Introduction to Religion What is Religion? Introduction to Religion

Images of Religious Life

Symbols

Images of Religious Life

Religion Religare Religia Latin root Re plus ligare To bind, to tie fast Religia Latin – obligation or bond

Gary Comstock “That part of some people’s lives which involves rituals, beliefs, organizations, ethical values, historical traditions and personal habits or choices – some of which refer to the transcendent.”

Mircea Eliade “The sacred always manifests itself as a reality of a wholly different order from ‘natural’ realities. ...The First possible definition of the sacred is that it is the opposite of the profane.”   Sacred: set apart for worship of a deity or as worthy of worship. Profane: nonreligious. Outside the sphere of religion.

Ninian Smart Seven Dimensions of Religion. Not a definition, but identifying features that help us understand the way academics think about the topic.

Practical or Ritual Formal or informal Temporal and spatial Experiential or Emotional

Rudolf Otto – Mysterium tremendum fascinansa mysterious something that draws you in and inspires both awe and fear Mysticism key here - Intuitive - Beyond reason Experiential or Emotional

Narrative or Mythic Dimension a vehicle that relates a truth defying normal expression and sets pattern for human behaviors Usually considered poetry (metaphors!) rather than prose

Narrative or Mythic Dimension Symbol something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance Roses = romance Lion = bravery

Narrative or Mythic Dimension Metaphor a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar Broken Heart Wounded King Achilles Heel

Narrative or Mythic Dimension Cosmogony Accounts of the creation of the world   Cosmology is different (the nature and structure of the universe – can be scientific, too) Eschatology  Accounts/Beliefs about the end of the world Morality Tale How to behave in relation to others; your code

Joseph Campbell’s Work Mythologist Comparative Religions/Mythologies Monomyth One single great story Template/Model All of the great myths have a common pattern; Famous example – Hero Tales Video

Doctrinal or Philosophical Dimension The principles of a tradition   Typically explain complex ideas May or may not be familiar to the average believer, but is part of the scholarly tradition

Ethical or Legal Dimension   The things required of a believer Social and Institutional Dimension

Material Dimension Artifacts – Buildings – Art – Music – Symbols – Natural World

Why do religions exist? Religions help us deal with a variety of human needs. For example: – Give us a way to think about our own mortality – Help us to find security in an insecure world – Organize us socially – Assist the poorest and the weakest with survival – Stimulate artistic production

Sigmund Freud   1856-1939   Religion is about projecting our childhood experiences with our parents onto a God or gods

Carl Jung Individuation or personal fulfillment 1875-1961 Individuation or personal fulfillment  Symbols particularly important

Some Key Terms Polytheistic – Multiple forms of the divine Atheism   Atheism  – Non-belief in any deity Agnosticism  – No knowledge if the divine exists or can be known Theistic  – Religions based on a Multiple relationship with a divine being; apparent forms of the divine; there is one ultimate reality Monotheistic   – The Divine in a Singular form

Why Study Religions ? Insight into other cultures and into the lives of other people. Religion is a key to the way many people live. Understanding religious practice helps us to better understand others’ lives and hopefully, to be tolerant of people not like us.   Improve your appreciation of new places because you can understand what you see and hear and experience more fully.

Why Study Religions ? To assist in your own religious quest. Summed up simply: we can learn from others who do not practice as we do.  To appreciate everyday life more fully. You cannot see a movie, read a book, hear a song, listen to a Presidential debate without some mention of religion it seems. Knowing more is a positive.  To make you a better citizen of the world