Dual enrollment

Symbols vs Signs

Symbols evoke profound meaning and emotional connection, while signs communicate specific, utilitarian messages.

Symbols as a Bridge to Ultimacy

Symbols connect the everyday to ultimate realities, pointing to the 'Holy Other' in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Human Capacity for Meaning

Humans are naturally inclined to find and assign meaning to objects, gestures, and rituals.

Totems and Talismans

Specific types of symbols tied to religion; a specific symbol could be one or the other, both, or neither.

Dual Roles of Religious Symbols

Objects, images, gestures, or words can function as both signs (practical) and symbols (profound), depending on context.

The Role of Religious Symbols in Rituals

Since they engage our sensations, symbols are foundational to rituals, myths, doctrines, and ethics, helping believers engage with ultimate meaning.

Cultural and Contextual Variability

The meaning and function of a symbol can vary across cultures, traditions, and contexts.

Om

In the Hindu symbol, it represents transcendental awareness and ultimate reality.

Bismillah

An Islamic phrase meaning 'In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,' functioning as both a sign and a symbol.

Christogram

Abbreviation for 'Jesus Christ' in Greek, often seen in Christian iconography.

Hexagram

A six-pointed geometric star formed by two overlapping triangles, one pointing upward and the other downward.

Dandy Lion

An Orthodox Christian symbol known as the 'Image Not Made by Hands,' representing Christ's divinity.

Mezuzah

A Jewish object placed on doorframes, symbolizing God's covenant and offering spiritual protection.

Sound Symbol

A sacred sound and symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, representing creation, existence, and ultimate reality.

Sign

A physical object, image, gesture, or word that conveys a specific, direct meaning or instruction without pointing beyond its immediate, utilitarian purpose.

Symbol

A physical object, image, gesture, or word that conveys meaning beyond its literal form, pointing toward deeper truths or ultimacy.

Talismans

Personal symbols believed to offer protection, empowerment, or divine connection.

Totems

Symbols that represent collective identity, shared heritage, and spiritual connection.

Nature of Myths

Myths are sacred stories addressing big questions: Why are we here? Why do we suffer? What happens when we die?

Types of Truth

Historical Truth relates to events that can be verified through evidence and documentation; Moral/Ethical Truth focuses on principles of right and wrong.

Spiritual/Mythic Truth

Explores deeper questions about ultimacy; not tied to historical or scientific verification but to the values and ideas a story conveys.

Doctrines

Often distill the truths and teachings implicit in myths into systematic, propositional statements.

Myths

Give doctrines their narrative and symbolic richness, making abstract theological community, where doctrines are shared, enforced, and adapted to group needs.

Ethical systems

Frequently draw their authority from myths, framing moral imperatives within the context of divine will or cosmic order.

Moral lessons

Often contained within myths or exemplars of ethical behavior.

Religious symbols

Generated and explained by myths, serving as tangible reminders of the stories and their associated truths.

Rituals

Provide context and justification for actions performed, ensuring they carry spiritual and communal significance.

Archetypal Imagery

Universal and recurring symbols, themes, and motifs found in myths that tap into the collective unconscious.

Archetype

A recurring symbol, character, or narrative pattern found across cultures and traditions that reflects universal human experiences and concerns.

The Hero's Journey

A narrative archetype that describes a transformational journey of a protagonist, who leaves their ordinary world, faces trials and challenges, gains new insights, and returns to share their newfound wisdom or strength with others.

Myth

A sacred story born from humanity's encounter with ultimacy, offering a lens to understand existence, purpose, and the mysteries of life.

Tricksters

An archetypal figure in myths who disrupts established norms, challenges authority, and introduces change.

Trickster's duality

Their actions lead to both chaos and growth, highlighting the complexity of morality and human experience.

Essential Question

Why is it important to study world religions with empathy, fairness, and an awareness of bias?

5eligions

Change over time, adapting to cultural and historical contexts.

)air and %alanFed &omparisons

Avoid comparing the best of your own tradition with the flaws of another.

/et 5eligions 6peaN for 7hemselYes

Listen to how adherents define and explain their own faith traditions.

5espeFt as a )oundation

Respecting the human dignity and experiences of others creates the foundation for meaningful interfaith dialogue.

(mpathy and &ritiFal 7hinNing

Empathy fosters appreciation for diverse traditions, while critical thinking allows for the examination of power, history, and social dynamics within religious contexts.

&anon

A collection of texts or scriptures recognized as authoritative and sacred within a religious tradition.

&reed

A formal statement of religious beliefs, often recited as part of worship.

)undamental $ttribution (rror

The tendency to explain others' actions as rooted in their character or beliefs while attributing one's own actions to external circumstances.

2rthodo[y

Adherence to the established or traditional beliefs and practices of a religion.

2rthopra[y

A focus on correct religious practices, rituals, and actions, often valued over strict adherence to beliefs or doctrines.

3roselytism

The act of attempting to convert others to one's own religion or belief system.

6aFrilege

The violation or desecration of something considered sacred.

Unity Through Diversity

The Catholic Church acknowledges the presence of truth and holiness in other faiths.

Ecumenism vs. Interreligious Dialogue

Ecumenism focuses on unity among Christian denominations, while interreligious dialogue emphasizes cooperation and respect between different world religions.

Vatican II as a Turning Point

Documents like Lumen Gentium, Unitatis Redintegratio, and Nostra Aetate reflect the Church's evolving stance, promoting inclusivity, dialogue, and respect for other religious traditions.

Dogmatic Constitution

A type of document issued by the Church with the highest level of authority, defining essential teachings on faith and morals.

Subsist In

Lumen Gentium uses the term 'subsist in' to express that the fullness of Christ's Church continues to exist in the Catholic Church.

Anonymous Christianity

Karl Rahner's concept that individuals outside explicit Christianity may still receive God's grace and participate in salvation.

Dogmatic Constitution

An authoritative Church document that expresses definitive teachings on faith and morals. These documents are binding for Catholics and reflect the highest level of Church teaching. Examples include Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum.

Ecumenism

The effort to promote unity among Christian churches through dialogue and cooperation while respecting denominational differences.

Interreligious Dialogue

Constructive and respectful engagement between different religious traditions aimed at promoting mutual understanding and peace.

Lumen Gentium

Dogmatic Constitution on the Church that emphasizes the Church's role as a reflection of Christ's light and acknowledges truth in other faiths.

Nostra Aetate

Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, emphasizing respect for other religions and rejecting discrimination.

Subsist In

A term used in Lumen Gentium to express that the Catholic Church contains the fullness of the Church of Christ, but elements of truth and holiness exist in other Christian and non-Christian communities. This acknowledges that salvation and grace extend beyond the visible Catholic Church.

Unitatis Redintegratio

Decree on Ecumenism that outlines the Church's commitment to restoring unity among all Christians.

Essential Question

How can religion be defined in a way that accounts for its complexity and diversity across cultures and traditions?

Defining Religion

Challenges of rigid definitions regarding belief in God, rituals, or meaning.

Prototype Theory

Categorizing religion based on prototypes like Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

Holy Other

The transcendent, incomprehensible nature of the divine or ultimate reality.

Luminous

Emotional reactions to the divine including awe, fear, reverence, and attraction.

Encounter with Ultimacy

Examples of transformative religious experiences, e.g., Moses, Muhammad, Buddha, highlighting emotional and symbolic features.

Cultural and Historical Contexts

How definitions of religion evolve over time and differ across societies, emphasizing the importance of avoiding the etymological fallacy.

Cultural Imperialism

The imposition or dominance of one culture over others, often through colonialism, globalization, or media; in religious contexts, it can involve the suppression or assimilation of indigenous traditions.

Luminous (Key Term)

The subjective emotional response to an encounter with the divine or ultimate reality, including a mix of awe and attraction.

Orthopathy

A focus on the emotional and affective dimension of religion, emphasizing feelings like awe, reverence, and compassion in forming a meaningful relationship with the divine.

Prototype Theory (Key Term)

A concept from cognitive science used to categorize objects, ideas, or phenomena based on central or most typical examples; in religion, it helps identify 'central' religions like Christianity or Islam.

Ultimacy

The highest, most essential reality or truth that religions respond to, encompassing the divine, transcendent, or ultimate questions about existence, purpose, and meaning.

Holy Other (Key Term)

Definition from theologian Rudolf Otto describing the divine or ultimate reality as entirely transcendent and beyond human comprehension, emphasizing the unique, ineffable nature of religious encounters.

Interdependence of Doctrines and Ethics

Ethics give practical application to doctrines, while doctrines give purpose and meaning to ethics.

Eschatology and Ethics

Beliefs about the end of life or the world (e.g., heaven, enlightenment, judgment) often shape ethical principles by creating accountability for actions in this life.

Conscience and Free Will

Doctrines may emphasize individual responsibility in ethical decision-making, highlighting the role of conscience and free will in aligning actions with ultimacy.

Role of Community

Religious ethics are often lived out in community, where doctrines are shared, enforced, and adapted to group needs.

Cosmic Order and Harmony

Many traditions frame ethics as aligning human behavior with a larger cosmic or divine order (e.g., dharma in Hinduism, Tao in Taoism).

Covenant and Obligation

In some traditions, ethics emerge from a covenantal relationship (e.g., the Jewish covenant with God), where ethical behavior is an act of fidelity to the divine.

Ultimate Concern

A concept from theologian Paul Tillich, referring to what a person considers of utmost importance or value, shaping their beliefs and ethics.