TaK - Religion

Why are there religion(s)? How do we assess the claims of religion? Should religious belief be exposed to rational criticism? TaK - Religion Some questions to start …

All cultures in all times have organized their societies around their religious beliefs. TaK - Religion so where does it all begin?....

Early religion was the science and technology of its time – inasmuch as its stories sought to explain and predict; and its practices were designed to influence natural forces TaK - Religion The Evolution of Mythology and Religion

“A myth is a religion in which no one any longer believes.” James Feibleman TaK - Religion The Evolution of Mythology and Religion

TaK - Religion

80,000 light years 25,000 light years

TaK - Religion Ursa Major NGC 3310

TaK - Religion NGC ,000 light years in diameter

Religion: a definition A Religion is a set of doctrines and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature and often arranged as prayer, ritual or religious law. TaK - Religion

Key terms: Faith Doubt Belief Truth Certainty Reason TaK - Religion

It is hard to be indifferent to claims which offer explanations about the nature of right and wrong; the purpose of life; and what happens to us after death. TaK - Religion

Who believes what?

TaK - Religion Atheism (there is no God) Theism (there is one God) Polytheism (there are several gods) Pantheism (the Universe is God) The options … …are there others?

TaK - Religion The varieties of Religion: One religion is true and all the rest are false All religions are false All religions point towards the same underlying truth

TaK - Religion I think that God exists I believe that God exists I know that God exists What’s the difference?

Religious beliefs can give certainty, meaning and purpose to our lives. (Atheism is also a belief system which can give certainty, meaning and purpose to our lives.) TaK - Religion

How many people have a religious belief? Between 70% - 90% of the worlds population. (depending on source)

TaK - Religion

Top 11 Most Religious Countries Is religion an important part of your daily life? Country% Yes Egypt100 Bangladesh99 Sri Lanka99 Indonesia98 Congo98 Sierra Leone98 Malawi98 Senegal98 Djibouti98 Morocco98 United Arab Emirates – 2008 Gallup Poll Top 11 Least Religious Countries Is religion an important part of your daily life? Country% Yes Estonia14 Sweden17 Denmark18 Norway20 Czech Republic21 Azerbaijan21 Hong Kong22 Japan25 France25 Mongolia27 Belarus27

TaK - Religion Country USA Philippines Norway Russia God Afterlife Bible Devil Hell Heaven Miracles God: ”I know God exists and I have no doubts about it” Afterlife: ”I definitely believe in life after death” Bible: ”The Bible is the actual word of God and it is to be taken literally, word for word.” Devil: ”I definitely believe in the Devil” Hell: ”I definitely believe in Hell” Heaven: ”I definitely believe in Heaven” Miracles: ”I definitely believe in religious miracles” International Social Survey Program (ISSP)

TaK - Religion Which best describes the Bible? 35% 48% 17% Actual word of God, to be taken literally Inspired by the word of God Ancient fables, history, legends recorded by man Averages of May 2005, May 2006, May 2007 Gallup Poll

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Faith: a definition “Faith is the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.” Faith, by definition, demands belief without a need for supporting evidence. TaK - Religion

Allegory of Faith L.S. Carmona (18 th Century) The veil symbolizes a willingness to believe without seeing evidence TaK - Religion

Snakehandlers in a church in the southern United States George Went Hensley and the Dolley Pond Church of God ….and the things religious faith enable you to do TaK - Religion

Is faith irrational? There is no way we can prove any of the following beliefs, and yet we remain committed to their truth: Life is not a dream Other people have minds The laws of physics will not break down tomorrow The past really happened I can pass the IB! TaK - Religion

“I respect faith, but doubt is what gives you an education.” Wilson Mizner (1876 – 1933) TaK - Religion

But remember… Just because a lot of people believe something to be true, it doesn’t make it true Can we use the Truth tests when thinking about religion… Correspondence? Coherence? Pragmatism? Consensus? TaK - Religion

“Acceptance without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western religion; Rejection without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western science.” Gary Zukav TaK - Religion

Karl MarxCharles Darwin Sigmund Freud Three men whose work had a profound impact on religion TaK - Religion

“Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear” Thomas Jefferson ( )

TaK - Religion “If we can learn to hold even our deepest beliefs with a degree of humility, we will be less likely to kill one another in the name of things we do not fully understand” Richard van de Lagemaat (ToK for the IB Diploma p.428)

The basic command of religion is not, “Do this!” or “Don’t do that!” It is, simply, “Look!” TaK - Religion

Discussion questions…

How do we assess the claims of religion? Should religious belief be exposed to rational criticism? TaK - Religion

Do you know why you believe what you do? Is it a set of beliefs you have come to yourself? To what extent do you think your religious beliefs have been affected by the society you grew up in? Do you think that reason should play a part in determining religious beliefs?

TaK - Religion Suggest ways in which a person’s religious beliefs may affect their understanding of: Science History Art Ethics

TaK - Religion Key points: Religions are concerned with questions of meaning and purpose which trouble all human beings Faith plays an important role in religion, but people have different views about what faith is and whether or not it is rational The fact that there are many different religions in the world raises the question of whether they all contradict one another or whether they all point towards the same underlying truth All religions are founded on a bedrock of personal experiences, but opinions differ about how such experiences should be interpreted Since we will never have the answers to the deepest mysteries, it may be wise to hold our religious beliefs with a degree of humility

Religion Perception How should religious experiences be interpreted? Perception How should religious experiences be interpreted? Reason What arguments are there for the existence of God? Reason What arguments are there for the existence of God? Ethics Are values based on religion? Ethics Are values based on religion? Arts How similar is human creativity to divine creativity? Arts How similar is human creativity to divine creativity? History Does history reveal some kind of plan or purpose? History Does history reveal some kind of plan or purpose? Human Sciences What can psychology tell us about religious belief? Human Sciences What can psychology tell us about religious belief? Emotion What role does emotion play in religious belief? Emotion What role does emotion play in religious belief? Natural Sciences Do science and religion contradict one another? Natural Sciences Do science and religion contradict one another? TaK - Religion

Is there value in mythology? TaK - Religion If ‘Yes’ – what?