Sacred Texts of the World

Course Overview

Delve deeply into the sacred writings that have shaped the identities, beliefs, and actions of large segments of humanity—texts that still exert influence in today’s world.

Course Description

With few exceptions, the world’s religions are anchored in their sacred texts—core writings that express the ideals and vision of the faiths, forming a basis for belief and action. Humanity’s library of sacred writings is vast and influential, including the Hebrew and Christian bibles, the Quran of Islam, the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Sutras, Daoism’s Daodejing, and the Analects of Confucius, among others. These texts are lived by and, at times, are worth dying for. In these 36 lectures, Professor Hardy takes you into the body of sacred writings that have fundamentally shaped human culture and history, covering the scriptures of seven major religions and nine lesser-known faiths, including texts from ancient Egyptian and Mayan societies. The lectures highlight a global legacy of faith, thought, and spirituality.

Video Lectures

1. Reading Other People’s Scriptures (28 min)
   Importance of studying sacred texts and their cultural significance.
2. Hinduism and the Vedas (29 min)
   Nature and roles of sacred writings in Hinduism compared to the Judeo-Christian tradition.
3. What Is Heard-Upanishads (31 min)
   The philosophical texts of the Upanishads and their influence on Western thought.
4. What Is Remembered-Epics (33 min)
   Exploration of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, two great Indian epics.
5. Laws of Manu and Bhagavad Gita (30 min)
   Insights into influential Hindu texts focusing on social obligations and spiritual insight.
6. Related Traditions-Sikh Scriptures (30 min)
   The evolution of Sikhism and an examination of the Adi Granth.
7. Judaism-People of the Book (29 min)
   The historical significance of the Aleppo Codex and the origins of the Tanakh.
8. Five Books of Torah (29 min)
   Study the Torah’s contents and different approaches to understanding it.
9. Prophets and Writings (30 min)
   The unfolding history of ancient Israel through prophets and writings.
10. Apocrypha and Dead Sea Scrolls (32 min)
    The stories and narratives of the Apocrypha and insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
11. Oral Torah-Mishnah and Talmud (31 min)
    Grasp the nature and importance of the Mishnah and Talmud in Judaism.
12. Related Traditions-Zoroastrian Scriptures (31 min)
    Overview of the Avesta and its influence on monotheistic faiths.
13. The Three Baskets of Buddhism (31 min)
    Introduction to the major Buddhist canons and their significance.
14. Vinaya and Jataka (32 min)
    Regulations for monks and the teachings within the Jataka tales.
15. Theravada Sutras (28 min)
    Contemplating Buddha’s teachings on suffering and enlightenment.
16. Mahayana Sutras (30 min)
    Study of Mahayana philosophy and revered texts like the Lotus Sutra.
17. Pure Land Buddhism and Zen (30 min)
    Distinctions between Pure Land and Zen approaches to enlightenment.
18. Tibetan Vajrayana (29 min)
    Exploration of the Tibetan canon and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
19. Related Traditions-Jain Scriptures (32 min)
    Study the texts of Shvetambara and Digambara traditions.
20. Five Confucian Classics (31 min)
    Examine Confucianism’s texts and their role in Chinese state ideology.
21. Four Books of Neo-Confucianism (33 min)
    Investigation into self-cultivation and harmony in Neo-Confucian texts.
22. Daoism and the Daodejing (31 min)
    Contemplation of the Daodejing’s expression of harmonious duality.
23. The Three Caverns of Daoist Scriptures (32 min)
    Overview of the Daoist canon organized into three major divisions.
24. Related Traditions-Shinto and Tenrikyo (31 min)
    Study of the texts and customs of Shinto and the Tenrikyo faith.
25. Christian Testaments Old and New (32 min)
    Tracing the origins and composition of the New Testament.
26. Gospels and Acts (29 min)
    Compare the distinct accounts of Jesus’s life found in the Gospels.
27. Letters and Apocalypse (29 min)
    Study key letters by Paul and the significance of Revelation.
28. Apocryphal Gospels (29 min)
    Exploring competing accounts of Jesus’s life in apocryphal writings.
29. Related Traditions-Mormon Scriptures (31 min)
    Overview of the unique scriptures of the Mormon faith.
30. Islam and Scriptural Recitation (31 min)
    Understanding the Qur’an’s origins and its recitative tradition.
31. Holy Qur’an (31 min)
    Study the structure and major themes found within the Qur’an.
32. Hadith and Sufism (31 min)
    The role of Hadith in Islam and the mystical practice of Sufism.
33. Related Traditions-Baha’i Scriptures (30 min)
    Exploration of the Baha’i faith and its foundational texts.
34. Abandoned Scriptures-Egyptian and Mayan (33 min)
    Insights from the Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Popol Vuh.
35. Secular Scripture-U.S. Constitution (30 min)
    Drawing parallels between religious and secular texts.
36. Heavenly Books, Earthly Connections (31 min)
    Recommendations for sacred readings and their impact on our lives.