Sacred Texts of the World
Overview
Course No. 6160
Professor Grant Hardy explores the foundational scriptures of global religions through:
- 36 lectures covering major texts from 16 religious traditions
- Comparative analysis of Hindu Vedas, Buddhist Sutras, Hebrew Bible, Quran, and more
- Historical context and cultural impact of each sacred text
- Examination of both living and ancient abandoned scriptures
Discover how these influential writings have shaped civilizations and continue to guide billions today.
Video Lessons
Hindu Traditions
- Introduction to Sacred Texts (28 min)
Why study world scriptures? - Vedas (29 min)
Hinduism’s oldest scriptures - Upanishads (31 min)
Philosophical wisdom texts - Epics (33 min)
Ramayana and Mahabharata - Laws & Bhagavad Gita (30 min)
Ethical and spiritual guidance - Sikh Scriptures (30 min)
Adi Granth and living guru tradition
Abrahamic Traditions
7-11. Jewish Texts (151 min total)
Tanakh, Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls
- Zoroastrian Scriptures (31 min)
Avesta and dualistic cosmology
25-29. Christian Texts (150 min total)
New Testament, Apocrypha, Mormon writings
30-33. Islamic Texts (123 min total)
Quran recitation, Hadith, Sufi poetry
Buddhist Traditions
- Three Buddhist Canons (31 min)
Pali, Chinese, Tibetan collections - Vinaya & Jataka (32 min)
Monastic rules and past life tales - Theravada Sutras (28 min)
Core teachings on suffering - Mahayana Sutras (30 min)
Lotus and Heart Sutras - Pure Land & Zen (30 min)
Japanese Buddhist traditions - Tibetan Vajrayana (29 min)
Tantric practices and Book of the Dead
East Asian Traditions
- Jain Scriptures (32 min)
Ascetic traditions of India
20-21. Confucian Classics (64 min total)
Five Classics and Four Books
22-23. Daoist Texts (63 min total)
Daodejing and Three Caverns canon
- Shinto & Tenrikyo (31 min)
Japanese ritual texts
Comparative Perspectives
- Abandoned Scriptures (33 min)
Egyptian Book of the Dead, Mayan Popol Vuh - Secular Scriptures (30 min)
U.S. Constitution as sacred text - Conclusion (31 min)
Reading sacred texts with empathy

