Religion and Atheism: Key Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of the Sun Dance ritual ceremony observed by the Plains Indians?

To awaken the earth, renew the community, give thanks for the sun, and petition or give thanks for favors from the Great Spirit (correct)

To teach history, cultural etiquette, and spiritual beliefs

To purify the body, mind, heart, and spirit

To connect with the Creator and nature

The sweat lodge is primarily used for spiritual purposes.

True

What is the significance of storytelling in Indigenous cultures?

Storytelling serves to connect individuals and communities to their place and time as well as each other, and is used to teach history, cultural etiquette, and spiritual beliefs.

The ______ is a sacred ceremony of most First Nations, where sweetgrass, sage, and/or cedar are burned to purify the body, mind, heart, and spirit.

smudging Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Mitzvot = A commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty Torah = Contains 613 specific laws, the ten commandments, Jewish beliefs and ways of life Vision Quest = A spiritual journey to receive sacred knowledge and strength from the spirit world Spirit Guide = A mediator between the living and the Almighty God Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the sweat lodge in many Native American cultures?

To connect with the Creator and nature, and restore order and balance in life Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of atheism?

Rejection of the belief that any deities exist Signup and view all the answers

A shaman is a male-only religious or mystical expert in traditional Indigenous societies.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using peyote in the Native American Church?

To receive spiritual power, guidance, reproof, and healing, and to commune with God and the spirits (including the deceased) in order to gain a closer understanding of the spiritual world. Signup and view all the answers

The term "____________________" is bestowed to an individual by their community because of the spiritual and cultural knowledge they hold.

Elder Signup and view all the answers

Match the following worldviews with their descriptions:

Theocentric = God-centered Cosmocentric = World/Nature-centered Anthropocentric = Human-centered Secular = Society-centered Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of interfaith dialogue?

To learn what is good and true in other faiths Signup and view all the answers

Turtle Island is a mythical place with no connection to Indigenous creation stories.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Atheism and Religion

Atheism is the rejection of the belief that any deities exist, specifically the position that there are no deities.
Religion is an organized way people respond to the sacred, bridging the sacred and society.
Components of religion include religious experience, founders, prophets, and saints, myths, rituals, community, teachings, and morality.

Ninan Smart's Sociological Model of Religion

The model consists of an encounter with the divine, myth, rituals, community, morality, and beliefs.
It provides a framework for understanding the complexity of religious traditions.

Worldviews

Worldviews are the way one perceives the world, and can be personal or communal.
Types of worldviews include theocentric (God-centered), cosmocentric (world/nature-centered), anthropocentric (human-centered), Christian humanism, scientific humanism, secular humanism, and secular (society-centered).

Indigenous Spirituality

Shaman: a religious or mystical expert who functions as a healer, prophet, and custodian of cultural tradition.
Peyote: a sacramental and sacred substance used in rituals for spiritual growth, guidance, and healing.
Elder: a term bestowed upon an individual due to their spiritual and cultural knowledge, not referring to their age.
Turtle Island: a name reflecting the spiritual beliefs and relationship with Mother Earth in many Native American cultures.
Sundance: a ritual ceremony to awaken the earth, renew the community, and give thanks to the Great Spirit.
Sweat Lodge: a place for spiritual, cultural, and practical purposes, connecting with the Creator and nature.
Smudging: a sacred ceremony to purify the body, mind, heart, and spirit using sweetgrass, sage, and/or cedar.
Spirit Guide: a mediator between the living and the Almighty God, believed to act as a guide in the spiritual journey.
Vision Quest: a spiritual journey in which participants receive sacred knowledge and strength from the spirit world.
Importance of Storytelling: oral traditions are the backbone of Indigenous knowledge transfer, and storytelling serves to connect individuals and communities to their place and time.
Types of Stories: creation stories, myths, stories of morality, etc.

Judaism

Mitzvot: a commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty.
Torah: contains 613 specific laws, the Ten Commandments, Jewish beliefs and ways of life, and is kept in an Ark.

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Description

Explore the basics of atheism and religion, including their definitions and components. Learn about Ninan Smart's Sociological Model of Religion and its various aspects.