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World History Lecture Three (view source)
Revision as of 21:10, February 6, 2009
, 21:10, February 6, 2009→Introduction
This week we cover the great ancient empires in the East: India and China. This requires learning about many new religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Then we conclude by discussing the rise of Christianity.
This week we cover the great ancient empires in the East: India and China. This requires learning about many new religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Then we conclude by discussing the rise of Christianity.
Ask yourself at the outset: why learn about any religion other than Christianity? That is a good question to ask. Many Christians could conclude that, having found their faith, they see no reason to study non-Christian religions.
Ask yourself at the outset: why learn about any religion other than Christianity? That is a good question to ask. Many Christians could conclude that, having found their faith, there is no reason to study non-Christian religions.
There are some valid reasons to studying other religions, however. Christian missionaries, for example, need to understand the religions of the peoples they are attempting to convert. World leaders and travelers should understand the different religious views of peoples they encounter, even if they are not trying to convert them. In business it is important to know the values and beliefs of people with whom you deal.
There are several valid reasons to study other religions, however. Christian missionaries, for example, need to understand the religions of the peoples they are attempting to convert. World leaders and travelers should understand the different religious views of peoples they encounter, even if they are not trying to convert them. In business it is important to know the values and beliefs of people with whom you deal.
It is possible that learning about other religions, and how they differ from Christianity, can strengthen one’s appreciation of Christianity. It is also fascinating to see how distant peoples struggled with religious issues without the benefit of Christianity and came to certain conclusions about life, morals, and unseen truth.
Just as language shapes a culture's success and way of thinking, religion plays a large role in society. It's easy to see the differences between, for example, Islamic and Christian culture. Each has its own way of life, dress, social structure, and much more.
It is possible that learning about other religions, and how they differ from Christianity, can strengthen one’s appreciation of Christianity. Christianity has spread more than any other religion, moving from the Roman Empire to the Northern Barbarians in Europe and eventually to America. But Islam has always been strongest in the Middle East, where it began, and hasn't spread nearly as much as Christianity.
It is also fascinating to see how distant peoples struggled with religious issues without the benefit of Christianity and came to certain conclusions about life, morals, and unseen truth.
So let us proceed:
So let us proceed: