what is religion? james a. van slyke, phd. christian context at apu personal, incarnate god jesus...
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What is Religion?James A. Van Slyke, PhD
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Christian Context at APU
• Personal, Incarnate God• Jesus Christ– God in the Flesh– Atonement• Crucifixion saves us from
sin• Restores relationship
with God
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Christian Context at APU
• Term “Christian” (44 AD)• Born from the Jewish
Tradition– Begins with the tribes of
Abraham– Continues with Kings and
Prophets• Jesus grew up in a Jewish
context
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• Christianity is the theological foundation of religious beliefs at APU– 3.3 bil (33%)
• Religion is a worldwide phenomenon– Hinduism – 950 mil (14%)– Buddhism – 370 mil (6%)– Islam – 1.5 bil (21%)– Several smaller
indigenous religions
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What is Religion?• Belief in the Supernatural– Agents that influence – daily life– Examples• Demons• Spirits• Witches • Ghosts
– Often depicted in religious symbols, statues, and paintings
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What is Religion?
• Ritual– Practices performed by a religious community• Often symbolic for a supernatural reality• Examples
– Communion– Worship
– Can include a variety of behaviors and actions• Music, Dance, Special forms of dress, Food, Symbols• Sacrifice, violence, initiation rites
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What is Religion?
• Experiences– Subjective to the individual– Examples• Prayer• Mediation• Altered states of consciousness
– Usually defined as an experience of the divine or supernatural• Spiritual, mystic, sacred• Has important impact on someone’s life
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What is Religion?
• Morality– Defines right and wrong behavior for a community– Values contained in different narratives and
prescriptive or normative statements• Stories that contain a moral value
– Parables– Life and teachings of the Buddha
• Laws or Rules– 10 commandments– 5 Pillars of Islam
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What is Religion?
• Community– Unites a group of persons
together– Contains common goals– Important role in defining
identity• Cultural practices define history
of a community• Provide benefits for a
community– Education, economic resources,
support
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What is Religion?
• Family and Marriage– Plays an important role in
sexual and marital values– Provides support and
education for family life– Religious values often
encourage family growth and commitment
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What is Religion?
• Personal Meaning (Existential Definition)– Religion provides a sense of meaning and purpose
for life– Provides an overall narrative to make sense of the
world– Helps to deal with anxiety and ambiguity
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Nelson’s Definition
• Transcendent– Aspects of life that are greater
than us– Transcend nature, history,
culture, and individuals• Immanent– Present in important aspects
of daily life
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Nelson’s Definition
• Way of Life– Cultural Definition– Way of living life according to certain practices,
beliefs and values• Forms a Worldview– Unique perspective on the world based on
ultimate definitions of meaning and purpose
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Religion or Spirituality?
• Religion– Typically refers to organized and identifiable
religion– Religions have members and a particular historical
tradition• Spirituality– Individually based; more experiential– Connection with others and the sacred– Often not confined to one religion