2. The Acedemic Study of Religion
in the Humanities
Offers a unique opportunity to learn about American communities of faith &
practice in an atmosphere free of both judgement& partisan advocacy
Focuses on what each group does and believes and on what these practices
and beliefs mean to those who believe in them
Does not:
evaluate whether those practices/ beliefs are right/wrong
Judge/ advocate
Present religion as preferable to non-religion
Favor secularity over religiousness
Attempt to make converts to/ from any particular community of faith
3. Preface
Religious beliefs/ practices are presented impartially in this
book, but it’s not value free
Religion is an important part of humanity’s story
Nothing in the entire spectrum of religiousness can be
completely strange to us because we are all human
Freedom of religion is guaranteed in our constitution
With the religious diversity that exists in the U.S., respect for
those beliefs & practices that differ from our own is very
important
4. Preface
There is a vast distinction between religion as it is
described in the books and as people actually live it
-Many Religions break their own rules
-We chose from our religions teachings the things that
are personally meaningful to us & feel free to leave the
rest alone
5. Preface
This book continues the emphasis on religious diversity
in the U.S. & less emphasis on the majority
Attention is also given to responding to the religious
diversity that surrounds us
Religious diversity make the U.S. an ideal place to
learn about religion, not only in books, but as it is
embodied in the people who we come into contact with
every day
6. This edition of the book
First introduces students to the dicipline of religious
studies then describes issues and concerns that cut
across a variety of communities of faith
Part 2 then describes specific Christian communities of
faith, recognizing that Christians make up the majority of
religious people here
Part 3 describes the ever widening diversity that
characterizes religion in the U.S.
Is not a book about the religious history of the U.S.
Focuses on the diversity of what people believe and
practice today
7. Religion
Helps to make life meaningful and good for many america
Is a rewarding subject to study
Is about people because religion is about people
About something transcends people, such as God or
another high reality: but, always always about people, what
people believe, and how they respond to those beliefs
This is a book about us, all of us because even if we are not
personally religious, our lives are influenced by the
religiousness around us
8. Intro Religious America: Diversity
&Freedoom
Religious diversity in the U.S. & throughout the world is
increasing
The development & growth of this diversity is an important
social phenomenon & one that extends for beyond the
confines of religion
Particular feature of religious diversity: most-not-all religions
make claims to absolute truth
The existence of wide-ranging diversity coupled with
absolute truth claims poses a particularly interesting
challenge for thoughtful, reflective response.
9. 5 Responses to Religious
Diversity
Exclusivism: you only agree with one religion
Relativism: all perspectives are limited
Inclusivism there is one true religion but some others
ay agree
Synthesis: all relgions are the same
The affirmation of religious diversity: all religions are
true
10. Tolerance
Tolerance: the willingness to grant basic civil liberties to
members of a faith other than one’s own
Encompasses willingness to grant freedom to gather
for religious meetings/ speak publicly in the hope of
winning over other people to one’s viewpoint; avoiding
religious discrimination
A person who is tolerant may disagree/ think
someone’s position is wrong, but is still willing to see
the other person’s point
11. Chapter 1: Why study
religion?
Study our own religion to understand ourselves better
Study religion of others to understand others & prejudices
Has an important roll in history
Significant impact on contemporary events
Impact on cultural forms such as: literature, art, & music
Discipline of religious studies helps to stabalize the public
rolled religion
12. What is the Difference between
the study of theology & the study
of religion
Theology is a study by members of a community of
faith learning or studying the practices & beliefs of their
own religion
Religion promotes an awareness of the diversity of
religious beliefs, practices, & experiences people have
13. 4 Dimensions of Religion
• Belief: ideas of a religion
• Lifestyle: conduct; standards; ethics
• Ritual Activities: ceremonial actions-
prayer, chanting, meditating, lighting candles
• Social Institutions: like-minded people join together for
instruction
14. What is Popular Religion?
Different from institutional religion
Occurs outside the formal boundaries of religious
institutions
16. Influencing factors that shaped
religious freedom in the U.S.
European settlers fleeing established religion in their
homeland
Experience with power/ privelege of churches led to
problems
Several views of Religion
17. 3 places freedom of religion is
in the Constitution
Article 6: prohibits religious requirements for holding
public office
1st amendment: no law to establish religion; no law to
prohibit free exercise of religion
14th amendment: no state laws for privelege of or
exemption for religion
18. 4 things in civil religion
Belief in God
Belief in America’s role in God’s plans for the world
Commonly accepted standards of morality & civic virtue
Routinely observed holidays
19. six ways that our culture was
affected by 9/11
Omniscience
Omnipotence
Inpregnability& inviolability
Devine election
Supreme Goodness
Salvic Mission
20. Religion leads to conflict in 4
ways:
With itself when some of its members violate its own
highest standards
Within communities of faith when different factions
disagree sharply about what is right
Individuals/ society as a whole when it leads to
violence, terrorism, addiction or other disfunctional
behaviors
Expressing religion in inappropriate ways
22. Jihad
The Greater Jihad: daily struggle of individual muslims
to submit their wills to Allah (God)
The Lesser Jihad: related to doing better for the faith