Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-233) and index.
Contents
Ch. 1. The importance of choosing a life philosophy. Choosing a map for life / M. Scott Peck -- Living with shadows in a cave / Plato -- Discovering our personal myth / Sam Keen -- Challenging the idea of a life plan / Charles Larmore -- ch. 2. What reveals life's ultimate meaning? Ultimate meaning does not exist / Richard Robinson -- Religion pursues life's meaning / George E. Saint-Laurent -- Science can uncover life's meaning / Wayne Anderson -- Both religion and science can reveal life's meaning / Sharon Begley -- ch. 3. How do religions give life meaning? Judaism is a life of communing with God / Louis Finkelstine -- Liberal Christianity combines reason with faith / Donald E. Miller -- Conservative Christianity is a Biblical relationship with God / Bob George -- Islam entails a submission to God's will / Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad -- Hinduism teaches that all ways lead to God / Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan -- Buddhism seeks enlightenment and ultimate reality / Gill Farrer-Halls -- Ecofeminism reclaims the Great Mother Goddess / Riane Eisler -- Interspirituality embraces the heart of all religions / Wayne Teasdale.
Ch. 4. What motivates moral behavior? Morality requires religious belief / Philip Yancey -- Morality does not require religious belief / Frank R. Zindler -- Secular humanism encourages moral awareness / Paul Kurtz -- Secular humanism is harmful / John Gray -- Altruism promotes moral behavior / Alfie Kohn -- Self-interest promotes moral behavior / Tibor R. Machan -- ch. 5. What principles should guide our lives? Look out for number one / Robert Ringer -- Live for others as Jesus did / Ole Hallesby -- Develop a devious mind / Niccolo Machiavelli -- Develop an honest heart / Thomas Jefferson -- Aim for personal perfection / Benjamin Franklin -- Abandon any hope of fruition / Pema Chodron.
