Studying the World’s Religions,
Part II
The 7 Dimensions of Religion
I. The Nature of a Religious Tradition: the
Seven Dimensions of Religion
A.
• All religions explore
mystery – people ask
questions (those five
major questions)
• Those questions are
answered within each
religion through the
seven dimensions of
religion
The Purpose
• The Five Questions Are Answered Through the
Seven Dimensions (each religion answers them
somewhat differently)
QUESTIONS:
ANSWERS:
Nature of the World?
Mythical
Spiritual Perfection?
Ethical
Ultimately Reality
Experiential
Destiny?
Doctrinal
Human Condition?
Ritual
Social
Material
1. Experiential
a.
b.
Ex:
c.
Ex:
Religions begin when
someone has an experience
with THE DIVINE
In theistic religions, God is
experienced with:
- awe-inspiring fear
- fascination
the Annunciation of the angel
Gabriel to Mary
In non-theistic religions,
experiences take the form of
mysticism – uniting with the
divine through inward
contemplation or meditation
Native American Vision Quest
1. Experiential , continued
• Experiences involve
Faith – firm belief in
something for which
there is not always
concrete proof;
believing without seeing
something that is
known through a
witness and based on
good reasons
2.Mythic/Sacred Story
a. In the study of
religion, myths tell
sacred truths
b. Myths are non-rational
and non-history but do
not conflict with science
c. They take the form of
SACRED STORIES that
are passed along
d. Myths commonly tell :
i. the story of the
beginning of the world
and human beginnings
ii. The proper way to live
Ex: Genesis – creation of the
world and Adam and Eve
3.Doctrinal
• This aspect of religion incorporates belief, which is
usually stated in their creeds, doctrines, scriptures and
teachings of their religions.
• Doctrines are derived from myths and religious experiences and
make rational sense of the content.
4. Ethical
a. Every religion has an
ethical dimension
that tells us how we
are to act in this
world.
Ex: 10 Commandments
b. Ethics in many religions
typically coincide and
occur across religions.
Ex: kindness to others
5. Ritual
a. Ritual is formal
practice that helps us
worship
b. It usually reenacts a
myth or sacred story.
• Ex: Mass, Muslim
prayer five times a day
6. Social
a. Religions are social meaning that they involve
communities where people belong to groups
(tribes, parishes) who help us worship.
b. Leaders in every religion are examples of spiritual
perfection. Ex: Taoist sage, saints, apostles, chiefs
Material
a. The objects used to worship, the buildings worshipped in and
the sacred texts for worship are all material – they are objects
that assist us in our worship.
Examples of material objects:
- churches
- icons (images of Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Shiva)
- books of scripture (Bible, Torah, Koran)
- natural (mountains, seas, rivers)
- man-made (cities)
III. Two Approaches to Studying
Religion
a. Approach the study of religion with comparative
methodology: compare religions to one another
because to know just one religion is to know none.
Studying many religions helps us to understand
our own and each one more.
b. Religion should be approached with empathy: the
capacity for seeing from another’s perspectives.