Beginnings:
Human Experience, or perceptions of the human experience is the beginning of religious faiths. Humans are “fascinated” by that which is “beyond”, “the greater”, “the more” that:
1. Mircea Eliade called “the Sacred” – Cf. his The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion, 1959 [A classic introduction to the history of religion!]
2. Rudolf Otto called “the Holy” – Cf. his The Idea of Holy, 1917 [Another classic that speaks of the non-rational aspect of religion!]
Two Aspects of Religion:
Religions – More precisely, Religious Persons – Speak through
(a) Stories to inspire and educate
(Example: Story of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37, Cf. Living Religions of Fisher, hereafter LR, p. 305; Great Hindu stories are known as the epics and puranas – Cf. LR, p. 90)
(b) Doctrines and Creeds to demark and defend
(Example: Kalima, Islamic Creed or Apostles Creed)
Religions – More precisely, Religious Persons – Act through
(a) Rituals
(Example: Hindu Pūja, worship, or Holy Eucharist)
(b) Ethical behavior
(Example: Obeying the Ten Commandments in Judaism Cf. LR, p. 244)
Religious Community:
Religions also prompt an organizing of the adherents into “religious communities”!
(a) Buddhists – Sangha
(b) Muslims – Umma
(c) Christians – Church
Dimensions of Religion(s):
“A religion is a seven-dimensional organism, ritual, doctrinal, mythical or narrative, experimental or emotional, ethical or legal, organisational or social, material or artistic.” (Ninian Smart)
The Seven Dimensions, we may rename as:
1. Rituals
2. Doctrines
3. Myths/Narrative
4. Experiences
5. Ethics/Legalism
6. Organisation
7. Symbols/Art and Architecture
We will explore some of the above-mentioned dimensions in the religions we have identified to study. All the above are developed in particular historical contexts both shaping history and being shaped by history. Hence we will pay attention to those changes as well.
Note:
1. We will not be studying the Holy or the Sacred but we will explore how the Sacred or the Holy is perceived, interpreted, and lived by different “religious communities”!
2. Perceptions and interpretations will make up the “Ideals” of a religion while the living of that “Ideals” will lead to the “Realities”! In almost all the religions of the world we are bound to see a gap, a discrepancy between the two!
3. When comparing two religions care should be taken that one does not compare the “ideals” of one – quite often ones own – with the “realities” of another – quite often the neighbours!
4. To continue our study of world religions you may want to begin reading Chapter 1 of LR, 2008.
Question to Explore:
Discuss, with examples, the role of a storyteller as a spiritual specialist in certain communities in the world. For this you may read LR, p. 49ff.
