1. Religion Humanities G 125 Rasmussen College

2. Objectives  1. Learn about other religions  2. Understand misconceptions about other religions  3. Understand the relationship between the Humanities and religion

3. Why learn about religion?  Dan Dennet on God and Religion – proposes that religion, all religions be taught in school.

4. Types of Religion  Monotheism  Polytheism  Philosophical—no particular God or gods—more a philosophical look at living. Example: Taoism

5. Monotheism  Christian, Judaism, Islam  All three religions come from the same source.  Abraham, believed in one God  Judaism – derives its name from Judah, son of Jacob. First 5 books of Hebrew bible are called The Torah—attributed to Moses  Islam –descended from Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar, when Sarah couldn’t conceive. Sarah did conceive and Ishmael was exiled. He wandered in the desert until he found Mecca, where Mohammed later founded the religion

6. Three Faiths, One God  Excerpt from the documentary: Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam  Three Faiths excerpt Three Faiths excerpt  The Interfaith Amigos The Interfaith Amigos

7. Muslim  Frontline Documentary Frontline Documentary  Why I wear a Hajib  Reel Bad Arabs Reel Bad Arabs

8. Buddhism  The Life of Buddha The Life of Buddha  Karma  Cleanse the mind, liberate the soul = meditation  Siddharta fasted for 40 days  “If the string is too tight, it will snap” – must live in the “Middle Way”. Live between extreme denial and a total mystical withdrawal from life.  Fingers touching together lightly – like a string being held not too tightly, or too loosely.

9. Four Truths of Buddhism  Life is filled with pain.  Pain is caused by unfulfilled desires.  There is a way out of pain.  The way is to follow the Eightfold Path.

10. Eightfold Path  Right Views – opinions based on a knowledge of things as they are  Right Intentions – decisions to act on such views  Right Speech – saying what is appropriate, guarding one’s statements so that they do not provoke anger and defensive behavior in others, but it does not mean saying what is known to be false in order to avoid giving offense.

11. Eightfold Path  Right conduct – behaving toward and interacting with others in accordance with things as they are, not as you want them to be.  Right livelihood – earning what is needed to survive and help others to survive, but never earning for its own sake and for unnecessary possessions earning makes possible

12. Eightfold Path  Right effort is striving to do what needs to be done, not to advance one’s own cause or prestige  Right mindfulness is maintaining the sitting or meditative attitude anywhere, whether in solitude or in society.  Right Concentration—focusing unwaveringly on reality without the intrusion of ego and the idle chatter that floods the mind.

13. Buddhist Monks  Morality  Meditation  Wisdom  Practice Mindfulness

14.  Brahman means universal soul  Brahminism lead to Hinduism which led to Buddhism

15. Nirvana or Moksha  State of bliss – free from pain and stress of life.  Without pain, people cannot experience Nirvana.

16. Taoism  Pronounced, “dow”  Traced back to the writings of Lao-tzu, sixth century B.C.E.  Tao Te Ching (dow day jing) – The Way of Life  Health of the body’s system, the mind’s harmonious processes, ethical dealings in all human interaction, respect for elders, and hospitality to strangers. The Three treasures of Tao  Love yourself  Merciful – love other people—global citizens  Forgiveness – kind hearts, no judgment

17. The Tao of Pooh  Eeyore’s Secrets of Happiness  Dr. Wayne Dyer : Change your thinking; Change your Life. Living the Wisdom of the Tao Ti Ching. Dr. Wayne Dyer  How to live our lives in a place where we can find

18. Agnostics  People who don’t believe in, but don’t necessarily discount a higher being.

19. Atheism  People who do NOT believe in any higher power.

20. Religion and Art  What is the connection between Art and Religion?  Art and Religion with Artist Joseph Brickey Art and Religion with Artist Joseph Brickey  Architecture  Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on Religious Architecture Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on Religious Architecture

21. Conclusion  What did you learn tonight?  Did your understanding of religions increase?  How has religion influenced humanities? Give specific examples.  Is there anything that you would like to know more about? Or anything you might continue to study?