Introductions

First Presentation

Winthrop University

Prof Dale Hathaway

Syllabus

Notice

Introductions

On sheet of paper write your name. Then write down:

• What you would like to learn in this class
• What is something that interests you but you don't know very much about (not necessarily religious in nature)
• if there is anything the instructor should know about you with regard to this class

Significant Experience

• Write down a significant experience that you would characterize as religious and that you would be willing to briefly share with the class.

• Write down a significant that you would not characterize as a religious experience
• Share with someone your experiences and discuss the question, “What makes one religious and the other not?”

Religious Experience covers a vast range

• Breadth of Religious Experience
• Religion touches on almost all human experience and culture
• Religion is incredibly diverse, varied, plural
• Religion affects the depths of human heart, motivation, direction, purpose in life.

Two Fundamental Approaches to the Study of Religion

• Humanistic. Approach: broad historical and cultural understanding of religion

• Theological. Approach: understanding and developing a particular religious tradition and its faith
• We will be following the first approach

Remember

1. More important to provide reasoning than to have a "correct opinion".
2. What connections to your prior knowledge and understanding can you make?
3. What surprised you?
4. What questions arise from what you have learned?
5. What connections with your own experience and learning can you make?
6. What would you like to know more about?