note guide for week 1

Question 1

religion, as a conceptual category is a…

Answer 1

new, western invention

Question 2

when was the world religion created

Answer 2

in English in the 1200s from Latin

Question 3

original meaning of religion

Answer 3

obligation towards ones community (honesty, trustworthy, etc.)

Question 4

over time, religion began to mean…

Answer 4

devotional practices of faith
-catholics: benedictions, devotional practices, etc.
-1800s -> colonialism –> expansion of the understanding of religion

Question 5

most cultures throughout history have had neither the _____ nor a ____ meaning “religion”

Answer 5

conceptual category; term

Question 6

Emile Durkheim definition of religion

Answer 6

sociological definition; unites community

Question 7

supernatural meaning

Answer 7

relative to supernatural beings

Question 8

freud’s take on religion

Answer 8

Universal obsessional neurosis of humanity

Question 9

Marx’s take on religion

Answer 9

it is the opium of the people

Question 10

Paul Tillich definition of religion

Answer 10

it is ULTIMATE concern
- beliefs and practices that express what one regards as ultimate concern of life

Question 11

based on Paul Tillich’s definition of religion…

Answer 11

we are ALL religious `

Question 12

historically, when humans move toward secularization…

Answer 12

there is a reaction back to faith (religion has been present across time AND culture)

Question 13

apathy approach to other religions

Answer 13

• accompanied by ignornace
• I don’t care
• due to laziness or pride

Question 14

crusader approach to other religions

Answer 14

• learn something about their religion to defeat/argue them
  -looks for weaknesses/flaws
  -used by religions AND nonreligious people

Question 15

minimization of differences approach to other religions

Answer 15

• I worship ___, you worship ___; we are all reaching for the same thing
  -more common in younger generations –> coexist approach
  -differences are surface level/fabrications so let’s all get along
  -disrespectful since it applies western ideals to those who do not agree with them

Question 16

comparative approach to other religions

Answer 16

-sympathetic yet thoughtful study of different religions
- ask questions to understand, not to argue. but ask deep questions

Question 17

why is it important to keep in mind differences between beliefs/ideals and behavior?

Answer 17

we can’t compare OUR ideals with THEIR behaviors
- Christians look at muslims performing “terrorism” in the name of Islam… but are all Christians loving? nope

Question 18

video: Bill vs. Bill
Which approach did each take?

Answer 18

they both were crusaders
-criticizing heavily
-no attempt at understanding

Question 19

Why should Christians study other religions?

Answer 19

• Jesus called us to love other people. If you love someone, you are interested in what is most significant to them
• learning about other religions is modeled in the Bible: in Acts 17, Paul is in Athens and looks at/reads descriptions of the idols and quotes from these other religions

Question 20

it is not intolerant to…

Answer 20

believe something and disagree openly with someone else

Question 21

religions are uniquely understood by ___ people. We should not discredit the ___ perspective

Answer 21

religious; insider
- being religious gives us an insider perspective into other religions, not discredited due to bias

Question 22

those who know only 1 religion understand ____ - Max Muller

Answer 22

none

Question 23

animistic theories

Answer 23

-anima = latin for spirit
- connected with death and dreams: early humans experienced death and dreaming about the deceased led them to think that a realm exists. Part of us can transcend the physical limits of death and go to a realm after death. there are things we can do to make the realm good or bad.

Question 24

nature-worship theory

Answer 24

-observation that people deified natural objects or forces
like the sun

Question 25

original monotheism

Answer 25

- observation that cultures have a common "creator God" -we lost contact with that deity and now there are intermediary dieties/spirits (in polytheism)

Question 26

magic theory

Answer 26

-religions developed as an evolutionary process 1. magic to control nature or cause problems for others 2. appealing to nature does not work, so appeal to a supernatural deity 3. use science to control nature (medicine), so far humans have found that this works. 4. what is next after science?

Question 27

theories of religion as projections of human needs. key names

Answer 27

Freud and Marx

Question 28

encounter theory

Answer 28

encounters with a force, power, beauty - religion is seeking to understand this

Question 29

why do we not know much about indigenous religions in these areas?

Answer 29

- oral traditions: stories die with the storytellers - smaller religions that are ethnic and kinship based

Question 30

indigenous religions are sometimes called by other names, such as:

Answer 30

- basic religions (as in foundational) - ethno religions - folk religion

Question 31

common features of Indigenous religions: animism

Answer 31

- anima = soul/spirit - see world as natural and spiritual essence all around us - disrespecting the land leads to spiritual/physical consequences

Question 32

common features of Indigenous religions: magic

Answer 32

- control nature via ritualistic means - imitative magic (such as throwing water down from tree to induce rain) - fetish magic (objects have aura or luck)

Question 33

common features of Indigenous religions: divination

Answer 33

- predict future to find guidance -reading end trails of sacrificial animals or looking at cracks of a turtle shell

Question 34

common features of Indigenous religions: taboo

Answer 34

-places/objects/persons that are off limits for an ordinary person OR the spirit world will unleash bad consequences - the dead, foods, menstruating women, etc.

Question 35

common features of Indigenous religions: totems

Answer 35

- plant/animal that represents or is affiliated with a group - family crest

Question 36

common features of Indigenous religions: sacrifice

Answer 36

-animal sacrifice - goals vary: feed spirits, gifts, etc. - something good requires sacrifice

Question 37

common features of Indigenous religions: myth

Answer 37

religious narrative that seeks to explain deep questions that humans have

Question 38

common features of Indigenous religions: rituals

Answer 38

prescribed actions that carry symbolic meaning

Question 39

common features of Indigenous religions: rites of passage

Answer 39

-birth, puberty, marriage, death, etc. - transitions!

Question 40

common features of Indigenous religions: ancestor veneration

Answer 40

not worship, but show honor and respect

Question 41

common features of Indigenous religions: _____ are the avenue by which one becomes wise

Answer 41

stories

Question 42

why is it difficult to identify "pure" forms of indigenous American religions today?

Answer 42

most are a blend of the past and Christianity

Question 43

in indigenous American religions, there is usually belief in...

Answer 43

a high God/Great Spirit - monotheism: one main God but many different spirits

Question 44

in indigenous American religions, the central focus of life is

Answer 44

harmony with the world around and nature

Question 45

indigenous African religion characteristics

Answer 45

- great variety - most of Africa is Christian with indigenous features - sickness is caused by spiritual ailment - strong belief in supernatural powers blessings/curses - commonly recognized spiritual forces = ancestors