Exploring the Religions
of Our World
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
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Setting the Stage
• Global village
• Protected now but not next year
• Unique class—overview of many
• Goals: Proclaim, dialogue, learn
• World Religion = worldwide or significant
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Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam
Hinduism, Judaism, Japanese, Chinese, and
American
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
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What is Religion
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Not present in most holy books
Only modern separation from life
Latin religio = to bind
Person or community to something or someone
over or beyond
Entailed obligations
Not just one thing—worship, action, belief,
etc…so look at as much as we can
Elusive but some patterns
Western systematic approach
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
to dispel fears and
Why Study World Religions?
misunderstandings
to gain a clearer
understanding of
one’s own faith
to gain insights into
human beings by
understanding their
religious activities
to gain a better
understanding of
various human
cultures
to learn from some
great sources of
wisdom
to gain a better
understanding of
humankind’s various
civilizations
to foster openness
and acceptance of
human differences
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
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A Different Religion Class
• Religion class vs. others
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Head and heart
Facts and experiences
Rational and faith experiences
Questions beyond science to philosophy &
theology—not merely descriptive but
prescriptive
• World religion class vs. religion class
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Not merely own religious tradition’s answers
Each religion answers & interprets differently
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Studying with a New Attitude
 Non-judgmental
 Catholics reject nothing which is true & holy in other
religions…sincere respect…reflect a ray of Truth (Vatican II,
NA, 2)
 Accept on its own terms does not = accept for self
 Empathy = identify & understand another’s situation
 Humble, open, & respectful
 “Equality…equal personal dignity” (CDF, DJ, 22)
 Avoid false irenicism by consistent with own tradition but
openness towards other ones without pretense or close
mindedness; true, humble, frank dialogue; witness &
conversion (JPII, RM, 56)
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Setting the Context of Catholic’s in Dialogue
 Angelo Roncalli (1881)—Pope John XIII (1958-1963)
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Vatican diplomat to Greece and Turkey—Orthodox & Muslims
Jews during WWII
Protestants are separated brothers not heretics (Ad Cathedram Petri)
Received Archbishop of Canterbury & greeted Patriarch of
Constantinople
Removed “perfidious Jews” from Good Friday liturgy; egregiously
Seems minor today but revolutionary in 1960’s
Vision was that Catholic Church not set itself against the world, but
engage in dialogue with the world
Vision was fleshed out in Vatican II (1962-1965)
Died after first of four sessions so Pope Paul VI continued vision
(1963-1978)
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Benefits of the Council
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Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Human Freedom)
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Rights if individuals to social & civil freedom in religious matters
Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)
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Dialogue with fellow Christians
Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to
Non-Christian Religions)
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Dialogue with non-Christians
Pontificates of Paul VI and John Paul II—words into action
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1965 joint resolution between Paul VI and Athanagoras I
Joint declaration between Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II met with religious leaders and holy sites in extensive travels
1986 and 2002 World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Lutherans
April 2005 funeral of John Paul II
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Related Documents from the pontificate of JP II
Redemptoris Missio
1990 Encyclical on the
Mission of Christ by JPII
Dialogue & Proclamation
1991 Reflections on
Interreligious Dialogue by
the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue
Ut Unum Sint
1995 Encyclical on the
Church Commitment to
Ecumenism by JPII
Directory for the Application
of Principles & Norms on
Ecumenism
1993 by Pontifical Council
for Christina Unity
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Ecumenical Dialogue
1. All Catholics, not just specialists, are to evangelize the world
thru dialogue with non-Catholics = witness not proselytism
2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations
3. The scriptures of other religions point to a future communion
4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of
God’s grace even though Christ is one savior and Church is
ordinary means (CCC, 846 & Pope Benedict XVI in 2007)
A. The Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its
apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation”
B. “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the
Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God
with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847
& Karl Rahner’s (1904-1984) Anonymous Christian theology)
5. Holy Spirit led dialogue can be through both words & actions
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Some Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
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“What a religion is” rather than “what is religion”
Overlap not compartmentalized
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Myths (sacred & empirical
Sacred stories,
sacred scriptures, & history), Upanishads,
Bhagavad Gita, Qur’an, Bible
other writings
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Beliefs & practices
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Sacred time
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Sacred places &
sacred spaces
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Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
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Sacred stories &
sacred scriptures
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Beliefs & practices
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Vertical & horizontal
Doctrine & action
Moral code—W or U
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Goodness & salvation
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Sacred time
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Sacred places &
sacred spaces
Examples:
4 Noble Truths & 8-Fold
Path, Apostles Creed,
Sh’ma, Shahadah
Personal – Prayer, meditation,
ritual washing
Communal – animal sacrifice,
pilgrimages, sacred meals
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Formality often comes from
sacred stories; e.g. Pesach
Practice reveals belief; e.g
prayer for Muslims
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
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Sacred stories &
sacred scriptures
Examples:
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Beliefs & practices
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Sacred time
Muslims, - Fri., Ramadan
Jews - Sabbath, Yom Kippur
Christians - Sun, Lent, Easter
Buddhists- Bodhi Day
Hindus – Diwali
Sikhs – Gobind Singh’s b-day
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All time is sacred
Ritual moves I or C to,
reminds, & timeless
Frequency varies but
always draws past &
future to present
Sacred places &
sacred spaces
Communal rituals more formal
that personal devotions; sense of
belonging & personal renewal
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
Sacred stories &
sacred scriptures
Examples:
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Beliefs & practices
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Sacred time
Muslims -- Mecca/ Medina
Christians, Jews, & Muslims -- Holy
Land
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Sacred places &
sacred spaces
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Anywhere but usually
marked by a permanent
sacred space and place
Can be temporary
Based on sacred stories
and scriptures of religion
Origins & Travels
Natural
Rivers – Jordan (Christians) &
Ganges (Hindus)
Mountains – Sinai (Jews) & Fuji
(Shintos)
Shrines, Synagogues, Mosques,
Temples, Churches, & temporary
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
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Other Elements or Patterns
• Methodology
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Brief historical overview
Sacred stories & scriptures
Basic beliefs & practices
Sacred time
Sacred places & spaces
The religion through a Catholic lens
• Implicit aspects
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Symbols & objects; laws; institutional structure; holy people
• Order
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Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese, Japanese,
Christianity (out of order) & American
Not chronological
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Vocabulary:
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Religion
Empathy
Liturgy
Ecumenism
Evangelization
Witnessing
Myths
Irenicism
Egregiously
Perfidious
Anonymous Christian
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Review Questions:
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Briefly describe the religious diversity in our world today.
Why use the term “world’s religions” rather than “world religions” in
studying various religious traditions?
In what language did the word “religion” originate? Why do you think it
is such a difficult term to define?
What attitude is asked of us in studying some of the world’s religions?
Explain.
What makes a class about the world’s religions different from other
religion classes?
What are some reasons for studying the world’s religions?
Relate some of the ways in which Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, and John
Paul II broke ground in the Catholic Church’s relationship with other
religious traditions.
Why is interreligious dialogue a duty of all Catholics? In what ways can a
Catholic fulfill this duty?
What are some of the common elements or patterns we will employ in our
study of some of the world’s religions?