Do you agree with Professor Midgley or not? Are cross cultural judgements possible? Why or why not? Give reasons in support of your answer.

/in /by

Cross cultural judgements

Professor Mary Midgely in her article “Trying Out One’s New Sword” (The White Text, pp. 34 – 37) criticizes a position which “many people theoretically favor” (page 34. paragraph one) namely: “denying that we can ever understand any culture except our own well enough to make judgements about it (page 34, paragraph one). Do you agree with Professor Midgley or not? Are cross cultural judgements possible? Why or why not? Give reasons in support of your answer.

Write a one-page reflection on either an excursion in nature or an engagement or experience with the arts — music, theatre, art, dance.

/in /by

Immersion Experience

Write a one-page reflection on either an excursion in nature (hiking, walking, visit to site of unusual natural beauty or uniqueness) or an engagement or experience with the arts — music, theatre, art, dance, (church experiences and listening to personal music are not acceptable). Be prepared to share your reflections in a Zoom Session

What is the difference between religion and spirituality? Why do people seek out new forms of spirituality? What did you find surprising, interesting, or difficult to understand in the two articles?

/in /by

Difference between religion and spirituality

For this assignment, read through the two articles posted for Week 1  on Canvas. Once you’re done, respond to the following three questions:

  1. What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
  2. Why do people seek out new forms of spirituality?
  3. What did you find surprising, interesting, or difficult to understand in the two articles?

After you responded to these three questions,  respond to the posts of two of your peers. Remember, we are trying to build a constructive and supportive learning environment so please keep your comments positive.

 

Is there a bias presented? If so, what is it? Is it pro- or anti- religion? Why did you select that choice? Does your research match what was described by the news article?

/in /by

Media analysis

Essay 1, Media analysis. Students should select one article about religion that derives from popular media (newspaper, magazine, online newspaper, reliable TV news source). The information must be topical to *the past 12 months* from the date of the assignment. Once the story has been read/reviewed, do the following:

1) Give a BRIEF (1 paragraph) description of the main points outlined in the piece.

2) Analyze the work: Is there a bias presented? If so, what is it? Is it pro- or anti- religion? Why did you select that choice? (Support your choice with examples).

3) Research the information presented. Does your research match what was described by the news article? [Hint: Your textbook is one source of research for this project!]

4) Analysis: What did you learn from this project about media portrayal of religions? What insights did you gain?

5) Be sure to include a works cited. There should be a minimum of three sources including the article and your text. This should be 2 – 3 pages in length (a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 700, not including the works cited page).

The textbook is the world religions by Houston Smith

How does this passage from Acts fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what type of story you believe this to be and explain why you believe this to be so?

/in /by

Acts 9 36:43

Answer the questions using the passage Acts 9 36:43

How does this passage from Acts fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and explain why you believe this to be so? Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (200-300 words) in length.

How does your principle from Acts 9:36-43 fit with the rest of the Scripture? This principle is the one you have written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If your principle is a true Biblical principle, it will be reflected throughout the Scriptures. Where is the principle discovered in this New Testament narrative found elsewhere in the Scriptures? Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (200-300 words) in length. Be specific. List, explain, and cite your supporting passage(s) from Scripture. the principle that its talking about is “I think the main principle in this passage is to believe in the Lord and amazing things will happen. God can work wonders and miracles to anyone in the world.”

How does this passage from Acts reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ? State and explain at least one way that the principle of this passage identifies something of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (200-300 words) in length. Be specific. List, explain, and cite your supporting passage(s) from Scripture.

 

Explain how the study of Hinduism differs from the study of the so-called “religions of the book” Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. How should one approach and appreciate Hinduism?

/in /by

Hinduism

Hinduism boasts a rich and complex textual tradition. Explain how the study of Hinduism differs from the study of the so-called “religions of the book” Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. How should one approach and appreciate Hinduism?

 

 

What about Paula’s story stands out to you? What are her view of the past and her survival? Of the role of humankind and God in the Shoah? What is her message for you today and for future generations?

/in /by

Engaging a Practice

For many years after the Shoah, few survivors spoke publicly about their stories. That changed in the mid-1990s, when Steven Spielberg founded what is now known as the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education, an organization that orchestrated the audio-visual recording of over 52,000 survivors worldwide.

Since then the primary way survivors share their stories has been through speaking engagements – most of which are scheduled by local schools or non-profit organizations for International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan 27) or Yom Hashoah (“Shoah Day”; April/May). As these speakers age and pass away, video recordings of their stories are becoming increasingly vital for education.

Paula Burger (1934-2019), a longtime resident of Denver, survived the Shoah as a small child. After Paula’s mother was killed during their time in a Polish ghetto, Paula’s father arranged for her (age 8) and her brother Isaac (age 3.5) to be smuggled out. A few days later, all three reunited in the woods of Poland where they joined the Bielski Partisans and survived until the end of the war. They then stayed in a Displaced Persons (DP) camp for 4.5 years until they were granted entry to the United States.

First, read the brief article “The Bielski Partisans” at www.encyclopedia.ushmm.org then watch Paula’s testimony (52 min.) followed by Q&A courtesy of the Holocaust Awareness Institute at the University of Denver’s Center for Judaic Studies. What about Paula’s story stands out to you? What are her view of the past and her survival? Of the role of humankind and God in the Shoah? What is her message for you today and for future generations?

If the Golden Rule seems to a core teaching in all religions, why do you think religious beliefs are so tied up with many of the most bitter, violent conflicts in our world?

/in /by

Discussion Board

The Readings:

  1. World Religions: The Great Faiths Explained and Explored (WR): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lvBvpHfPbL7jICXKP…
  2. World Religions in America(WRAm): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XShPvmnN386TOC1aS…

Readings/Discussion Board Questions

Enabled: Statistics Tracking

READINGS

  • WR The Golden Rule
  • What is Religion?
  • Ancient Religions
  • Native Religions
  • WRAm Native Americans and their Religion
  • Religion and Politics in America
  • Religion and Society in America

Questions (your responses to these are to be posted to the Discussion Board)

  1. If the Golden Rule seems to a core teaching in all religions, why do you think religious beliefs are so tied up with many of the most bitter, violent conflicts in our world?
  2. Pick any one of the Ancient Religions from the chapter in WR and tell me three things you found interesting/confusing about that religion.
  3. Define the following terms: shamanism, oral tradition, rite of passage, myth, ritual. Describe any one ritual from the Native American religious traditions and tell me its function within the community.
  4. Does separation of church and state truly exist in this country? Tell me your reasons why or why not. Is the first amendment a religious statement, a political statement, or both?
  5. Does religious affiliation say something about who you are? Or is it mostly an accident of birth/upbringing?

 

 

Reflect on what you have read and heard. What challenge does Frankl’s work pose to a modern audience? What core values are expressed in his “three ways to find meaning”? What is the connection between his work as a psychologist and his status as a concentration camp survivor?

/in /by

Engaging a Text

Read the selections from Man’s Search for Meaning (pp.65-80, 97-115) by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist. The first half of the book is his testimony, the second half is an introduction to the form of therapy he developed call Logotherapy. Then, watch this brief interview of Frankl titled Viktor Frankl: Our Need for Meaning and Purpose (7 minutes duration).

Reflect on what you have read and heard. What challenge does Frankl’s work pose to a modern audience? What core values are expressed in his “three ways to find meaning”? What is the connection between his work as a psychologist and his status as a concentration camp survivor?

In what ways does the story of Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, reflect the American Jewish experience of the 1930s and 40s? How do the stories of Superman, Siegel, and Shuster exemplify the complex issues of Jewish identity that we’ve read about in the past few weeks?

/in /by

Engaging an Object

”it’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s SUPERMAN!” And he’s Jewish!?!?”

Read the brief article “Superman: From Cleveland to Krypton” at myjewishlearning.com, then read #10 and #11 in the Comic Book Resource article “Punch a Nazi: 15 Times Superheroes Fought Fascism.” In what ways does the story of Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, reflect the American Jewish experience of the 1930s and 40s? How do the stories of Superman, Siegel, and Shuster exemplify the complex issues of Jewish identity that we’ve read about in the past few weeks?