exploring the religions of our world chapter 1 beginning the journey chapter 1 beginning the journey

Exploring the Religions Exploring the Religions of Our Worldof Our World

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Beginning the JourneyBeginning the Journey


Why Study World Religions?Why Study World Religions?

to gain a clearer to gain a clearer understanding of understanding of one’s own faithone’s own faith

to foster openness to foster openness and acceptance of and acceptance of human differenceshuman differences

to gain insights into to gain insights into human beings by human beings by

understanding their understanding their religious activitiesreligious activities

to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of

humankind’s various humankind’s various civilizationscivilizations

to gain a better to gain a better understanding of understanding of various human various human

culturescultures to learn from some to learn from some great sources of great sources of

wisdomwisdom

to dispel fears andto dispel fears and

misunderstandingsmisunderstandings


Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions

Catholics reject nothing which is true and Catholics reject nothing which is true and holy in other religions holy in other religions ((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate, 2), 2)

Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Pope John XXIII’s vision was that the Catholic Church not set itself Catholic Church not set itself againstagainst the the world, but engage in dialogue world, but engage in dialogue withwith the world the world


Catholic Attitude Towards Other ReligionsCatholic Attitude Towards Other Religions (continued)(continued)

““Those who, through no fault of their own, do not Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart … may achieve eternal salvation may achieve eternal salvation (CCC, 847)(CCC, 847)

The Catholic Church has primacy over other The Catholic Church has primacy over other faith traditions because of its apostolic succession faith traditions because of its apostolic succession by which it can offer the “means of salvation”by which it can offer the “means of salvation”


Related Documents from the Second Vatican CouncilRelated Documents from the Second Vatican Council

The Declaration on the The Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Relation of the Church to Non-Christian ReligionsNon-Christian Religions

((Nostra AetateNostra Aetate))

The Declaration onThe Declaration onHuman Freedom Human Freedom

((Dignitatis HumanaeDignitatis Humanae))

The Decree The Decree on on EcumenismEcumenism

((Unitates RedintegratioUnitates Redintegratio))


Ecumenical DialogueEcumenical Dialogue1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world 1. All Catholics are to evangelize the world through dialogue with non-Catholicsthrough dialogue with non-Catholics2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations2. God offers the gift of salvation to all the nations3. The scriptures of other religions point to a 3. The scriptures of other religions point to a future of communion with Godfuture of communion with God4. People from other religious traditions can be 4. People from other religious traditions can be recipients of God’s grace recipients of God’s grace 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or 5. Dialogue can be through words, actions, or both.both.


Common Elements or Patterns of ReligionsCommon Elements or Patterns of Religions

sacred stories and sacred stories and sacred scripturessacred scriptures

beliefs and practices beliefs and practices

sacred timesacred time

sacred places and sacred places and sacred spacessacred spaces

Examples:Examples:

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VocabularyVocabulary• religionreligion• empathyempathy• liturgyliturgy• ecumenismecumenism• evangelizationevangelization• witnessing witnessing • mythsmyths