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Review Of Dean William A. Graham's Speech 'God Is Not One'

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Dean William A. Graham gave a compelling speech in 2012 at Harvard Divinity School on Leadership Day. In Graham's speech he tackles the task of explaining why people should study religion in the 21st century. He began by noting that religion is the world's median between good and evil, and having a wider view of religion in society is more important than trying to immediately know how having knowledge and understanding of religions can be beneficial. Also according to Graham (2012), because religion is being studied today more than ever before it is important to shift from the largely Christian pre-eminently biblical studies to global studies. Continuing on he notes that religious studies should not only be included in the liberal arts, but also in definitive studies. Dean Graham (2012) soon makes a strong point in his speech, by explaining that whether religion is …show more content…

The introduction of the book is packed with general knowledge about religions of the world people should know. The introduction begins with Prothero shedding light on the fact that although there are many differences in the world, like democracy and monarchy but, all religions are one. According to Prothero, all religions share the sweet harmony of peace, love, and understanding. (Prothero 2010, p. 2) There is an analogy made that religions are different paths up the same mountain, which means that they may have different bases, but they have the same end goal. Prothero continues on acknowledging that people today try so hard to get along with each other there is an automatic religious tolerance that happens, which seems like a good thing but having tolerance is admitting that there is a difference. And the point that Prothero is making is that people of all religions are the same at heart. He notes that we are brothers and sisters all together and should look at religion as a bomb defuser and not as a bomb

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In order to focus on the foundation of religions, locations and time of events are limited to the minimum. It “does not attept to give a rounded view of the religions considered.” (p.2) It tried to do reasonable justice to several perspectives instead of attempting to catalogue many types. When he decides which view to present, the guideline

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Two things I found interesting reading this chapter is that over the years, Christianity has gone down two percent since the 1900’s in popularity and Islam’s numbers has skyrocketed by ten percent. This was due to high birth rates in highly Islamic countries. But, with Christianity going down two percent, that was only nominal practitioners as well. 2. What point do you think Professor Prothero was trying to make in this chapter?

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A personal worldview may cause dissention amongst friends, family, and people you encounter. Each of these topics are controversial and the views of those that agree with one another, are in harmony until they are confronted with someone with a worldview in complete opposition. The religious worldview taught to an individual when they were young becomes a source of comfort and help, it doesn’t matter what your religion because these beliefs are often passed from generation to generation with the concept that this is the “correct religion” and all others are wrong. In the environment of like following people the peace, harmony and security in that faith is strong.

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Patel wants everyone to embrace the many different religions that we have while believing that they all can coexist in the community “I realized that it was precisely because of America’s glaring imperfections that I should seek to participate in its progress, carve a place in its promise, and play a role in its possibility. And at its heart and at its best, America was about pluralism” (Patel 89). Patel says that pluralism should be embraced and individuals should have a better understanding of one’s religion before mistaking. These mistakes can lead to disputes and ultimately to pandemonium characterized in this text.

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Mocko brought to the college when she was hired six years ago. Like most graduate students trained in the academic study of religion, she was taught to approach religion as “objectively” as possible—a pedagogical and epistemological pattern that reflects religion scholars’ long-standing struggle for legitimacy in modern, secular, academic environments where spiritual faith was often equated with pre-Enlightenment superstition. Modeling the kind of critical thinking we hope to cultivate in our students, Dr. Mocko began to question some of the assumptions built into her graduate school training as she immersed herself in Concordia’s culture of learning. Without compromising her commitment to intellectual rigor, she developed a more nuanced approach to studying and teaching about religion, one that makes room for students’ searches for meaning and that explores the social and political implications of diverse spiritual teachings and practices. Challenging herself to grow beyond her graduate school training in Asian religions—intellectually, pedagogically, and as an engaged scholar—Dr. Mocko has come to recognize not only that “rigorous thought could and should be blended with more personal questions of meaning” (SE, 2), but also that intellectual inquiry can and should foster students’

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In a world where religion represents a crucial role in the lives of countless people, there is no doubt that it influences an individual’s daily decisions. There are numerous religions that have been created, although the most significant ones have been widely practiced for centuries. Each of the world’s major religions have distinctions that set them apart from others. Consequently, these distinctions cause turmoil between religions due to individual biased opinion for their God. Followers of a religion suppose that their faith is designated as the most favorable and true religion of all practices.

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Religions have existed for millenniums, cultivation and sculpting the old world into what it is today. Each religion is unique in its own sense, meaning that each religion is its own mix, it’s own jam. Every one of these jams, or religions, have been spread across nations. Some jams are smooth like butter, finding easy acceptance and even easier assimilation, whereas some jams are chunky and laden with difficulties. Buddhism’s jam was one of interesting circumstance, containing a vary of smooth and chunky consistency.

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