©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter One Understanding Religion

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Religion What is religion? What benefits do people get from religion? What benefits does society get from religion? What disadvantages come with religion? What social problems are rooted in religion? Is it a function of society only, or is it an individual choice? Why should we study world religions?

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Academic Study of Religion Religion studies as opposed to theology Objectivity as opposed to subjectivity Etic as opposed to emic view Examining beliefs and practices – Not truth or untruth of beliefs The word “myth” Stories expressing religious beliefs No connection to implications of truth

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Definition Linguistic “again” and “connect” reconnecting to the sacred world? Reconnecting to each other? Dictionary – A system of belief that involves worship of a god or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code. Inaccuracies for some religions

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Elements Common to Many Religions Belief system – world view Community – group united by shared beliefs Central myths – stories that reflect beliefs Ritual – ceremonies Ethics – moral code Emotional experiences – common to many Material expression – artistic expression Sacredness – some objects etc, set apart

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Key Terms Characterizing Idea of God Polytheism—many gods Monotheism—one god Pantheism—all is god Animism—nature is full of spirits Atheism—no god or gods Agnosticism—cannot know existence of god Nontheism—no position on existence of god Transcendent—sacred is beyond this world Immanent—sacred is within this world

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Religious Symbolism Water Ashes Sun Mountain Circle Door Path or road

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Key Theorists of Religion Frazer—belief in spirits within nature (animism), humanity’s attempt to explain the unexplainable James—brings meaning and vitality, filling a psychological need Jung—individuation; personal development, a noble human response to the need for personal fulfillment Freud—projection of childhood experience, God as a parent Otto—sense of the holy, expressing fascination with the mysterious aspects of life

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Orientations of Religions Sacramental—emphasizes ritual and ceremony Prophetic—emphasizes belief and morality Mystical—emphasizes sense of oneness with god or the universe

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Varied Attitudes Among Religions Sacred reality—transcendent or immanent Universe—created or eternal Nature—perfect or imperfect, ideal and sacred or source of evil or created by divine force but shaped by humanity Time—cyclical or linear Human beings—central or part of nature and society Words and scriptures—valuable or inadequate Exclusiveness vs. Inclusiveness – followers cannot follow another religion at the same time, or they can

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Gender Roles in Religion Deities – Male, female or both Religious leaders – male, female or both Worshippers – genders together or separate Privileges same or different Responsibilities same or different Living religions – changes reflect changes in culture