WEEK6 DISCUSSION 6.1: Religion Myth-Toolbox

WEEK6 DISCUSSION 6.1: Religion Myth-Toolbox

WEEK6 DISCUSSION 6.1: Religion Myth-Toolbox

WEEK 6 DISCUSSION 6.1: Religion and Myth Toolbox

Read through the article from Russell McHutcheon on religion in the Week 6 Learning Resources and sections 1-3 of https://religion.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/mccutchintrohandout.pdf Defining myth, Some background on mythology, Characteristics of myth). Then, relying on these resources only, answer the following questions in your own words. Make sure to cite any of the learning resources you use in your answer in MLA format.

1. List two problems encountered when studying religion according to Hutcheon.

2. In one sentence, define myth as it is used in the study of religion. In another sentence or two, describe how this is different from the definition of myth you already know?

WEEK 6 DISCUSSION 6.2: Illustrating Religion and Myth

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS:   Your contributions should be thoughtful and developed.  Answer all parts of the question and use concepts from the course materials.  Use a professional style of communication, with attention to grammar, spelling, and typos; cite your sources.

Choose ONE of the following questions, and give a substantive response to at least two other students. Discussion responses whose central thesis is “I agree” or “good job”, but which contain no other substantial reference to course material, will earn no credit.

1. THE MATERIAL DIMENSION OF MYTH

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica online a myth is: a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief. It is distinguished from symbolic behaviour (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons). Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. The term mythology denotes both the study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a particular religious tradition. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth).

Pick one of the five major world religions. You might want to consider a religion other than your own to offer the class something new. Find a myth from that religion that you can directly connect to something in the religion’s material dimension.

Provide a link to a version of the myth and give us a very short (3-5 sentences) description of the myth.

Provide a link to the element of the material dimension that links to the myth and give us a paragraph that analyzes how the two are connected. For example: Is this an object that is part of a ritual? Is it used by believers to accomplish something? Does it teach believers something? Does it help a community express their beliefs? Is it something (like a work of visual art) that critiques the values/beliefs/practices etc. expressed by the myth, or offers a new perspective on the religion?

2. THE ACADEMIC STUDY OF RELIGION

To address the following questions, consider the four approaches to religion described in the introduction to this module: exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism and empathetic interest in other people.

Which of these four approaches do you take in your everyday life, and why?

Describe a friend, acquaintance, or relative whose approach to religion is different than yours. What approach do they take? Given your different approaches, how would you communicate with them about religion?

If you were to take a college class on religious traditions, do you think the academic study of religion might require you to adjust your approach?  Explain your answer.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

• The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.