The Great Transformation : The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions

In the ninth century BCE, the peoples of four distinct regions of the civilized world created the religious and philosophical traditions that have continued to nourish humanity to the present day: Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Later generations further developed these initial insights, but we have never grown beyond them. Rabbinic Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, for example, were all secondary flowerings of the original Israelite vision. Now, in The Great Transformation, Karen Armstrong reveals how the sages of this pivotal “Axial Age” can speak clearly and helpfully to the violence and desperation that we experience in our own times. Armstrong traces the development of the Axial Age chronologically, examining the contributions of such figures as the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the mystics of the Upanishads, Mencius, and Euripides. All of the Axial Age faiths began in principled and visceral recoil from the unprecedented violence of their time. Despite some differences of emphasis, there was a remarkable consensus in their call for an abandonment of selfishness and a spirituality of compassion. With regard to dealing with fear, despair, hatred, rage, and violence, the Axial sages gave their people and give us, Armstrong says, two important pieces of advice: first there must be personal responsibility and self-criticism, and it must be followed by practical, effective action. In her introduction and concluding chapter, Armstrong urges us to consider how these spiritualities challenge the way we are religious today. In our various institutions, we sometimes seem to be attempting to create exactly the kind of religion that Axial sages and prophets had hoped to eliminate. We often equate faith with doctrinal conformity, but the traditions of the Axial Age were not about dogma. All insisted on the primacy of compassion even in the midst of suffering. In each Axial Age case, a disciplined revulsion from violence and hatred proved to be the major catalyst of spiritual change. In The Ninth Century Bce, The Peoples Of Four Distinct Regions Of The Civilized World Created The Religious And Philosophical Traditions That Have Continued To Nourish Humanity To The Present Day: Confucianism And Daoism In China, Hinduism And Buddhism In India, Monotheism In Israel, And Philosophical Rationalism In Greece. Later Generations Further Developed These Initial Insights, But We Have Never Grown Beyond Them. Now, Karen Armstrong Reveals How The Sages Of This Pivotal Axial Age Can Speak Clearly And Helpfully To The Violence And Desperation That We Experience In Our Own Times. The Axial Age Faiths Began In Recoil From The Unprecedented Violence Of Their Time. There Was A Remarkable Consensus In Their Call For An Abandonment Of Selfishness And A Spirituality Of Compassion. The Traditions Of The Axial Age Were Not About Dogma--all Insisted On The Primacy Of Compassion Even In The Midst Of Suffering.--from Publisher Description. List Of Maps And Plans -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. The Axial Peoples (c. 1600 To 900 Bce) -- 2. Ritual (c. 900 To 800 Bce) -- 3. Kenosis (c. 800 To 700 Bce) -- 4. Knowledge (c. 700 To 600 Bce) -- 5. Suffering (c. 600 To 530 Bce) -- 6. Empathy (c. 530 To 450 Bce) -- 7. Concern For Everybody (c. 450 To 398 Bce) -- 8. All Is One (c. 400 To 300 Bce) -- 9. Empire (c. 300 To 220 Bce) -- 10. The Way Forward -- Notes -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index. Karen Armstrong. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An extraordinary investigation of a critical moment in the evolution of religious thought—from the New York Times bestselling author of A History of God and The Spiral Staircase“A splendid book.... Lucid, highly readable.... Relevant to a world still embroiled in military conflict and sectarian hatreds.” —The New York TimesIn the ninth century BCE, events in four regions of the civilized world led to the rise of religious traditions that have endured to the present day—development of Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Armstrong, one of our most prominent religious scholars, examines how these traditions began in response to the violence of their time. Studying figures as diverse as the Buddha and Socrates, Confucius and Jeremiah, Armstrong reveals how these still enduring philosophies can help address our contemporary problems. Front Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 2 Maps and Plans......Page 3 Introduction......Page 5 1 - The Axial Peoples......Page 10 2 - Ritual......Page 33 3 - Kenosis......Page 52 4 - Knowledge......Page 71 5 - Suffering......Page 92 6 - Empathy......Page 110 7 - Concern For Everybody......Page 131 8 - All Is One......Page 153 9 - Empire......Page 174 10 - The Way Forward......Page 192 Notes......Page 209 Examines the origins of the religious traditions of the world during the ninth century B.C.E. in four distinct regions--Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece.