title: One Size Can't Fit All: Integral Religion in a Fragmented World
author: Vicki Toale OP
description: Vicki Toale, OP is a preacher, a teacher, and a student and active proponent of Integral Theory. Vicki is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, NY. She is an Associate Professor at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY and a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Wyandanch, NY. Vicki is also a Fantasy/Science Fiction aficionado.
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  ![img](images/cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  RELIGION
  
  
  AS WE KNOW IT
  
  
  _An Origin Story_
  
  
  JACK MILES
  
  
  ![img](images/logo.jpg)
  
  
  **W.W NORTON & COMPANY**
  
  
  _Independent Publishers Since 1923_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _For KM and her BF_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gods here?
  
  
  Who can know?
  
  
  Not I.
  
  
  Yet I sigh
  
  
  and tears flow,
  
  
  tear on tear.
  
  
  —SAIGYŌ HŌSHI (1118–1190)
  
  
  ON VISITING THE GRAND SHRINE AT ISE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CONTENTS
  
  
  [_Preface_](pre.xhtml#pre_1)
  
  
  [PREAMBLE: ON STARTING FROM WHERE WE ARE](ch1.xhtml#ch_1)
  
  
  [CAN RELIGION BE DEFINED?](ch2.xhtml#ch_2)
  
  
  [HOW CHRISTIAN EUROPE LEARNED TO COMPARE RELIGIONS](ch3.xhtml#ch_3)
  
  
  [BROADENING THE FOUNDATION, RAISING THE ROOF](ch4.xhtml#ch_4)
  
  
  [WHY RELIGION?](ch5.xhtml#ch_5)
  
  
  [_Notes_](notes.xhtml#note_1)
  
  
  [_Credits_](cre.xhtml#cre_1)
  
  
  [_Index_](index.xhtml#ind_1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [PREFACE](toc.xhtml#pre-1)
  
  
  The United States of America practices many religions, and _pluralism_ in
  American usage is a term that aims to turn the arguably neutral fact of plural
  religions into a