Module 1 Notes.docx - When you complete this module you...

When you complete this module, you should be able to:
 Explain the problems in defining “religion.”
 Describe some components of “religion” in general.
 Discuss the problem of the universal salvific will of God in Christianity on the one
hand, and the particularity of Christian claims regarding Jesus’ uniqueness on the
other.
 Summarize the position of Vatican II on world religions & religious freedom.
 Explain why ecumenism is so important today.
Religious Studies Vs Theology
Theology is an academic discipline that deals with understanding, elaborating, explaining,
and defending the “creedal” (or doctrinal) and “code” (ethics) of a particular religion. This will
be explained in further detail later in the course. Theology is practiced by those committed
to the religious tradition, from the perspective of faith in the tradition. Theology draws upon
authorities for the religious tradition which includes scriptures, important figures and
leaders, an authoritative teaching body, etc.
Religious Studies is the academic study of religion as an objective phenomenon in the
world. It assumes neither faith nor lack of it, but rather seeks an objective, “scientific” study
of religion. Religious study incorporates numerous academic disciplines such as history,
linguistics, hermeneutics (the science of interpretation), sociology, psychology,
anthropology, economics, philosophy, and others.
This course takes a “Religious Studies” approach to learning about world religions. One can
learn the origins, life, and work of Muhammad, history and development of the Qur’an,
beliefs, law, ethics, practices, rituals, and symbols of Islam, for instance, without having any
religious commitment to Islam as a religion or being a Muslim.
Religion Defined
What is religion? There many different things that we call “religion”; therefore, religious
studies scholars debate the essential components of religion.
Two of the many proposed working definitions of religion are:
“Human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy.”
- William A. Young
“A system of symbols, myths, doctrines, ethics, and rituals for the
expression of ultimate relevance” (Carmody 1).
The word “ultimate” in these definitions expresses the idea that religion deals with what is
most important (or supposed to be most important), compared to what is of “relative”
importance, namely anything that is not most important.

Workign Def. Of Religion
The components of religion can be grouped as follows:
Creed: (or doctrine, teaching) Statements about the nature of ultimate reality, spirits, gods
or “God,” the meaning and purpose of human life, the ultimate human problem and its
solution, and the afterlife. This includes symbols and myths to express what cannot be fully
captured with words and concepts.
Code: Morals or ethics about individual and group behavior, considering what “should” be
done in view of ultimate concerns (imperative, values).