H O U R 2

COMPARATIVE

RELIGIONS

REVIEW OF THE

ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS

Understanding the “Western” Religions

• Created by God in our original home: the Garden.

• Expelled by God due to our decision to eat the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God.

UNDERSTANDING

ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS: GOD

Armstrong’s God

• God as neither male or female .

• God is not a being.

• God not necessarily as creator or first cause, but “God beyond God”.

Issues

• “He” inherently places men more sacred.

• “Being” inherently makes people more sacred.

• Creates a limited idol that divides people into fundamentalists and atheists.

Where do you think this understanding comes from? Why do some people believe otherwise?

ABRAHAMIC RELIGION:INTERPRETATIONS

Key ConceptsGod/Allah, Heaven, Peace

Covenant, Faith, Compassion

• God created us in the perfect garden.

• Banished us after eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good & Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God

1. Spiritual/Metaphysical Truths?

• A spiritual world exists beyond our material world

• We can access it & God for guidance and help.

• Goal: to re-establish relationship with metaphysical God. Enter into Heaven.

ABRAHAMIC RELIGION:INTERPRETATIONS

2. Physical/Cosmological Truths?

• We all physically come from the same source or same place.

• Primitive life was literally “perfect” until brain developed “ego” & capacity for judgment.

• Goal: for return to this “paradise” of consciousness, environmental harmony.

Key ConceptsGod/Allah, Heaven, Peace

Covenant, Faith, Compassion

• God created us in the perfect garden.

• Banished us after eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good & Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God

ABRAHAMIC RELIGION:INTERPRETATIONS

3. Philosophical Truths?• Guide for ethics: golden rule.

• Meaningful/purposeful living: living for something greater than oneself.

• Goal: ethical & meaningful living.

Key ConceptsGod/Allah, Heaven, Peace

Covenant, Faith, Compassion

• God created us in the perfect garden.

• Banished us after eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good & Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God

ABRAHAMIC RELIGION:INTERPRETATIONS

4. Psychological Truths?• Psychological truths of the mind.

• How to deal with interpersonal conflict (faith) and group dynamics (kindness, compassion),

• Goal: inner and outer peace.

Key ConceptsGod/Allah, Heaven,

Covenant, Faith, Compassion

• God created us in the perfect garden.

• Banished us after eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good & Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God

ABRAHAMIC RELIGION:INTERPRETATIONS

4. Psychological Truths?• Creation story as the story of

human development.

• Goal: wholeness and unity.

Key ConceptsGod/Allah, Heaven, Peace

Covenant, Faith, Compassion

• God created us in the perfect garden.

• Banished us after eating the fruit of the knowledge of Good & Evil.

• Emphasis on living our lives or transforming ourselves in a way to restore our relationship with God

THE COURSE (IN GENERAL)

Comparing ReligionsWhat we Will Learn About them?

1. How they Make Sense of The World and Our Place in It.

2. What they Say About How to Best Live our Lives.

WORLD RELIGIONS

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

1. New Atheism:

“They are wrong. I don’t believe because they are

not true.”

• Why would this be a useful approach?

• Why might this not be useful?

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

2. Agnosticism:

“I don’t believe because I don’t know.”

• Why would this be a useful approach?

• Why might this not be useful?

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

3. Religious Exclusivism:

“I believe only one religion is correct and all

others are mistaken.”

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

3. Religious Exclusivism

• Often the position taken by religious fundamentalist.

• What does fundamentalism mean?

• What religions have fundamentalist sects?

• Can fundamentalism be associated with atheism?

• Why is fundamentalism on the rise?• Rapid globalization and rise of secular world.• Armstrong: Emphasis on logos rather than mythos.

• Why would this be a useful approach?• Why might this not be useful?

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

4. Religious Inclusivism:

“I believe only one religion is fully correct

and all others are partially correct.”

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

4. Religious Inclusivism:

• All (or almost all) major religions have partial truths.

• All (or almost all) major religions “point” to the same ultimacy.

• A religion currently exists (or can exist) that encompasses the full truth.

• Why do some see this as form of exclusivism?

• Why would this be a useful approach?

• Why might this not be useful?

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

5. Religious Relativism:

“I believe each religion can be considered true for its

believers. There’s no objective way to discuss

whether religious beliefs are true or false.”

• What does this mean?

• Why would this be a useful approach?

• Why might this not be useful?

APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

6 Common Approaches

6. Religious Pluralism:

“I believe each major religion is correct. We can

all acknowledge differences, while still co-

existing in society.”

• What does this mean? How can this be possible?