RELS 108 1st EditionExam 1 Study Guide: Lectures 1-12Lecture 1 (Aug 27th) What is spirituality vs religion?- Spirituality is very open concept; can’t be contained by a single definition- It’s non dogmatic (very flexible, non structured)- Religion is much more complex and structuredDefine emic and etic- Emic = sympathetically engaging with a religious tradition; understanding through participation- Etic = formally disengaged so to observe objectively; scientific approach Lecture 2 (Aug 29th)List 5 approaches to understanding religion- Sacred Text: interpret text as a literary object; translate/interpret; Permanuticallyengaging by learning- Historical Method: seeks to discover origin of religious/spiritual tradition- Comparative: compares traditions form other religions; has origins in missionaries encountering natives in other lands- Philosophical: attempts to understand the sacred; provides arguments for and against religions- Sociohistoric: traces development of religious ideas in institutions over timeList 4 stages of understanding religion- Gathering: collecting religious data; comes from certain behaviors of religious people- Search for pattern: what are they doing? - Intention of behavior: analysis of the structure of patterns; why are they doing this?- Generalization: attempts to form a united theory about religious behaviorWhat are the functions of religion?- Enables people to sustain hope in the midst of crisis- Functionalist approach reduces religion down to a coping mechanism; practiced by Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, etc.Lecture 3 (Sep 3rd) What are the 2 ways sacred can manifest?- Transcendent: going beyond, standing over experience; refers to aspect of a God or its power- Immanence: philosophical, doesn’t stand; above or go beyond ordinaryDefine monotheistic and pantheistic- Monotheistic represents one god- Pantheistic represents multiple gods4 Noble Truths- Dukha = suffering/pain, discontent- Trishnu = thirst, craving- Cessation = transforming our thirst, dehydration- Eightfold path (marga) = cultivation of right view  right intention  right speech  right action  livelihood: perform job or task and don’t harm others  effort  mindfulness  right concentrationLecture 4 (Sep 5th) 3 Hierophany Patterns- Prophetic: person/prophet receives revelation that deals with the spiritual community- Sacramental: presence of the sacred in an through material reality; immanent not transcendent- Mystical: being in a certain state of consciousness in search of enlightenment Define archetype- Archetype = primary patternDefine chromos and kairos- Chronos: linear and sequential; beginning, middle and end- Kairos: time feels right/the right time; moment of indeterminate time where something special occurs; window of time for someone to participate in something; open dimensionCosmology asks 4 questions - Origin: where did this universe come from?- Material: what is it composed of?- Purpose: does the universe have a reason for existing? (Teleology)- Consciousness: why are thing conscious? Does consciousness have a purpose?o Epistemology = study of knowing (what does it mean to know? How do we know?)Lecture 5 (Sep 10th) 3 Types of Language- Paradoxical: ex.: God is everything and nothing; “neti neti” (not this, not that); expresses sacred in a paradox- Cataphatic: attempt to express sacred in terms of positive terminology; ex.: God is love; connecting a positive attribute with god- Apaphatic: arrives at an understanding of the sacred by negotiation; ex.: God is NOT _____; via negative4 Functions of Myth- Metaphysical: attempts to awaken a sense of awe before the mythical being- Cosmological: explanatory; ex.: seasons, life cycles; brings physical and metaphysical together- Pedagogical: myth is an attempt to validate and support the social order- Pedagogical: myth served an educational purposeDefine allegory and parable- Allegory: stories where various characters and instances represent real people/events- Parable: illustration, comparison, analogyLecture 6 (Sep 12th) 4 Functions of Written Scripture- Yardstick function – provides a framework - Evoke the sacred whether sung or read aloud- Defines a community; allows them to become contempt with text- Means of preservation – cosmological view of the communityWhat is theology?- The study of religions Tools of theology- Exegesis – art of interpretation- History – attempt to understand its meaning- Systematic thought – develops relationships- Apologetics – theological self defense - Critical though – current assessments and examine scientific topics from own perspective- Ethics – values, religious behavior or belief theology has faith commitment to detached object Lecture 7 (Sep 17th) What is myth?- A foundation for ritual4 Vedas- Rig Veda – collection of hymns and verses- sukta – chants- yajur veda: ritual guidebook- samaveda – songs chanted by priest- atharva veda – less connection, concerned with spellsList religions and their rituals - Ritual in Judaism: Passover – ritual reenactment of exodus; formal meal, also called Seder; central to Passover haggadah - Ritual in Christianity: Holy communion (Eucharist) – to give thanks- Ritual in Islam: Muharran – martyrdom of Husain, ritual drama portraying good vs. evil Lecture 8 (Sep 19th) Define church and sect- Church: partakes in mainstream culture; dominant culture; conveyor of truth- Sect: demands more conformity; distances itself from dominant culture3 Characteristics of a cult- Charismatic leader - New revelation- Viewed with extreme suspicion by dominant culture3 Phases of sacred canopy- externalization- objectification- internalizationLecture 9 (Sep 24th)4 ends or purposes of ritual- Adoration: acknowledges transcendence & sovereignty of the sacred over/against the individual- Thanksgiving: arises from our felt sense of bounty or abundance, as opposed to the feeling of lack- Petition: asking or begging for favors; found in Eastern and Western religions; rooted in traditional societies- Penance/Purification: signify the desire of a person to be worthy of approaching the sacred; indicate the need for symmetry Lecture 10 (Sep 26th)2 Major Theodicies- Augustinian – developed by St. Augustine  “Evil does not exist except as a corruption of goodness”; In his view, God did not create evil; our nature is good due to the existence deriving from God- Irenaean – Evil is necessary for human development; image = potential for moral