...website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Nature of Religion Details Objectives 1.1 Describe the common elements of religion. 1.2 Identify issues in the study of religion. 1.3 Describe the sacred in indigenous traditions. Reading Read Ch. 1 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Read Ch. 2 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Read the Contemporary Paganism: Wicca and Druidism section in Ch. 11 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Nongraded Actvitiy Post a personal bio in the chat room on OLS. Introduce yourself to our class as a response to the thread begun by the facilitator....
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...questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions. 1. Describe the principles of yang and yin. The principle of Yin and Yang is a fundamental idea in Chinese philosophy and culture as a rule dating from the third century BCE or considerably prior. This guideline is that all things exist as inseparable and opposing alternate extremes, for instance female-male, dark- light and old-young. The two opposites are drawn toward each other and supplement one another and, as their symbol shows, every side has at its center a component of the other (represented by the little dots). Neither one of the poles is better than the other and, as an increment in one gets a comparing decline in the other, a right harmony between the two posts must be reached in order to accomplish congruity. 2. The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition? The book has been linguistically dated to about 350 BCE, but it seems to have circulated in several earlier forms. In 1972, at the tombs of Mawangdui, archeologists discovered two ancient copies of the text that differ from the arrangement commonly used. Another shorter ancient version was found in a tomb at Guodian in 1993. It contains about one-third of the standard text.1 The version...
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...traditional society, a person is born into a religion, they will learn about that religion from a young age and it will shape their personality and lives. However, in modern society, people have become disillusioned with the stories, or metanarratives, of the major religions, with the increase in rational thinking and scientific discoveries and advancements, in science and technology, leading to traditional religion experiencing secularisation and losing influence over society and its people, with church attendance at an all-time low. At the same time, postmodernists argue that new religious movements (NRMs) are now growing, as people want to fulfil something spiritual in their lives, as they have become tired of the materialistic, money driven society we live in today, alluding to the argument that religion may not be disappearing, but just changing to fit a postmodern society. Hervieu-Leger suggests that religion has declined due to 'cultural amnesia'. In the past, religion was handed down to children by the family, the school and Sunday school. But this tradition has now broken down, meaning that children today are less likely to get a religious identity from their family, so they know much less about traditional religion. Postmodernists argue that the emphasis in postmodern society is for the individual to make choices in their lives about their own personal identity. This has had a number of effects on the nature of religion. Firstly, Hervieu-Leger says that individual...
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...one’s personality and reaching Buddhahood.” (Bodhidharma’s definition, 2010) Zen is the school of Mahayana Buddhism which started in China in the 6th century C.E. It was also taught at the Shaolin Monastery of China. It is also Japanese’s name which came from the Chinese “Ch’an.” This is the Chinese translation Sanskrit word dhyana that is a mind consumed in meditation. The most well known practice of Zen is zazen, which is a type of meditation where one sits down. History of Buddhism Buddhism was formed in the 5th century B.C.E. and began in India. This religion started about 2500 years ago when Suddhartha Gotama, or the Buddha was liberated at 35 years old. This religion currently has about 350,000,000 followers and does not have a formal headquarters. Its sacred texts are Pali Tipitika, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Canons. The word originates from “budhi”, which means to awaken. Many followers, Buddhism is more than Religion it is away of living their lives. They feel it is a philosophy, in that this word means love of wisdom. Buddhism is a practice that leads to moral living, being mindful and being familiar with ones way of thinking and what they do, also gaining knowledge and discernment. Buddhism is gaining more existence in western countries because the followers feel It answers the problems of society. In addition they feel it encompasses a strong awareness of the human mind. Basic teachings of Buddhism Per the class reading, it is not actually known what Buddha taught...
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...Delorise Young Professor Brown Religion 110 Sept. 15, 2000 This week we discussed religion their theories and it’s foundation for different cultures the definition for religion is service and worship of god, The Greek Threiska is an outward expression of spiritual devotion, it is a belief in reverence to show honor and devotion to some super natural power that is recognize as the creator of the universe, it’s doctrine has a approve pattern of behavior there are other definitions of religion like the one of Paul Tillich, his greatest concern was that a persons religion is so vital that they are willing to die. Another definition was religion being seen as a name by William James it consist of the belief that there are an unseen order that our supreme god lies with adjusting ourselves to fit in that order, we discuss theories of origin of religion, were does it come from, is itself invented to account for the unexplained, is a clutch for the unanswered. There are different theories like the animistic theory by Edward Tyler vs. Hubert spencer, spencer believed that the gods of primitive people was based on dreams of the recent dead & there chief and heroes were actually alive in another form, Manism, power, or the element forces of nature embodied in a object or another person, Taylor primitive people developed a scene of soul and sprit with experiencing with the dead and through dreams they are found in people and nature, another theory is nature worship by May Miller-...
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...Traditions Religious traditions play significant role in the lives of human beings around the world. There are different meanings for religion and the simplest definition of religion is that it is a belief system or cultural system that helps reconnect the human reality with the sacred world by being a moral guide for the way human beings live (CCSU, n. d.). There are eight elements in religious traditions, belief system, a community, central myth stories, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness(Molly & Hilgers, 2010). In this paper the following topics will be discussed, religious traditions and its relationships, key critical issues in the study of religion, and examples from various religious traditions. Relationship With the Divine From the beginning of the human life, spiritual relationships with the Divine have been common as part of the human survival in the natural world. Different religions state to the sacred by different names based on their beliefs. They call it as Great Spirit, the Holy, the Divine, and the Absolute. A person’s relationship with the divine depends on many events and teachings that he or she experiences throughout her or his life. Having a relationship with the divine, people are able to reach their ultimate goal of the religion in which a person or culture follows. The divine can be employed in several ways such as by praying, reading the Bible, the Quran, or the Veda...
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...AND USE RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS TO WHAT EXTENT DO SOCIOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE SUPPORT THIS VIEW? There are many different social groups within society and many different reasons why one would join a religion and follow a certain belief. Religiosity is related to age, gender, and social acts. Religion take help many people solve underlying problems where people are experiencing anomie. Religion can be defined in many different ways such as Weber defining it as a belief in a superior or supernatural power that cannot be explained through science. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the extent to which sociological arguments and evidence support the view that different groups have different social and spiritual needs and use religion and religious organisations in very different ways. Religiosity varies by age, this can be due to many different reasons such as the amount of time one has to participate and commit to a set belief. People younger than 15 and over 65 are more likely to be involved in a religious activity; however participation by those under the age of 15 takes part in the form of Sunday school and religious playgroups. Therefore, this portrays that they may have been brought up by their primary caregiver mother to attend Sunday school since they were young so attending is part of their weekly routine. As well, the elderly (over 65) are most likely to be retired so have more time to practice their religion by going...
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...Contemporary Issues in Western Religions University of Phoenix World Religious Traditions II REL /134 January 24, 2011 Contemporary Issues in Western Religions This paper will describe the historical connections and theological similarities with Pentecostal versus Roman Catholicism including what ways the two religions are the same, how the two religions differ from its ‘parent’ faith, describe the leadership structure, discuss its identity (practices, clothing, dietary, etc.), how the members view themselves, how outsiders view the group, and identify any contemporary struggles within the Pentecostal religion. The historical connections and theological similarities of Pentecostal and Roman Catholicism have ancient roots. Although the Pentecostal movement emphasizes the fullest extent of emotional Christian worship, Roman Catholicism emphasizes traditional teachings and practices (Molloy, 2010). Other similarities include the belief in the Holy Trinity, the authority of the Holy Bible, the Importance of good works, the value of tradition, guided interpretation of the Bible, Hierarchical authority, and sacraments (Molloy, 2010). Other examples of the similarities between Roman Catholicism and Pentecostal are that Jesus is the only begotten son of God and died for the sins of the entire world; the Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; by faith in Jesus Christ, believers are given eternal life. The Pentecostal movement believes...
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...University of Phoenix Material Daoism Worksheet Complete the following questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions. 1. Describe the principles of yang and yin. Yin and Yang are represented by intertwined objects that look like commas. One is dark and one is white. The meaning is to show the balance between good and evil or any set of opposites. It shows that the opposite of one thing can turn onto the opposite of the other. The concept is that the universe expresses itself in opposite ways but in complementary ways like light and dark, birth and death, young and old, old and new, and the list goes on and on. The dot of the opposite color in each side is the seed that represents the division that will turn into the other (Molloy, 2012, Chapter 6). 2. The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition? The Daodejing is highly regarded as one of the world’s premier religious texts. The title can be translated as the classical book about the Way and it’s power. There are multiple versions but the one most widely used dates back to the third century. The chapters do not have a clear pattern, rather they are read more as poetry. It may have perhaps originated as a collection of proverbs and oral sayings that were...
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...University of Phoenix Material Daoism Worksheet Complete the following questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions. 1. Describe the principles of yang and yin. As stated by the Shen-nong website, “Ancient people were greatly interested in there relationships and patterns that occurred in nature. Instead of studying isolated things, they viewed the world as a harmonious and holistic entity” ("Yin yang," 2005, p. 1).Yin and yang are best described as complementary ways for explaining relationships between objects.Yin is referred to as dark, cold, lower, rest, inward, and female.Yang is referred to as bright, hot, upper, movement, outward, and male. One can not exsist without the other. This is not the same principle as good and eveil. The two forces of Yin and Yang work together to make up the univserse and exsist in everything in the universe. These two complementary forces helped the ancient people explain and understand nature, energy, and the human body. 2. The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition? The Daodejing is a book made up of five thousand Chinese characters and is seen as one of the world’s greatest books. It is the main scripture for Daoists and the title is translated as...
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...Contemporary Issues in Eastern Religions Paper Serrita Daniels, Bismarck Perez, Jonathan Keyworth, Dennis Morales, Matthew Weed REL/ 133 May 3rd, 2014 Stephen Allen Contemporary Issues in Eastern Religions Paper Shinto began in a time when the religion had no name and it was just a way of life. Long ago, people lived close with nature and so the religion began in worshiping the spirits of nature as a reality of the world (Molly, 2010). Shintoism is one of the oldest religions in Japan and to keep its teaching alive Japan gave it its name when Buddhism came to Japan in the sixth century. Although, this did not stop people from coming to Japan to compare their religions, how this religion interacts with the modern world, and how Shintoism would influence other religions in the modern world (Molly, 2010). When comparing Shintoism to other religions such as, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism many people may automatically say there are not comparisons between the religions. When researching comparisons between these religions, people can say they all believe in a higher power, but that is not where the similarities end. Shinto and Buddhism care two religions that taught and learned from each other by adopting beliefs from each other. The both believed in having a place of worship called shrines and temples. They also believed in more than one higher deity who were a loving and benign (Find the best, 2014). When China entered Japan, the Chinese introduced Buddhism...
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...Life After Death, What Happens After We Die? Contents Introduction 3 Ideas on Life After Death in Different Religions 4 Perception of Life After Death in Literature: Dante's “Inferno” 6 Life After Death in Art: Rodin's “The Gates of Hell” 8 Conclusion 10 References 11 Introduction The question associated with life after death is associated with people of all races, genders, ages and world religions. It is understandable that people cannot live forever, and death is an inevitable event. But still people are interested what will happen to them after death, and what it means to die. There are great numbers of assumptions on this issue, and people's opinions differ, but still it is difficult to reveal the truth, as nobody knows this for sure. This paper will focus on different assumptions and possible events taking place after people's death. Of course every person thinks about afterlife concept in the current period of time, as it would be really strange not to consider this issue at least once. People should understand and be aware of possible events happened to them after life in order to value the current state of affairs and life in the present period of time. It is necessary to make the right choice and build proper relationships with people surrounding you, as every day is unique, and it would be impossible to return it again. D'Souza (2009) stated that the Bible teaches people “that...
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...Contemporary Issues in Western Religions Islam Struggles within Christianity and Judaism Islam’s nature of sacred reality is monotheistic just as Christianity and Judaism, and is very similar in their religious formation. The theoretical foundations of each belief are historically similar and all saying the same message, that there is only one true God. The Islamic religious structure believes in the same God as Judaism and Christianity, the God of Abraham, but Islam knows him as Allah. There are some differences in the way Islam refer to Allah as God and Christianity and Judaism prefer to say God but theoretically they are referring to the same one true God. The origin of Islamic way of living is to seek to serve Allah only, through the instructions given by Allah to the prophet and first Muslim Muhammad. The history of the Islamic religion is connected to Judaism and Christianity in the same way because they also believe the way of the righteous is to submit to God and instruction on God’s will has been given through prophecy. Only Christianity submission is through the redemption of Jesus Christ by the New Testament and Judaism submission to God is to follow the Laws of the Old Testament. They all began in the Middle East where Islam’s prophet Muhammad was the prophecy of Abraham’s first son Ishmael by Hagar his servant and Judaism and Christianity’s prophecy developed in the Middle East by Abraham’s youngest son Isaac from Sarah Abraham’s wife. Even though each prophecy...
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...The study and discussion in class of the many different religions provided a new perspective on the similarities in the culture and characteristics of each religion. Christianity for example bases its faith on many different things such as God the creator, Jesus the son and savior, the Word of God as documented in the Bible and also a belief in the devil or Satan who is an enemy to God and his people. As we began to review other western religions, the similarities to Christianity become clearer, for example all religions believe in a God or higher power for example in Judaism they believe that God spoke to Abraham and in Islam God is Allah and he speaks to Muhammad. There are also rules to follow that usually include a divine spoken word like in the Torah and the Qur’an. The Golden rule is also found in these religions in one form or another but mainly one should show love for all by doing good for others and be mindful of the sick and the poor, and lastly of everlasting life. Throughout history, religion has evolved and changed that may be due to people moving and traveling and by their own perspective and understanding of the existing religion and then merging the best of their own and the new to create another style of religion. Christianity, because of these influences has changed and even branched off into many sub religions that follow the basic principles but add a characteristic or ritual from another religion or culture. In current times things such as cultural clashes...
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...Elements of Religious Tradition Torri Greer REL/134 February 26, 2014 William Sunday Elements of Religion There are many common elements of religion, even if the characteristics of the religion vary widely. Some of these elements include a belief system, community, ritual, ethics, emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness. This paper discusses how some of the elements encourage relationships with the divine, with sacred time, sacred space or the natural world, and the relationships with each other. The paper will also outline critical issues when studying religion (Molloy, 2010). A religion may have a clear interpretation of the universe and what humans’ place is in it. These belief systems may see human beings’ roles are to take care of nature, and hold it sacred, whereas other religions view humans’ role is to conquer nature. Human purpose is also a part of the worldview in religion. Even though the purpose of a human beings life varies among religion, it is a common characteristic of religion to help identify that purpose (Molloy, 2010). Rituals are beliefs enacted and made real through ceremony. Many religious traditions are rich in ritual reenactments. These reenactments may use sacred materials. Other rituals are used to give homage to their divine. A ritual may be a small act of lighting a candle and praying, to dancing and chanting, reenacting past sacred events. Going to church on Sunday could be considered a ritual, and is done...
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