An Introduction to World Religions 2012-09-11

2012-09-11 Agenda Attendance Administrativa Presentations: Moodle Schedule a Meeting Presentations: Religion in the Calendar Religion in the News

In the calendar Sept. 11, 2012 Ethiopian New Year (Rastafari ) The start of the New Year in Ethiopia is recognised because Rastafarians believe Ethiopia to be their spiritual homeland, and a place to which they want to return. The history of Ethiopia is remembered, and its importance acknowledged through Biblical passages and prayer. A Nyabingi session is also held to mark the occasion. Get Up, Stand Up: blacks suppressed by whites; Haile Selassie is the Living God who will eventually redeem the Rastafarian community

Religion in the News Washington (CNN) – Eleven years after the World Trade Center attack, the billion dollar memorial and museum dedicated to the victims of 9/11 is just half that - a memorial without an operating museum. And though a dispute between New York City’s mayor and New York’s governor is responsible for delaying the opening, a separate legal battle is aimed at blocking one museum exhibit in particular: a large cross made of one of the twin tower’s T-beams that became a national symbol in the days after the 2001 attacks. A national group called American Atheists is suing the museum to stop the display of the cross, arguing that a religious symbol has no place in a memorial that’s backed by public funds and that is supposed to serve as a monument to victims of many different religions - and to those who had no religion at all.

Reading Discussion Why, according to Marx, must religion be abolished? Does Nietzsche present the “death of God” as a good thing or not?

Approaches to Religion Three approaches to religion What are they? Who are some key figures? Wish projection

Homework For Thursday, 12:15 For Monday, 11:15 For Tuesday, 1:15 Read “Introduction to Higher Education and Religious Studies” on Moodle Write down two things that are important to remember about each of these: 1. the pervasiveness of religion in everyday life; 2. the diverse nature of religious studies; and 3. religious presuppositions For Monday, 11:15 Indigenous Sacred Ways Write the online quiz (for marks) for Chapter 2 on the Moodle site. For Tuesday, 1:15 Read Native American Sacred Ways (PDF format) on Moodle