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S A M P L E A S S I G N M E N T S F O R HUMN 215 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION Lecture One: Sample World Religions Assignment: Christianity Lecture Two: Sample Christian Denominations Assignment: Roman Catholicism Lecture Three: Sample Religious Theme Assignment: Conversion Lecture Four: Sample Religious Debate Assignment: The Apocrypha Lecture Five: Sample Religion in Contemporary Society Assignment: The Daily Newspaper; Television; The Encyclopedia PREFACE The following samples provide guidance and illustration on how to complete a given assignment. Students (in my classes) should note that these samples represent a (not "the") way of completing the assignment. These samples are intended to be exemplary, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Students may "mimic" the formats or approaches taken here, but they don't have to. Students are encouraged to be creative and imaginative in both format and approach. The point of the assignments is to facilitate a learning experience for the student somewhat similar to what is reflected in the following samples. On reference in EWUs LIbrary: Encyclopedia of World Faiths, Bishop and Darton REF BL 80.2 E 495 1988 Handbook of the World's Religions, Zehavi REF. BL 80.2 Z43 Encyclopedia of American Religion, volumes 1 & 2, J. Gordon Melton REF. BL2530 U6M443 v.1 (or v.2). In the stacks in EWU library: The World's Religions, by Braden BL 80 B66 1954 The Great Religions of the Modern World, by Jurji BL 80 J8 Relgions of Man, Smith BL 80 S66 A Reader's Guide to the Great Religions, Adams, BL 80.2 A32 Eerdman's Handbook to the World's Religions, BL 80.2 E 35 1982 Ways of Faith, Hutchison/Martin BL 80.2 H8 1960 Great Religions of the World BL 80. 2 N 347 Man's Religions, Noss & Noss BL 80. 2 N6 1980 The Long Search, Ninian Smart BL 80. 2 S 595 1977 For the Christian Denominations Assignment on Reference (please note: in order to facilitate a large use of these texts the student is asked to cooperate by taking the text of reference, finding the denominations/cults they wish to study, going to the photocopying maching and copying the relevant 3-6 pages, and then returning the text either to reference shelving or, preferably, to the reference librarian who will then immediately restock the text). Handbook of denominations in the United States by Mead/Hill REF. BL 2525 M425 1990 Encyclopedia of Cults in America, by J. G. Mellon REF. BL 2525 M45 198 _________ misc. note: An excellent bibliographic guide to the six-dimensional approach to the study of religion is found in Psychology of Religion REF BL 53 C3 Copps (editor). #00: Name: Dr. Kenney World Religions Assignment This is a sample assignment illustrating how to do a "thumbnail sketch" of a given world religion. The religion selected here is Christianity. Students are encouraged to do two religions, based on the axiom "the person who knows one view, knows none" (cf. Smart, 1995, 17). However, a sketch of just one religion, Christianity, should suffice to illustrate how to go about the task. The approach taken here is called FEUD. This represents an acronym of the major points to be covered. F is for the founder. E and U are for emphases and uniqueness (two items easily confused). D is for diversity. Several names come to mind as possible founders for Christianity. Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John the Apostle, John the Baptist, perhaps even Abraham or Moses. Jesus tops the list, not so much because I think he actually intended to start a new religion, but because, in my judgment, the essence of Christianity (as a religion distinct from Judaism), revolves around an interpretation of the person and work of Jesus in light of Judaism. Furthermore, it was dispute over the meaning of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that eventually necessitated a distinction between Judaism (the religion of Jesus and the first generation followers of Jesus) and Christianity (the religion of second generation followers of Jesus). Some would contend that the New Testament (the primary and sacred text of Christianity) portrays Jesus as the founder of Christianity. One classic text that initially appears to support this view is Matthew 16: 18b: "And I [Jesus] say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (King James Version). Clearly, the passage portrays Jesus as appointing Peter to a privileged position in the church that he, Jesus, is going to build. This verse strongly suggests that Jesus not only intended to build a church (religion?) but laid the plans for its structure while here on earth. But a careful examination of this passage in its context, utilizing contemporary methods of biblical interpretation, calls the authenticity, or historicity, of this passage into question (cf. Funk, 1998, 217). It is probable that Jesus never said these words. A critical examination of other similar passages yields similar results. Yet, one item of the New Testament tradition is not so easy to dismiss. Based upon the criteria contemporary scholars use to determine the authenticity of a given saying or deed of Jesus (e.g. dissimilarity; embarrassment; multiple attestation; coherence) it seems probable that Jesus chose 12 apostles (cf. Meier, 1997). By choosing 12 apostles Jesus was at least suggesting that the movement associated with him symbolized, or was indicative of, a renewal of traditional Israel (which originally consisted of 12 tribes). Hence, although Jesus may not have envisioned Christianity as a religion independent of Judaism, he appeared to see his movement as an invigoration or a renewal of Judaism. The most likely second contender for the designation "founder of Christianity" is Saul (Paulus) of Tarsus. This figure is known to history as the "Apostle Paul." Saul was his Hebrew/Jewish name, Paul his Greek name. He claimed that the risen Jesus had appeared to him and commissioned him as the apostle to the Gentiles (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1 and Galatians 1: 15-16). Early twentieth century biblical scholarship made a distinction between the religion of Jesus and the religion about Jesus, attributing the former to Jesus and the latter to Paul. Jesus' religion was understood to be focused upon belief in God and practical ethical living. Paul's religion was understood to be focused upon belief in Jesus and his redemptive actions (death and resurrection). Typical of this assessment is the following comment by Nigosian (1994, 382): "Paul has frequently been called the real founder of Christianity, because his views came to shape and dominate subsequent Christian thinking." Several emphases and uniqueness can now be mentioned. An emphasis is simply something the religion appears to stress or deem important. A uniqueness is something that appears only in this religion, thus making it a distinguishing feature. Obviously, what is unique to a religion would receive emphasis, hence the possible confusion (mentioned above) between these two categories. Originally, Christianity emphasized faith in God, repentance from sin, and a commitment to high standards of ethical living. Social justice and neighborly compassion are phrases that capture much of the spirit of early Christian preaching. These emphases could be found in other forms of Judaism and in the various world religions. In time, especially through the teachings of Paul, Christianity emphasized God's covenant of love, grace, a new covenant, and a renewed or spiritual Israel. Several features of Christianity are unique. Jesus is understood as the Messiah, the one who fulfilled all Old Testament scriptures (cf. Luke 24:47). The New Testament writings came to be understood as authoritative expressions of Christian faith. Jesus came to be viewed as pre-existent and equal to God (cf. John 1:1). This view contributed to the doctrine of the Trinity. Although resurrection from the dead was not a unique idea (cf. Nigosian, 1994, 527) Jesus' resurrection was given a unique and privileged place. According to Paul, Jesus was the "firstborn from the dead" (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20). Finally, here are some comments about Christian diversity, both in the first century and in the twentieth. An analysis of the writings of the New Testament indicate that there were at least four major types of early Christianity. At the center of this diversity were debates over Jewish marks of ethnicity (sabbath observance; kosher food laws; festival observance; temple ritual; circumcision; monotheism; nationalism; and cultural mannerisms) in relation to the new Christian movement. Those who advocated strict adherence to Jewish traditions were called Hebraists, those who advocated relaxed standards, Hellenists (cf. Acts 6:1). There were moderates and extremists of each view, hence the four major types mentioned above. The New Testament appears to support a diversity of views (cf. Brown & Meier, 1983, 1-9). In the twentieth century diversity among Christians has continued, but the issues have changed. Rather than debate over indicators of Jewish ethnicity Christians today debate over Christian doctrines. For example, how is the church to be organized (episcopal; presbyterian; congregational; charismatic)? Or, is Jesus truly and fully God (trinitarianism versus unitarianism)? Or, is Christ truly present in the Eucharist (transubstantiation versus symbolic approaches)? Examples could be multiplied. The point is this: Christianity then (first century) and now (twentieth century) is a diverse phenomenon. An excellent and concise reference on contemporary Christian diversity is provided by Mead (1985). This sample has provided a thumbnail sketch of the founder, emphases, uniqueness, and diversity of the Christian religion. REFERENCES Brown, R. E. & John P. Meier (1983). Antioch & Rome. New York: Paulist. Funk, R. (editor). (1998). The Acts of Jesus. San Francisco: Harper. Mead, Frank S. (1985). Handbook to the denominations in the United States.