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What is Religion?

What is Religion?. James A. Van Slyke, PhD. Christian Context at APU. Personal, Incarnate God Jesus Christ God in the Flesh Atonement Crucifixion saves us from sin Restores relationship with God. Christian Context at APU. Term “Christian” (44 AD) Born from the Jewish Tradition

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What is Religion?

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  1. What is Religion? James A. Van Slyke, PhD

  2. Christian Context at APU • Personal, Incarnate God • Jesus Christ • God in the Flesh • Atonement • Crucifixion saves us from sin • Restores relationship with God

  3. Christian Context at APU • Term “Christian” (44 AD) • Born from the Jewish Tradition • Begins with the tribes of Abraham • Continues with Kings and Prophets • Jesus grew up in a Jewish context

  4. Christianity is the theological foundation of religious beliefs at APU • 3.3 bil (33%) • Religion is a worldwide phenomenon • Hinduism – 950 mil (14%) • Buddhism – 370 mil (6%) • Islam – 1.5 bil (21%) • Several smaller indigenous religions

  5. What is Religion? • Belief in the Supernatural • Agents that influence • daily life • Examples • Demons • Spirits • Witches • Ghosts • Often depicted in religious symbols, statues, and paintings

  6. What is Religion? • Ritual • Practices performed by a religious community • Often symbolic for a supernatural reality • Examples • Communion • Worship • Can include a variety of behaviors and actions • Music, Dance, Special forms of dress, Food, Symbols • Sacrifice, violence, initiation rites

  7. What is Religion? • Experiences • Subjective to the individual • Examples • Prayer • Mediation • Altered states of consciousness • Usually defined as an experience of the divine or supernatural • Spiritual, mystic, sacred • Has important impact on someone’s life

  8. What is Religion? • Morality • Defines right and wrong behavior for a community • Values contained in different narratives and prescriptive or normative statements • Stories that contain a moral value • Parables • Life and teachings of the Buddha • Laws or Rules • 10 commandments • 5 Pillars of Islam

  9. What is Religion? • Community • Unites a group of persons together • Contains common goals • Important role in defining identity • Cultural practices define history of a community • Provide benefits for a community • Education, economic resources, support

  10. What is Religion? • Family and Marriage • Plays an important role in sexual and marital values • Provides support and education for family life • Religious values often encourage family growth and commitment

  11. What is Religion? • Personal Meaning (Existential Definition) • Religion provides a sense of meaning and purpose for life • Provides an overall narrative to make sense of the world • Helps to deal with anxiety and ambiguity

  12. Nelson’s Definition • Transcendent • Aspects of life that are greater than us • Transcend nature, history, culture, and individuals • Immanent • Present in important aspects of daily life

  13. Nelson’s Definition • Way of Life • Cultural Definition • Way of living life according to certain practices, beliefs and values • Forms a Worldview • Unique perspective on the world based on ultimate definitions of meaning and purpose

  14. Religion or Spirituality? • Religion • Typically refers to organized and identifiable religion • Religions have members and a particular historical tradition • Spirituality • Individually based; more experiential • Connection with others and the sacred • Often not confined to one religion

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