WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of Discovery
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WORLD RELIGIONS: WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of A Voyage of Discovery Discovery Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Studying the World’s Religions Studying the World’s Religions
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WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of Discovery. Chapter 1 Studying the World’s Religions. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey. Why Study World Religions?. to dispel fears and misunderstandings. to gain a better understanding of various human cultures. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of Discovery
WORLD RELIGIONS: WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of DiscoveryA Voyage of Discovery
WORLD RELIGIONS: WORLD RELIGIONS: A Voyage of DiscoveryA Voyage of Discovery
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Studying the World’s ReligionsStudying the World’s Religions
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Studying the World’s ReligionsStudying the World’s Religions
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the JourneyChapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey
Why Study World Religions?Why Study World Religions? Why Study World Religions?Why Study World Religions?
to gain a clearer to gain a clearer understanding of understanding of one’s own faithone’s own faith
to gain a clearer to gain a clearer understanding of understanding of one’s own faithone’s own faith
to foster openness to foster openness and acceptance of and acceptance of human differenceshuman differences
to foster openness to foster openness and acceptance of and acceptance of human differenceshuman differences
to gain insights into to gain insights into human beings by human beings by
understanding their understanding their religious activitiesreligious activities
to gain insights into to gain insights into human beings by human beings by
understanding their understanding their religious activitiesreligious activities
to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of
humankind’s various humankind’s various civilizationscivilizations
to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of
humankind’s various humankind’s various civilizationscivilizations
to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of various human various human
culturescultures
to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of various human various human
culturescultures to learn from some to learn from some great sources of great sources of
wisdomwisdom
to learn from some to learn from some great sources of great sources of
wisdomwisdom
to dispel fears andto dispel fears and
misunderstandingsmisunderstandings
to dispel fears andto dispel fears and
misunderstandingsmisunderstandings
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the JourneyChapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey
Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions
Catholics reject nothing which is true and Catholics reject nothing which is true and holy in other religions holy in other religions ((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate, 2), 2)
Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Catholic Church not set itself Catholic Church not set itself againstagainst the the world, but engage in dialogue world, but engage in dialogue withwith the world the world
Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions
Catholics reject nothing which is true and Catholics reject nothing which is true and holy in other religions holy in other religions ((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate, 2), 2)
Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Catholic Church not set itself Catholic Church not set itself againstagainst the the world, but engage in dialogue world, but engage in dialogue withwith the world the world
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the JourneyChapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey
Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions (continued)(continued)
““Those who, through no fault of their own, do not Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847)(CCC, 847)
The Catholic Church has primacy over other The Catholic Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its apostolic succession faith traditions because of its apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation”by which it can offer the “means of salvation”
Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions (continued)(continued)
““Those who, through no fault of their own, do not Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847)(CCC, 847)
The Catholic Church has primacy over other The Catholic Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its apostolic succession faith traditions because of its apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation”by which it can offer the “means of salvation”
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the JourneyChapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey
Related Documents from the Second Vatican CouncilRelated Documents from the Second Vatican CouncilRelated Documents from the Second Vatican CouncilRelated Documents from the Second Vatican Council
The Declaration on the The Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Relation of the Church to Non-Christian ReligionsNon-Christian Religions
((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate))
The Declaration on the The Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Relation of the Church to Non-Christian ReligionsNon-Christian Religions
((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate))
The Declaration onThe Declaration onHuman Freedom Human Freedom
((Dignitatis HumanaeDignitatis Humanae))
The Declaration onThe Declaration onHuman Freedom Human Freedom
((Dignitatis HumanaeDignitatis Humanae))
The Decree The Decree on on EcumenismEcumenism
((Unitates RedintegratioUnitates Redintegratio))
The Decree The Decree on on EcumenismEcumenism
((Unitates RedintegratioUnitates Redintegratio))
Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the JourneyChapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey
Ecumenical DialogueEcumenical Dialogue1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world 1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world through dialogue with non-Catholicsthrough dialogue with non-Catholics2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations3. The scriptures of other religions point to a 3. The scriptures of other religions point to a future of communion with Godfuture of communion with God4. People from other religious traditions can be 4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of God’s grace recipients of God’s grace 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or both.both.
Ecumenical DialogueEcumenical Dialogue1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world 1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world through dialogue with non-Catholicsthrough dialogue with non-Catholics2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations3. The scriptures of other religions point to a 3. The scriptures of other religions point to a future of communion with Godfuture of communion with God4. People from other religious traditions can be 4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of God’s grace recipients of God’s grace 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or both.both.
A GLOBAL VILLAGEA GLOBAL VILLAGE
In a diverse and pluralistic world, In a diverse and pluralistic world, “knowing” our community means:“knowing” our community means:• We must be aware of and attempt to We must be aware of and attempt to
understand our differences. understand our differences. • Diversity is both a blessing and a Diversity is both a blessing and a
challenge.challenge. What is especially challenging about What is especially challenging about
diversity when it comes to religious diversity when it comes to religious experience/ expression?experience/ expression?
The Nature of a Religious TraditionThe Nature of a Religious Tradition
Religion begins with mystery…Religion begins with mystery…
Living prompts questions….Living prompts questions….
• Where did we come from? Where are we Where did we come from? Where are we going? Why are we here? Why is there going? Why are we here? Why is there some-thing rather than no-thing?some-thing rather than no-thing?
By responding to these questions, By responding to these questions, religion provides a way of living and religion provides a way of living and dying meaningfully. dying meaningfully.
Religious QuestionsReligious Questions
We have a unique ability to question We have a unique ability to question the source and meaning of our the source and meaning of our existence.existence.
We are physical, rational, emotional, We are physical, rational, emotional, and spiritual beings who have a and spiritual beings who have a capacity for self-reflection.capacity for self-reflection.• We have a conscience and can ponder We have a conscience and can ponder
our own “nature”. our own “nature”.
THE INEVITABLE:THE INEVITABLE:
Regardless of how one chooses to respond, religious Regardless of how one chooses to respond, religious questions are an inevitable aspect of our living.questions are an inevitable aspect of our living.
Some people ignore or delay the questions, others seek out Some people ignore or delay the questions, others seek out religious traditions to find answers, while some drown religious traditions to find answers, while some drown themselves in some sort of escapism to avoid having themselves in some sort of escapism to avoid having to answer them. to answer them.
Religion is a systematized approach to answer these Religion is a systematized approach to answer these questions, often drawing from traditions that go back questions, often drawing from traditions that go back thousands of years. thousands of years.
By its very nature, religion is a communal effort! By its very nature, religion is a communal effort!
THE INEVITABLE:THE INEVITABLE:
Regardless of how one chooses to respond, religious Regardless of how one chooses to respond, religious questions are an inevitable aspect of our living.questions are an inevitable aspect of our living.
Some people ignore or delay the questions, others seek out Some people ignore or delay the questions, others seek out religious traditions to find answers, while some drown religious traditions to find answers, while some drown themselves in some sort of escapism to avoid having themselves in some sort of escapism to avoid having to answer them. to answer them.
Religion is a systematized approach to answer these Religion is a systematized approach to answer these questions, often drawing from traditions that go back questions, often drawing from traditions that go back thousands of years. thousands of years.
By its very nature, religion is a communal effort! By its very nature, religion is a communal effort!
WHAT IS THE HUMAN WHAT IS THE HUMAN CONDITION?CONDITION?
What is our essential nature?What is our essential nature?• Are we good or bad?Are we good or bad?• Often religion contains stories about Often religion contains stories about
“human origins” to provide answers.“human origins” to provide answers.
Why do we suffer?Why do we suffer?• An age old problem, the problem of An age old problem, the problem of
theogony. theogony.
