Religion
What does religare mean?
To tie or bind together.
What is the Biblical response to why humans are motivated to pursue religion?
We are made in God's image, and He has created us with hearts that long for His Spirit/ a divine presence.
Define the Correspondence Theory of Truth.
A statement is true if it matches up with reality.
Define a worldview.
A way of understanding the world we live in.
What is history?
What is our definition of religion?
Religion is a set of beliefs that seeks to answer life's ultimate questions.
Give two examples of 'ultimate questions.'
What is the meaning of life, what is my purpose, who am I, why is there suffering, etc.
Give an example of a statement that is subjectively true.
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Define theism.
The view that only one personal and eternal God exists. This God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving Creator.
How do theologians approach the study of religion?
Theologians are concerned with the beliefs of the religions themselves, the question of whether they are true or false, and with people’s response to them.
A secular humanist view of religions tells us that ____ is the cause of religion in early humans.
Evolution
What are some negative emotions that might drive people to religion?
Fear, loneliness, guilt, etc.
What’s the difference between subjective truth and objective truth?
Subjective - personal, private, and can change
Objective - facts of the external world that we discover
Explain the difference between theism and pantheism.
Theism believes in one personal and eternal God. Pantheism teaches that God exists, but He is not personal. There is no distinction between God and world.
Which approach studies religion from the inside?
Theology
Name three of the common traits of religion.
Belief in something sacred, distinction between sacred and profane, ritual acts focused on sacred gods, moral code, religious feelings, prayer, worldview with purpose, organization of life, social group.
Name the five emotional motivators that encourage people to pursue religion.
Fear, identity, intuition, wonder/awe, and questioning.
What type of truth statement is "all religions are equally true?"
The statement tries to be objective, but is actually a subjective one (religions are contradictory, so cannot all exist in a true manner at the same time).
What is a 'control belief,' and give two examples.
Beliefs in our worldview which are more important than others.
God, reality, knowledge, human origins, ethics afterlife.
What is the difference between an anthropological and a sociological approach to studying religion?
Anthropoligists - religions are seen as a means of uniting people in their explanations of life (pattern of human behaviour)
Sociologists - religion provides an agreed way of looking at the world (purpose and meaning)
How does the study of religion help us love others?
Christ commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves. As you study people from different faiths, you will understand that they are made in the image of God.
How does the study of religion motivate us to clarify our own beliefs?
As we study other faiths, we inevitably compare our faith to theirs, forcing us to think through theological issues we may not have otherwise.
How does the statement 'if you don't like abortion, don't get one,' turn an objective truth into a subjective one?
The statement tries to move the conversation into the realm of “personal choice,” even though it’s actually making a claim about right/wrong that affects everyone.
What’s one value you live by that you think is part of your worldview?
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Which two approaches do you think are the best for approaching religion?
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