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Lesson 2: Why Study World Religions?. What is Religion?. You’ve been taking religion class for at least two years at Redmond… and for most of you throughout elementary school. How would you define religion?
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What is Religion? • You’ve been taking religion class for at least two years at Redmond… and for most of you throughout elementary school. • How would you define religion? • Write your own definition of religion in your notes and when finished compare with someone else sitting around you.
Some definitions… • “Any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy.” (Webster’s) • “A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardour and faith.” ( Merriam-Webster’s online) • “The process by which mankind tries to find meaning in a chaotic universe.” (Anon.)
Some common elements in defining religion: • Theology: the study of a religion, especially religions with a belief in God • Religion Impulse: The universal urge to believe in something beyond ourselves • Ethics: A system of morals
Which do you agree with most? • “God has no religion” ~ Gandhi • “Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength • from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual • desires.“ ~ Sigmund Freud • “There is only one religion, though there are a • hundred versions of it.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
Why Study World Religions? • 1) Understand our differences and similarities so that we can co-exist together. Ex. Christian marries a Hindu • 2) Test and strengthen our own beliefs. Ex. Is Jesus really the son of God? • 3) Figure out how to relate to other people. Ex. Certain companies run by Jewish people will not do business on Saturday
Continued.. • 4) Search for meaning. Ex: How does the world work? Why am I here? How do people function? Where am I going when I die? Why? • 5) Develop our own characters. Ex: Who am I? What am I like? Who do I want to be? Do I want to be good? Am I a good person?
Continued.. • 6) Grow in our relationship with God. Ex: I believe in God because of my experience, reflection, and because of what God does to me. I don’t just believe in God because it is what my parents taught me. • 7) Gain a better understanding of the present world. Ex: Why is the world the way it is? Why is there so much violence?
Continued… • 8) To gain insight into humans by understanding their religious activities. Ex: Why do some women from India have a red dot on their foreheads? • 9) To gain understanding about one’s own religion.
Continued… • 10) To seek those things that are universal among the world’s various cultures. Ex: Do all people believe in something? What rituals do different cultures practice? • 11) To learn from some of the world’s great sources of wisdom. Ex: What did Confucius say about the role of government?
What is Religious Pluralism? • Religion Pluralism- A positive attitude toward the existence of many faiths in society • Religious pluralism is one of the most important parts of studying world religions. • We will only gain a better understanding of our world and work to eliminate prejudice and misconception that works against religious pluralism by learning about the people around us.
West Wing Episode: Isaac and Ishmael • The West Wing episode, Isaac and Ishmael, was filmed and aired within three weeks of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. A lot of people think that religion only leads to violence and terrorism. After 9/11, many people did not have a good understanding of world religions and began stereotyping Muslims and others. • After viewing the episode, you will discuss the following questions as a group.
