RELS 108 1nd EditionLecture 3Outline of Last LectureI. What is spirituality?II. What is religion?III. What is religious studies?Outline of Current Lecture I. Homo Religiosus - creature who is religious (term coined by Eliade)II. There is a sacred disposition between living in the worldIII. 88% of the world’s population belongs to a religionIV. Homosapien - wisdom creatureV. Americans are most religiousVI. The more advanced we become, the less spiritual we becomeVII. 5 Approaches to Understanding Religion1) Sacred Text: interpret text as a literary object; translate/interpreta. Permanutically engaging by learningi. ex. if you learn Arabic you will be able to read the Quranii. ex. if you learn Greek you will be able to read the Bible2) Historical Method: seeks to discover origin of religious/spiritual tradition3) Comparative: compares traditions form other religions; has origins in missionaries encountering natives in other lands4) Philosophical: attempts to understand the sacred; provides arguments for and against religions5) Sociohistoric: traces development of religious ideas in institutions over timeVIII. Husserl says that phenomenology is interpreting all 5 of these approaches; wants you to look at spirituality as objectively as possibleIX. 4 Stages of Understanding Religion1) Gathering: collecting religious data; comes from certain behaviors of religious people2) Search for pattern: what are they doing? 3) Intention of behavior: analysis of the structure of patterns; why are they doing this?These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.4) Generalization: attempts to form a united theory about religious behaviorX. Relationship between religion and thoughtXI. Heidegger asks what type of thought? There are two types1. Calculative Thinking: deliberate thinking2. Meditative/Contemplative: flight from thought; people don’t realize theyare thinkingXII. Doubt and faith are connectedXIII. Why? Because doubt strengthens faithXIV. Religion + FeelingXV. Numinous: the power/presence of the spiritual XVI. Tremendum: overpowering nature of the mystery; occurs when overwhelming aspect of the numinous occurs a. Ex: if there is a tiger in the next room; you are afraid because the tiger could kill you; but if there is a ghost in the next room you aren’t afraid of the ghost killing you, you’re afraid of the spiritual that you cannot understand or controlXVII. Fascinans: attracts, fascinates and compelsa. Ex: that feeling that someone is watching youXVIII. Action + SpiritualityXIX. Spiritual compels one to participateXX. Intention behind action deals with religion + values/moralityXXI. Religion flows from morality, but where does morality originate?a. Discussion: people said it originates from the way you grow up, what you learn from parents/teachers/peers/etc.b. Morality is relativeXXII. Function of ReligionXXIII. Enables people to sustain hope in the midst of crisisa. Functionalist approach reduces religion down to a coping mechanism; practiced by Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, etc.XXIV. Substance what makes religion?a. What makes certain responses to something religious or not?b. Substance approach limits range of phenomenon that are characterized as religiousc. Core definition that separates religious and non-religious approaches to