Summer School and The Religiological Method...

[honey_bear]

:hugon:bowl:hugoff
This summer I am taking a class that is rarely offered by my school. It is an introduction to world religions - but not just your traditional religions. We are studying Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confuscianism, and primal religions (all that in four weeks.) But something really caught my attention on the first day of class. It is called the religiological method of studying religions. It covers six areas, asking six questions, which I found great to ponder. Anyone of any religious/spiritual background can answer these questions. It is interesting to see what you believe in relation to the questions.
The Religiolgoical Method
:bulletEpistemology - What is the basis of knowledge of your beliefs? What is the criteria of proof or truth?
:bulletOntology - What are the degrees of reality? What is really real?
:bulletAnthropology - Who are we as human beings? What is our identity?
:bulletPsychology - What is the nature of human consciousness? Who are we inside of ourselves?
:bulletTeleology - What is the purpose of our existance?
:bulletMethodology - What is the method for fulfilling the purpose of life?

Something to really ponder... I think it teaches you a lot about who you are and what you believe. Prior to Friday I had never heard of this process, but I believe that it is very useful.

Any thoughts?
:love
Laura

[Simone]

Laura,

Perhaps these questions can be pondered but certainly not answered. So much of my own spirituality relies on intuition.

There is a field called Anthroposophy, which attempts a scientific approach to the questions of spirtuality, but even this gets so esoteric that it becomes most difficult to follow.

Good luck in your searching and your studies. :clover

:flower

[purple_tao]

:hugon Laura :hugoff

Oh, how I am jealous!!! Please, while taking the class, could you relate back some of the info you're learning?? I wish there was something like that around here :happy. I am very interested in world religions (and others' beliefs). Kudos to you for taking these classes :supergrin

:peace
:love

[doggie]

:hugonLaura:hugoff Like the purple one I am green with envy :winky.....if you have the time could you please pass along whatever you can on each religion :angel......Like Simone I rely on studying religion from all angles and then just resting quietly while my heart tells me which way to go :cousinit (I love this smilie, it is so me).......have a ball :love :dog

[blissful]

:hugon Laura :hugoff

I do not consider myself a religious person, but The religiological Method certainly made me think and made me curious...

As I was reading the questions, my thoughts led me to one of my favorite books,
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior........by: Dan Millman

In this book, I feel that each one of these questions is addressed and explored in a rather unique way...

I would highly reccommend it to anyone who finds the Religiological Method thought provoking...

thanks for sharing this Laura...

much love,
:sun jamie :sun

[doggie]

:hugonJamie:hugoff Thanks for the book recommendation....I will be ordering it asap :supergrin....:love :dog

[purple_tao]

:yay :yay kieran waiving her fin madly :yay :yay:

ME TOO, ME TOO, ME TOO !!!

I'm putting in an order with Amazon soon. This will be a book I'll definitely purchase.
Thanks :grin blissful :grin !!!

:bandwagon

:peace
:love

[Starlightgirlie]

Jamie!

That is such a great book! Thanks for reminding me- I think I'm going to go and dig it out of my boxes of books!

[honey_bear]

:hugon:bowl:hugoff
Be watching for updates. I'll post one as soon as I can breathe again - that should be some time around Sunday. For right now, I'm too swamped with Greek Culture to type much.
:love to you all
Laura

[doggie]

We're all looking forward to hearing all about it.....:love :dog