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

1. Introduction to Sacred Texts (28 min)
   Why study world scriptures?
2. Vedas (29 min)
   Hinduism’s oldest scriptures
3. Upanishads (31 min)
   Philosophical wisdom texts
4. Epics (33 min)
   Ramayana and Mahabharata
5. Laws & Bhagavad Gita (30 min)
   Ethical and spiritual guidance
6. Sikh Scriptures (30 min)
   Adi Granth and living guru tradition

Abrahamic Traditions

7-11. Jewish Texts (151 min total)
Tanakh, Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls

12. 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

13. Three Buddhist Canons (31 min)
    Pali, Chinese, Tibetan collections
14. Vinaya & Jataka (32 min)
    Monastic rules and past life tales
15. Theravada Sutras (28 min)
    Core teachings on suffering
16. Mahayana Sutras (30 min)
    Lotus and Heart Sutras
17. Pure Land & Zen (30 min)
    Japanese Buddhist traditions
18. Tibetan Vajrayana (29 min)
    Tantric practices and Book of the Dead

East Asian Traditions

19. 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

24. Shinto & Tenrikyo (31 min)
    Japanese ritual texts

Comparative Perspectives

34. Abandoned Scriptures (33 min)
    Egyptian Book of the Dead, Mayan Popol Vuh
35. Secular Scriptures (30 min)
    U.S. Constitution as sacred text
36. Conclusion (31 min)
    Reading sacred texts with empathy