Religious Philosophy

 Master of Religious Philosophy

                                                                                                                                                            Final Essay

This certainly has to be one of the more deeper courses, besides comparative religions, that I've taken. In the introduction I am told that this course " takes a look at the very basis of religion itself, and that Religious Philosophy first began as an academic pursuit during the 18th century in Europe." I'll have to admit that this course worked my 51 year old brain cells pretty good. Although that doesn't take much.

As I progressed through this course week by week I learned the definition of religion, the difference between a religion and an ethical system, and also the difference between a concept and a precept. I also learned the fundamentals most religions share. The 16 fundamentals this course listed were (1) Deity/Ultimate Reality (2)Theophany (3) Prayer (4) Soul (5) Worship (6) Sacrifice (7) Salvation (8) Mysticism (9) Death (10) Dualism/Monism (11) Orthodoxy (12) Orthopraxy (13) Pantheism (14) Universality (15) Uniqueness (16) Truth. I also found out that organized Religion consists of a common methodology and devotional focus.  What I also  found interesting was that cults, according to sociological criteria, don't necessarily have to be dangerous. The Old Order Amish for ex.,met 4 or 5 of the criteria, yet we all know that the Amish are far from dangerous.

In lesson 4 I learned that approximately 98% of the genetics of humans and chimpanzees is the same. Chimpanzees have also showed evidence of religious practices. Also Neanderthals and Cromagnon man constructed alters, sacrificed animals and had burial practices. It certainly seems that where religion began is easier to answer than why it began. According to this course there are several interesting theories. Marx believed that religions were illusions that humans had created to solve their various economic, material conditions they experienced in their lives. Durkheim believed that religion was a cultural tool. And of course Freud saw religion as a projection of Man kinds psychological woes. There were several         other theories mentioned in this course.

As I journeyed on through the course I learned about the Five A's. They are (1) Awareness- that there are other religions in the world. (2) Acknowledgement - recognizing someones, somethings validity, authority etc. (3) Acceptance- is a process of acknowledging something as proper, usual or right. (4) Appreciation- a favorable opinion or judgment, recognizing the the significance, value and quality of people and things. (5) Amalgamation- merging of 2 distinct groups into 1 group.

Lesson 10 talked about Doctrine. What does it mean when we use the term doctrine? This course taught that Doctrine is all about dogma, principle, sets of principles and religious theory that constitute a key part of  a religious believe system. One    would think that every religion has, religious theory, dogma and doctrine. That's what I used to think to. I learned through this course that the Religious Society of Friends ( Quakers)  claim that they have no creeds, dogma or doctrine. Another group in the Universalist movement, the Unitarians, make similar claims. Interesting to say the least.

It never ceases to amaze me how words evolve over time and how their meanings change. For example scripture is such a word. It comes from the Latin word scribere which simply meant to write. Since early writing was done by scratching on all sorts of materials, scribere early on in time could have meant simply to scratch. So in the big picture scripture can mean any thing written or a document. As time progressed scripture became defined as any written material as definitive and authoritative. Of course today in modern times scripture refers to any sacred book or sacred writing. 

This was a deep and informative course and I only scratched the surface of it in this small essay of mine. Since I am studying to hopefully be a chaplain someday I lot of times I privately wonder whether religion has a future or not. This course brings up several interesting points. Religious history has taught  us that religion will probably not be knocked out politically, however there could be other forms of religious destruction. For example like technology, culture, and environmental issues. Even still I learned that religion will probably exist in the future in some way but it will it will probably in all likelihood not look like it does today. This certainly gives me hope. I like what French philosopher Voltaire once said, "If GOD did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." For people of faith of course they don't have to invent GOD they just believe. In my heart of hearts I believe that religion will always be, in what ever form it takes in the future, a valuable asset for a lot of reasons. Hope being one of them.   

Good course

God Bless

Rev. Terry G. Rempel 

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Religious Philosophy Course

Religious Philosophy is complex and mutual.
Rev. Dianne Theil McNinch, Minister ULC

    Religion, the Latin verb, religare, to tie back, can be said to mean: to tie back humans to God. The majority of humans on our planet, belonging to the 5,200 documented religions, ‘tie-back’ to divine source. Depending upon the location of their birthplace, family and culture, the Divine source comes equipped with various names. Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Hanuman, Ganesh, Lakshmi, Shakti are a few of the Hindu names. Jesus is the name Christians prefer. Apollo, Aphrodite, Venus, Thor, Mercury were popular among the Greeks and Romans. Buddha is the name of the Divine Teacher of the followers of Buddhism. These deities are primarily geographical in their origins.

    Faith is part of religion. Recent writings by Dr. Dean Hamer, point to science to show that our human self is biologically designed to believe in God. Dr. Hamers’ book, The God Gene, How Faith is Hardwired into our Genes is convincing on this view. 

Religion is an accumulation of meaningful rituals, historic events and culture. Religion had four distinct faith forms, according to Dr. A. Wallace, University of Pennsylvania. They are, Individual, Communal, Shamanistic and Ecclesiastical faiths.

There are instances, where various Religions have tales, ie: stories, myths, parables in common. One example: the tale of Noah appears with various names starting back in 2200 BCE, as Ziusudra, 1900 BCE as Atrahasis, 1600 BCE as Utnapishtim, and finally Noah 570 BCE. Additionally, many Religions have foundations that are similar, beliefs as to how to treat/take care of our fellow humans. The schism occurs when an examination of individual dogmas happens. 

Scripture, (to scribe, to write); it seems to me that when looking at Religions, once beliefs are written, they become immutable truth. Books containing  major beliefs are The Bible, Book of Mormon, Tao Te Ching, Tanakh, and The Koran to name a few. These beliefs, written by humans, may have been explorations of thought. However, some followers turn these into dogma. Other followers choose to interpret the same writings, generally to prove a personal point of view.

Religion is helpful to many, or it would not be so very powerful. Religion helps us to make sense of the world, and our place in it. Faith helps us resolve the great problems of life, and gives reassurance that a higher power will help us, giving us a sense of control of life. Religion is also a cultural tool to help us share values and feel a part of community. Religious philosophy is as varied as each of the 5,200 documented religions, yet each religion does have philosophy. Religious philosophy is a colorful and varied weaving of the common and uncommon elements that influence the majority of humans that inhabit our planet.


 

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Religious Philosophy Course

Essay for completion Certificate for Master of Religious Philosophy           

By Rev. James Connor

This is a vast  subject.  A definition of philosophy from the internet is: “the study of human morals, character, and behaviors.”  Wikipedia defines religion as “a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology as well as personal faith and mystic experience.”

I will begin with what you ended your summary with on Paper number 4; the idea that religion started because there actually is a God who we have a relationship with. 

I was brought up in the Catholic religion, including youth education, having relatives who were priests and nuns, and coming from ethnicities of Irish and Italian background with long Catholic roots.  I did not during any of this time, have a deep heart sensing or connection with the divine.

Later in life when I was 35 years old, I met a minister from a small, non-denominational movement called the Emissaries of Divine Light, named Walter Bahan.  I could see by this man’s actions that he was “walking his talk” in terms of his spiritual path – his everyday life reflected his internal belief and perhaps knowing of God.

I used to be a volatile, and sometimes even violent, man.  After meeting and getting to know this minister who was demonstrating spiritual principle in his daily living, I was inspired to follow his path. An example is that I used to get angry to the point of exploding at other people during business meetings or small group gatherings in which I felt like I wasn’t being heard or respected.  In talking to Walter about this, he led me to the concept of “letting go” – letting go of my ideas of what other people needed to do or think or say.  It took some time, and I would back-slide sometimes, but I was beginning to feel a deep change in my life as I learned new ways of coping and interacting with people.  Nothing in my previous education – religious or otherwise – had led to this kind of self-control and peace.

An example for something of mystic experience is that I can recall times when there would be a small group of us sitting together, and just spontaneously someone would sing a song, then someone else would say a poem, and there was such joy and open-hearted connection and satisfaction in the room, that it could be said that we were “in one accord in one place”, that we were filled with and sharing in the Holy Spirit.

I read and understand the points about how religion was created, as “projections” of human needs for answers, and addressing human fears.  Some of these are plausibly presented, and can be convincing arguments.  And if I hadn’t had what I consider direct experience of spiritual connection, and the internal knowing of divine love, I might be convinced of them, too.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Religious Philosophy Course

Religious Philosophy
Final Essay
Mary McGar

I found the final lesson to be one of the most interesting to me.  To have the information presented in this manner and with all the detail made the history of why certain events occurred and the end result of religious suppression was thought provoking.  The growth of Taoism and the Neo-Pagan faiths compared to the other faiths is encouraging to me, since I am a UU Pagan.  Perhaps “Pagan” will more quickly lose the stigma of being a derogatory word in the near future.  I found is interesting that Hinduism and Buddhism are holding their own as far as growth statistics are concerned.  To me, that indicates more people are reaching inside for truths rather than just accepting the established dogma.  The more people try to determine for themselves what religious path is best for them, the stronger and happier they will be, in my opinion, regardless of the path they eventually choose.  That people are truly thinking about their religious beliefs is a positive sign.

This course was fascinating throughout.  The lesson covering the parallels between Utnapishtim and Noah are remarkable as are many stories that have similar counterparts in different religions.  I also found it useful to be able to more accurately determine what groups are cults and which are not with the guidelines set forth in this course.

The continuum of diverse religious acceptability was easy to understand when presented as a staircase.  I had never given any thought that there are people who are unaware of any religious belief other than their own.  How intriguing!!  I think most people of the world have at least attained the acknowledgment step and, hopefully, in this day and time, are at the acceptance step.  I see proof of this as a Pagan.  Even ten years ago, the acceptance of Paganism was less than it is today, although because I live in a major Northwestern liberal city I might have a more optimistic view than if I lived in the South of Mid-West , for instance.  I hope, in my lifetime, to see great strides to reach at least partial amalgamation or, perhaps, regional is a better word for my expectations.

I learned much from the lesson regarding the difference in definition between histories, fables, lore, tradition, myth and legends.  I realize that, up to now, I have lumped several of them together in error.  In conclusion, this is the eight course I have taken from ULC and this one has been among the most, if not the most, thought provoking course of all.  Thank you, Robert Chamberlain for writing and offering this course.

 

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Religious Philosophy Course

Religious Philosophy                           
Final Essay

I found this to be a most informative course. One of the best things about it was that I was introduced to a few “new to me” religious systems, specifically Tenrikyo and Baha i, well I hadn’t even heard of those two. It was interesting to explore the fact that there are indeed new religions being created in modern times. I hadn’t really considered that. Very interesting to be sure.

Also, Jainism and Shikism, I was slightly aware they were out there but had never gotten a chance to really research them. Both are rather ascetic disciplines however, it was very interesting seeing the extremes of Jainism as to the reverence for life. Though I respect it very much, I doubt I could go to that extreme in my own life. I do have some similar beliefs as to refusing killing for no reason. And I have tried very much to avoid damaging other living things. I do not as of today, sweep in front of my steps in the off chance I should step on bugs. However, I have been known to avoid a step or go a different way if I feel there is more of a likely hood of doing so. As for Shikism, I think that the background there is fascinating and I could see how the outsider may even mistake them for another belief system. I had no idea they’d been so persecuted. We always hope that prejudice is going quickly extinct don’t we? Yet so often we realize it feels more like it only moved from one area to another.

And speaking of the subject, I must say that I was very surprised at the fact that some of the entries in our lessons by our instructor were rather prejudicial in themselves. Case in point, in lesson 20, question 2 part B at the end;  Wow! The idea that our instructor presumed in the question that China  didn’t have scientific method over it’s 1000’s of years, simply because it was not the “Western” scientific method, well that floored me! Of course the bigger implication was that “the East” didn’t have scientific method. That had developed in the West only. If one only looks even lightly at Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine (think East Indian), the Eastern Architecture and Astrology just to touch on the subject, it becomes quite obvious that those cultures not only had (and have) developed their own scientific method but used (and use) it. Ayruveda alone had discovered and treated patients with knowledge of what now is known as microbial life. Not to mention that practitioners were performing complicated, studied and perfected forms of surgery 2000 years ago. These were not “guesses” of an underprivileged caveman society. These were the results of a complex community of scientific minded practitioners. Many of the methods of the “ancients” surpass the results of the Greeks who’s developments later lead to our “Western” idea of science and scientific method. This is not to say that they are infallible. If it is created by humans it is indeed fallible. However, there is no basis to make a statement implying that there is no scientific method there in the past or presently. I strongly feel that for people who are not aware of this however, it is a bit dangerous to put that out as “fact” in that way. Even if the question was posed to challenge us, a person with no background in it wouldn’t know to question the way that was written.
I think it encouraged ignorance instead of  knowledge or even conjecture. It may be that our instructor expected us to catch it. I don’t think so. I’m not so sure it wasn’t perhaps that the instructor suffered more of a “Freudian Slip” there. :o)

I did think also that the Shamanic and Communal religions were treated a bit as an after thought in this course, or perhaps more, taken for granted. There is such rich and available information on these systems now that it would have been worth exploring in more detail in my opinion.


I certainly did appreciate the comparison techniques offered in this course. The instructor set some ground work and really worked form there, narrowing down the comparisons through a number of methods. It gave us more then just “food for thought”. It allowed us to expand outside of our narrow perspective without getting lost. An example being the Social, Natural, Philosophical and of course the addition of the Political problems of society and how they apply to our subject of Religious Philosophy. The use of these and other outlining directions was very well done.

With different, perhaps even appropriate, definitions of terms such as Globalization, as well as Millenarian, Eschatological and Apocalyptic, I found each lesson gave us not only much to think about, but a more accurate objective look at Religion in general. (another reason why the above scientific prejudice stood out so much)  One of the comparisons I enjoyed most was the use of Color and Taste as a criteria for how a belief system sees the world. This was most definitely one I had never thought of and one that I will be using again and again. I found that rather ingenious really and a great example of how perspective influences what we think is “Truth”. Learning more about Doctor’s Schwitzer and Singer along with others was great as well.

All in all I don’t know that the point of the course for me ended up being learning so much “more”, though I surely did learn some new things.

It was more about leaning new ways of looking at what’s there. And what is Philosophy for?! :o)

I would like to thank our Instructor and the Seminary for a thought provoking and enjoyable course.

Anna M. Pohl

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Religious Philosophy Course

Religious Philosophy Final Essay

I found this to be a most informative course. One of the best things about it was that I was introduced to a few “new to me” religious systems, specifically Tenrikyo and Baha i, well I hadn’t even heard of those two. It was interesting to explore the fact that there are indeed new religions being created in modern times. I hadn’t really considered that. Very interesting to be sure.

Also, Jainism and Shikism, I was slightly aware they were out there but had never gotten a chance to really research them. Both are rather ascetic disciplines however, it was very interesting seeing the extremes of Jainism as to the reverence for life. Though I respect it very much, I doubt I could go to that extreme in my own life. I do have some similar beliefs as to refusing killing for no reason. And I have tried very much to avoid damaging other living things. I do not as of today, sweep in front of my steps in the off chance I should step on bugs. However, I have been known to avoid a step or go a different way if I feel there is more of a likely hood of doing so. As for Shikism, I think that the background there is fascinating and I could see how the outsider may even mistake them for another belief system. I had no idea they’d been so persecuted. We always hope that prejudice is going quickly extinct don’t we? Yet so often we realize it feels more like it only moved from one area to another.

And speaking of the subject, I must say that I was very surprised at the fact that some of the entries in our lessons by our instructor were rather prejudicial in themselves. Case in point, in lesson 20, question 2 part B at the end;  Wow! The idea that our instructor presumed in the question that China  didn’t have scientific method over it’s 1000’s of years, simply because it was not the “Western” scientific method, well that floored me! Of course the bigger implication was that “the East” didn’t have scientific method. That had developed in the West only. If one only looks even lightly at Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine (think East Indian), the Eastern Architecture and Astrology just to touch on the subject, it becomes quite obvious that those cultures not only had (and have) developed their own scientific method but used (and use) it. Ayruveda alone had discovered and treated patients with knowledge of what now is known as microbial life. Not to mention that practitioners were performing complicated, studied and perfected forms of surgery 2000 years ago. These were not “guesses” of an underprivileged caveman society. These were the results of a complex community of scientific minded practitioners. Many of the methods of the “ancients” surpass the results of the Greeks who’s developments later lead to our “Western” idea of science and scientific method. This is not to say that they are infallible. If it is created by humans it is indeed fallible. However, there is no basis to make a statement implying that there is no scientific method there in the past or presently. I strongly feel that for people who are not aware of this however, it is a bit dangerous to put that out as “fact” in that way. Even if the question was posed to challenge us, a person with no background in it wouldn’t know to question the way that was written. 

I think it encouraged ignorance instead of  knowledge or even conjecture. It may be that our instructor expected us to catch it. I don’t think so. I’m not so sure it wasn’t perhaps that the instructor suffered more of a “Freudian Slip” there. :o)

I did think also that the Shamanic and Communal religions were treated a bit as an after thought in this course, or perhaps more, taken for granted. There is such rich and available information on these systems now that it would have been worth exploring in more detail in my opinion.

I certainly did appreciate the comparison techniques offered in this course. The instructor set some ground work and really worked form there, narrowing down the comparisons through a number of methods. It gave us more then just “food for thought”. It allowed us to expand outside of our narrow perspective without getting lost. An example being the Social, Natural, Philosophical and of course the addition of the Political problems of society and how they apply to our subject of Religious Philosophy. The use of these and other outlining directions was very well done.

With different, perhaps even appropriate, definitions of terms such as Globalization, as well as Millenarian, Eschatological and Apocalyptic, I found each lesson gave us not only much to think about, but a more accurate objective look at Religion in general. (another reason why the above scientific prejudice stood out so much)  One of the comparisons I enjoyed most was the use of Color and Taste as a criteria for how a belief system sees the world. This was most definitely one I had never thought of and one that I will be using again and again. I found that rather ingenious really and a great example of how perspective influences what we think is “Truth”. Learning more about Doctor’s Schwitzer and Singer along with others was great as well.

All in all I don’t know that the point of the course for me ended up being learning so much “more”, though I surely did learn some new things.

It was more about leaning new ways of looking at what’s there. And what is Philosophy for?! :o)

I would like to thank our Instructor and the Seminary for a thought provoking and enjoyable course.

Anna M. Pohl

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar