1. Exploring the Religions of Our World
Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey

2. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Setting the Stage
Global village
Protected now but not next year
Unique class—overview of many
Goals: Proclaim, dialogue, learn
World Religion = worldwide or significant
Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam
Hinduism, Judaism, Japanese, Chinese, and American

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What is Religion
Not present in most holy books
Only modern separation from life
Latin religio = to bind
Person or community to something or someone over or beyond
Entailed obligations
Not just one thing—worship, action, belief, etc…so look at as much as we can
Elusive but some patterns
Western systematic approach

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Why Study World Religions?
to dispel fears and
misunderstandings
to gain a better understanding of various human cultures
to gain a clearer understanding of one’s own faith
to learn from some great sources of wisdom
to gain insights into human beings by understanding their religious activities
to gain a better understanding of humankind’s various civilizations
to foster openness and acceptance of human differences

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A Different Religion Class
Religion class vs. others
Head and heart
Facts and experiences
Rational and faith experiences
Questions beyond science to philosophy & theology—not merely descriptive but prescriptive
World religion class vs. religion class
Not merely own religious tradition’s answers
Each religion answers & interprets differently

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Studying with a New Attitude
Non-judgmental
Catholics reject nothing which is true & holy in other religions…sincere respect…reflect a ray of Truth (Vatican II, NA, 2)
Accept on its own terms does not = accept for self
Empathy = identify & understand another’s situation
Humble, open, & respectful
“Equality…equal personal dignity” (CDF, DJ, 22)
Avoid false irenicism by consistent with own tradition but openness towards other ones without pretense or close mindedness; true, humble, frank dialogue; witness & conversion (JPII, RM, 56)

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Setting the Context of Catholic’s in Dialogue
Angelo Roncalli (1881)—Pope John XXIII ( )
Vatican diplomat to Greece and Turkey—Orthodox & Muslims
Jews during WWII
Protestants are separated brothers not heretics (Ad Cathedram Petri)
Received Archbishop of Canterbury & greeted Patriarch of Constantinople
Removed “perfidious Jews” from Good Friday liturgy; egregiously
Seems minor today but revolutionary in 1960’s
Vision was that Catholic Church not set itself against the world, but engage in dialogue with the world
Vision was fleshed out in Vatican II ( )
Died after first of four sessions so Pope Paul VI continued vision ( )

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Benefits of the Council
Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Human Freedom)
Rights if individuals to social & civil freedom in religious matters
Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)
Dialogue with fellow Christians
Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)
Dialogue with non-Christians
Pontificates of Paul VI and John Paul II—words into action
1965 joint resolution between Paul VI and Athanagoras I
Joint declaration between Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II met with religious leaders and holy sites in extensive travels
1986 and 2002 World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with Lutherans
April 2005 funeral of John Paul II

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Related Documents from the pontificate of JP II
Redemptoris Missio
1990 Encyclical on the Mission of Christ by JPII
Ut Unum Sint
1995 Encyclical on the Church Commitment to Ecumenism by JPII
Dialogue & Proclamation
1991 Reflections on
Interreligious Dialogue by
the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue
Directory for the Application
of Principles & Norms on
Ecumenism
1993 by Pontifical Council
for Christina Unity

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Ecumenical Dialogue
1. All Catholics, not just specialists, are to evangelize the world thru dialogue with non-Catholics = witness not proselytism
2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations
3. The scriptures of other religions point to a future communion
4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of God’s grace even though Christ is one savior and Church is ordinary means (CCC, 846 & Pope Benedict XVI in 2007)
A. The Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its
apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation”
B. “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the
Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God
with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847
& Karl Rahner’s ( ) Anonymous Christian theology)
5. Holy Spirit led dialogue can be through both words & actions

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Some Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
“What a religion is” rather than “what is religion”
Overlap not compartmentalized
Myths (sacred & empirical history), Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Qur’an, Bible
_____________________
Sacred stories, sacred scriptures, & other writings
Beliefs & practices
Sacred time
Sacred places & sacred spaces

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Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
Sacred stories & sacred scriptures
Beliefs & practices
Vertical & horizontal
Doctrine & action
Moral code—W or U
Goodness & salvation
Sacred time
Sacred places & sacred spaces
Examples:
4 Noble Truths & 8-Fold Path, Apostles Creed, Sh’ma, Shahadah
Personal – Prayer, meditation, ritual washing
Communal – animal sacrifice, pilgrimages, sacred meals
Formality often comes from sacred stories; e.g. Pesach
Practice reveals belief; e.g prayer for Muslims
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Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
Sacred stories & sacred scriptures
Beliefs & practices
Sacred time
All time is sacred
Ritual moves I or C to, reminds, & timeless
Frequency varies but always draws past & future to present
Sacred places & sacred spaces
Examples:
Muslims, - Fri., Ramadan
Jews - Sabbath, Yom Kippur
Christians - Sun, Lent, Easter
Buddhists- Bodhi Day
Hindus – Diwali
Sikhs – Gobind Singh’s b-day
Communal rituals more formal that personal devotions; sense of belonging & personal renewal

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Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
Examples:
Origins & Travels
Muslims -- Mecca/ Medina
Christians, Jews, & Muslims -- Holy Land
Natural
Rivers – Jordan (Christians) & Ganges (Hindus)
Mountains – Sinai (Jews) & Fuji (Shintos)
Shrines, Synagogues, Mosques, Temples, Churches, & temporary
Sacred stories & sacred scriptures
Beliefs & practices
Sacred time
Sacred places & sacred spaces
Anywhere but usually marked by a permanent sacred space and place
Can be temporary
Based on sacred stories and scriptures of religion

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Other Elements or Patterns
Methodology
Brief historical overview
Sacred stories & scriptures
Basic beliefs & practices
Sacred time
Sacred places & spaces
The religion through a Catholic lens
Implicit aspects
Symbols & objects; laws; institutional structure; holy people
Order
Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese, Japanese, Christianity (out of order) & American
Not chronological

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Vocabulary:
Religion
Empathy
Liturgy
Ecumenism
Evangelization
Witnessing
Myths
Irenicism
Egregiously
Perfidious
Anonymous Christian

17. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Review Questions:
Briefly describe the religious diversity in our world today.
Why use the term “world’s religions” rather than “world religions” in studying various religious traditions?
In what language did the word “religion” originate? Why do you think it is such a difficult term to define?
What attitude is asked of us in studying some of the world’s religions? Explain.
What makes a class about the world’s religions different from other religion classes?
What are some reasons for studying the world’s religions?
Relate some of the ways in which Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II broke ground in the Catholic Church’s relationship with other religious traditions.
Why is interreligious dialogue a duty of all Catholics? In what ways can a Catholic fulfill this duty?
What are some of the common elements or patterns we will employ in our study of some of the world’s religions?