The Meditators

Wendy BellJamie Gering

Mike LeeWendy LouieAllison Wolgat

Wendy Bell

What is religion?

Etymology

-L. religionem

-L. religare Relationship with the

divine Individual's place in

the universe

Wendy Bell

Variations in Religion

Spirituality vs. Religion

Atheism, Monotheism, and Polytheism

Orthopraxy vs. Orthodoxy

The Purpose of Religion

Enable as well as regulate communities of people

Explore inner and outer worlds

Regulate human behavior

Provide the intellectual framework

Jamie Gering

Pluralism: An Understandable Point of View

• Life Structure

• Spiritual Understanding

• Multiple Truths

Wendy Louie

Relativism vs. Pluralism

Allison Wolgat

Relativism

• Differs from monism—only one set of values is true

• “my values are mine, yours are yours, and if we clash, too bad, neither of us can claim to be right”

"I like my coffee with milk and you like it without; I am in favor of kindness and you

prefer concentration camps"

Allison WolgatAlison Wolgat

Pluralism

• Overall humanity

• “Multiple values are objective”

• Toleration & Liberal consequences

• Monism= pluralism’s enemy

• Many answers to one question

Allison Wolgat

Pluralism vs MonismDefinition

Pluralism- Multiple opinion and beliefs can exist at the and be tolerated and understood by each other.

Monism

- Everything in this universe can be described by only one concept. Every matter and thoughts are rooted from the same ultimate principle. Only one truth.

Pluralism vs MonismExamples

Pluralism

- America : most diverse religious country

Yoga, salsa dancing, Chinese calligraphy

- Lebanon: 18 different religious communities living side by side

Monism

- Nazi

- Hinduism (Advaita Vedanta)

Everything is an illusion except Brahman

- Ex. Trees, flowers, sun, etc.

-Greek Philosophy

Being & Non-Being

Denied senses

Quiz

1. Of the following, which are necessary for an ideology to be considered a religion:

a. A private belief

b. a God-like figure

c. Practices that unite a group of people

d. Spiritual dogma that offers rewards in the afterlife

2. True or False: One of the main purposes of religion is to enable as well as regulate communities of people?

Quiz contd

3. TRUE OR FALSE: The enemy of Pluralism is Relativism.

4. What is the definition of Monism?

5.Which expression best represents pluralism? relativism? monism?

A. My values are mine, yours are yours, and if we clash, too bad, neither of us can claim to be right

B. My values are right and yours are wrongC. Values are objective and multiple values hold truth