Scholarly and Critical Evaluation of the Contents of Encyclopedia of Religion by Lindsay Jones (ED) "from Attributes of God to Blasphemy"

Abstract

The word “Encyclopedia” literally means “The collection of information” while contextually means a book or a set of books composed of scholastic and informative contents which are enlisted in an alphabetical order. Each and every Encyclopedia has its own importance and bears a valuable position among the researchers. It is the basic and core character of an Encyclopedia that it covers a huge portion of knowledge and information. An Encyclopedia is considered as an authority among the scholastic circles. Keeping in view the importance of religion and religion related issues, an Encyclopedia named as Encyclopedia of Religion has been arranged in 15 volumes by two thousand scholars and researchers under the supervision of Lindsay Jones (ED). For the first time, the said Encyclopedia was published by Thomsan Gale Corporation America in 1987 and then in the year 2005, it was published from U.K, Germany and other countries of the world. The Encyclopedia of Religion has covered nearly all the major and minor religions of the world. It has provided a concrete and essential knowledge regarding religious terms, traditions, doctrines and practices this is why it needs a sound critical study. There are some controversial concepts and terms which require an impartial overview. A number of religious terms explained in the said Encyclopedia need a new interpretation through a critical study. The said Encyclopedia needs a thorough anatomical and stern critical review in order to find out that whether the entries provided by Encyclopedia of Religion about the various aspects of different religions are correct and complete as compared to the original literature of those religions or not? Encyclopedia of Religion is the result of scholastic and academic efforts of round about two thousand Researchers and Scholars. That is why anyone can say that this fifteen volumes book has covered all the major discussions on Religion and Theology, religious doctrines, religious personalities and religious sacred places etc. so it was given top priority to translate all the major topics of first half portion of Volume Two of Encyclopedia of Religion, so as to make it convenient for newly entered researchers in the field of religious studies. For this purpose the chapter one of the thesis has been based on four sections. Section one gives an introductory note about Encyclopedia of Religion while section two covers the topics related with theology and religion. In this portion, a special attention has been given to all the religions alongside Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Section three of the chapter one surrounds those personalities whom have contributed towards the studies on religion. In the same way section four has presented a generalized form of studies on certain important topics like religious texts, religious literature, sacred places and weapons and instruments having religious importance. However this point is to be kept in mind that as Encyclopedia of Religion is the result of the academic efforts of mostly western and American scholars that is why translation from English language to Urdu language was not an easy job and while translating its certain topics, a keen attention has been given to represent the most convenient translation in Urdu language for Urdu oriented community. The contents of first half portion of Volume Second of Encyclopedia of Religion have been ordered in such an alphabetical manner that the first topic starts from Attributes of God and ends at the term of Blasphemy. On this basis, a general evaluation of the contents of Encyclopedia of Religion Volume two Part one has been given in chapter one and its translation has been presented. The topics which have been highlighted and evaluated in chapter two to eight are due to the fact that each and every topic has been discussed in the light of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This study has also been given a comparative touch from the point of view of these three Abrahamic Religions. As it is clear like daylight that each and every religion has a principal focus on a transcendent deity, although then every religion explains this deity with respect to its specific religious perspective. However one common fact is that each and every religion correspond certain good names and attributes to that deity and the followers of that religion consider those attributes worthy to the status of that transcendent deity. Keeping in view the importance of the attributes of God, three different articles have been presented in Encyclopedia of Religion. And an explanatory discussion has been undertaken in chapter two of the thesis. Due to which different aspects of Attributes of God have been highlighted in the perspective of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Under the Chapter, the concept of Anthropomorphism in Judaism, The concept of Trinity in Christianity and the differences of opinion on Attributes among Islamic sects have been thoroughly brought under discussion. The term Religious Authority is very much common in the history of religions and warm debates have taken place among the different religious groups on the question of authority. And discussion is still continued that who should be the final religious authority. Some religions rest this authority in God only while some divide it between God and messengers or prophets. In the same way, many of them prove that authority for religious dogmas while some vests this authority in the religious sacred texts. A common example of the misunderstanding among the followers of a religion is the tug of war on the point of religious authority between God, Jesus Christ and Bible. Another example of religious authority which has created tensions between the two sects of a religion is the authority of Caliph among Sunnis and authority of Imam among Shias. Both these differences have been brought under thorough discussion and a critical and analytical evaluation has been made in chapter three of this dissertation. The comparative studies of religion should be based on the point that everlasting and all time religion is Islam as declared in the holy Quran. So in this specific portion of Encyclopedia, an attempt has been made to highlight those religions who have tried to distort the face of Islam. Among them the production of nineteenth century Babism and Bahaism which were initially the upshots of Shia Islam but at the end it declared itself as an isolated independent religion and challenged the finality of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) as a Prophet of Allah Almighty. So in the chapter four, a critical and analytical evaluation of the Babis and Bahais has been brought forth. The chapter five of the dissertation consists of the concepts of Sin, disobedience and punishment in the major religions which have been discussed by the Encyclopedia of Religion. However an independent analysis has been presented that which religion among the three major religions has a positive and balanced approach towards the above mentioned concepts. The concept of soul is having paramount role in the studies of religion as religion can be counted as a diet for human soul. The Encyclopedia of Religion has also touched this important topic and many more interest has been created by mentioning the relation of human soul with different birds. Looking into the importance of the topic, Chapter six has been based on these important religious concepts. Encyclopedia of Religion has discussed certain scholars, scientific persons and spiritual leaders from Muslim world which are of prime importance. In chapter seven, an attempt has been made to evaluate the articles of Encyclopedia of Religion about the Muslim personalities and an attempt has been made to justify that whether the Encyclopedia has given historically correct entries about them or not? Blasphemy is a term which is commonly used in the studies of Religion as each and every religion has laid down certain parameters and limits for its followers to not by pass or over ride it while talking or behaving about God, Prophets and other religious matters of their religion. Encyclopedia of Religion has also discussed this topic in three different articles. Chapter number eight of the dissertation has been designed to evaluate the entries of Encyclopedia of Religion about this important issue in the study and history of religions and as a result it has been clarified that only Islam is a religion which has a very balanced and systematic approach towards Blasphemy so that to safeguard the sanctity of all religious entities. At the end, certain recommendations and findings have been brought forth due to this research work which is as under: 1. Now as the Encyclopedia has become a full pledge research base for discussion so much more scholars should undertake research work on it from different angles. 2. Keeping in view the broad spectrum of the topic, the other entries of volume two should be studied on critical basis. 3. A project type research work should be conducted on other volumes of Encyclopedia of Religion so that every important topic would get more attention and topics of little importance may be put into second priority. 4. Another important recommendation is that those points have been put forward on which the Encyclopedia justified that Religion. 5. A tendency should be developed in the students of theology and comparative religions to study the Encyclopedia of Religion so that they may be able to understand western thought and views on religion. 6. The articles presented by Muslim Scholars should also be included in the Encyclopedia of Religion. As in the first two editions, no article written by Muslim researchers has been given entry in Encyclopedia of Religion and it may become a question mark on its impartiality about the study of Religion. 7. The most important recommendation which should be given top priority is that all those material should be highlighted in the Encyclopedia of Religion which give incomplete or ambiguous knowledge and information about Islam.