Why is religion important to society and its people. Why do people think learning about religion is important. The term has become very popular and is used by numerous scholars who share little if. This creates compassion and tolerance from those different from us. Cover page footnote tisha emerson is associate professor and joseph mckinney is the ben h.
Even so, it is important to take the time to understand what the bible teaches about salvation soteriology, christ. This paper shall concentrate on african cosmology world view, the philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion, the concept of time and the worship of god in african traditional religion. Fewer jews, buddhists and hindus say religion is very important to them, but most members of those. So it is a matter of fact that if people do not understand the character of religions, they cannot make sense of much that happens in the world today. There are dozens of smaller minority religions around the world.
The significance of religious education in local primary schoolsspecific reference to christianity article pdf available february 20 with 80,614 reads how we measure reads. There have been as many theories as theorists, it seems, and while none fully captures what religion is, all offer important insights on the nature of. Religious studies cannot agree on a common definition of its subject matter. One thing all these religions have in common is the ability to bring people together. Smaller majorities of most other religious groups say religion plays a very important role in their lives. There are many localized variations of the world religions, and vernacular or folk beliefs and practices that are closely connected to a specific culture or location. In fact, religions not only speak about supernatural powers, they also constitute powerful forces in this world. Thus, one of the first reasons to study religion is simply to deepen our understanding of others and ourselves. African, european, and middle eastern religions views of human nature judaism, christianity, islam, zoroastrian, manichean. It studied the nature of philosophy, the meaning of african philosophy, the factors that stimulated the debate on african philosophy, the universality of. Studying diverse religions is a wonderful way for students to discover that one need not subscribe to a spiritual worldview in order to appreciate its meaning in the lives of those who hold it dearly. Lets now consider some additional pleasures and rewards of studying religions. But they dont understand how important it is to study the history of a subject. African indigenous religion is unlike other world religions in very many respects.
Most religions exist to bring cohesion to an ethnic group, notable. There are many examples in the world of wars or other conflicts that continued for at least tens of years between two groups of people with different religions or different cultures e. The same can be true of other important subjects, such as politics, sex education, racism, bullying, and conflict resolution. For many, studying history is quite a boring and a useless task. Different religions provide a variety of answers to these questions.
It is the values and practices that i believe is the main focus of lear. Studying other religions helps us understand people in other cultures and our own. We also take up what is problematic in the issue of translation from culture to culture, from indigenous language to metropolitan language, and from oral to written discourse. It is also an effective way for students to cultivate the kind of. It has wreaked havoc and devastating carnage through time and around the world. However, this popularity of the study of religion and different. Before we had foreign investigators to give the world an idea of what the religious beliefs of. The study of literature has a civilizing effect on people. There is an extreme danger of education being used primarily to turn out engineers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, business men and.
Get an answer for give and explain a few reasons or importance of studying psychology of religion and find homework help for other religion questions at enotes. It is important because one may learn about past human behavior that is relevant to the intellectual growth and development of an individual. Christianity the christian community and the world. Give and explain a few reasons or importance of studying. Tf the worlds religious traditions have nothing in common. Philosophers try to be a friend of wisdom by asking questions and studying why something is the case. Just because studying religion is perfectly legal doesnt mean teaching it may not get a little challenging, at times. For many, contemporary religion even has room for skepticism, science, and the secular, which allows it to keep going strong in our rapidly changing world. Pdf the teaching of religions has long relied on the world. Religious knowledgeknowledge about religions and religious culturesis a powerful resource to use throughout the rest of your life. Rel 117 introduction to world religions wabash center.
Religious studies, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field devoted to research into religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. Approaches to studying religions online course sophia. Religion also encourages believers to put words into. The study of world history requires an understanding of world cultures and civilizations. Studying other religions helps us appreciate the religious diversity in our world. Pdf the significance of religious education in local. Everywhere you look, it seems, signs of the decline in moral values are in evidence. We understand why other religionscultures actlive the way they do. Studying doctrine allows us to live out the christian faith with clarity, confidence, and consistency. Judeochristian monotheistic associations and world religions ecumenism. The core framework of religions is to create moral benchmarks for believers that guide their footsteps. African religions and philosophy, heineman, 1969, p.
An invitation to the study of world religions chapter 1 1. In this course, you will learn how to read, interpret, and discuss important writings from four of our. Religious studies is intellectually exciting because it. Yet this distinction is the basic premise for the academic study of religion. Why is it important to understand human nature in our times. Students will want to know how this class will be of interest and relevance to them. Religion is a pervasive and significant cultural phenomenon, so people who study culture and human nature have sought to explain the nature of religion, the nature of religious beliefs, and the reasons why religions exist in the first place. An invitation to the study of world religions chapter 1. Christianity christianity the christian community and the world. Ive found most of the challenges dont come from legal boundaries at all, but more from the. It rivals trade as a major transnational force across the globe. Importance of religious beliefs to ethical attitudes in business.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Roughly half of orthodox christians 52% also say this. Students do not have to ritually wash their hands before studying hegel and professors do not celebrate a utilitarian day every year. Despite development of secular ideas and concepts in the western world, we can observe increasing interest in the study of religion. This includes 64% of muslims, 58% of catholics and 53% of mainline protestants. Why study world religionsintro benoits religion classes. These foundational questions are philosophical and religious but our view of the answers to these questions impact almost everything else in our personal lives and in our. One cannot hope to understand world history and literature or current events like middle east. Students built this torii gate in the crum meadow as a project for professor mark wallaces course religion, the environment, and contemplative practice by mark wallace. Yes, doctrinal truths are often presented with unfamiliar and complicated terminology. The study of religion gives you the opportunity to explore. The first category includes reasons for studying religion in order to understand better the society in which we live, the culture we inherit and the wider world of. What is the main focus in learning about the teachings in the religion.
Sophias approaches to studying religion pathway helps you gain mastery of the basic concepts integral to the study of religion and understand how these concepts apply in real world situation. Unlike them, it treats religion as a phenomenon that cannot be explained in terms of any particular aspect of human society, culture, or thoughte. Why is it important to study the worlds religions in the college and university curriculum. Studying religion at uni will give you the opportunity to. Oral sources and the study of african traditional religion. Williams professor of international economics, both in the department of economics at baylor university p. In the study of world religions, the experiential dimension to learning is of great importance, and it is. From the perspectives of history and sociology, the christian community has been related to the world in diverse and even paradoxical ways. The ancient greeks, the world religions, the european enlightenment thinkers. Another difference is the fact that philosophy tends to emphasize just the use of reason and critical thinking whereas religions may make use of reason, but at the very least they also rely on faith or even.
The academic study of religion to study the worlds religions is to progress from mere observation of things to understanding their meaning and relevance and to enhance ones understanding and appreciation of the rich variety of cultures around the globe. Phenomenology of religion is distinct from historical, sociological, anthropological, philosophical, and theological approaches to the study of religion. In this pathway, you will explore key components of religions as they apply to a range of different belief systems and will explore the role of religion in modern society. There is no systematic manual of ethical practice and laws. Tf all religious tradition emphasize the 7 dimensions equally. This is reflected not only in changes in this relationship over time but also in simultaneously expressed alternatives ranging from withdrawal from and rejection of the world to. More than ever before, the world we live in is both multicultural and global. Religions that are not tied to a particular culture or location. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and crosscultural perspectives. Comparing world religions study because our worldand our countryis changing not christian by default any more because the truth matters it is a battle for truth, not power or control truth is under attack.
Since september 11, this point has become more difficult for my. Its recognized in the breakdown of the family structure. Its visible in a rampant narcissism, sense of entitlement and generalized contempt exercised by some factions of society. The book of religions comprising the views, creeds, sentiments, or opinions, of all the principal religious sects in the world particularly of all christian denominations in europe and america to which are added church and missionary statistics together with biographical sketches by john hayward author of new england gazetteer boston. Approaches, academic study, defining, and questioning 2. While theology attempts to understand the nature of. Societal religions vary throughout the world, with some worshiping one god and others worshiping many. The faculty who teach religion at uni are especially interested in.
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