So, I'm studying up . . .

[Kendra]

On world religions. As such, I've decided my resolution, one among many, for 2007 is to read the holy texts of some of the major religions in our world. So, what are they?

There's the Holy Bible, the Qu'ran (sp?), the Torah . . . etc. etc. What are all the ones you can think of?

I know I'm going to read the three already stated, and due to it's ready availiablity to me, I'll also hit The Book of Mormon. What others?

[Advocatus]

The Vedas and Upanishads, or the Mahbharata for Hinduism, the Sutras of Buddhism, Analects by Confucius. Are you reading any theology as in philosophies?

[Batman]

I know a lot of people are anti-wikipedia but wikipedia is a good place to glance at to see what a religions sacred text is.

Also one of my favorite websites is http://sacred-texts.com

Also picking up a little paper back about world religion will give you a quick over-view of said religion.

There are a lot of religions in the world though and even if you're very studious some are going to fall through the cracks.

[muichimotsu]

Tripitaka of Buddhism, Tao Te Ching of Taoism, I don't recall the book for Zoroastrianism, but check it out on wikipedia, lol. Shinto has the Kojiki and Nihonshiki, I believe and the Talmud of Judaism, along with various Gnostic Gospels as well.

[ComradeJrew]

The Little Red Book (A personal Favourite)

Vet' S'skteh Boravat (Sp): It's some gypsy sect's rule book

[madgeisgod]

The Little Red Book (A personal Favourite)

Vet' S'skteh Boravat (Sp): It's some gypsy sect's rule book

Can you expand on how and why those books are world religion texts? Also, could you provide links to where I can view or purchase/read reviews of aforementioned books?

[madgeisgod]

Tripitaka of Buddhism, Tao Te Ching of Taoism, I don't recall the book for Zoroastrianism, but check it out on wikipedia, lol. Shinto has the Kojiki and Nihonshiki, I believe and the Talmud of Judaism, along with various Gnostic Gospels as well.

Isn't there a "book of the dead" in buddhism (or maybe it was hinduism)? How important is it?

[Cicero17]

I'll also hit The Book of Mormon.

In that case, go ahead and read Dianetics too.

I'm sorry, I'm mean.

[muichimotsu]

I only recall the Book of the Dead in Egyptian mythology, but I'm checking right now...There is a Book of the Dead for Tibetan Buddhism, and it does sound intriguing.

Apparently it's the Tipitaka/Pali Canon for Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.
Tantras and Sutras along with the Bhagavad and Ashtavakra Gita. Hinduism has a lot of texts overall.

The Urantia Book

It's the Nihon Shoki alongside the Kojiki for Shinto

The Katha for Zoroastrianism, but Zoroastrianism has a lot of texts too

[Stewie]

The Qu'ran is (as mentioned) the holy text of Muslims. In my opinion, every Westerner should read it. I've read the entire thing. I got a free copy (and it's a nice copy) from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and it's very interesting, actually. In this day and age, we could all use a bit of cultural understanding, no? (Yes, CAIR has been criticised, but if they're giving out free copies of the Qu'ran, we might as well take them.)

Remember, of course, that the Torah is simply the first five books of the Old Testament (or the Hebrew Bible). The entire Bible is very interesting, but lately I'm starting to find the Old Testament more and more interesting. It's certainly not as dull as I thought it'd be.

[kourosh]

Avesta is for Zoroastrianism.

The rest that I know of have all been mentioned.

[Biggy]

Ramayana/Bhagvat Gita/Vedas of hinduism rest are mentioned but theres loads in hinduism

[Oxford]

How in-depth do you want to get? If you just want to read the Bible for Christianity that's fine, but if you want something more texts like the Catechism of Catholicism would be important for studying sects.

[Shangri-la]

Well youll want the writings of Confucius (or rather the translations and later addings by other Confucian intellectuals). Youll have a hard time reading the Koran because its only printed in Arabic.

Youll also want to look into sufism and shikism.

Id also suggest a delve into some bhuddist texts.

[Biggy]

guru grath sahib i think thats how its spelt thats for sikhism btw