Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the various ways one might respond to religious diversity.

After reviewing the learning resources for this unit of study consider the various ways that one might respond to religious diversity: exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism, universalism, syncretism.

• Select and explain two of the responses;
• provide examples of each
• and discuss what you see as the advantages and disadvantages of each position. Terms to Know:
  • Buddhism
  • Christianity
  • Hinduism
  • Islam
  • Judaism
  • monotheistic religions
  • missionary religions
  • Shi’ite
  • Sunni
  • Abraham
  • Buddha
  • Jesus
  • Muhammad
  • Vishnu
  10a Seven Classic Theories of Religion – origins of the academic study of religion (Links to an external site.)This series of YouTube videos goes into more depth on the classic theories (and theorists) of religion:
  • Karl Marx (Links to an external site.)
  • Freud (Links to an external site.)
  • Mircea Eliade and Ninian Smart (Links to an external site.)
  • Paul Tillich and W.C. Smith (Links to an external site.)
  • Schleiermacher, Otto, and James (Links to an external site.)
  • Emile Durkheim, totemism (Links to an external site.)
  • Max Weber (Links to an external site.)
  • Clifford Geertz (Links to an external site.)
  Readings
  • The Academic Study of Religion (Links to an external site.) (instructor essay)
  • Some misconceptions regarding the study of religion (Links to an external site.) (from the American Academy of Religion)
  • What is the Academic Study of Religion? (Links to an external site.) by Russell T. McCutcheon (Department of Religious Studies, University of Alabama)
  • also by Russell T. McCutcheon, Studying Religion: Introduction (Links to an external site.) & Conclusion (Links to an external site.)
  • What is the Academic Study of Religion?: A Student’s Perspective (Links to an external site.)(by Tim Davis, 2006)
  • Body ritual among the Nacirema (Links to an external site.) by Horace Miner
  What lesson does this piece suggest about the “insider-outsider” delimma?
  • Appearances can be deceiving
  • Be careful about making assumptions
  • Don’t jump to conclusionsrevealing the secret of the Nacirema) (Links to an external site.)
  ADDITIONAL VIDEOS (EXTRA CREDIT):The Academic Study of Religion Explained (Links to an external site.)
  What is the Difference Between Theology and Religious Studies? (Links to an external site.)