Study Guide: Interfaith Dialog

Please use this study guide to acquire some basic understanding of key stories, concepts and terms from Huston Smith’s The Illustrated World’s Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions.

There will be an exam on our first day of class.

You will have options from the questions in the following study guide. I will select a few in each category below and you will then have a choice among those I select.

Huston SmithThe Illustrated World’s Religions

Preface and Point of Departure:1 What are the themes for this book?2 What is he NOT going to address and why?3 Why does he use art in this book?

Hinduism: 1 What two things do people want that will not ultimately satisfy us, according to Hinduism? Why will these desires not be satisfactory?2 What is the Path that Hinduism says people will eventually seek?3 What are the “Four Paths” to the ultimate goal in? Describe each “path” briefly.4 What is the Hindu view of other world religions, according to Smith?Vocabulary:

moksha Atman

Brahmanyogakarmajiva

Buddhism:1 Briefly, tell the story of Buddha’s life, as presented in the tradition.2 What were Buddha’s final words, according to tradition? Contrast with these with traditional Christian notions of salvation.3 Contrast Buddhism at its beginning with Hinduism.4 What are the “six regular features of religion” according to Smith?5 What are the Four Noble Truths? Describe, briefly.6 What comprises the Eight-Fold Path?7 What is presupposed as one walks the Eight-Fold Path, acceding to Smith?8 Briefly, contrast Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism9 Describe the “Image of the Crossing” on the ferryboat. What strikes you about this wayof seeing a religious tradition?Vocabulary:

dukkhatanhaanattaMaranirvanabodhisattva

Confucianism:1 What was the problem that Confucius faced in his day?2 Contrast the “Rival Answers” to the dilemma of Confucius’ day, andwhy were these answers found wanting by Confucius?3 What are the five ideals that structure Confucius’ thought, according to Smith?4 How does Smith say that Confucianism is a religion as well as an ethic?Vocabulary:

jenchun tzulite

Taoism:1 Describe the Tao.2 Describe the “three approaches to Power” of the “Taoisms” as presented by Smith?3 Contrast Confucianism and Taoism.4 Comment on this poem from the Tao Te Ching:

Those who would take over the earthAnd shape it to their willNever, I notice, succeed.The earth is like a vessel so sacredThat at the mere approach of the profane it is marred.They reach out their fingers and it is gone.

Vocabulary:ch’iwu wei

Islam:1 Where in the Hebrew scripture does the story of Islam begin, according to the Koran? 2 Briefly tell the story of Muhammad, according to Muslim tradition.3 Contrast the position of Muhammad in Islam with Jesus in Christianity.4 How do Muslims view the Koran (Qur’an) in comparison to how Christians view the Bible?5 Discuss briefly the four basic theological concepts of Islam, according to Smith.6 Briefly describe the “Five Pillars” of Islam.7 Describe the three routes to Allah in Sufism.Vocabulary:

salamAllah

Judaism:1 Discuss Smith’s claim: “The real impact of the ancient Jews, however, lies in the extentto which Western civilization took over their perspective on the deepest questions life poses.”2 Be prepared to discuss in detail three of these sections in Smith:

“Meaning in God”“Meaning in Creation”“Meaning in Human Existence”“Meaning in History”“Meaning in Morality”“Meaning in Justice”“Meaning in Suffering”“Meaning in Messianism”

3 Discuss the meaning of revelation for Jews, as Smith presents it.

Christianity:1 Describe how Smith sees the “historical Jesus” in relation to “the Christ of faith.”2 Discuss the view of papal infallibility related to the Church’s role as “teaching authority” as Smith describes it.3 Discuss the idea of the sacraments in Smith.4 Discuss the Eastern Orthodox view of the Church as corporate.5 What are the two “idolatries” in Protestantism as Smith presents them?

The Primal Religions:1 Why does Smith say that later does not mean better in relation to religious life?2 Discuss the views of orality, place and time in primal traditions.3 What does Smith mean by the “symbolist mentality” in the primal traditions?4 Discuss: “They (primal traditions) had what the world has lost: the ancient, lost reverence and passion for human personality joined with the ancient, lost reverence and passion for the earth and its web of life.”

A Final Examination:1 What are Smith’s three answers to how the religions can be seen in relation to one another?2 What is Smith’s summary of the world’s “wisdom traditions” in ethics, human virtues and vision?3 Why does Smith say we ought to listen to the world’s religious traditions?

Essay Questions:1 Which of these religions seems most interesting to you and why?2 Which of these religions seems least interesting to you and why?3 Briefly compare and contrast your religious views with one of these traditions.4 Can all of these paths of faith be true? Can any? Is only one true?