Includes Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Shintoism, Mormonism, Baha'i, and ancient Egyptian and Mayan texts.
In the Far East, the texts take on a different flavor, focusing less on deities and more on social order and cosmic harmony. The course examines the "Five Classics" of Confucianism, which for centuries formed the backbone of Chinese civil service exams. It contrasts this with the Taoist canon, specifically the Tao Te Ching of Laozi. The TTC lecturers often highlight the paradoxical nature of the Tao—how the "way" that can be spoken is not the eternal "Way"—and how this text challenges the Western reliance on logic and rigid categorization. TTC - Sacred Texts of the World
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Before diving into the specifics of the TTC course, it is essential to understand the inherent difficulty of studying sacred literature. Sacred texts are not merely books; they are often vast, archaic, and culturally specific. Reading the Rig Veda without context can be bewildering; parsing the legalistic intricacies of the Torah or the metaphysical poetry of the Tao Te Ching requires guidance. Furthermore, translations vary wildly, and the interpretative traditions spanning thousands of years can create a maze for the uninitiated. It contrasts this with the Taoist canon, specifically
Sacred Texts of the World is a 36-lecture course from The Great Courses (The Teaching Company), taught by Professor Grant Hardy Before diving into the specifics of the TTC