Blind men & the mystery object... : Blind men & the mystery object...
Slide 3: ????? ?????
Or are there MANY MOUNTAINS? : Or are there MANY MOUNTAINS?
What’s the Catholic View? : What’s the Catholic View?
Until 1960’s, the Church was EXCLUSIVIST : Until 1960’s, the Church was EXCLUSIVIST
Vatican II’s “Doctrine of Religious Freedom” : Vatican II’s “Doctrine of Religious Freedom” “The catholic church rejects nothing of those things which are true and holy in [non-Christian} religions.”
Ours is still best, but there are good things in other, non-Christian traditions. : Ours is still best, but there are good things in other, non-Christian traditions.
Slide 10: 2 Approaches to Studying Religion
Evaluative : Evaluative Theological
Theologically valid?
Philosophical
Does it make sense? Is it rational? Is religion rational? Seeks to judge or prove
the TRUTH of a religion.
Descriptive : Descriptive
Descriptive: Experiential : Descriptive: Experiential What’s the religion like from the POV inside the tradition?
Descriptive: Experiential : Descriptive: Experiential Average Adherents Mystics
Descriptive: Historical : Descriptive: Historical Historical facts
Founder?
How affected by the world, different events?
How does the religion impact the world?
Descriptive: functional : Descriptive: functional “Religion gives me peace of mind.”
“Believing gives me hope.”
“Religion causes a lot of wars.”
“Religion unites people.” Functionalexplanations Defines religion based on activity:
uniting, dividing,
giving purpose, etc.
Descriptive: Comparative : Descriptive: Comparative
Approaches emphasized in this class : Approaches emphasized in this class Evaluative: Philosophical
Descriptive: Experiential - especially the mystical
Descriptive: Comparative