The three points that this paper is written about were chosen because I believe that they are some of the major points that have been forgotten in today’s society. As a whole, we are too quick to say that we know everything and that we are always right. This mindset has become prevalent in a lot of religious backed arguments. As a society we tend to think that knowing a little about a lot of things will equate to knowing everything, and this is how people are studying religion. This thought process has caused problems with differentiating and understanding multiple religions.
The first point that I took from Oliver’s “Ten Things Every College Student Should Know About Religion” was “If you call yourself religious, you might want to know something …show more content…
Oliver suggests that people are taking a pluralistic view of religions, which allows people to combine religions to define their ideas. However, this becomes a problematic view when you begin to try to explain conflicts and try to talk to your neighbor who is a different religion. This topic is addressed throughout the textbook, most of the book is actually spent teaching about the differences between religions. Not only in beliefs, but rituals, truth-claims, origin stories, ect. When religion is looked at more closely, there are vast differences between each one, that most people miss when they just skim the surface. The table that is depicted on pg. 11 shows some very prominent differences in the religions of the world. These differences are in regards of date and place of origin, sacred texts, and founders. On the very surface the differences can begin to be seen. Interpretation is also a major difference between religions, as well as canonization. For example, the Christian Church interprets texts using the fourfold exegetical method, some sacred texts are interpreted through meditation, signing, art and dance (63). These things are all differences between religions. No two religions are exactly the same, and even more in depth is the fact that no two people will practice a religion the same way. Each person has a different motive for the beliefs, ideals, and adherence to a …show more content…
Religion is much more than what people believe, it also involves how communities work together, observations, activities, and histories. There are even some cases where what people believe contradicts the religion that they claim. Again this topic is first discussed in the text in chapter one on pg. 5; “the study of religion Is deeply rooted in a curiosity that is bolstered by acute observation, critical reflection, analytical investigation…” This emphasizes this fact that religion is not just what people believe, it began with observations and reflection and investigation. Religion simply did not develop because one person believed something, it was created upon the foundation of many things such as observation and investigation and beliefs. However, it was not solely upon people’s beliefs. Religion is also a way of viewing and living in the world (Oliver 41). Religion provides a way to understand certain phenomena and to provide guidance throughout one’s life. Religion is made up of so much more than just people’s beliefs, almost to the point that people’s beliefs are only a small part of religion as a whole. If one really wants to address the idea of what makes up religion, the list would be endless, because it is not solely composed of one idea or one person’s
The first point that I took from Oliver’s “Ten Things Every College Student Should Know About Religion” was “If you call yourself religious, you might want to know something …show more content…
Oliver suggests that people are taking a pluralistic view of religions, which allows people to combine religions to define their ideas. However, this becomes a problematic view when you begin to try to explain conflicts and try to talk to your neighbor who is a different religion. This topic is addressed throughout the textbook, most of the book is actually spent teaching about the differences between religions. Not only in beliefs, but rituals, truth-claims, origin stories, ect. When religion is looked at more closely, there are vast differences between each one, that most people miss when they just skim the surface. The table that is depicted on pg. 11 shows some very prominent differences in the religions of the world. These differences are in regards of date and place of origin, sacred texts, and founders. On the very surface the differences can begin to be seen. Interpretation is also a major difference between religions, as well as canonization. For example, the Christian Church interprets texts using the fourfold exegetical method, some sacred texts are interpreted through meditation, signing, art and dance (63). These things are all differences between religions. No two religions are exactly the same, and even more in depth is the fact that no two people will practice a religion the same way. Each person has a different motive for the beliefs, ideals, and adherence to a …show more content…
Religion is much more than what people believe, it also involves how communities work together, observations, activities, and histories. There are even some cases where what people believe contradicts the religion that they claim. Again this topic is first discussed in the text in chapter one on pg. 5; “the study of religion Is deeply rooted in a curiosity that is bolstered by acute observation, critical reflection, analytical investigation…” This emphasizes this fact that religion is not just what people believe, it began with observations and reflection and investigation. Religion simply did not develop because one person believed something, it was created upon the foundation of many things such as observation and investigation and beliefs. However, it was not solely upon people’s beliefs. Religion is also a way of viewing and living in the world (Oliver 41). Religion provides a way to understand certain phenomena and to provide guidance throughout one’s life. Religion is made up of so much more than just people’s beliefs, almost to the point that people’s beliefs are only a small part of religion as a whole. If one really wants to address the idea of what makes up religion, the list would be endless, because it is not solely composed of one idea or one person’s