Chapter 1: Understanding Religion

1. What are the eight great questions religions must answer? Choose one of the 8 questions and
in more detail relate the content of the questions to the study of religion.


According to Molly the 8 questions, which can be found on page 14, that all religions must
answer are;
How did the universe come into existence, does it have a purpose, and will it end?
What is time, and how should we make use of it?
What should be our relationship to the world of nature?
Why do human beings exist?
How do we reach fulfillment, transformation or salvation?
Why is there suffering in the world, and how should we deal with it?
What happens when we die?
What should we hold as sacred?

There are two major views of time. It is seen either as linear, or cyclical. Many religions
which emphasize a creation believe in a linear time line and that time is limited. This leads to
emphasizes on the future as time is limited and unrepeatable. However in a cyclical view time is
seen as a never ending cycle which repeats itself. As such time is not as crucial and leads to
emphasizes on living in the present. (pg 14)

2. Explain and compare/contrast the differences between a sacramental, prophetic and mystical
orientation in religious practice and observance.

On page 13 of the text, Molly gives the following definitions;

Sacramental orientation- The sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and
ceremonies regularly and correctly as the path to salvation. In Roman Catholicism examples of
such include the Catholic sign of the cross, confession and baptism. (pg. 13)

Prophetic orientation- The prophetic orientations stresses that contact with the sacred is ensured
by proper belief and by adherence to moral rules. This orientation implies that contact with the
sacred can happen through important people such as the Pope, or the Disciples of the New
Testament. It also implies that there is an inherent right and wrong. In the case of Christianity
this moral code is laid out in the Ten Commandments. (pg 13.)

Mystical orientation- The mystical orientation seeks union with a reality greater than oneself,
such as with God, the process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole. While this
orientation plays an important role in Christianity, and Judaism it is much more prominent in
Eastern Religions such Taoism, Hinduism, and some schools of Buddhism as well as in Native
American Religions. In the case of Native American Religions, example include the Ghost
Dance, and Sun Dance; while forms of meditation are common in Eastern Religions. (pg. 13)


Chapter 2: Indigenous Religions

1. Explain the ethic of restraint regarding nature that is frequently found in native religions.

Many native religions have a strong connection to nature and often refer to animals in
terms of kinship. That is to say that animals were put on nearly the same level of humans in their
eyes, and in some instances were even viewed as sacred. This respect for animals life led to what
we refer to as the ethic of restraint- which is practice of using the entire animal, and more
importantly only taking from nature what one needs. (pg. 42-43)

2. Define sacred time in native religions and give an example.

According to native religions our daily lives progress in ordinary time and is seem as
moving forward into the future. Sacred time however is seen as the time of eternity. Sacred
time is viewed as a cyclical, and is viewed by some religions as the place where the gods live and
work. According to Molly, By recalling and ritually reliving the deeds of the gods and
ancestors, we enter into the sacred time in which they live[d] (pg 43) Sacred time represents
what indigenous religions viewed as a sacred power intruding upon the ordinary world. A
commonly known example of this is the birth of Christ. While ordinary time continues to
progresses into the next year, we still celebrate this miracle every year in cyclical manner. By
structuring their daily lives around these sacred events indigenous religions, and people were
able to give a sense of sacredness to everyday life.