Welcome to Introduction to World ReligionsWhat is ‘religion’?Review of course syllabusSlide 4Slide 5Slide 6Academic study of religionCreation StoriesOrigins? How do creation stories begin?PowerPoint PresentationWorld Religions MapWelcome to Introduction to World ReligionsRELS 2001Dr. David BellWhat is ‘religion’?Brainstorm sessionWhat do you think about when you hear the word ‘religion’?Many diverse impressions of religionOne example…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINh4SsOyBwReview of course syllabusCourse descriptionHistorical, thematic, comparativeText: www.theprintshopatlanta.comCommunication: uLearn www.gsu.eduForward your email (my settings, my profile, my tool options)Commonly asked questions:“Will this be on the test?” Yes. “My car broke down and I couldn’t make it to class today. Did I miss anything important?” Yes. “Should I email you to give you my reason that I missed class?” No. “Can I surf the web during your class and distract other students with my laptop activity?” No. “I am on the Hope scholarship and need to make at least a B, can you move my grade up a little?” No. So how do I do well in this course?Come to class, take notes/pay attention, read the assigned materials prior to class, study prior to the exams – if you do all of that, you should be able to make a B or higher.What is ‘religion’?Your definitionsEtymological definition Latin roots – religio:, “fear and awe one experiences in the presence of a spirit or god”Re-ligare: “bind,” “reconnect,” “again”Re-lego: “choose,” “to go over again” or consider carefully”Paul Tillich that which is of ultimate concern, that which we value above all thingsWilliam JamesBelief in an unseen order, with which we should work to harmonize ourselvesTillichJamesWhat is ‘religion’?Karl MarxReligion is the opiate of the massesIt is a tool of the wealthy to control the lower classesWebsters-noun1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Marx (peace sign not original)What is ‘religion’?One thing or many?Ninian Smart – 7 dimensionsMythic, ritual, experiential, philosophical, ethical, social, materialWittgenstein – language gameOne essence = monotheticMany essences, not all necessary = polytheticPerspective: etic (outsider) & emic (insider)So it’s easy to understand someone’s religion, right?http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4629320SmartAcademic study of religionActually interesting. Here’s what makes it fun:Ninian Smart’s 4 “virtues” of the academic study of religion1. Bracketing our assumptionsInterpretive importanceNot evaluating truth, not the ‘rightness’ of an idea2. Informed empathyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAXTR7AT94s&feature=relatedUnderstanding a perspective is different from accept it as your own belief3. Historical / Contextual imperativeKnowing the original origin and meaning of a text, belief, or ritual4. Symbolic sensitivity“symbols are the vocabulary of mythic thinking”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika My representation of interested studentsCreation Stories‘Myths,’ and the power of languageHand-out – African & Native American creation accountsSimilarities; differencesOrigins? How do creation stories begin?One etic perspective is through the “cargo cult” – a religion that is constructed around the interaction of technological cultures with indigenous people. One example is the infamous “John Frum” cargo cult. Highlights: 15th of Feb is the holy day; air landing strips are created to entice the cargo godsVideo 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1skNgYdJXK8&feature=relatedVideo 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jel5by93REs&feature=relatedVideo of how major religions have spread:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ&feature=relatedWhat are the ‘religions’?World Religions