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

2. Ch 1 Beginning the Journey p. 6
Setting the Stage
Global village; immigration
As seniors, you are protected “Christian” world, but next year…
Unique class—overview of many religions
Goals: Proclaim Christ, dialogue & learn
World Religion = religions that are worldwide
Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam
Hinduism, Judaism, Japanese, Chinese, and American denominations

3. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
What is Religion? P. 8
Word not present in most holy books
Only modern times, a separation from life
Latin religio = “to bind”
Not just one thing—worship, action, belief, etc…
each religion defines itself differently
Person or community to something or someone over or beyond
Myth points to a spiritual truth
Monotheism – belief on one God
Western systematic approach

4. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Why Study World Religions? P. 9
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

5. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
A Different Religion Class
P. 10
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

6. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Studying with a New Attitude p.10
Non-judgmental
Catholics reject nothing which is true & holy in other religions…sincere respect…reflect a ray of Truth (Vatican II, NA, 2)
Be a witness, by word and action, without trying to convert
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)

7. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Setting the Context of Catholic’s in Dialogue p.12
Angelo Roncalli (1881) Pope John XXIII ( )
Vatican diplomat to Greece and Turkey—Orthodox & Muslims
Aided 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
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 ( )

8. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Benefits of the Council p
Dignitatis Humanae (Of the Dignity of the
Human Person, Declaration on Human Freedom)
Rights if individuals to social & civil freedom in religious matters
Unitatis Redintegratio (Restoration of Unity, Decree on Ecumenism)
Dialogue with fellow Christians
Nostra Aetate (In our Time, Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)
Dialogue with non-Christians

9. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Ecumenical Dialogue p.13-14
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 nations
3. 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

10. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Some Common Elements or Patterns of Religions
p. 15
Myths (sacred truths told via stories about history and tradition)
Upanishads /
Bhagavad Gita - Hindu
Qur’an - Islam
Bible – Judaism/
Christianity
Sacred writings, stories, scriptures

11. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p
Beliefs & practices
Vertical (God) & horizontal (others)
Liturgy – official public prayer
Doctrine (beliefs) & action (moral codes)
Morals determine:
Goodness & salvation
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

12. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p
Sacred time
For most, all time is sacred
Ritual moves personal /communal to remember, celebrate, & timeless
Frequency varies but always draws past & future to present
Muslims, - Fri., Ramadan
Jews - Sabbath, Yom Kippur
Christians - Sun, Lent, Easter
Buddhists- Bodhi Day
Hindus – Diwali
Rites of Passage are sacred times – bar mitzvah, Confirmation

13. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Common Elements or Patterns of Religions p. 18
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
Sacred Place – tend to be in nature
Sacred Space – tend to be man-made
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

14. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Other Elements or Patterns p
Methodology of the book:
Brief historical overview
Sacred stories & scriptures
Basic beliefs & practices
Sacred time
Sacred places & spaces
The religion through a Catholic lens
Order
Judaism, Catholic, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese, Japanese, & Religions with American Roots
Not chronological

15. Chapter 1 Beginning the Journey
Vocabulary:
Religion
Empathy
Liturgy
Ecumenism
Evangelization
Witnessing
Myths
Irenicism (False conciliation)
Egregiously
Perfidious (deceitful, unfaithful)
Anonymous Christian

16. 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?