RLG100Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Animism, Cultural Anthropology, Vedic And Sanskrit Literature
Document Summary
Methods for the study of religion; presuppositions of western. Last time: the term religion begins with reference to christianity. It is a means of connecting the individual to the divine. Discussed the pattern in which the european world began to interact with the other religions. Crusades - europeans came into different cultures (some decided to live there) and tried to convert people to. Great voyages of discovery - writing travel logs (highly exaggerated). The printing press enabled the dispersion of ideas. Europe had a mad passion of exploration of other parts of the world - motivated by commerce. Adventurers undertake the great voyages for fun and capitalism. Catholic church is very motivated to send out missionaries to other parts of the world, and set up communities in north. Jesuits (order of catholicism) were at the forefront of this activity. Jesuits learned the scriptures, religious ideas and acquainted themselves with the practices.
