WORLD RELIGIONS:
UNIT 14: Contemporary Religion
Objectives
After completion of this unit, the student will be able to …
1. Describe the different sects and offshoots within modern religion (e.g., Christian Science, Shakers, Seventh-day Adventists, Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostal)
2. Explain the rise of evangelical fundamentalism and new religious movements (i.e., cults) and distinguish between these two phenomena.
3. Perform a homology between Mormonism another religion.
4. Apply social science theory (e.g., Durkheim) to an analysis of Ecumenism.
homology: looking for similarities between different religions return to list of objectives
apocalypse: world-ending battle; doctrine found in Teutons, Christians, Pharisees, Muslims, Zoroastrians; first century Christianity was very apocalyptic, and so were many subsequent Christian sects (e.g., Jehovah’s Witnesses)
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proselytize: to seek converts (e.g., Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Evangelicals, cults)
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resurrection: revivification of one's physical body after death (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Pharisees, Zoroastrianism)
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Durkheim, E. 1858-1917: French sociologist/anthropologist: "Religion celebrates the unity of society, group cohesion"; Ecumenism can be seen as a way of achieving unity through common rituals within a diversely religious secular society return to list of objectives
apocalypse: world-ending battle; doctrine found in Teutons, Christians, Pharisees, Muslims, Zoroastrians
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Bahai: modern syncretistic religion, originally from Persia: "All denominations lead to the one God."
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eschatology: discourse on last things: judgment, afterlife (Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism)
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heaven: state of spiritual bliss in the afterlife, dwelling place of God and angels (e.g., Islam, Christianity)
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hell: place of afterlife and punishment for the wicked
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prophecy: proclaiming the will of God (e.g., Zarathustra, Moses, Muhammad); Joseph Smith claimed this role, and this is the role that Mormons accept Smith (and subsequent LDS Church presidents) as having
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Adventist: a 19th century U.S. movement led by William Miller which declared that 1844 would be the second coming of Christ; influenced Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses return to list of objectives
Awakening, Great: 18th century American revival of interest in religion, led by Congregationalist preachers such as Jonathan Edwards
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Christian Science: a denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy; emphasizes spiritual healing
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cult: a small sect with devoted followers; a pejorative term for a new religious movement denomination, especially one which has doctrines or rituals outside of the mainstream, or is abusive of followers (e.g., Scientology); beware that many detractors of specific denominations (e.g., Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses) will refer to those denominations as cults even though these denominations are not really abusive of their members
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ecumenical: attempts to achieve unity (or at least cooperation between) and tolerance for other denominations via shared rituals
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Eddy, Mary Baker 1821-1910: founder of Christian Science church
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Edwards, Jonathan 1703-1758: American Calvinist revivalist emphasizing sin and damnation, major Great Awakening preacher
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eschatology: discourse on last things: judgment, afterlife (Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism)
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Evangelical: modern born-again Christians who emphasize Bible's authority; proselytizing, Fundamentalist Protestants; may affiliate with a specific denomination (e.g., Baptist, Pentecostal, Calvary Chapel) or claim to be non- denominational
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“faith” healing: reliance upon prayer for miraculous healing (Christian Science, Pentecostal); some of these spiritual healers will reject modern medicine
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Fundamentalism: "literal interpretation of scripture," combats modern secularizing trends (e.g., Iran, most U.S. Evangelicals)
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glossolalia: ecstatic speaking in unusual languages ("tongues"); held to be a charismatic gift (e.g., Pentecostals)
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Hubbard, L.R.: 20th century science fiction writer who founded Scientology, Dianetics
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Humanism: humanity is good, can save itself, (e.g., Renaissance, Enlightenment)
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Jehovah's Witnesses: proselytizing denomination founded by C.T. Russell; set apocalyptic dates, deny the trinity, refuse participation in civil affairs; reject blood transfusions
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Latter-day Saints: formal name for Mormon church, a proselytizing 19th century sect founded by Joseph Smith return to list of objectives
Lee, Anne: 18th century founder of Shakers, claimed to be feminine incarnation of Christ
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Miller, W.: 19th century apocalyptic preacher, predicted the second coming in 1844; Adventist, Millerite movement
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Mormon: Christian denomination started in 19th century by Joseph Smith; officially known as Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasizes family, temple rituals, no smoking/coffee, proselytizing
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Pentecostal: 20th century American denomination; emphasizes presence of the Holy Spirit; speaking in tongues
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Revival, Great: movement around 1800 on American frontier; characterized by emotional excesses and lack of organization
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Russell, C.T. 1852-1916: apocalyptic preacher, founder of Jehovah's Witnesses return to list of objectives
Scientology: 20th century denomination founded by L. Ron Hubbard; opponents consider it to be a mere front for the Dianetics Movement and having cultish tendencies
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Seventh-day Adventist: 19th century Protestant sect founded by Ellen White: apocalyptic, vegetarian, worship on Saturday
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Shakers: 19th century American sect famous for their rigorous dancing; celibate, communitarian; founded by Ann Lee, now extinct
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Smith, Joseph Jr. 1805-1844: founder of Latter-day Saints, "the prophet" who translated Book of Mormon, other revelations
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tongues: glossolalia, ecstatic utterances discussed by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians and advocated by present day Pentecostals; some advocated “Faith healing”
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White, E. 1826-1915: founder of Seventh-day Adventists
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Young, B.: 19th century Mormon leader; took over after Smith's assassination and led Mormons to Utah
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