1. Seven Dimensions of Religion

2. Experiential
Have you ever had an experience in which you realized that there was more to life than meets the eye – a sacred moment ?
Experiential begins with the religious experiences of the individual e.g. the Buddha
Theistic – God experienced as a holy presence
Non-theistic – mysticism – become one with the divine
Faith generally belongs to the category of Religious Experience

3. Mythic Sources of sacred truth - take the form of sacred stories
They do not necessarily conflict with history and science, nor are they necessarily false or irrational
Express Sacred Truth

4. Doctrinal
The belief aspect of a religion – creeds, doctrines or teachings of the religion
come from experiential
come from myths
What is the difference between the beliefs of a religion and faith?

5. Ethical
How we are to act while living in the world e.g. the “Golden Rule”

6. Ritual
Worship, taking a variety of forms and occupying much of an individual’s religious life
many reenact a sacred story or myth e.g.
Hajj
Eucharist
Seder

7. Social communal aspect of religion
Belonging to a group – such as a tribe, parish or congregation
hierarchy of leadership
Embodiment of spiritual
perfection

8. Material Sacred architecture structures of worship, art within them,
sacred books of scripture
sacred entities (mountains, cities, rivers etc.)
Golden Temple of Amritsar, India – sacred to Sikhs

9. Summarizer
Identify the examples of the 7 dimensions from the religion with which you are most familiar
Experiential - Ritual
Mythic - Social
Doctrinal - Material
Ethical