6.2 Faith and Reason

Global Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue

Absolutism – certain truths are absolute, non-negotiable

Relativism – truth is relative, what may be right to one person or culture may not be right for another

Inculturation – absolute truth can look different when translated into different cultures

Pluralism – coexistence of systems making mutually exclusive claims

Principled dialogue – respectful dialogue with others without downplaying differences

Secularism

Separation

• The word itself does not originally mean absence of religion or antagonism toward religion

Opposite of integration

• “integrated liberal arts”
• “integral, quality education”
• “educate for service, justice, peace, and integrity of creation”

Separation of church and state

• Principle popular among Thomas Jefferson and other founders, but those words not stated in Constitution or Declaration of Independence
• “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Separation of private sphere and public sphere

Separation of religion and science

Religious Identity Vocabulary

Non-religious: Agnostic, Atheist, Skeptic, Spiritual, Cultural Christian, Deist, Free-thinker, Not religious, Post-Christian, recovering Christian, Questioning, Secular, Nones (as in none of the above)

Degrees of commitment: Apathetic, Moderate, Devout, Extremist, Lax

Progressive/conservative: Conservative/liberal, Orthodox (besides eastern)

Categories other than specific denominations: Born-again, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant