Exploring the Religions
of Our World
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
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
Catholic Attitude Towards Other Religions
 Catholics reject nothing which is true and
holy in other religions (Nostra Aetate, 2)
 Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the
Catholic Church not set itself against the
world, but engage in dialogue with the world
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Catholic Attitude Towards Other Religions (continued)
 “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)
 The Catholic Church has primacy over other
faith traditions because of its apostolic succession
by which it can offer the “means of salvation”
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Related Documents from the Second Vatican Council
The Declaration on
Human Freedom
(Dignitatis Humanae)
The Decree
on Ecumenism
(Unitates Redintegratio)
The Declaration on the
Relation of the Church to
Non-Christian Religions
(Nostra Aetate)
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Ecumenical Dialogue
1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world
through dialogue with non-Catholics
2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the
nations
3. The scriptures of other religions point to a
future of communion with God
4. People from other religious traditions can be
recipients of God’s grace
5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or
both.
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
Examples:

sacred stories and
sacred scriptures
_____________________

beliefs and practices
_____________________

sacred time
_____________________

sacred places and
sacred spaces
_____________________
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Vocabulary
• religion
• empathy
• liturgy
• ecumenism
• evangelization
• witnessing
• myths