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Week 3:

3) Important Teachings (2-4 paragraphs)

One of the main teachings of Protestant belief is that they are all saved by God’s forgiving grace. Protestants also believe in a all-powerful God who is considered to be perfectly good, loving, and holy. They also hold the view that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Protestants also hold the belief that human nature was created good, but through the fall became sinful and fundamentally self centered. However, the Protestants believe that purpose for the existence of humans is to glorify God and live a life of service to God and other humans.

For Protestants there are three fundamental principles which include; Scripture alone, Justification of faith alone, and Universal priesthood of believers. Early Protestants had rejected the Roman Catholic dogma of transubstantiation which is the teaching that the bread and wine used in the sacrificially rite of the Mass lose their natural substance by being transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

7) Denominational Distinctions For each of the five “Mainline “ Protestant denominations, describe one or two facts or characteristics that distinguish that particular denomination from the others. (a-e: 1 paragraph each)

c. Methodist- The movement was derived from John Wesley and Charles Wesley who placed an emphasis on helping the poor and the average person. The teachings of Methodism focuses on building the person and the church is considered as its missionary spirit. The ideals of the sect are put into practice by establishing institutions that are able to carry out the ideology, such as with the establishment of hospitals, universities, orphanages, schools, and other social welfare establishments which is able to follow the command of Jesus to spread the Good News and serve all people.

d. Presbyterian- The origins of Presbyterian belief are found in Calvinism. This places a great deal of emphasis and focus on education and lifelong learning. This includes the continuous study of the scriptures, theological writings, and understanding and interpreting the doctrines of the Church. The sect has a driving principle in the development of standards of Presbyterian worship as the Regulative Principle of Worship which specifically outlines that in worship what is not commanded is considered to be forbidden.

e. Pentecostalism- This denomination in Protestant sect is a renewal movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts

Week 5:

Section Two: Other “American-born Christianities”

1) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)

a) Give a brief description of the founder (if any) and the origins of Mormonism. (1-2 paragraphs)

Joseph Smith, Jr.was an American religious leader who founded the Latter Day Saint movement, of which the predominant branch is Mormonism. When he was twenty-four, Smith published the Book of Mormon; and by the time of his death fourteen years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and had founded a religion and a religious culture that continues to the present. Smith intended to establish the New Jerusalem in North America, called Zion.

2) Summarize the major beliefs of the following groups: (1-2 paragraphs each)

a) Christian Scientists

Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices belonging to the metaphysical family of new religious movements. It was developed in 19th-century New England by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), who argued in her book Science and Health (1875) that sickness is an illusion that can be corrected by prayer alone. Christian Scientists see their religion as consistent with mainstream Christian theology, despite key differences. In particular they subscribe to a radical form of philosophical idealism, believing that reality is purely spiritual and the material world an illusion. This includes the view that disease is a mental error rather than physical disorder, and that the sick should be treated, not by medicine, but by a form of prayer that seeks to correct the beliefs responsible for the illusion of ill health.

b) Seventh-Day Adventists

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming (advent) of Jesus Christ. The denomination grew out of the Millerite movement in the United States during the middle part of the 19th century and was formally established in 1863. Among its founders was Ellen G. White, whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the church today.

Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to Protestant Christian teachings such as the Trinity and the infallibility of Scripture. Distinctive teachings include the unconscious state of the dead and the doctrine of an investigative judgment. The church is also known for its emphasis on diet and health, its "holistic" understanding of the person, its promotion of religious liberty, and its conservative principles and lifestyle.

c) Jehovah’s Witnesses

The group emerged from the Bible Student movement—founded in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell with the formation of Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society—with significant organizational and doctrinal changes under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford. Jehovah's Witnesses believe their religion is a restoration of first-century Christianity.  Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body, which assumes responsibility for interpreting and applying scripture.

Section Three: Humanism and Unitarian Universalism

1) Briefly, describe “humanism” in the United States (2-3 paragraphs)

American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism, a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms the ability and responsibility of human beings to lead personal lives of ethical fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. Humanism is considered a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidenceover established doctrine or faith.

2) Unitarian Universalism

a) What is the primary theological belief of “Universalism”? (1-2 sentences)

This core doctrine asserts that through Christ every single human soul shall be saved, leading to the "restitution of all things" (apocatastasis). In 1793, Universalism emerged as a particular denomination of Christianity in the United States, eventually called the Universalist Church of America.

c) Describe the Unitarian Universalist Church (2-4 paragraphs)

The Universalist Church of America was a Christian Universalist religious denomination in the United States (plus affiliated churches in other parts of the world). Known from 1866 as the Universalist General Convention, the name was changed to the Universalist Church of America in 1942. In 1961, it consolidated with the American Unitarian Association to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. Universalist congregations tended towards independence and were not easily prone to centralization. They generally met in State Conventions, which usually had more authority than was vested in national Conventions. The church had three divinity schools: Theological School of St. Lawrence University (1856–1965), the Ryder Divinity School (c. 1885–1913) at Lombard College, and the Crane Theological School of Tufts University.

Week 6:

8) Briefly describe the two uniquely American Muslim groups (one is recognized by traditional Islam and one is not recognized by traditional Islam) (1 paragraph each)

a. American Muslim Mission- Formerly known as World Community of Islam in the West, but changed its name in 1978 and came into closer relationship with mainstream Sunni Islam. Led by Warith Deen Muhammad . Largest indigenous Muslim organization in the United States. Now known as the Muslim American Society. The aim of the American Society of Muslims were to establish an Islamic community life (New Africa) in America and the promotion of a positive image of Al-Islam in America and the world. Its organized school accreditation, publications and business ventures relate to Islamic communal life in America, including the sale and circulation of Halal food.

b. Nation of Islam- Heterodox black religious movement in America, based on black nationalism. More than 90 percent of converts are African-Americans. The Nation of Islam was founded in 1930 by Wallace D. Fard . Elijah Muhammad assumed leadership in 1934 when Fard mysteriously disappeared. Muhammad taught that Fard was God, proclaimed himself God's messenger, and infused Fard's teachings with black nationalism. The group tried to help blacks develop economic independence and recover an acceptable black identity. Its ethic became one of hard work, frugality, avoidance of debt, self-improvement, and a conservative lifestyle. The group recruited actively in prisons and ghettoes and urged the formation of a separate black nation. The movement split after the death of Elijah Muhammad in 1975 . The branch following Elijah Muhammad's son Warith Deen Muhammad has moved in the direction of orthodox Sunni Islam. The branch following Louis Farrakhan has maintained the Black Nationalist and separatist stances central to Elijah Muhammad's teachings.

Section Two: Diverse Religious “Themes” in Contemporary American Culture

Briefly describe the following themes or movements:

3) Holiness Christianity (1-3 sentences)

The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from 19th-century Methodism, and to a number of evangelical Christian denominations who emphasize those beliefs as a central doctrine. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's "Christian perfection" teaching—the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin, and particularly by the belief that this may be accomplished instantaneously through a second work of grace.

4) Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity (1-3 sentences)

Charismatic Christianity is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles. Practitioners are often called Charismatic Christians or renewalists. Although there is considerable overlap, Charismatic Christianity is often categorized into three separate groups: Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement, and neocharismatic movements.

5) The Religious-Political Right and the Christian Coalition (1 paragraph each)

The Religious Political Right is a term used in the United States to describe right-wing Christian political factions that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies. Christian conservatives principally seek to apply their understanding of the teachings of Christianity to politics and public policy by proclaiming the value of those teachings and/or by seeking to use those teachings to influence law and public policy.  Christian right is an informal coalition formed around a core of evangelical Protestants and Catholics.

Christian Coalition, specifically the faction in the United States is an organization, which is the successor to the original Christian Coalition created in 1989 by religious broadcaster and former presidential candidate Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson and is a US Christian advocacy group, which includes Christian fundamentalists, neo-evangelicals and conservative charismatics.

Week 7:

SECTION ONE: HINDUISM IN AMERICA

7) Explain the following two American-based Hindu organizations/movements: (one short paragraph for each)

a) Vedanta- Vedanta Movement dates back to 1978, when revered Late Swami Ranganathananda (who later became the President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission) used to visit Brisbane annually to inspire devotees and spread the words of Sri Ramakrishna. The objectives of the movement were to:

1. Promote the study, practice and teachings of Vedanta Philosophy and the concept of Universal Religion as expounded by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.

2. Promote harmony between Eastern and Western thoughts.

3. Set up educational programme for teaching philosophy, comparative study of religions, cultural, moral and spiritual education and yoga lessons; and

4. Develop programmes of philanthropic and benevolent nature to assist the poor, the needy, the aged, the lowly, the afflicted and the sick in various parts of the world.

SECTION TWO: BUDDHISM IN AMERICA

6) Explain the following two major forms of Buddhism found in America: (1 paragraph for each)

a) Shin- Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. Shinran's thought was strongly influenced by the doctrine of Mappō, a largely Mahayana eschatology which claims humanity's ability to listen to and practice the Buddha-Dharma (the Buddhist teachings) deteriorates over time and loses effectiveness in bringing individual practitioners closer to Buddhahood.

b) Zen- Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in China during the 6th century as Chán. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam, northeast to Korea and east to Japan. Zen teachings can be likened to "the finger pointing at the moon". en teachings point to the moon, awakening, "a realization of the unimpeded interpenetration of the dharmadhatu.

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Worksheet for “Mainline” Protestantism 2