Intro to Religion - Chapter 1 (Understanding Religion)

symbol

A ____________ is something fairly concrete, ordinary, and universal that can represent—and help human beings intensely experience—something of greater complexity.

Thick description

A description not only of rituals and religious objects, but also of their meaning for the practitioners.

Sacredness

A distinction is made between the sacred and the ordinary; ceremonies often emphasize this distinction through the deliberate use of different language, clothing, and architecture. Certain objects, actions, people, and places may share in the sacredness or express it.

nontheism

A position that is unconcerned with the supernatural, not asserting or denying the existence of any deity.

deconstruction

A technique, pioneered by Jacques Derrida, that sets aside ordinary categories of analysis and makes use, instead, of unexpected perspectives on cultural elements; it can be used for finding underlying values in a text, film, artwork, cultural practice, or religious phenomenon

[Latin Root of Religion] Re

Again

Characteristic emotional experiences

Among the emotional experiences typically associated with religions are dread, guilt, awe, mystery, devotion, conversion, "rebirth", liberation, ecstasy, bliss, and inner peace.

post-structuralism

An analytical approach that does not seek to find universal structures that might underlie language, religion, art, or other such significant areas, but focuses instead on observing carefully the individual elements in cultural phenomena

structuralism

An analytical approach that looks for universal structures that underlie language, mental processes, mythology, kinship, and religions; this approach sees human activity as largely determined by such underlying structures.

Appreciation for the arts

Anyone attracted to painting, sculpture, music, or architecture will be drawn to the study of religions. Because numerous religious traditions have been among the most significant patrons of art, their study provides a gateway to discovering and appreciating these rich works

The human attitude toward nature

At one end of the spectrum, some religions or religious schools see nature as the realm of evil forces that must be overcome. For them, nature is gross and contaminating, existing in opposition to the nonmaterial world of the spirit—a view, known as dualism, held by some forms of Christianity, Jainism, and Hinduism. At the other end of the spectrum, as in Daoism and Shinto, nature is considered to be sacred and needs no alteration. Other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, take a middle ground, holding that the natural world originated from a divine action but that human beings are called upon to continue to shape it.

Wilhelm Schmidt

Austrian ethnographer and philologist _______________ argued that all humankind once believed in a single High God and that to this simple monotheism later beliefs in lesser gods and spirits were added.

Tolerance and appreciation of differences

Because human beings are emotional creatures, their religions can sometimes allow inflamed feelings to override common decency. As we see daily, religions can be employed to justify immense cruelty. Examining the major religions of the world helps us develop tolerance toward people of varying religious traditions. In a multicultural world, tolerance of differences is valuable, but enjoyment of differences is even better. Variety is a fact of nature, and the person who can enjoy variety—in religion and elsewhere—is a person who will never be tired of life.

E. B. Tylor

Believed religion was rooted in spirit worship. He noted how frequently religions see "spirits" as having some control over natural forces and how commonly religions see those who die—the ancestors—as passing into the spirit world. Fear of the power of all these spirits, he thought, made it necessary for people to find ways to please their ancestors

animism

From the Latin anima, meaning "spirit," "soul," "life force"; a worldview common among oral religions (religions with no written scriptures) that sees all elements of nature as being filled with spirit or spirits.

Omnipresence

God is ever present in the universe.

Karl Marx

He indeed called religion an opiate of the masses. But for him religion had both a bad and a good side. Religion, he thought, emerged naturally because people felt poor, powerless, and alienated from their work. On the other hand, Marx also thought that religion gave great consolation, for it spoke of a suffering-free life after death. For him, religion was a symptom of the sickness of society. The need for religion, he thought, would dissolve when society improved.

Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only one form of the _____________ she is also a continuation of the pre-Christian deity Tonantzin, who was once worshiped at the modern-day site of the main church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Insight into family traditions

Religions have influenced most earlier cultures so strongly that their effects are readily identifiable in the values of our parents and grandparents—even if they are not actively religious individuals. These values include attitudes toward education, individual rights, gender roles, sex, time, money, food, and leisure.

transcendent

"Climbing beyond" (Latin); beyond time and space. Unlimited by the world and all ordinary reality. A powerful God, distinct from the universe, describes a sacredness that is active in the world but also distinct from it.

atheism

"Not God" (Greek); a position asserting that there is no God or gods.

agnosticism

"Not know" (Greek); a position asserting that the existence of God cannot be proven.

Julian Huxley, biologist

"Religion is a way of life founded upon the apprehension of sacredness in existence." Who said this?

Central myths

Stories that express the religious beliefs of a group are retold and often reenacted. Examples of central myths include the major events in the life of the Hindu god Krishna, the enlightenment experience of the Buddha, the exodus of the Israelites from oppression in Egypt, the death and resurrection of Jesus, or Muhammad's escape from Mecca to Medina. Scholars call such central stories myths. We should note that the term myth, as scholars use it, is a specialized term. It does not in itself mean that the stories are historically untrue (as in popular usage) but only that the stories are central to the religion.

Prophetic orientation

Stresses that contact with the sacred is ensured by proper belief and by adherence to moral rules

Enriched experience of travel

Study of religion allows us to see cultural forms in new ways. One of the great pleasures of our age is travel. Visiting the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia or a Mayan pyramid in Mexico is quite different from just reading about them. The study of world religions gives travelers the background necessary to fully enjoy the many wonderful places they can now experience directly

Religions manifest eight possible elements: belief system, community, central myths, ritual, ethics, characteristics emotional experiences, material expression, and _____________. a) science b) sacredness c) dualism d) deconstruction

b) sacredness

as an academic discipline, the field of religious studies is now more than ______ years old. a) 10 b) 25 c) 200 d) 2,000

c) 200

__________________ theorized that belief in a God or gods arises from the long-lasting impressions made on adults by their childhood experiences. a) James Frazer b) E.B. Taylor c) Sigmund Freud d) Carl Jung

c) Sigmund Freud

the belief that all is divine is called __________. a) atheism b) monotheism c) pantheism d) agnosticism

c) pantheism

Rudolf Otto argued that religions emerge when people experience that aspect of reality which is essentially mysterious; while ___________ believed that religion was a noble human response to the complexity and depth of reality. a) James Frazer b) E.B. Taylor c) Sigmund Freud d) Carl Jung

d) Carl Jung

In early religions the most significant female deity was particularly associated with _____________ and motherhood and has been known by many names, such as Asherah, Aphrodite, and Freia. a) strength b) wisdom c) the arts d) fertility

d) fertility

Psychology

deals with human mental states, emotions, and behaviors. Despite being a fairly young discipline, psychology has taken a close look at religion because it offers such rich human "material" to explore. A few areas of study include religious influences on child rearing, human behavior, gender expectations, and self-identity; group dynamics in religion; trance states; and comparative mystical experiences. [Greek: "soul study"]

Archeology

explores the remains of earlier civilizations, often uncovering the artifacts and ruins of religious buildings from ancient cultures [Greek: "study of origins"]

Anthropology

has been interested in how religions influence the ways different cultures deal with issues such as family interaction, individual roles, property rights, marriage, child rearing, social hierarchies, and division of labor. [Greek: "study of human beings"]

Literary Theory

has studied the written texts of religion as reflections of the cultural assumptions and values that produced the texts. it has thus pointed out some of the ways in which religions have reflected and promoted the treatment of women and minorities, for example, as different from or inferior to more dominant groups. It also has shown that nonwritten material—such as religious statues, paintings, songs, and even films—can be viewed as forms of discourse and can therefore be studied in the same ways that written texts are studied.

omnipotent

having total power over the universe

Philosophy

is essentially the work of individuals, while religion is a community experience; _____________ tries to avoid emotion, while religion often nurtures it; and _____________ is carried on without ritual, while religion naturally expresses itself in ceremony. (Greek: "love of wisdom") in some ways originated from a struggle with religion; ______________ does not automatically accept the answers given by any religion to the great questions. Instead, it seeks answers independently, following reason rather than religious authority, and it tries to fit its answers into a rational, systematic whole. [Greek: "love of wisdom"]

Theology

is the study of topics as they relate to one particular religious tradition. A theologian is an individual who usually studies his or her own belief system. For example, a person who is in training to become a Christian minister might study Christian theology. [Greek: "study of the divine"]

Sigmund Freud

theorized that belief in a God or gods arises from the long-lasting impressions made on adults by their childhood experiences, in which their parents play a major part; these adults then project their sense of their parents into their image of their God or gods. He argued that since a major function of religion is to help human beings feel secure in an unsafe universe, religion becomes less necessary as human beings gain greater physical and mental security.

Ritual Beliefs

are enacted and made real through ceremonies.

Anthropologist ______________ believed that religion was rooted in spirit worship. a) James Frazer b) E. B. Tylor c) Sigmund Freud d) Carl Jung

b) E. B. Tylor

Sacramental orientation

Emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and correctly as the path to salvation

immanent

Existing and operating within nature.

The arts

Comparing patterns in religious _____ makes an intriguing study. For example, religious architecture often uses symmetry, height, and archaic styles to suggest the sacred; religious music frequently employs a slow pace and repeated rhythms to induce tranquillity; and religious art often incorporates gold, haloes, equilateral designs, and circles to suggest otherworldliness and perfection.

Insight into religious traditions

Each religion is interesting in its own right as a complex system of values, relationships, personalities, and human creativity.

Human purpose

In some religions, human beings are part of a great divine plan, and although each person is unique, individual meaning comes also from the cosmic plan. The cosmic plan may be viewed as a struggle between forces of good and evil, with human beings at the center of the stage and the forces of good and evil at work within them. Because human actions are so important, they must be guided by a prescribed moral code that is meant to be internalized by the individual. This view is significant in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In contrast, other religions do not see human life in similarly dramatic terms, and the individual is only part of much larger realities. In Daoism and Shinto, a human being is a small part of the natural universe, and in Confucianism, an individual is part of the family and of society. Such religions place less emphasis on individual rights and more emphasis on how the individual can maintain harmony with the whole. Actions are not guided by an internalized moral system but by society, tradition, and a sense of mutual obligation.

Words and scriptures

In some religions, the sacred is to be found in written and spoken words, and for those religions that use writing and create scriptures, reading, copying, and using sacred words in music or art are important. We see the importance of words in indigenous religions (which primarily pass on their traditions orally), in Judaism, in Christianity, in Islam, and in Hinduism. Other religions—such as Daoism and Zen Buddhism, which show a certain mistrust of words—value silence and wordless meditation. Although Zen and Daoism utilize language in their practices and have produced significant literature, each of these religions finds language limited in expressing the richness or totality of reality.

city-states

It has been argued that male dominance in religion became more common as the result of the growth of _______________ which needed organized defense and so elevated the status of men because of their fighting ability

Help in one's own religious quest

Not everyone is destined to become an artist or a musician or a poet, yet each one of us has some ability to appreciate visual arts, music, and poetry. In the same way, although some people may not be explicitly religious, they may have a sense of the sacred and a desire to seek ways to feel at home in the universe. Those who belong to a religion will have their beliefs and practices enriched by the study of the world's religions, because they will learn about their religion's history, major figures, scriptures, and influences from different points of view. Others who have little interest in traditional religions yet nonetheless have a strong interest in spirituality may view their lives as a spiritual quest. For any person involved in a spiritual search, it is extremely helpful to study a variety of religions. Stories of others' spiritual quests provide insights that we may draw on for our own spiritual journey.

God [as a term]

One familiar term for the sacred reality used in the Western world.

Intellectual questioning

Religions make claims about truth, yet some of their views are not easy to reconcile. For example, doesn't the theory of reincarnation of the soul, as found in Hinduism, conflict with the teaching of several other religions that a soul has only one lifetime on earth? And how can the notion of an immortal soul be reconciled with the Buddhist teaching that nothing has a permanent soul or essence? We must also ask questions about tolerance itself. Must we be tolerant of intolerance, even if it is preached by a religion? Questions such as these arise naturally when we study religions side by side. Such study sharpens our perception of the claims of religions and invites us to examine important intellectual questions more closely.

Material expression

Religions make use of an astonishing variety of physical elements—statues, paintings, musical compositions, musical instruments, ritual objects, flowers, incense, clothing, architecture, and specific locations.

Time

Religions that emphasize a creation, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, tend to see time as being linear, moving in a straight line from the beginning of the universe to its end. Being limited and unrepeatable, time is important. In some other religions, such as Buddhism, however, time is cyclical. The universe simply moves through endless changes, which repeat themselves over grand periods of time. In such a religion, time is not as crucial or "real" because, ultimately, the universe is not moving to some final point; consequently, appreciating the present may be more important than being oriented to the future.

Insight into everyday life

Religious influences can be found everywhere in modern culture, not just within religious buildings. Politicians make use of religious images, for example, when they speak of a "new covenant" with voters. Specific religions and religious denominations take public positions on moral issues, such as abortion and war. Our weekly routines are regulated by the originally Jewish practice of a six-day work week followed by a day of rest, and the European- American school calendar is divided in two by the originally Christian Christmas holidays. Even comic strips use religious imagery: animals crowded onto a wooden boat, a man holding two tablets, angels on clouds, a person meditating on a mountaintop. The study of religions is valuable for helping us recognize and appreciate the religious influences that are everywhere.

Ethics

Rules about human behavior are established. These are often viewed as having been revealed from a supernatural realm, but they can also be viewed as socially generated guidelines.

Mystical orientation

Seeks union with a reality greater than oneself, such as with God, the process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole. There are often techniques (such as seated meditation) for lessening the sense of one's individual identity to help the individual experience a greater unity. The mystical orientation is a prominent aspect of Upanishadic Hinduism, Daoism, and some schools of Buddhism

Belief system

Several beliefs fit together into a fairly complete and systematic interpretation of the universe and the human being's place in it; this is also called a worldview.

The nature of the universe

Some religions see the universe as having been begun by an intelligent, personal Creator who continues to guide the universe according to a cosmic plan. Other religions view the universe as being eternal; that is, having no beginning or end. If the universe is created, especially by a transcendent deity, the center of sacredness is the Creator rather than the universe, but human beings imitate the Creator by changing and perfecting the world. If, however, the universe is eternal, the material universe itself is sacred and perfect and requires no change.

The nature of sacred reality

Some religions speak of the nature as transcendent, existing primarily in a realm beyond the everyday world. In other nature and human beings can experience it as energy or holiness.

Religions

are not permanent theoretical constructs but are constantly in a process of change—influenced by governments, thinkers, historical events, changing technology, and the shifting values of the cultures in which they exist.

Rudolf Otto

The German theologian __________________ argued in his book 'The Idea of the Holy' that religions emerge when people experience that aspect of reality which is essentially mysterious. He called it the "mystery that causes trembling and fascination" (mysterium tremendum et fascinans). In general, we take our existence for granted and live with little wonder, but occasionally something disturbs our ordinary view of reality. For example, a strong manifestation of nature—such as a violent thunderstorm—may startle us. It is an aspect of reality that is frightening, forcing us to tremble (tremendum) but also to feel fascination (fascinans). The emotional result is what Otto called numinous awe.

Western Culture

The Term "Religion" Arose in _________________.

polytheism

The belief in many gods.

monotheism

The belief in one God.

Community

The belief system is shared, and its ideals are practiced by a group

pantheism

The belief that everything in the universe is divine.

dualism

The belief that reality is made of two different principles (spirit and matter); the belief in two gods (good and evil) in conflict.

Linguistics

The study of __________ has sometimes involved a search for patterns that may underlie all languages. But it has occasionally also suggested general patterns and structures that may underlie something broader than language alone: human consciousness. It has also examined religious language for its implications and often-hidden values.

Carl Gustav Jung

an early disciple of Freud, broke with his mentor because of fundamental differences of interpretation, particularly about religion. In his books Modern Man in Search of a Soul, Psychology and Alchemy, and Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Jung described religion as something that grew out of the individual's need to arrive at personal fulfillment, which he called individuation. For Jung, religion was a noble human response to the complexity and depth of reality.

1) the early scientific movement accepted belief in a creator-god, but it rejected belief in miracles and demanded scientific proof for beliefs. The emerging scientific movement thus forcing people to revise some of their traditional religious beliefs. 2) because of the growth of historical studies, academic experts began to question the literal truth of some statements and stories presented in the scriptures. 3) because of the growth of trade and travel, even faraway cultures were becoming known. 4) Lastly, one of the most provocative new perspectives is neurology.

The study of religion began to take new form two centuries ago. There were several causes for the change. What are the reasons?

Insight into what religions share

The study of religions requires sympathy and objectivity. While it is true that being a believer of a particular religion brings a special insight that an outsider cannot have, it is also true that an outsider can appreciate things that are not always obvious to the insider. This is particularly true of shared patterns of imagery, belief, and practice.

Mythology

The study of religious tales, texts, and art has uncovered some universal patterns. It is full of the recurrent images and themes found in religions, such as the tree of knowledge, the ladder to heaven, the fountain of life, the labyrinth, the secret garden, the holy mountain, the newborn child, the suffering hero, initiation, rebirth, the cosmic battle, the female spirit guide, and the aged teacher of wisdom

[Latin Root of Religion] Lig

To join or connect

Insight into people

Understanding a person's religious background tells us more about that person's attitudes and values. Such understanding is valuable for successful human relations—in both public life and private life.

William James

Viewed religion as a positive way of fulfilling these needs and praised its positive influence on the lives of individuals. He wrote that religion brings "a new zest" to living, provides "an assurance of safety," and leads to a "harmonious relation with the universe."

Sacramental orientation, Prophetic orientation, and Mystical orientation

When we look at the world's dominant religions, we see three basic orientations in their conception and location of the sacred. What are they?

Traditional dictionary

________________ definitions of religion read something like this: A system of belief that involves worship of a God or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code.

Spiritual Path

_________________ would be more appropriate to refer to other religious systems.

____________ argues that the existence of God cannot be proven. a) agnosticism b) pantheism c) monotheism d) nontheism

a) agnosticism

when we look at the world's dominant religions we see three basic orientations in their conceptions and location of the sacred: sacramental, prophetic, and ___________. a) mystical b) spiritual c) immanent d) animistic

a) mystical

Religions express truth __________. For example, water can represent spiritual cleansing, sun health, a mountain strength, and a circle eternity. a) symbolically b) prophetically c) mystically d) structural

a) symbolically