Exploring the Religions of Our World

1. Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ

2. Ch 1 Beginning the Journey p. 6 Setting the Stage • Global village; immigration • As seniors, you are protected “Christian” world, but next year… • Unique class—overview of many religions • Goals: Proclaim Christ, dialogue & learn • World Religion = religions that are worldwide • Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam • Hinduism, Judaism, Japanese, Chinese, and American denominations

3. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey What is Religion? P. 8 • Word not present in most holy books • Only modern times, a separation from life • Latin religio = “to bind” • Not just one thing—worship, action, belief, etc… each religion defines itself differently • Person or community to something or someone over or beyond • Myth points to a spiritual truth • Monotheism – belief on one God • Western systematic approach

4. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Why Study World Religions? P. 9 to dispel fears and misunderstandings to gain a better understanding of various human cultures to gain a clearer understanding of one’s own faith to learn from some great sources of wisdom to gain insights into human beings by understanding their religious activities to gain a better understanding of humankind’s various civilizations to foster openness and acceptance of human differences

5. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey A Different Religion Class • P. 10 • Religion class vs. others • Head and heart • Facts and experiences • Rational and faith experiences • Questions beyond science to philosophy & theology—not merely descriptive but prescriptive • World religion class vs. religion class • Not merely own religious tradition’s answers • Each religionanswers & interprets differently

6. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Studying with a New Attitude p.10 • Non-judgmental • Catholics reject nothing which is true & holy in other religions…sincere respect…reflect a ray of Truth (Vatican II, NA, 2) • Be a witness, by word and action, without trying to convert • Empathy= identify & understand another’s situation • Humble, open, & respectful • “Equality…equal personal dignity” (CDF, DJ, 22) • “Avoid false irenicismby consistent with own tradition but openness towards other ones without pretense or close mindedness; true, humble, frank dialogue; witness & conversion” (JPII, RM, 56)

7. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Setting the Context of Catholic’s in Dialoguep.12 • Angelo Roncalli (1881) Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) • Vatican diplomat to Greece and Turkey—Orthodox & Muslims • Aided Jews during WWII • Protestants are separated brothers not heretics (Ad Cathedram Petri) • Received Archbishop of Canterbury & greeted Patriarch of Constantinople • Removed “perfidious Jews” from Good Friday liturgy • Seems minor today but revolutionary in 1960’s • Vision was that Catholic Church not set itself against the world, but engage in dialogue with the world • Vision was fleshed out in Vatican II (1962-1965) • Died after first of four sessions so Pope Paul VI continued vision (1963-1978)

8. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Benefits of the Council p. 12-13 DignitatisHumanae(Of the Dignity of the Human Person, Declaration on Human Freedom) • Rights if individuals to social & civil freedom in religious matters UnitatisRedintegratio(Restoration of Unity, Decree on Ecumenism) • Dialogue with fellow Christians Nostra Aetate(In our Time, Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) • Dialogue with non-Christians

9. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Ecumenical Dialogue p.13-14 1. All Catholics, not just specialists, are to evangelize the world thru dialogue with non-Catholics = witness not proselytism 2. God offers the gift of salvation to all nations 3. Scriptures of other religions point to a future communion 4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of God’s grace even though Christ is one savior and Church is ordinary means (CCC, 846 & Pope Benedict XVI in 2007) A. The Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation” B. “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847 & Karl Rahner’s (1904-1984) AnonymousChristiantheology) 5. Holy Spirit led dialogue can be through both words & actions

10. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Some Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p. 15 • Myths (sacred truths told via stories about history and tradition) • Upanishads / Bhagavad Gita - Hindu • Qur’an - Islam • Bible – Judaism/ Christianity • Sacred writings, stories, scriptures

11. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p. 16-17 • Beliefs & practices • Vertical (God) & horizontal (others) • Liturgy – official public prayer • Doctrine (beliefs) & action (moral codes) • Morals determine: • Goodness & salvation 4 Noble Truths & 8-Fold Path, Apostles Creed, Sh’ma, Shahadah Personal – Prayer, meditation, ritual washing Communal – animal sacrifice, pilgrimages, sacred meals • Formality often comes from sacred stories; e.g. Pesach • Practice reveals belief; e.g prayer for Muslims

12. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p. 17-18 • Sacred time • For most, all time is sacred • Ritual moves personal /communal to remember, celebrate, & timeless • Frequency varies but always draws past & future to present Muslims, - Fri., Ramadan Jews - Sabbath, Yom Kippur Christians - Sun, Lent, Easter Buddhists- Bodhi Day Hindus – Diwali Rites of Passage are sacred times – bar mitzvah, Confirmation

13. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p. 18 • Sacred places & sacred spaces • Anywhere but usually marked by a permanent sacred space and place • Can be temporary • Based on sacred stories and scriptures of religion • Sacred Place – tend to be in nature • Sacred Space – tend to be man-made Origins & Travels Muslims -- Mecca/ Medina Christians, Jews, & Muslims -- Holy Land Natural Rivers – Jordan (Christians) & Ganges (Hindus) Mountains – Sinai (Jews) & Fuji (Shintos) Shrines, Synagogues, Mosques, Temples, Churches, & temporary

14. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Other Elements or Patterns p. 19 - 20 • Methodology of the book: • Brief historical overview • Sacred stories & scriptures • Basic beliefs & practices • Sacred time • Sacred places & spaces • The religion through a Catholic lens • Order • Judaism, Catholic, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese, Japanese, & Religions with American Roots • Not chronological

15. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Vocabulary: • Religion • Empathy • Liturgy • Ecumenism • Evangelization • Witnessing • Myths • Irenicism(False conciliation) • Egregiously • Perfidious (deceitful, unfaithful) • Anonymous Christian

16. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Review Questions: • Briefly describe the religious diversity in our world today. • Why use the term “world’s religions” rather than “world religions” in studying various religious traditions? • In what language did the word “religion” originate? Why do you think it is such a difficult term to define? • What attitude is asked of us in studying some of the world’s religions? Explain. • What makes a class about the world’s religions different from other religion classes? • What are some reasons for studying the world’s religions? • Relate some of the ways in which Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II broke ground in the Catholic Church’s relationship with other religious traditions. • Why is interreligious dialogue a duty of all Catholics? In what ways can a Catholic fulfill this duty? • What are some of the common elements or patterns we will employ in our study of some of the world’s religions?