Studying Religion

1. Studying Religion Unit One – HRT 3M

2. COMPUTER TIME • Using the computers you are to answer all of the questions from the “Religions Scavenger Hunt” in your notes.

3. Key Terms

4. A few definitions for your notes: Religion -A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. • Religion involves a system of; symbols, myths, doctrines, ethics and rituals • Term “religion” is largely a Western idea as many societies have no specific word to refer to that part of their lives that we would call “religion” Do you like this definition better than the first .ppt ?

5. Eastern vs. Western religionsThe most common means of categorizing world religions is by their geographic origin and spread. EASTERN - WESTERN - Middle East Judaism, Christianity and Islam • East Asia: • Taoism, Shinto and Confucianism • South Asia: • Hinduism and Buddhism AND THEN… religions that fall outside of these categories (example Native American or traditional African religions) are referred to as tribal, oral or indigenousreligions.

6. Deity – term for a god • Monotheism: the position that only one Deity exists (examples – Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, …) • Polytheism: Several deities exist with distinct identities and roles (examples – Hindus and ancient religions such as Aztecs, Greek mythology, …) • Animism: Spirits are in everything (examples – several tribal and Aboriginal cultures)

7. Regardless of theistic beliefs… The religions of the world all agree on one aspect of divine reality: that it is ineffable. Ineffable: Words are inadequate to express the mystery of the divine. One may know or experience the divine but it is not a knowledge or experience that can be accurately put into words.

8. Activity time!!! • Aimless wandering or • Heaven in the palm of your hands ???

9. Also to consider… • Buddhism insists there is no God – so is it a religion? • Yes, because it has the beliefs, values, institutions and behaviours that categorize it as a “religion” (symbols, rituals, a leader, a center of belief, ideas about the after-life… ) This is different from being a devout hockey fan for example – even if for some people it is the most important thing in the universe !!

10. On another note; • Many North American Aboriginal groups and other indigenous or tribal cultures world-wide, do not have a “religion” but rather a spirituality or belief system that is specific to each group. • These often share some common ideas but each are traditions and stories passed down through an oral history, from one generation to another. • These lessons are used to teach younger members of their past and their own community’s “world view”

11. Atheism-- a disbelief in the existence of deities; the critique and denial of metaphysical beliefs in God or divine beings. (Theism is a belief in at least one “other” spiritual being – remember we already defined mono and poly theism) Agnostic – God’s existence is not provable and therefore we should doubt; we can never know with certainty the claims for the existence of God or the atheist belief in the nonexistence of God. Is Atheism a religion too? Alain de BottonAtheism 2.0(0:00-15:16) Atheism or Islamophobia? Article study.

12. Myths • In common practice we use the term myth to mean “not true”. • However – this is NOT what scholars mean when they talk about the myths told by different religions • Myths - sacred stories that are believed to carry deep and important meanings about who people understand themselves to be and how they stand in relationship to the divine.

13. Rituals • Actions whose purpose is to interact with the divine or bring its practitioners to a deeper understanding of God or their traditions. • This could involve; prayer, feasting or fasting, lighting candles, processions, song, pilgrimage, or a myriad of other activities. Ritual bathing in the Ganges (Hindu)

14. Sacred Spaces and Religious Specialists • As this course progresses we will learn more about: a) sacred spaces; churches, temples, mosques, sweatlodges, etc. b) religious specialists; rabbis, shamans, priests, monks, elders, etc…

15. The Theorists weigh in… (Note the lack of women and abundance of beards…) Why do we have religion?

16. There are lots of ideas about WHY we developed and follow religions FUNCTIONALISM: • In general, many scholars believe that religion exists all over the world because human beings have the same basic needs and have created religions to fill these needs. • In other words, religion has specific functions or ways in which it is useful. It is determined by people’s psychological and social needs.

17. E.B.Tylor In the19C, E.B. Tylor suggested that religion started when people had dreams about dead friends and relatives. These people then became convinced that the deceased lived on in another form in the spirit world. Tylor describes the early vision of a spirit-filled universe as animism and claimed it was the first stage in an evolution from polytheism to monotheism.

18. SIR JAMES GEORGE FRAZER • James George Frazer thought religion was destined to die. • Frazer believed religion was simply a primitive form of science. People needed a means to explain the world around them. • Once they had “real” science and technology, religion would fade into oblivion.

19. SIGMUND FREUD Freud believed that religion came from psychological needs originating in family dynamics and the growing up process. Freud said children regarded their parents as authority figures who, when pleased, cared for and protected their child. As adults we lost this protective force in our lives and therefore sought it externally. We could continue to feel safe in the universe by trying to please a larger force, God, and receiving protection in return.

20. KARL MARX Religion as oppressor As a conflict theorist, Marx believed that religion served to convince the lower classes that their social status had been ordained by God The status quo taught that rather than rebel against it, they should concentrate in going to Heaven in the next life. Marx believed that once people realized the opportunities in this life, they would have no more use for religion.

21. Religion will fade away…? Frazer, Freud and Marx all believed that religion was a temporary answer for people to meet the social and psychological needs of the time. In their view, religion would eventually have no meaning. Religion

22. Emile Durkheim Some who felt religion would endure… • He did not think that religion would cease being “of use” to modern people. • He believed that religion was social. He proposed that when people were worshipping gods, God or the universe, they were actually worshipping themselves, their own social unit and its coherence. Essentially, religion made people feel better about themselves and more united with others.

23. Rudolf Otto A German theologian, • He believed that religions were a response to religious experiences. We have experiences that come to us, without asking for them, and human religion is just a means by which we explain those experiences. • He called it mysteriumtremendum et fascianans, or “the mystery that causes trembling and fascination”.

24. There are more of course… But let’s not get over-whelmed!! • In general, the function and role of religion are examined by; • Anthropologists as a comparative or evolutionary study • Psychologists studying behavioural patterns/needs and individual motivations • Sociologists studying the function and effectiveness of institutions

25. So, since religion is here to stay … (Islam, peace, male/female, Judaism, Wicca/Pagan/Bah’ai, Taoism/Confucianism, Christianity)

26. Comparative Religions author, Karen Armstrong onThe Charter for Compassion (21:00) People want to be religious, says scholar Karen Armstrong; we should help make religion a force for harmony.  Now read: What Canadians think of Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Muslims . . . Macleans Magazine, 2009

27. So what do you think? Why study religion? It helps us understand; • World Events i.e. Holocaust or Free Tibet • Behaviours i.e. why people are drawn to or form cults • People i.e. we can better appreciate the people in our own pluralistic society • Ourselves i.e. answering our own religious questions or appreciating our beliefs Secular philosopher Dan Dennett on Why religion, all religion, should be taught in school(0:00 – 14:56)

28. Don’t forget… • In a comparative study of religion you will find that sometimes they don’t always agree with each other or they make competing claims about the nature of God and/or reality • That if you think only one religion offers the “right” answers you are studying from a personal perspective • You need to be open to broadening your cross cultural understanding. This does not undermine your own commitment or belief in a particular tradition.

29. Parting words from Jack Layton; • In his parting letter to Canadians, former NDP leader Jack Layton signed off with the following; My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. August, 2011