GEK1045 Lecture 1

GEK1045: Introduction GEK1045: Introduction to World Religionsto World Religions

Lecture 1: 14 August 2008Lecture 1: 14 August 2008

The Spread of World Religion in The Spread of World Religion in less than 2 minutes…. less than 2 minutes….

http://www.mapsofwa r.com/images/ Religion. Swf

The Spread of World Religion in The Spread of World Religion in less than 2 minutes? less than 2 minutes?

What’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong with this picture?

Objectives for Today’s Lecture:Objectives for Today’s Lecture:

Clarify Administrative issuesClarify Administrative issues

Discuss what a ‘World Religion’ isDiscuss what a ‘World Religion’ is

Class ActivitiesClass Activities

(a) A two-hour lecture delivered by Dr. (a) A two-hour lecture delivered by Dr. Bautista on Thursdays from 2:00 to Bautista on Thursdays from 2:00 to 4:00pm at LT8.4:00pm at LT8.

(b) A two hour tutorial every odd week(b) A two hour tutorial every odd week

LecturesLecturesPlease refer to the Lecture Schedule on IVLE

AssessmentsAssessments

Tutorial Participation (20%)Tutorial Participation (20%)

Term Paper (35%)Term Paper (35%) Friday, 18 September 2009Friday, 18 September 2009

IVLE Discussion Forum (10%)IVLE Discussion Forum (10%) Monday, 16 November 2009 (submit to office Monday, 16 November 2009 (submit to office

of programmes @ AS7 level 2)of programmes @ AS7 level 2)

Final Exam (35%)Final Exam (35%) Date TBADate TBA

AssessmentsAssessments

Essay Questions:Essay Questions: Sin and PunishmentSin and Punishment Pain Pain SexualitySexuality

IVLE ForumIVLE Forum

Tutorial ParticipationTutorial Participation

TextText

Patterns of ReligionAuthor:Schmidt et. al.2nd / 2005ISBN:0534627412Thomson WadsworthCompulsory

Please be very mindful of...Please be very mindful of...

Plagiarism: Plagiarism: http://www.cit.nus.edu.sg/plagiarism/

AttendanceAttendance

Medical CasesMedical Cases

Announcements and IVLE platformAnnouncements and IVLE platform

The Spread of World Religion in The Spread of World Religion in less than 2 minutes? less than 2 minutes?

What’s wrong with this picture?What’s wrong with this picture?

Does it consider the ‘mixing’ of religions?Does it consider the ‘mixing’ of religions?

Does it consider the mutual historical Does it consider the mutual historical lineages of religion?lineages of religion?

Does it consider the conflicting boundaries Does it consider the conflicting boundaries between religions?between religions?

Why have they chosen those religions in Why have they chosen those religions in particular? What about other religions? particular? What about other religions?

GEK1045: Introduction GEK1045: Introduction to World Religionsto World Religions

Lecture 1: 14 August 2008Lecture 1: 14 August 2008

What do they have in common?What do they have in common?

A Religion…A Religion…

… … is a belief in the existence of a reality is a belief in the existence of a reality beyond the physical worldbeyond the physical world

… … focuses on ‘true’ human nature in the focuses on ‘true’ human nature in the context of a transcendent realitycontext of a transcendent reality

...focuses on the example and inspiration of ...focuses on the example and inspiration of “deities” or their followers“deities” or their followers

A Religion…A Religion…

……has written ideas about “correct” has written ideas about “correct” knowledge, beliefs and values, personal knowledge, beliefs and values, personal and social activity, ethics, lawsand social activity, ethics, laws

……involves the participation in involves the participation in institutionalised forms of worship, practice, institutionalised forms of worship, practice, or social or personal activity that is thought or social or personal activity that is thought to enhance the self and those around usto enhance the self and those around us

Why ‘World Religions?Why ‘World Religions?

Why are some religions “world religions”? Why are some religions “world religions”? Does it depend on:Does it depend on:

The number of adherents?The number of adherents?

The widespread dispersion of its The widespread dispersion of its adherents?adherents?

The widespread appeal of its beliefs?The widespread appeal of its beliefs?

Why ‘World Religions’?Why ‘World Religions’?

Its historical lineage?Its historical lineage?

Its adoption as official religions?Its adoption as official religions?

Its beliefs and tenets influence other Its beliefs and tenets influence other spheres of life?spheres of life?

““Official” ReligionsOfficial” Religions

In Singapore: In Singapore: http://www.iro.org.sg/website/http://www.iro.org.sg/website/

Roman Catholicism: Roman Catholicism: http://www.vatican.va/http://www.vatican.va/

““Are these World Religions?”Are these World Religions?”Baha’i: http://www.bahai.com/Baha’i: http://www.bahai.com/

Church of Scientology: Church of Scientology: http://www.scientology.org/http://www.scientology.org/

Falungong: http://www.falundafa.org/Falungong: http://www.falundafa.org/

Raelians: http://www.rael.org/Raelians: http://www.rael.org/

““Are these World Religions?”Are these World Religions?”Church of Satan: Church of Satan: http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.htmlhttp://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html

Wicca: http://www.wicca.org/Wicca: http://www.wicca.org/

““The whole attraction of the occult is power, excitement and The whole attraction of the occult is power, excitement and entertainment, each of which is represented in the Potter series. entertainment, each of which is represented in the Potter series. Rowling’s books, at the very least, will desensitize children to the Rowling’s books, at the very least, will desensitize children to the dangers of occultism, which in turn may create in them a general dangers of occultism, which in turn may create in them a general sympathy toward a spiritually detrimental set of beliefs. For some sympathy toward a spiritually detrimental set of beliefs. For some children, the Potter series may even spark a desire for genuine children, the Potter series may even spark a desire for genuine occult materials and paraphernalia.” occult materials and paraphernalia.”

http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Bible-Menace-Behind/dp/0889652015http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Bible-Menace-Behind/dp/0889652015

““Are these World Religions?”Are these World Religions?”

Football: http://www.fifa.com/Football: http://www.fifa.com/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/

2396503.stm2396503.stm

““World Religions”World Religions”

The political: Whose agendas are served The political: Whose agendas are served through the promotion of one faith over through the promotion of one faith over another?another?

The discursive: What conventions The discursive: What conventions maintain the status quo which support maintain the status quo which support world religions?world religions?

““World Religions”World Religions”

Which faiths are considered “World Which faiths are considered “World Religions” is determined by factors Religions” is determined by factors beyond beyond the statistical.the statistical.

The historical: Which historical events led The historical: Which historical events led to the prominence of certain faiths? to the prominence of certain faiths?

What do they have in common?What do they have in common?

Consider the following…Consider the following…

‘‘World religions’ of today were the ‘cults’ of World religions’ of today were the ‘cults’ of yesteryear?yesteryear?

There needs to be state recognition for a There needs to be state recognition for a faith to become a world religion?faith to become a world religion?

Consider the following…Consider the following…

World religions need ‘charismatic World religions need ‘charismatic leaders’?leaders’?

Maybe its more appropriate to call them Maybe its more appropriate to call them ‘established religions’ rather than ‘world ‘established religions’ rather than ‘world religions’religions’

Question for the weekQuestion for the week

Why is Judaism considered a ‘world Why is Judaism considered a ‘world religion’?religion’?