Religion

Humanities G 125Rasmussen College

Objectives

1. Learn about other religions

2. Understand misconceptions about other religions

3. Understand the relationship between the Humanities and religion

Why learn about religion?

Dan Dennet on God and Religion – proposes that religion, all religions be taught in school.

Types of Religion

Monotheism

Polytheism

Philosophical—no particular God or gods—more a philosophical look at living. Example: Taoism

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

Three Faiths, One God

Excerpt from the documentary: Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Three Faiths excerpt

The Interfaith Amigos

Muslim

Frontline Documentary

Why I wear a Hajib

Reel Bad Arabs

Buddhism

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Buddhist Monks

Morality

Meditation

Wisdom

Practice Mindfulness

Brahman means universal soul

Brahminism lead to Hinduism which led to Buddhism

Nirvana or Moksha

State of bliss – free from pain and stress of life.

Without pain, people cannot experience Nirvana.

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

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.

How to live our lives in a place where we can find

Agnostics

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

Atheism

People who do NOT believe in any higher power.

Religion and Art

What is the connection between Art and Religion?

Art and Religion with Artist Joseph Brickey

Architecture

Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism on Religious Architecture

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?