Worldview
What is a worldview?
The set of beliefs, values and ideas that a person or group uses to make sense of life, the world and their place in it. It is something that everyone has.
Give an example of a religious question. That is, a kind of question that religion seeks to answer.
Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? What happens after we die? Does God exist? What is right and wrong and how should I act?
What is spirituality?
It is the way we feed our spiritual hungers
What is the current largest world religion?
Christianity
What is the primary way in which worldviews have traditionally been passed down?
By being embodied in a narrative or story
How long has religion been with us? For how long have human beings practiced religion?
All of human history, since the dawn of human consciousness.
What does the word "spiritual" mean?
Related to the nonmaterial aspects of human life.
What is the oldest of the major world religions?
Hinduism
What are 3 ways a person's worldview can be formed that are out of their control?
Family, friends, society, place/geography, time in history...
To understand human history and culture better.
To understand our fellow human beings better by learning their perspectives and becoming more empathetic and tolerant
To try and find answers to our own religious longings
To explore the answers religions have offered to the mysteries of life
Give three examples of spiritual hungers
hunger for...meaning, friendship, God, connection, love, faith, goodness, hope, strength, purpose, justice, knowledge, wisdom
Name the three Abrahamic faiths, and name what city they all are strongly connected to.
Jerusalem
What is the primary difference between a secular worldview and a religious worldview?
A secular worldview looks at life and the world without trying to depend on religious beliefs or a belief in a god or gods.
A religious worldview is based on belief in a higher power or divine reality (like God or gods), and often includes sacred texts and teachings
What does the word "religion" mean?
The root is the latin word "religare" which means "to bind." So, something that binds the believer to other people, beliefs, community, and the world.
What are two ways in which our hunger for connection can be satisfied?
Relationship with other people, with nature, with God. (All connected)
Most/All religions believe in a higher power. However, they don't all agree on the nature of that power. When they differ, what is often the main difference?
Some conceive of the higher power as personal (Abrahamic faiths) others perceive of it as impersonal (Some forms of hinduism, taoism...)
What are the 7 elements of a worldview?
View of human nature.
View of the good life.
Equality with others.
Responsibilities to others.
Relationship between the individual and the state (government and society)
Relationship of humans with nature.
Sources of ethical wisdom.
What are the 7 dimensions of religion?
Experience Ritual
Myths Social
Doctrinal Material
Ethical
What is the relationship between religion and spirituality? In other words, how can religion help us to satisfy spiritual hungers?
Through spiritual practices, through a supportive community, through knowledge of spiritual truths
Name all five of the major world religions, in order of oldest to newest/most recent.
1.) Hinduism
2.) Judaism
3.) Buddhism
4.) Christianity
5.) Islam