetry, explore the Qur'an's major themes, and consider how its stories compare to the same stories as told in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E32 - Hadith and Sufism
June 1, 2020
31minPG
The Islamic Hadith recounts the actions and sayings of Muhammad. Study the sources and composition of this revered body of texts, and observe how they provide guidance on essential matters of Muslim life. Also encounter the superlative poetry of Sufism, Islam's mystical tradition, which employs refined spiritual practices to reach direct union with God.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E33 - Related Traditions - Baha'i Scriptures
June 1, 2020
30minPG
Trace the 19th-century emergence of Baha'i, a distinctive faith with origins in Iran. Learn about the tenets of the religion and the huge canon of scriptures written by the faith's founders. Read from foundational Baha'i texts as they speak to the oneness of God, the oneness of humanity, and the unity of religions.
Included with your The Great Courses Signature Collection subscription
S1 E34 - Abandoned Scriptures - Egyptian and Mayan
June 1, 2020
33minPG
Explore the value of studying sacred texts from traditions that have not survived. Read striking excerpts from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a compendium of spells guiding the deceased in the afterlife. Then discover the Popol Vuh, a text containing sacred mythological stories of the Maya.
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S1 E35 - Secular Scripture - U.S. Constitution
June 1, 2020
30minPG
Here, uncover thought-provoking parallels between religious texts and certain secular ones. With reference to the key ways in which scriptures are received and employed within religious faiths, delineate how the founding documents of the United States have come to function as many sacred texts do in other cultures.
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S1 E36 - Heavenly Books, Earthly Connections
June 1, 2020
31minPG
Conclude with Professor Hardy's recommendations, from each of the major religious traditions, of specific texts with which to begin your own reading of sacred writings. Finally, contemplate the question of what difference the comparative study of sacred texts might make in our lives when we read them with empathy and understanding.
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