GEORGETOWN PREPARATORY SCHOOL
A Study of World Religions
Mr. Kevin Buckley:
“Wewill never have peace in the world until we first have peace between world religions.”
-Hans Kung
With ISIS, Al Qaeda and other extremist religious players making the news prominently since 9/11, it seems more important than ever to pursue a deeper explorationreligion (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism & Taoism – Judaism is covered in the Freshman year), how they function, and theirbasic teachings. Given all the competing portraits of each religion, we will use four different questions (see below)as a framework to unpack the traditions. Doing this will provide a consistent format through which we can both gain deeper insight into various religions, as well as illuminate how our own religious identities are different by comparison. Identifying differences will bring into focus the unique aspects of Christianity and consequently will engender both a greater familiarity with other lineages and a deeper appreciation of our own.
Beginning with Nostra Aetate and Karl Rahner’s essay, this course hopes to offer a proper mindset while exploring other traditions. If done with arrogance and a dearth of respect, investigating other traditions is rather pointless. Mindset matters. Keen in the introductory unit is an effort to cultivate a respectful and engaging mindset that is open and generous. In keeping with the Jesuit axiom – “Find God in all things” – we will investigate the intricacies of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism in hopes of growing in both understanding and compassion.
A Framework for our investigation:
1. What is ultimate reality and how is human nature understood?
2. What is the goal of life, according to the tradition?
3. What are the ways that humans can worship and experience the divine?
4. What is the historical path that the tradition took (key ideas and people)?
Texts: Karl Rahner, “The Individual & the Church: Anonymous Christians”
Ninian Smart, “Cross Religious Comparisons; The Dimensions of Religion”
The Vatican’s “Nostra Aetate”
Pim Valkenberg, World Religions in Dialogue: A Comparative Theological Approach
Semester I:WOLRD RELIGIONS:
A Survey of Islam, Hinduism & Buddhism
I. An Introduction to World Religions
- A Catholic Beginning
- Framing the Inquiry
- Islam
A. Basic Teachings
B. Practice
C. Muhammad
D. Sufism
- Hinduism
A. Basic Teachings
B. Practice
C. Gandhi
- Buddhism
A. Basic Teachings
B. Practice
C. H.H. Dalai Lama, XIV and The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh
Semester II:
Leaning Into Silence: A Survey of Christian Spirituality
In an age of stress, busyness, materialism and anxiety, peace and serenity are hard to come by. Given the larger world’s focus on money, and its impact on self worth and identity, there is a growing need to cultivate an interior life anchored in one’s connection to the divine and to oneself (as well as how the two entities overlap). This course will explore the rich Christian spiritual traditions aimed at cultivating direction towards and a relationship with God.
Special emphasis will be placed on the Ignatian tradition. To launch the second semester, this course will introduce a body of articles that showcase the elasticity, contemplation, and creativity of Jesuit spirituality from various countries and different centuries. Additionally, the course will explore other Christian methods of prayer and spirituality, such as from key figures like Thomas Merton, St. Augustine, and Dorothy Day. During the semester, we will look at how various traditions attempt to live in communion with the invisible world (grace) and to be guided by its nudges.
How to nourish one’s interior life while being in the world will be the key objective of the course. Consequently, there will be a balanced approach to this course that investigates both the intellectual and academic side to spirituality as well an experientially based component that allows students a way to fashion their own interior life. As a group and individually, students will have opportunities to pray, reflect on their prayer, and process it both orally and on paper.
Texts: P. Feldmeier, Christian Spirituality: Lived Expressions in the Life of the Church
Tal Ben Shahar, Happier
Articles as assigned.