GROUP ONE: YOU MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS worth 30% each for a total of 60%
1. Name five dimensions of religion and discuss how they apply to three religions, one Eastern religion, Western religions and one indigenous religion.
2. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are called “Religions of the Book.” Discuss the scriptures of two of these religions including
a. authorship,
b. major divisions of the scriptures and their content,
c. interpretation issues and role of the writings in the religion’s history.
d. importance/place of scripture in religious life
GROUP TWO: CHOOSE TWO FROM THESE QUESTIONS 20% EACH
3. In The Transcendent Unity of Religions, author Frithjof Schuon argues that religions differ only in their exoteric or surface cultural forms while their mystical or esoteric forms are virtually the same. Discuss the mystical doctrines or techniques of Hinduism and Judaism that would support Schuon’s argument, giving specific information about the mystical schools and practices you choose for comparison and the kinds of experience produced. Give diagrams where appropriate. How do these similarities contribute to post-critical hieraphanies in our time?
4. One of the functions of religion is to provide hope that there will be life after death and thereby allay human anxiety over the fact of mortality. Discuss the ideas of an afterlife provided by two different religions, one Eastern the other Western. Provide some detail of the afterlives predicted and what is required to attain it..
5. Name and briefly describe the major denominations schools or sects of two religions. Choose one from among the following: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Tell how they came to be formed. Tell the distinguishing characteristics of each denomination and something of the history of conflict between them.
6. Western religions differ from indigenous and Eastern religions on a number of basic metaphysical issues. Name four of these issues and the contrast occurring between the two camps. You may refer to any religion(s) you choose to make the comparison, but be sure to name them. What has the result been to the modern world of the dominance of any of these contrasts?
7. Discuss the role of women in Christianity and one other religion.. Include practices of discrimination or inclusion in each religion, role of the feminine in notions of the divine, leadership positions or women in the history of the religion, significance to the religion of its attitude toward the feminine in general.
8. Name the four different paths of yoga taught by Hinduism and give examples of each. Compare and contrast to the different forms of the Daoist religion.
9. Both the Buddha and Jesus are figures of vast religious significance. List and discuss four ways in which the life, teachings and impact of each figure and/or the religion which grew from his teachings are similar. Be sure to include reference to specific teachings, myths, and characteristics of the religions involved as you answer this question.
Based on Chapter 1, Are philosophical answers ultimately found within ourselves or based on the findings of others? prepare a short essay as per the below guidelines and rely on the textbook as your source. The essay should have 4 clear sections/paragraphs. 1. The Issue or question that you are presenting; 2. The standard or Rule from the text that should be applied when answering your question; 3 Your Analysis or basis from the text that supports your position and answer to your question; and 4. State your Conclusion, which is the answer to the question presented as your issue.
Book: Roots of Wisdom: A Tapestry of Philosophical Traditions
by Mitchell, Helen Buss 8th edition
This week, after reading the article and viewing the video, please reflect on and respond to the following questions:
(You MUST go to the Weekly Overview for the links to the video and the article in order to answer these questions and write your Ethics Essay.)
Re-create the John Rawls thought experiment, “the veil of ignorance” for yourself. Take the time for the full imaginal journal and then attempt to write your own set of principles or social rules that would establish a society in which you would be willing to live regardless of the condition of your birth. You may begin by writing down a list of rights and responsibilities for instance, but ultimately I would like you to define the principles upon which those rights and responsibilities rest. (Review the article for examples of how to extract principles from a list of rights and responsibilities and vice versa.)
Review Martha Nussbaum’s list of ten aspects of life from which human capabilities are derived. Are there any other life aspects you feel are missing from her list? Name them and explain why you feel they must be added to a list of basic capabilities which need to be acknowledged and supported by society. Are there any on Martha‘s list that you feel are inappropriate to make part of a social contract? In other words, are any of those issues not the responsibility of society, but aspects of life which must be handled by the individual, or the immediate family, or some other group?
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Please write at least five or six substantial paragraphs in response to these two questions.
Jenny, a university student studying public relations, accepted an internship position in the fundraising department at Casa Tia Maria. Casa Tia Maria is a non-profit organization in the United States that provides shelter for Central American immigrants while they look for permanent housing and employment. In addition to shelter, Casa Tia Maria provides food, clothing, and English classes. Most immigrants stay at the shelter for several months before securing permanent housing.
After Jenny had worked at Casa Tia Maria for two weeks, Mary, the director of development, asked Jenny to accompany her to a fundraising dinner at a luxurious downtown hotel. Many wealthy and influential individuals were in attendance. After most of the guests had left, Mary and Jenny were approached by Robert, a Texas oil baron and one of the state’s biggest philanthropists. Robert was known to donate to almost any cause as long as he found it to be what he considered “morally sound” and to the benefit of “hard-working Americans.”
Mary and Robert talked for a few minutes about Casa Tia Maria and its specific needs. Jenny noticed, however, that most of Mary’s answers to Robert’s questions about the shelter’s clients were vague. When Robert said that he was happy to lend a hand to any poor American citizen, Jenny knew he clearly did not understand that immigrants, who were not U.S. citizens, were the shelter’s clientele. Mary said nothing to correct Robert’s misperception.
Robert pulled a checkbook out of his jacket and wrote a substantial check. As he handed it to Mary, he said, “I am so pleased to be able to help hard-working Americans.” He then turned quickly and walked away.
Write 4 answers labelled A, B, C, and D showing your understanding of the moral theories and your skills in applying them to a case. This means explaining the theories you are discussing.
A. Consider carefully whether a utilitarian approach would say this is a good outcome or not. Be sure to consider the long term view.
B. Consider what plausible moral rules or duties are relevant to the people acting in this case. What relevant rules or duties have been followed or violated by the people in this case?
C. Consider what personal moral character traits (virtues and vices) have been exhibited by Jenny, Mary and Robert in this case.
D. In the light of your answers to A, B, and C above, imagine that Jenny is your friend. Jenny calls you up and asks your advice. What would you recommend that she do? Explain your recommendation carefully.
enny, a university student studying public relations, accepted an internship position in the fundraising department at Casa Tia Maria. Casa Tia Maria is a non-profit organization in the United States that provides shelter for Central American immigrants while they look for permanent housing and employment. In addition to shelter, Casa Tia Maria provides food, clothing, and English classes. Most immigrants stay at the shelter for several months before securing permanent housing.
After Jenny had worked at Casa Tia Maria for two weeks, Mary, the director of development, asked Jenny to accompany her to a fundraising dinner at a luxurious downtown hotel. Many wealthy and influential individuals were in attendance. After most of the guests had left, Mary and Jenny were approached by Robert, a Texas oil baron and one of the state’s biggest philanthropists. Robert was known to donate to almost any cause as long as he found it to be what he considered “morally sound” and to the benefit of “hard-working Americans.”
Mary and Robert talked for a few minutes about Casa Tia Maria and its specific needs. Jenny noticed, however, that most of Mary’s answers to Robert’s questions about the shelter’s clients were vague. When Robert said that he was happy to lend a hand to any poor American citizen, Jenny knew he clearly did not understand that immigrants, who were not U.S. citizens, were the shelter’s clientele. Mary said nothing to correct Robert’s misperception.
Robert pulled a checkbook out of his jacket and wrote a substantial check. As he handed it to Mary, he said, “I am so pleased to be able to help hard-working Americans.” He then turned quickly and walked away.
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Write 4 long answers labelled A, B, C, and D showing your understanding of the moral theories and your skills in applying them to a case. This means explaining the theories you are discussing.
A. Consider carefully whether a utilitarian approach would say this is a good outcome or not. Be sure to consider the long term view.
B. Consider what plausible moral rules or duties are relevant to the people acting in this case. What relevant rules or duties have been followed or violated by the people in this case?
C. Consider what personal moral character traits (virtues and vices) have been exhibited by Jenny, Mary and Robert in this case.
D. In the light of your answers to A, B, and C above, imagine that Jenny is your friend. Jenny calls you up and asks your advice. What would you recommend that she do? Explain your recommendation carefully.
Friedrich Nietzsche offers a stark re-evaluation of existing philosophy and religion in his many mid-Nineteenth Century works. In particular, Nietzsche inveighs against Christianity and Kantian thought, suggesting that these systems and worship of science as an alternative to them will simply lead to nihilism. Offer and defend your own opinion on whether Nietzsche is correct about the rise of nihilism and whether or not his proposed solution is correct.
