unit one: why religion matters

non-exhaustive list of religious traditions

1. Judaism

2. Islam

3. Sikhism

4. Christianity

5. Taoism

6. Hinduism

7. Shinto

8. indigenous religions

9. Confucianism

10. Baha’i faith

11. Buddhism

religions

how people have asked and answered the biggest questions in human existence

perennialism

the belief that all religions are one and their differences are minimal/inconsequential

doing religion

like making art. goal is to grow in faith and/or devotion

studying religion

like studying art. goal is to build religious literacy to participate as active citizens

religious literacy

knowledge about the world’s religions. focuses on empathetic understanding, critical engagement, and comparative approach. gives background information for world events and news. helps you interact with other people.

core assumptions about religions

1. lived: people live their religion through practices and ways of being in the world

2. dynamic: religious practices and expressions are alive and changing, not static

3. internally diverse: religious practice and expressions vary greatly within a religious tradition

4. embedded in culture: religious practices and expressions are situated and contextualized

essentialism

idea that we are turning a religious tradition into a ‘thing’ rather than something that changes and is changed

the ritual dimension

rites and ceremonies

the narrative dimension

myths, scriptures, and other stories

the experiential dimension

experiences of awe, guilt, bliss, oneness

the social dimension

organizations and institutional structures

the ethical dimension

laws and moral codes; standards for ethical conduct

the doctrinal dimension

creeds, theologies, statements of beliefs

the material dimension

things things like prayer beads and icons, architecture