Religion formed as a result of the need for people to believe in something greater than themselves‚ a guidebook on how to treat yourself and others‚ and to instill a sense of community that satisfies a worldly outlook beyond the certitude of life. In Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions‚ Smith explains that religion is a quest for meaning beyond the self. One that begins with questioning the self and the purpose one has in life. People need to believe in something greater than themselves‚ because
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As a college student that has lived and grown up in western New York‚ I do not have too much experience with the other religions of the world. I have grown up a Christian Protestant my whole life‚ and I am a firm believer in my religion. Soon after reading the chapter on Buddhism in Huston Smith’s book The World’s Religions‚ I came to understand and respect the Buddhist religion. I came to learn who the Buddha as a man really was‚ and the steps he took in becoming a religious icon. I know understand
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Huston Smith on Christianity and Judaism Huston Smith is known for his research and interest in the religions of the world. He published a book‚ Religion’s of Man in 1958‚ which was later revised and renamed World’s Greatest Religions. This book was a summary of the adventures Huston Smith went on in his life as he traveled the world searching for new knowledge and understanding of the religions of the world. Huston Smith also made a collection of videos about various religions across the world
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Reading Response: The World’s Religions All around the world‚ religion is a dominant idea for many cultures; exemplifying a certain way of life‚ serving as a basis for faith‚ and bringing charity to the world‚ religion is an extensive concept. For several cultures and countries religion may vary according to demographics‚ socio-economical class‚ and ethnicity. Many people seek religion as a way of life‚ for others religion simply means going to church or temple and seeing religious
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Exam #2 Answers 1. How might we‚ based on William James’ “The Varieties of Religious Experience” (in the Primis Packet)‚ describe the three main branches of Taoism? By tapping into the more. 2. Huston Smith initially describes wu wei as pure effectiveness‚ but later in the chapter turns to _____ in order to bring out _____ in the concept. Creative quietude. The inherent contrast. 3. Finish this thought: One always finds _____ again...but Sisyphus concludes _____. One
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CHRISTIANITY 4 JUDAISM 5 ISLAM 5 PRIMAL RELIGIONS 5 REFLECTION 6 Pearls of Wisdom It has been an outstanding five weeks. This was the course that I ’ve been waiting to take since I started Capella back in April of 2004. Finally after weeks of reading World Religions by Huston Smith‚ I have developed an understanding of some of the world ’s religions. I can never be an expert in this field‚ and I don ’t want to‚ but at least I have an idea where these religions originated and have a general concept
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1-Understanding Religion STUDY QUESTIONS (Pages 1-29) Group A 1. What are some of the questions religion seek to answer? List some of the human needs served by religion? 2. Discuss a theory on origins of religion by one of the thinkers in the reading (Tylor‚ Frazer‚ Freud‚ James‚ Otto or Jung) that makes sense to you at the present time. 3. List and describe the eight elements that are developed in varying degrees in most religions? 4. Define what is meant by sacred in religion and give some examples
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Everyone has their own religion‚ their own beliefs‚ and their own God. Though most of them have a lot of the same aspects when dealing with their beliefs‚ a few have some altered opinions. The religion that we chose for this paper is Jehovah Witness. Jehovah Witnesses are most commonly known for their door-to-door knocking attempts to convert people to their religion. In this paper we will talk about the history of the Jehovah Witness religion‚ the positive and negative aspects of it‚ and the unique
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Huston Smith begins his chapter on Hinduism by focusing on its practical implication in terms of its practice. If one was to take Hinduism and merge it into a single statement‚ it would say: “You can have what you want”( Smith 13). This assertion brings up “The Path of Desire”‚ an approach one initially takes to help live a righteous life. According to Hindu soteriology‚ followers go through various steps in the development of one’s understanding of the universe. Smith argues that “The Path of Desire”
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World Religions 1/31/14 Most religions are patriarchal. -Institution led by men that intend to represent “father figures.” -Women are mostly seen as supporting figures. -Women are usually supporting social causes. Negative aspects of religion: -deaths and wars -unethical and misguided -political power‚ groups of followers are able to effect political progress. -may split rather than unify -routinization of charisma leads to a focus on the outside rather than inner spirituality
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