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Living Religions of the World: Near Eastern Origin      RelSt 014
"LAST LECTURE" [updated January 1994]                    R. Kraft


What Do I Think is Important for you to Know?

General Educational Principles --
No Necessary Relationship to the Course Content 

1. In Humanistic Studies, things are almost Always more Complex 
   than they Seem -- Oversimplification is a Constant Danger!

     e.g. Jewish God = God of Justice  \  |provides little insight
          Christian God = God of Love   > |beyond revealing the
          Muslim God = God of Conquest /  |prejudices of the observer

2. The Values and Dangers of Labeling (Inclusion / Exclusion)

     e.g. "A Jew is someone born of a Jewish mother"
          "A Jew is one who identifies with Jewish tradition"
          "A Jew is one who tries to observe Torah"
          "Religion is ...."
          "Mysticism is ...."

3. The Need for Contextualization, Empathy, Analogy, and 
   Consistency in Attempting to Understand Human Situations

     e.g. Paul exhibits his misogyny by prohibiting women from 
          speaking in Christian assemblies;
          Muhammad's excessive sexual needs are attested by the 
          fact that he had a dozen or so wives and concubines; 

     This does NOT mean that value judgments cannot or should not 
     be made, but that they need to be made with great care.
     In the examples given above, the historical contexts in 
     which the respective worthies operated may be the primary 
     determinative factor for understanding their views, rather 
     than any specific set of attitudes towards women. 

4. The Stranglehold of Assumptions on Arguments and Conclusions
   (Hermeneutical Circles), and the Need for a Meeting Point

     e.g. If it is in the Scriptures, it must somehow be true.
          If I cannot explain something, it must be fanciful.
          Things are either true or false, there is no middle 
            ground.

     It is extremely difficult (impossible?) rationally to argue 
     someone out of a position or perspective that was not 
     acquired through rational processes. How to connect?


Matters that are Specific to the Study of Religion(s)

4. The Almost Limitless Variety in Each Tradition
   (Historically and also Today)

5. The Perils of Ignoring the "Religion" Factors

   In personal relationships: "I'm dating a Muslim"
   In social and community situations: "Let's throw a party"
   In national concerns: "Vote for abortion rights"
   On the international scenes: "Why so much terrorism?"

6. The Importance of Intellectual/Psychological Integrity 
   (Being Able to Live with Yourself in Peace/Happiness)

-- Including, if possible, the Ability to Recognize, and Tolerate, 
     the Integrity of Others

7. Inherent Paradoxes in attempting to Study Religion(s) 
   Academically -- the "TRUTH Factor"

   If academic study involves the ability to understand (and thus,
   in some sense, accept) someone or something on its own terms, 
   and if "its own terms" include exclusive claims to know 
   and embody a closed system representing "TRUTH,"
   then the degree of understanding, and of useful communication, 
   will be self limiting and perhaps even insignificant.
   Some level of description will still be possible, 
   but it may not be based in an ideal level of understanding.

7b. The Paradox of Reasonableness and Tolerance Faced with 
   the Strong Conviction of "TRUTH" and Commitment to Establishing
   such "TRUTH" for Everyone (Tolerance as a Self-defeating Ideal)

   When I respect your right to disagree, 
     I may in the process permit you to overthrow my position.

8. Looking to the Future -- What Can You Expect to See Happening?
   The Many Faces of these Religions

   Judaism as selfconscious culture and religion: maintenance
     (the strong stance against missionizing is pervasive)
   Christianity as threatened, purposeful religion: missionizing
     (e.g. "evangelicals," "sects," on cultural "frontiers")
   Christianity as accepted, pervasive religion: secularization
     ("westernization" is a sort of "secularized" Christianity)
   Christianity as dominant culture: values renewal/maintenance
     (regaining what is lost through "technological progress")
   Islam as competitive culture and religion: aggressive stance
     (forging its way in competition with "westernization" threat)
   Islam as accepted, pervasive religion/culture: secularization
     (finding ways to take advantage of "westernization")
   Islam as accepted, pervasive religion/culture: maintenance
     (firming up its stance where competive pressures are low)
   "Mysticism" in various manifestations and guises


           Some Specifics Regarding the Religious Traditions

        Conservative            "Moderate"              Liberal
        Traditionalist                                  Modernist

Jud.    Orthodox                Conservative            Reform
        Hasidic                 (Reform)                Reconstruct.

Chr.    Eastern Orthodox        Anglican-Episcopalian   (Unitarians)
        Roman Catholic                                  Some Catholics
        Misouri Synod Luth.     Mainstream Protestants  Some Protestants
        Orthodox Presby.          (to some extent)      Chr. Humanism
        "Fundamentalism"

Islam   Wahhabi/Saudi           Some Muslims in West    (Bahai)
        Bulk of Sunnis          Some Sunnis (e.g. in    Secularists (e.g.
        Bulk of Shiites           Turkey, Egypt, Pak.)  Turkey, Egypt)
        "Fundamentalists"       Muhammadiyah (Indones.) Some Sufism