Found inside Page 27It is important to explain the importance of Studying other religions so that we can have a society that is well informed and tolerant of other faiths. -- TEXT QUESTIONS, NATIVE SPIRITUALITY--H.O.--6 NATIVE CULTURAL GROUPS, NATIVE SPIRITUALITY--H.O.--FOR THE LOVE OF PLANET EARTH, JUDAISM--CULT--HISTORY OF ISRAEL (modern), JUDAISM -- UNIT ASSIGNMENT (NOBEL PRIZES), JUDAISM -- UNIT ASSIGNMENT--IMPORTANT EVENTS IN JEWISH HISTORY, BUDDHISM -- CREED -- 4 Noble Truths/8 fold path, BUDDHISM -- CULT --TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA, BUDDHISM -- CHANGE -- DALAI LAMA/PANCHEN LAMA, ISLAM -- UNIT ASSIGNMENT -- NOTABLE MJSLIMS, CHRISTIANITY -- CODE --Beatitudes vs Commandments, CHRISTIANITY -- CULT -- Mysteries of the Rosary, CHRISTIANITY -- CULT -- how to praise the Rosary, CHRISTIANITY -- CULT -- Stations of the Cross, CHRISTIANITY -- HO -- KEY EVENTS IN JESUS' LIFE, CHRISTIANITY -- HO -- CHRISTIANITY TEXT QUES, CHRISTIANITY -- HO -- TYPES OF CHRISTIANITY TEXT QUESTIONS. Such honesty requires that we admit to our uncertainties in approaching other religions, that we make an honest attempt at understanding our past approaches to other religions and the implications of these approaches for how we view God, the world, ourselves and our fellow man. From time to time you will also receive Special Offers from our partners that help us make this content free for you. Why Study the Major Religions of the World? Any spiritual journey should involve exposure to not only other religions but the practitioners, the cultures in which they live, and how that reli This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. Your life is too important These traditions have developed in the past decades through the expansion of oriental communities in North America and through the attraction of their teachings to non-oriental North Americans. There are for example, two large Buddhist communities in North America, the Jodo Shinshu and the Nichiren Shoshu, which have behind them centuries of development in Japan. Because religions are so wide-ranging and influential, their study helps round out a person's education, as well as enrich one's experience of many other related subjects. In Islamic Exceptionalism, Brookings Institution scholar and acclaimed author Shadi Hamid offers a novel and provocative argument on how Islam is, in fact, "exceptional" in how it relates to politics, with profound implications for how we Why Is Religious Studies Important? Found inside Page 52Studying Religions The Dalai Lama has spoken out time and time again on the importance of studying other religions . He says , I believe the purpose of I think that it is important to study world religions because it can help people to become more tolerant of others beliefs and more compassionate to other peoples causes. Content. They also discuss Bible courses and world religions courses and explore the relationship of religion to moral education and sex education. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book. The second, what are some of the questions raised by the concern to understand other traditions for a person committed to Christianity, or in my case, for someone committed to Christian faith within the Anabaptist tradition? In this provocative contribution to the disputes surrounding a liberal education, university president Michael S. Roth focuses on important moments and seminal thinkers in America's long-running argument over vocational vs. liberal This is what is meant by religious dialogue. It creates curiosity: Learning about other cultures will make you more motivated to visit and find out Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Should a Hindu, for example, suggest to me that Im alright because Im really an anonymous Hindu, my first response would be to suggest to him that he is not taking me seriously. 713-798-4710. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Overly Strict Parenting: Catholic Traditionalist Self-Critique, Priest Faces Threats After Video Rejecting the Idea of Christian Persecution, Spiritual Direction: When We Need to Leave God Behind. The lessons learned in religious education prepare students for responsibilities, experiences and opportunities later in life. Religion is an inescapable part of our world. The book draws from a unique sixty-year-long study of close to two hundred mostly Protestant and Catholic men and women who were born in the 1920s and interviewed in adolescence, and again in the 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, and late 1990s. Understanding different cultures allows you to be more open, accepting, and tolerant of other people. If we are at all concerned about human welfare, human dignity, human fulfillment, world peace, and survival we must take seriously the fact that man is more than a social, political, and economic animal. As Flannery wrote in his introduction to the 1996 edition, The translation of the texts of the Vatican documents in the present volume differs from that in the previous publication in two respects. Religion also encourages believers to put words into action and go into the community to shower others with compassion, love and charity. The principal concern of religious studies is to expose differences in those worldviews so that we might understand the beliefs and practices of a wide variety of cultural actors. This volume collects essays under four categories: religious traditions, religious life, emotional states, and historical and theoretical perspectives. What follows is an attempt to put into writing some of my own reflections on this issue. Both science and religion explore aspects of reality, providing "a basis for their mutual interaction as they present their different perspectives onto the one world of existent reality," Polkinghorne argues. With approximately 190 countries and seven billion people on Earth, it is not hard to imagine that many diverse cultures exist. ), Religious Diversity. Traditions which were once Eastern are now part of our own backyard. One still sees in use in our churches and our educational institutions the word cults applied to beliefs and traditions other than our own. This tradition has serious implications for religious pluralism and liberty. We have had a penchant for seeing our understandings, interpretations and theologizings as ultimate and final truth. Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state and bestselling author of Madam Secretary, offers a thoughtful and often surprising look at the role of religion in shaping America's approach to the world. This brings me face to face with the thorny issue of the relationship between my beliefs and perceptions and the beliefs and perceptions involved in other religious traditions, particularly those designated as non-Christian. From time to time I have attempted to grapple with this question albeit on a very amateur level. In particular, the development of the anti-cult movement and its call for special anti-cult legislation and support for deprogramming raises for us the question of the extent to which we as Christians are willing to push the concepts of religious pluralism and liberty. Religious education provides us with an opportunity for dialogue about the importance of freedom, for religious expression and the entitlement of individuals to practice their belief, regardless of denominational or religious alignment. In the process of doing so, we find ways to give an answer to our faith once required of us. We are learned how to function as responsible global citizens by developing, tolerating and respecting our own religion and others. The first is, why should we be concerned about an understanding of other religious traditions? It's impossible to wander through any of the major art museums in the world and fail to recognize that the sculptures, paintings, figurines, pottery, and statues beg an understanding of world religions. In fact, history textbooks have often given the impression that religious issues are a nuisance or, at best, a curiosity fit only for those who insist on dealing with the esoteric. THE BENEFITS OF STUDYING WORLD RELIGIONS 1. If differences in this area are at the root of political misunderstanding, tension, and conflict, then the cultural area requires much greater attention by those concerned with world peace and community. Whether we like it or not, we are faced with the challenge of the meaning and value of non-Christian religions. That need not be the case. African Religion offers new images and symbols of reconciliation that may enhance existing Christian reconciliation metaphors and liturgies. Found inside Page xxxviiiThis book deals with some of the most important questions people ever ask . IS STUDYING OTHER RELIGIONS DANGEROUS TO ONE'S OWN FAITH ? This leads us to recognize obvious similarities as well as clear differences between our {33} own tradition and the traditions of others. Religious Education is concerned with the deep meaning that individuals and groups make of their experiences and how this helps them give purpose to their lives. The purpose of Religious Education is to help pupils to reflect upon the experiences and the mysteries of life and the contribution of religious and spiritual dimensions. [1] By Michael Molloy. This is rather astounding when one considers that history is the story of man. Promotes awareness and understanding of others. Study of religion, attempt to understand the various aspects of religion, especially through the use of other intellectual disciplines.. It is the primary expression of humanity's quest to find meaning and purpose. Our world has shrunk in size in proportion to the development of sophisticated methods of travel and communication. And, most important of all, are they fully aware that by embarking on such a course they face the probability that over the years they will be forced to give up certain distinctive claims for their religion which they now hold? Found insideExplores the impact of women's studies on methodology in religious studies. Methodology in Religious Studies assesses the impact of womens studies on the various methods employed in studying religion. Yet, in the history of Christianity, we have often acted as though we have understood completely. An alternative approach, would be to work at understanding traditions other than our own without the assumption that these traditions are somehow heathenish, demonic, or totally wrong. Religion is a part of culture, so studying it is interdisciplinary, combining textual, historical, linguistic, philosophical and many other approaches in the process. In a world of continuing stress and nonstop sensory input, the one thing that seems increasingly elusive is peace of mind. Pharmaceuticals and other potentially harmful measures provide relief for some people. 1 To this might be added the many other Buddhist groups which {30} enjoy long-standing lineages of spiritual masters. As a result, one can speak of a tendency toward the development of a world culture. They must be lived. Religious education is important because it equips students with cultural, social, moral and spiritual knowledge that aids in mental and physical development within society. And learning about religions and religious cultures will contribute to the moral, intellectual, emotional, and yes even spiritual self-knowledge of students in this most critical time of development. This book's ten easy-to-read chapters show readers what Christians can learn from different religions, achieving insight into love, sin, ritual, the importance of myth to convey truth, the foundational roots of Christianity, the dark side Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Patheoss Partners. Religion plays a crucial role for a person in giving a cultural identity. Deuteronomy 13:6-10 ESV / 134 helpful votes. Sociology, literature, history, political science, anthropology, and art all draw on religious contexts to give a fuller dimension to their own disciplines. atheists and agnostics know the most about religionparticularly Mauro Properzi, "Learning about Other Religions: False Obstacles and Rich Opportunities," Religious Educator 16, no.1 (2015): 129149. Rather we mean the term in the sense in which it is understood by the man on the street and used by the newsmediathat is, a cult is not just something we regard as false, but also as dirty, conspiratorial, intrinsically wicked, and inhuman. You can opt out of these offers at any time. 2. The study of religion gives you the opportunity to explore the range of answers to these profound questions, and allows you to consider your own beliefs and values. If we believe that mans religions are a substantial part of human culture and that religious questions matter, then it is time we take religious diversity seriously. Religion can inspire and provoke, unite and polarize. How Awake Are We? One crucial way that people can best learn to live with one another is by increasing their religious literacy. It is the fact of similarities which has the greater implications for our theology and for how we understand God and His work throughout history. Surely these deep-seated beliefs of ours have something to say concerning our approach to other religious traditions. This text gives students a framework for their comparative study of religion that includes full, in-depth descriptions of each ''way of being religious.'' I would also insist that there are beliefs which we have traditionally held to be Christian, which demand that we take seriously what other peoples and their religions have to say to us. Found insideThe book was an immediate bestseller upon its publication in June 1902. For the most part, our response to other peoples and their traditions has been characterized by the use of such words as diabolical, false, totally wrong, superstition, primitive and infantile. For some reason we have had no problems with spending much time and money on familiarizing ourselves with aspects of Western culture, which traditionally have not been seen as Christian. Perhaps all we can do is work patiently hoping that each time we address the issue we might be able to understand a little more clearly and fully. After all, we live in a world whose culture is rooted largely in the philosophical traditions of the West. The term "religion" originated from the Latin noun religio, that was nominalized from one of three verbs: relegere (to turn to constantly/observe conscientiously); religare (to bind oneself [back]); and reeligere (to choose again). Muslim American City explores how debates over Muslim Americans use of both public and political space have challenged and ultimately reshaped the boundaries of urban belonging. Religious Studies is personally meaningful because it raises questions of purpose and value along with developing important life skills. Religious studies enables the development of crucial aptitudes -- critical thinking, communication competence, interpersonal awareness, and intercultural literacy -- necessary for success in a global society. Indeed, an openness or willingness to continue to learn from ones experiences, whether these come in the form of personal relationships, events, or formal studies, lies at the heart of faith. Religious Studies is intellectually exciting It seems to me that Ashby is suggesting an approach to other religious traditions which demands a good bit of realism and honesty, a realism and honesty which transcends the very restricted outlook that has characterized much of the history of Christianity and our own history as Mennonites. However, I am also dissatisfied with the concept of the anonymous Christians, even though it takes the universalistic message of the Bible seriously. Because of the complexity and importance of religious phenomena, the scholarly study of religion in the modern research university is inherently interdisciplinary. Found insideUnderstanding World Religions presents religion as a complex and intriguing matrix of history, philosophy, culture, beliefs, and practices. Because of these three different potential meanings, an etymologicalanalysis alone Understanding leads to acceptance. When we understand, we cannot hate. Understanding allows us to stand in another person's shoes and see from thei 4 In what sense can we see God at work in cultures of other times and place? Richard Swinburne analyses the purposes of practising a religion, and argues that religious faith requires belief that a particular creed provides the rationale for supposing that these purposes will be achieved. It will call into question the exclusivist (and arrogant attitude) of evangelical Christians toward other religious traditions. My mother taught for a number of years a course on world religions as a high school course. Perhaps we never will arrive at a final answer on this issue. We only perceive things partially. It courses through politics, economics, ethics, social mores, domestic values, art, culture, scientific discourse and foreign policy. Yet, when the question of non-western religious traditions has been raised, the reaction has often been a rather hostile one, implying that it is neither profitable nor necessary to study other religions. On the moral level, there follows an imperative towards reconciliation, unity, harmony, and brotherhood. We can, of course, turn our backs on this challenge, but we will do so to the impoverishment of our own theological enterprise. But it also means that we should treat other religious traditions with more seriousness and integrity. Willard G. Oxtaby (ed. This means, understanding a person or group in its own terms as a starting point. This creates compassion and tolerance from those different from us. Finding common ground and working together toward the needs of the community is made possible through a fuller vision of world religions. 3 {31}. By our very use of language we create barriers which militate against any understanding and reaching out. The stories, beliefs, hopes, dreams, fears, and deepest convictions of peoples throughout history have been captured visually in art and intellectually in sacred texts. We understand why other religions/cultures act/live the way they do. In effect, we will have to ask ourselves again what we understand by the concept of the revelation of God. In fact, this view ignores the differences that exist among religious traditions. This article is an invitation to come to grips with how other people understand themselves, the world around them, their relationship to that world, their destiny, and the means used to achieve that destiny. While some suggest all you need is the Bible to grow spiritually, there are at least three important ways studying other religions can help Christians. Have we attempted to program the saving work and grace of God along very narrow channels? Religious education emphasises respect for others, regardless of their beliefs, race or social status. The Secularization Debate is a collection of essays by prominent American and European scholars that forcefully delineates the critical issues pivotal to the hotly contested concept of secularization and its continued relevance in the According to a recent Pew poll, five out of every six people in the world claims a religious I have much more to learn, but several personal insights intrigue me. People act out of their religious beliefs everyday. The text has been thoroughly revised to highlight recent developments, such as the spread of Islam, African-American and Hispanic-American religious experience, and women priests. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/world-religions-study-starters Man is by nature deeply religious. For example, we have in our Christian educational institutions taken pains to develop an understanding of ancient Greek and subsequent Western philosophical traditions. It would seem to call into question the intolerant exclusivism which has too often characterized our attitude to other religions. We assert that God is, after all, a God of all mankind, that all men are created in the image of God, that God has never left himself without a witness among the nations, that all men have been and are in some sense confronted by God, and finally, that God has revealed himself in the Christ figure to be a loving, reconciling and caring as well as a just God. I am referring here not only to those off-shoots of mainline Eastern traditions which are viewed with suspicion in both the East and West (e.g., T.M., ISKCON, Yoga) but also to the growth in North America of longstanding Hindu and Buddhist traditions. This book provides an overview of the latest trends in religious affiliation in Australia. We have consequently become part of the bigotry which has characterized the attitude of the West to anything foreign or different. This work examines the emergence of the concepts of religion and religions on 19th-century colonial frontiers. We go to a wonderful church, St. Marys, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, every Saturday, at 5 p.m., weather permitting. While people in the most religious regions of America like the Bible Belt are likely to take their faith very seriously, across the nation resi-dents are quite religious, much more so than in western Finally, the so-called new religions phenomenon in our North American society has highlighted anew for us the issues of religious pluralism and religious liberty. Found inside Page 141who quickly see their importance in other contexts may be slower to appreciate their significance in studying religion. Central to this approach is the idea Integrated markets and cultures demand the sensitivity and mutual respect that comes with understanding of belief systems. The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was a book constructed by Thomas Jefferson in the latter years of his life by cutting and pasting numerous sections from various Bibles as Topics: Buddhism, Religion, Hinduism Pages: 4 (1431 words) Published: December 2, 2011. 1. It argues that people of other faiths are Christians without knowing it. As a Mennonite engaged in the study of world religions (the discipline which used to be referred to as comparative religions) I teach in the area of Hinduism in a religious studies department. Philip H. Ashby spells out some of the questions which are raised when we examine religious positions other than our own with integrity: To what extent will the legitimate demands of their own religious faith allow them to recognize the Religious Knowledge claimed by other religions with whom they seek to work? This is particularly important for us as Mennonites who belong to the believers church tradition where the voluntary confession of faith on the part of adults has traditionally been the key to church membership. In teaching about the beliefs and traditions of other people, the subject promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice. They remained two-dimensional descriptions in textbooks. There are human concerns which demand that we make a concerted effort to understand our fellow human beings on the religious as well as other levels. Different religions provide a variety of answers to these questions. Media Component. Religion is everywhere and always integral to human cultures. The Study of Other Religions: Its Necessity and Problems Ronald W. Neufeldt As a Mennonite engaged in the study of world religions (the discipline which used to be referred to as comparative religions) I teach in the area of Hinduism in a religious studies department. Studying other religions is an easy question. There is a sense in which we are living in a new age. Understanding this phenomenon helps us explore the most basic questions of our existence. Earning a minor in religion at Springfield College It develops a greater stability in our own faith. We must take into account not only the tremendous religious diversity which has been discovered since the beginning of the nineteenth century as well as the discoveries of archaeology and paleontology concerning the age of man and this world. There was a time when one could make a broad distinction between Eastern and Western culture because these designations referred to separate geographical entities which rarely, if ever, met. Inevitably, the demand that one takes seriously other religious traditions will raise questions. If the term cult were used in its neutral anthropological/sociological meaning I would not quarrel with its use. Presents a groundbreaking investigation into the origins of morality at the core of religion and politics, offering scholarly insight into the motivations behind cultural clashes that are polarizing America. Each religion has festivals, traditions, mythologies which form a part of the tangible and intangible heritage of the country. 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