QUESTIONS SEMINARIANS ASK ABOUT WORLD RELIGIONS
In the first class session of Introduction to World Religions, before students have seen the course syllabus, we ask them to do the following:
Write out one question about the world’s religions you’d like this course to answer.
We reproduce ten questions here from spring semester 2006, editing for grammar and clarity where necessary without altering the substance of the question. We also offer brief responses. We encourage you to email your questions and comments to tcgcinfo@yahoo.com.
1. Which is the oldest world religion? Many historians would identify either Hinduism or Judaism as the oldest of the so-called major world religions. Yet religious traditions do not always make strictly historical claims for their origins. Hinduism sees itself as the Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Religion. Buddhism views its historical founder, Siddhartha Gautama, as the latest in a line of Buddhas for every epoch. Islam considers itself the original religion of humankind, stretching back to Adam. Sacred history often has its own way of calculating time.
2. Which is the largest world religion? Of the major world religions, Christianity is the largest with 2.1 billion adherents, followed by Islam with 1.3 billion (www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html). All such statistics are imprecise, but this rank order is accepted by most observers. Of course, neither age (question 1 above) nor size verifies the truth claims of any religion.
3. What is happening with inter-religious dialogue, especially involving religions that Americans don’t hear much about? The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio includes Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh representation. More information can be found on their Website, www.iaco.org/IACO_Home.htm. The North American Interfaith Network includes dozens of inter-religious organizations (www.nain.org/index.html). Harvard University’s Pluralism Project tracks inter-religious activities across the country (www.pluralism.org).
4. Is there an ethic that permeates all religions? All religions have an ethical dimension, just as all have sacred rituals, narratives, and other characteristics of religious worldviews (see Ninian Smart’s book, Worldviews: Crosscultural Explorations of Human Beliefs). The question of whether some kind of universal ethic underlies the differences found in the ethical systems of the world’s religions has become a key topic in inter-religious dialogue; see, for instance, the document, “Towards a Global Ethic,” produced by the 1993 Parliament of the World’s Religions (www.cpwr.org/resource/global_ethic.htm).
5. How can we realize that there is only one God? Interesting phrasing. The emphasis on “we” seems to make this a theological question: “How can Christians maintain their view of God while studying other religions and differing views?” Perhaps the question should be: “Can Christians afford to be uninformed about other religions in formulating their own theological perspectives?”
6. Is it possible to truly respect another religion while maintaining the belief that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation? Yes, it is possible to respect the beliefs of others without abdicating your own. Respect is not necessarily equivalent to acceptance. While one may not accept the truth claims of other faiths, one can still value religious freedom. According to Terry C. Muck, a prominent evangelical scholar and professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, respect is the first principle of the study of other religions (see Chapter 3 of his book, How to Study Religion).
7. Who do non-Christians say Jesus is? Can Christians compromise their position on Jesus Christ being the one and only Son of the Living God? As to the first question, the only major world religion with a doctrinal position on Jesus is Islam, which sees Jesus as the prophet sent by Allah (Arabic for “God”) to the Christians. As to the second question, abdicating one’s own beliefs is not required of anyone engaged in inter-religious relations (see question 6 above). Religious people with deeply held beliefs can perhaps best understand the depth of passion that others have for their own beliefs.
8. Is Buddhism a religion or “a way of life”? The answer to this question depends on how “religion” is defined. If we define the essence of “religion” as belief in an eternal, almighty, creator God, then Buddhism doesn’t qualify. But if we define the essence of “religion” as a focus on perceived transcendent realities, of whatever kind, then Buddhism certainly qualifies. The Buddhist “way of life” seeks the transcendent goal of enlightenment or Nirvana.
9. Why do some sects or groups within Islam act violently towards other religions? Let’s unpack two key aspects of this question. Some: This is an important qualifier – some Muslims engage in violence, not all. Act violently towards other religions: Islam has ethical restrictions on the use of violence, analogous in some respects to the just war theory in Christianity. In Islam, violence is justified only in accord with certain criteria, such as for defensive purposes and never against innocent life. Muslim denunciations of the 2001 attacks on the U.S. can be found on our Website under “Muslims Speak Out about September 11.”
10. What are the differences/conflicts between the main Muslim groups in Iraq? The majority of Muslims in Iraq belong to the Shi’a or Shi’ite branch of Islam and are Arab by ethnic identity. The minority Sunni Muslim population includes Arabs and Kurds. The religious differences between the Shi’ite and Sunni branches stem from the early history of Islam and center around issues of authoritative leadership and religious perspectives and practices. Current tensions in Iraq stem from modern global and regional political dynamics as well. For more information on Iraq, see the U.S. State Department’s Background Notes (www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn) and Annual Report on International Religious Freedom (www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf).