1. (ORIGINAL CONTENT ONLY) (400 WORDS FOR THE POST) (APA CITATIONS) (IN-TEXT CI

1. (ORIGINAL CONTENT ONLY) (400 WORDS FOR THE POST) (APA CITATIONS)
(IN-TEXT CITATIONS ARE A MUST)
(Must cite text: Hedges, P. (2021). Understanding Religion: Theories and Methods for Studying Religiously Diverse Societies. Oakland: University of California Press.)
DQ1: Learning to Compare (All Over Again)
Contains unread posts
Context
Comparison is a natural part of our thought process, but rarely do we think about the process of comparison. Every decision we make, from what’s for dinner to which degree to pursue, is a comparative decision that takes into account our values, priorities, and practical considerations. When comparing religions and the people who practice them, there are specific factors one must attend to for the comparison to be done ethically. If we are going to compare—and we are because that’s how our brains are wired—then we should learn to do so responsibly.
Description
In light of your readings, write a post in which you
share what you perceive to be the five (5) main issues that scholars of comparative religion need to address in order for their work to be viable.
Do you think these concerns can be addressed effectively, resulting in an ethically balanced comparison?
If “yes,” how?
If “no,” why not?
If “maybe,” what is the comparativist’s success contingent upon?
2. (ORIGINAL CONTENT ONLY) (400 WORDS FOR THE POST) (APA CITATIONS)
DQ2: Ritualizing Ritual
Contains unread posts
Context
Like comparison, ritual is everywhere. In this exercise, we practice putting theory and method into action by applying what you have learned toward an analysis of an actual ritual. We focus on rituals that are brief yet important to the everyday practitioner; this allows you to go into depth, rather than spending your time on breadth.
Description
Choose one of the rituals curated below and
analyze it in terms of performance theory and speech acts.
What is done, where, by whom, with what intent, and to what effect?
What about the ritual do you find most interesting or would like to explore further?
Does this ritual give you any insight into the worldview of the tradition from which it comes?
Please do additional research as needed.
Hindu puja, a daily worship ritual: How to Have a Puja at Home (Howcast; 3:23 min)
Buddhist twice-daily chant: How to Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyoo | (Soka Gakkai Official; 6 min)
Jewish Amidah prayer: The Amidah Prayer (PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly; 3:26 min)
3. (ORIGINAL CONTENT ONLY) (400 WORDS FOR THE POST) (APA CITATIONS)
DQ3: Combining Approaches
Contains unread posts
Context
In response to critics of cross-cultural comparison, Wendy Doniger states, “I still think that cross-cultural comparison is worth doing and can be done responsibly, rigorously. But I now realize more fully how much is lost if [historical] context is abandoned, and how many more ways there are of contextualizing comparison to make it richer” (The Implied Spider, xi). Comparison and the study of ritual, like so much of what we do in religious studies, is inherently interdisciplinary and requires applying a variety of approaches if we are to see a phenomenon with any depth. Here, we are going to practice combining approaches.
Description
For this application exercise,
(Two Rituals: Rites of Passage and Liminality)
choose two (Rites of Passage and Liminality) of the rituals from the required viewing for this week. Drawing from the readings for this week,
how would you begin to answer Doniger’s call to compare these two rituals responsibly and rigorously?
What might you need to study before diving into an interpretation of either or both rituals?
4. (ORIGINAL CONTENT ONLY) (600 WORDS FOR THE POST) (APA CITATIONS)
Your senior pastor has asked you to develop a biblical counseling ministry at your church. Specifically, your senior pastor wants you to identify three theological principles upon which to build the counseling ministry. These principles would serve as a guide for the structure in the ministry. What three theological principles would you use to build your church’s counseling ministry? Use scripture to support your answer.
(Original Content Only) (600 words) (APA format) (APA in-text citations are a must)
Watch all 2 GYH videos and read all GYH academic resources for weeks 6.
GYH video Links:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kYhIHFL3pCv-dWKzrz-UNMsMKmpsyOvd/view?pli=1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kbwuxtc0TfLaRah4UOgQevgg4OM6mNQ7/view