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. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Setting the Stage • Global village • Protected now but not next year • Unique class—overview of many • Goals: Proclaim, dialogue, learn • World Religion = worldwide or significant • Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam • Hinduism, Judaism, Japanese, Chinese, and American

3. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey What is Religion • Not present in most holy books • Only modern separation from life • Latin religio = to bind • Person or community to something or someone over or beyond • Entailed obligations • Not just one thing—worship, action, belief, etc…so look at as much as we can • Elusive but some patterns • Western systematic approach

4. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Why Study World Religions? 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 • 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 religion answers & interprets differently

6. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Studying with a New Attitude • Non-judgmental • Catholics reject nothing which is true & holy in other religions…sincere respect…reflect a ray of Truth (Vatican II, NA, 2) • Accept on its own terms does not = accept for self • Empathy = identify & understand another’s situation • Humble, open, & respectful • “Equality…equal personal dignity” (CDF, DJ, 22) • Avoid false irenicism by 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 Dialogue • Angelo Roncalli (1881)—Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) • Vatican diplomat to Greece and Turkey—Orthodox & Muslims • 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; egregiously • 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 • DignitatisHumanae(Declaration on Human Freedom) • Rights if individuals to social & civil freedom in religious matters • UnitatisRedintegratio(Decree on Ecumenism) • Dialogue with fellow Christians • Nostra Aetate(Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) • Dialogue with non-Christians • Pontificates of Paul VI and John Paul II—words into action • 1965 joint resolution between Paul VI and Athanagoras I • Joint declaration between Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury • John Paul II met with religious leaders and holy sites in extensive travels • 1986 and 2002 World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi • Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Lutherans • April 2005 funeral of John Paul II

9. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Related Documents from the pontificate of JP II Redemptoris Missio 1990 Encyclical on the Mission of Christ by JPII Ut Unum Sint 1995 Encyclical on the Church Commitment to Ecumenism by JPII Dialogue & Proclamation 1991 Reflections on Interreligious Dialogue by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Directory for the Application of Principles & Norms on Ecumenism 1993 by Pontifical Council for Christina Unity

10. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Ecumenical Dialogue 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 the nations 3. The 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) Anonymous Christian theology) 5. Holy Spirit led dialogue can be through both words & actions

11. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Some Common Elements or Patterns of Religions • “What a religion is” rather than “what is religion” • Overlap not compartmentalized Myths (sacred & empirical history), Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Qur’an, Bible _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ • Sacred stories, sacred scriptures, & other writings • Beliefs & practices • Sacred time • Sacred places & sacred spaces

12. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions • Sacred stories & sacred scriptures • Beliefs & practices • Vertical & horizontal • Doctrine & action • Moral code—W or U • Goodness & salvation • Sacred time • Sacred places & sacred spaces Examples: 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 _____________________ _____________________

13. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions • Sacred stories & sacred scriptures • Beliefs & practices • Sacred time • All time is sacred • Ritual moves I or C to, reminds, & timeless • Frequency varies but always draws past & future to present • Sacred places & sacred spaces Examples: Muslims, - Fri., Ramadan Jews - Sabbath, Yom Kippur Christians - Sun, Lent, Easter Buddhists- Bodhi Day Hindus – Diwali Sikhs – Gobind Singh’s b-day Communal rituals more formal that personal devotions; sense of belonging & personal renewal

14. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Common Elements or Patterns of Religions Examples: 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 • Sacred stories & sacred scriptures • Beliefs & practices • Sacred time • 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

15. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Other Elements or Patterns • Methodology • Brief historical overview • Sacred stories & scriptures • Basic beliefs & practices • Sacred time • Sacred places & spaces • The religion through a Catholic lens • Implicit aspects • Symbols & objects; laws; institutional structure; holy people • Order • Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese, Japanese, Christianity (out of order) & American • Not chronological

16. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey Vocabulary: • Religion • Empathy • Liturgy • Ecumenism • Evangelization • Witnessing • Myths • Irenicism • Egregiously • Perfidious • Anonymous Christian

17. 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?