REL-1002 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Zionism, Zion, Yahweh
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
REL-1002
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
World Religion
September 6, 2016
Theology- the study of God (science)
A(theism)- no belief in a higher power
What is religion? (group definitions)
- comforting belief that there is a bigger plan/belief in a higher power
- community to be involved in
- a chance to be selfless and listen to/believe in a higher power
- motivation to be a better person
- Answers to questions
Religare- to be bound together… binding of people and the Devine
Ekklesia- those who are called out… religious community
September 8, 2016
Understanding Problems in Religion
Zunera Ishaq- Her niquab is a symbol of her religion and a part of her faith
Stephan Harper- does not allow face coverings at citizenship ceremonies
…these are not the views only of the overwhelming majority of Canadians, they are the views
of the overwhelming majority of moderate Muslims
Jason Kenney- Head coverings are cultural, not religious (Canadian Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration (2008-2013))
-under 30 people in Canada wear the whole veil
Eliana Marenge Quebec Judge- Anti- Hijab ruling that head coverings are religious not secular
There is a contradiction between hijab being cultural or religious…. culture and religion are used
as excused to benefit the side who is arguing.
Defining Religion
A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive and long lasting
moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and
clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem
uniquely realistic
- Clifford Geertz (1926-2003)
Talal Asad
- Professor of Anthro at Graduate Centre of the City University of New York (CUNY)
- Father was Jewish, converted to Islam
- Arguably the most influential Muslim scholar living today
- 2 assumptions about religion:
Interiority:
The problem with Geertz’s definition is that it makes interiority the locus of religion. This
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find more resources at oneclass.com
marginalizes those religions that are less oriented towards individual belief more oriented
towards embodied practice, discipline and community.
- sola fide= one is saved by faith alone
- more about what they believe rather than what is practiced
- you can believe what you want, therefore religious clothing and symbols aren't needed
Separability:
For insofar as the task of defining anything presumes a discrete object that can be identified in
contradistinction to others, this implied a model of religion that emerged only with the
Enlightenment. Prior to that time, even in Western Europe religion cannot be analytically or
practically disarticulated from virtually all other aspects of culture.
- you break things down to understand what they mean
- assumes science, can be broken down to understand
- the assumption that you can separate religion and culture is Western
*If we consider Western understanding of secularity, we are left with a big issue:
- If the majority of religions are made up of practice/embodied enactments that are a way of life
their religion becomes culture
- For these groups religion isn't something chosen…. so what does freedom of religion
mean?
- If the understanding of freedom oppresses certain groups it is not truly freedom
- For many, religion can not be separated from life
September 13, 2016
Indigenous Religions
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
- Engages in the healing of injustice for indigenous people
Smudging- ceremonial act of purification
Indigenous traditions sometimes referred to as tribal or small scale. This is obviously
problematic as it undermines the expanse and complexity of indigenous religions.
Sometimes Indigenous Religions are also referred to as oral or preliterate which is
inaccurate… an error made of a situation of power and judgment… many paintings etc served
as texts in pre colonial times.
*using these terms suggests that one religion is normative and indigenous religions are not.
Religious Activities vs. Spiritual Activities
- Christianity in Residential Schools is a history of colonization. Survivors may describe
Religion as christianity rather than indigenous traditions due to this.
- Religion is arguably perceived as what was brought by the colonizer, therefore the term
religion can be inaccurate. Spirituality is more fitting for some indigenous people.
7 Sacred Teachings/Grandfather Teachings
-Wisdom
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Comforting belief that there is a bigger plan/belief in a higher power. A chance to be selfless and listen to/believe in a higher power. Religare- to be bound together binding of people and the devine. Ekklesia- those who are called out religious community. Zunera ishaq- her niquab is a symbol of her religion and a part of her faith. Stephan harper- does not allow face coverings at citizenship ceremonies. (cid:1688)these are not the views only of the overwhelming majority of canadians, they are the views of the overwhelming majority of moderate muslims(cid:1689) Jason kenney- (cid:1688)head coverings are cultural, not religious(cid:1689) (canadian minister of citizenship and immigration (2008-2013)) Under 30 people in canada wear the whole veil. Eliana marenge quebec judge- anti- hijab ruling that head coverings are religious not secular. There is a contradiction between hijab being cultural or religious . culture and religion are used as excused to benefit the side who is arguing.
