How and Why We Study Other Religions

Question 1

Explain the difference between Religious Education vs. Religious Studies.
Are they polar opposites or a constructive tension?

Answer 1

Religious Education: The purpose is to strengthen faith, build allegiance towards one group, and defend against criticism

Religious Studies: Study objectively and naturalistically, encourage skepticism of traditional explanations, always give priority to science (ex. Psych, Soc., Anth., Phil., Hist., etc.)

Question 2

What is Theology?

Answer 2

Intellectual reflection/speculation from a position of faith using;

• scriptures
• philosophical reasoning
• tradition
• social experience
• science

Question 3

What is Phenomenology?

Answer 3

Religious experiences and their meanings studied analytically but in more in line with the perspective of the worshipper.

Question 4

What are Stendahl’s Rules?

Answer 4

1. Go to the source:
   Learn about a religion from the very source, not from its competitors. Don’t ask Judas to teach you about Jesus.
2. Be fair:
   Compare their best with your best and not your best with their worst
3. Look for the good:
   Allow sufficient room for “holy envy” in finding things you wish you had or wish you did better.

Question 5

How do I apply Stendahl’s Rules?

Answer 5

1. Listen, Read and Ask
   Be attentive as you listen, read, and ask with a desire to learn and understand rather than to find fault.
2. Identify what you appreciate in what you have learned
3. Compare fairly with your own faith or perspective and only then analyze critically

Question 6

What are the 3 Classic Christian Approaches to Religious Diversity?

Answer 6

Exclusivist View
Inclusivist View
Pluralist View

Question 7

Explain the Exclusivist View.

Answer 7

Only one truth leads to salvation and it is found in one church or religion.

Question 8

Explain the Inclusivist View.

Answer 8

One religion/church is the preferential path to salvation but other religions move in the same direction.

Question 9

Explain the Pluralist View.

Answer 9

All religions are equal and all fulfill the same purposes.

Question 10

What is the difference between the dogmatic or doctrinal and the theological? Provide some examples from the LDS context.

Answer 10

Doctrinal is set in stone. They are the nonarguable points of the faith which allows us the framework upon which we can speculate. These doctrines give us knowledge, which gives rise to questions. Not all questions are explicitly answered by the doctrine. Theology is speculation on the answers to these profound yet unanswered questions.
EX. In the LDS church it is a doctrine that one must be baptized to enter into the kingdom of God. However, the ability to progress in Kingdoms of glory after final judgment is a speculation.

Question 11

What effect would the application of Stendhal’s rules have on relationships in the family, community, and world?

Answer 11

Peace would be the main answer. I watched a documentary on Muslims and found it incredibly enlightening. It helped me see that all in all they are a peaceful people. I was pleasantly surprised. However, I could see in the comments that many people did not take the time to really observe what the documentary had to say. If they did, they did it to find fault and to tear down the religion. If people would take a moment to really listen, ponder, and then justly compare beliefs, they may not find agreement with one another, but they would find respect.