The document discusses the study of religion, including: - A passage from the Bible describing Nebuchadnezzar taking captives from Israel to Babylon for education. - Components of religion like sacred stories, texts, rituals, beliefs, and people. - Two theories on the origins of religion - evolution from animism to polytheism to monotheism, and primitive monotheism that devolved over time. - The challenge for Christianity of believing in one truth while living in a pluralistic world, with approaches like inclusivism, dialogue, and respectfully sharing one's faith.

1. Topic 1 | Part 2 The Study of Religion
INT-244 • World Religions

2. Describe a conversation you had with someone from another religion

3. Devotion
Daniel 1:1-4

4. [In 586 BC] Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into
his hand, with some of the vessels of the house
of God. And he brought them back to Babylon,
to the house of his god, and placed the vessels
in the treasury of his god.
(Dan 1:1–2 ESV)

5. Then Nebuchadnezzar commanded Ashpenaz,
to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the
royal family and of the nobility, youths without
blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all
w i s d o m , e n d o w e d w i t h k n o w l e d g e ,
understanding learning, and competent to stand
in the king’s palace, and to teach them the
literature and language of the Chaldeans.
(Dan 1:3–4 ESV)

6. Qualifications
Daniel 1:1-4
• Presentable (social skills)
• Skillful with knowledge
• Learned
• Soft skills (decorum)
• Teachable
Nebuchadnezzar

7. Education
Daniel 1:1-4
• Language
• Culture
• Religion of Babylonians
Nebuchadnezzar

8. Prayer Requests

9. Sign-Up Sheets
• Bible Devotions
• Class Presentation

10. Class Projects
1. Interview someone from another
religion or visit a place of
worship (25 pts)
2. Report on a religious object,
text, ritual, holiday, or religious
person (25 pts)
Due April 3 (please don’t wait)

11. Religion

12. A religion is a system of beliefs and practices that by
means of its cultus directs a person toward
transcendence and, thus, provides meaning and
coherence to a person’s life.
(Winfried, 2014, p. 28)

13. A religion is a system of beliefs and practices that by
means of its cultus directs a person toward
transcendence and, thus, provides meaning and
coherence to a person’s life (Winfried, 2014, p. 28).
What’s the difference between a religion and
(a) ideology (b) philosophy of life?

14. Religion v. Philosophy
• Ultimate issues
• Sacred Rituals & Practices
• Sacred people, places & things

15. Ex. Marxism
• Political Ideology, but no ultimate issues
• Customs, traditions, but no
fi
xed practices
• Leading thinkers, but no sacred people

16. Components of Religion

17. Components
• Sacred Stories
• Sacred Texts
• Sacred Community
• Sacred Beliefs
• Sacred Rituals
• Sacred Objects
• Sacred People

18. Group:
Describe a religious object in your home or place of worship.
1. Describe what it looks like?
2. Look up its origin on the computer?
3. How is it used in religious practice?
4. What can you learn about the religion through the object?

19. Al Shlosha (Musyca Choir)

20. Origins of Religion

21. Two Theories
1. Evolution of Religion
2. Original Monotheism

22. 1. Evolution of Religion

23. 1. Evolution of Religion
• Mana: spiritual forces

24. 1. Evolution of Religion
• Mana: spiritual forces
• Animism: spirits in things

25. 1. Evolution of Religion
• Mana: spiritual forces
• Animism: spirits in things
• Polytheism: many gods

26. 1. Evolution of Religion
• Mana: spiritual forces
• Animism: spirits in things
• Polytheism: many gods
• Henotheism: favorite god

27. 1. Evolution of Religion
• Mana: spiritual forces
• Animism: spirits in things
• Polytheism: many gods
• Henotheism: favorite god
• Monotheism: Only 1 God

28. What are some problems with
The Theory of Evolution of Religion?

29. Karl Marx
Evolution of Society

30. 2. Primitive
Monotheism
Wilhelm Schmidt (1912)
Devolution of religion

31. Wilhelm Schmidt
1868-1954
Austrian Priest, and Linguist

32. Wilhelm Schmidt
1931
Theory of Primitive Monotheism

33. Argument for Primitive Monotheism
1. Persistent story of a Creator God, Creation, and Fall
2. Ties together parallel stories in most global cultures
3. Evolution of Monotheism has not been observed & documented
4. Devolution of religion is readily observed & documented

34. Temple to the
Lord of Heaven

36. How Obatala Created the World

37. Western Religion
Decayed

38. Christian Approach to
World Religions

39. All Religions Make Truth Claims
• Islam: Angel Gabriel revealed God’s truth to Muhammad
• Mormonism: Jesus revealed God’s truth to Joseph Smith
• Hinduism: We are all on a journey of reincarnation
• Christianity: Jesus physically rose from the dead

40. Christian Worldview claims that
there can only be one truth

41. Wonder Woman 84

42. One truth • Pluralistic world
• Particularism - there can only be one truth
• Pluralism - but we live in a pluralistic world
• Inclusivism - we seek to be inclusive not exclusive
• Dialogue - we try to understand those of other faiths
• Sharing our faith - if we believe we have spiritual truth, we
want to share that with others.

43. Group:
What are some techniques you’ve found to live with the tension of
Believing some particular truths in a pluralistic world?