Scripture in the World Religions

From the Torah to the Qur''an the New Testament to the Theravada canon this concise introduction to scripture in the world religions offers a thorough evaluation of the sacred word and its role in religious tradition. IN a systematic and accessible analysis of six major faiths the author carefully explores the scriptures -written and spoken - of each examining their interpretation their role in devotion and education and their relationship with each other Key areas covered include: what makes a sacred text - what the different religions call scripture; the lives of the ancient scribes and the rituals governing their work; revelation reception and transmission of the holy word; materials and methods: from papyrus and palm leaves to printing; language mantra and sacred sound. Combining an authoritative a survey with a unique perspective on the transforming power of the spoken word this text should be of interest to students academics and anyone interested in the wore religions.