Outline and Discussion

Dylan Goodell, Alex Metschke, Jessica Periago, Tom Cameron
Chapter 3 Outline

Worldview, Religion, and Intercultural Communication
I. Religion
a. Can lead to intercultural conflict or cooperation
b. Personal or cultural views
i. Beliefs, attitudes, and values
c. 3 groups of religions
i. Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
ii. Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism)
iii. Prehistoric and Tribal religions (indigenous peoples of North America, Africa, Australia)
II. Worldview (separated into 3 parts)
a. God or Ultimate Reality
i. Western religions- believe in on god that started everything(monotheistic)
ii. Eastern religions- believe in many gods(pantheistic) but Buddhism has no authority figure
iii. Prehistoric and Tribal religions- everything is tied together in life some how, may have one god may have many gods
b. Absolutism vs. Relativism
i. Western Religions- see their religion as the only truth, that’s why they try to convert others
ii. Eastern Religions- more mixing of religions because of Relativism
iii. Prehistoric and Tribal religions- very similar to eastern religions
c. Origins of the world and human beings
i. Western Religions- everything is headed somewhere and there is a purpose to life and death
ii. Eastern Religions- circle of life, countless lifetimes, yin and yang
iii. Prehistoric and Tribal religions- many different views, and all not really sure what happens in the afterlife
III. Different kinds of Religions
a. Judaism
i. Best expressed through practice
ii. Often persecuted minority group
b. Christianity
i. 21,000 different denominations
ii. seek to know god and worship him
c. Islam
i. Love for and fear of Allah
ii. Have to follow 5 pillars of practice (pg. 25)
d. Hinduism
i. “Live and let live” or kharma
ii. Many different life cycles
iii. 4 aims of human life(pleasure, wealth, righteousness, liberation)
e. Buddhism
i. Four noble truths (pg. 25)
ii. Ultimate goal is to attain nirvana
1. Nirvana- state of enlightenment, of egolessness, quietness, and bliss
f. Confucianism
i. 4 principles
1. Humanism, faithfulness, propriety, and wisdom
ii. Focuses on cooperation, warm relaxed human relationships, consideration of others and group harmony
IV. Religion, Culture, and Communication
a. Religion and Cultural Identity
i. Religion can be a bad thing for cultural identity
ii. Ex. Koreans in America attend church to be included in the social place
b. Religious Differences and Nationalist Differences
i. Which came first? No one really knows
ii. Ex. What was the cause for the split between Belgium and the Netherlands?
1. Religious, Nationalist, or Economic Differences?
c. Religious Differences on the Interpersonal Level
i. Might be offensive to ask some people what religion they are
1. To most southerners this is a normal question
d. Religion and Colonialism
i. Large numbers have converted to Christianity all around the world
ii. Christian discourses used to justify the domination, enslavement and massacre of “heathens” in the Americas
e. Hybridity in Religion
i. Religion can be considered a moving target (always changing)
ii. Many blending into each other to form new religions



In today’s society, religion is a huge part of our society and culture. As stated in UNL’s Intro to Religion class everyone has a religion whether they believe it or not. To believe in nothing is believing in something. What religion we are helps place us in different societies and cultures. There are many different religions scattered throughout the world but some are more specific to different areas of the world. However, religion still differs whether one is the majority or not. In our American society we experience a lot of Anglocentrism and Ethnocentrism. America has a high percentage of Christianity and we like to see ourselves as superior to other nations and that our view of the world is right. We like to force our ideas in others’ minds. Prejudice is used everyday. Religion takes up a big chunk of this. Just because you believe in Islam does not mean that you’re a terrorist. Just because you are a Christian does not mean you are always right and better than others that are not. Just because you believe in Judaism does not mean that you are stingy. Not all Buddhists are monks. There are thousands of prejudices that impede our communication process with others. To communicate more efficiently we need to knock down those barriers. Different beliefs don’t make people threats. Communication is understanding and trying to get your point across as best you can. Knowing about others and how to relate and talk to them allows for the connection to communicate. Communication is what makes the world go round.

Questions:

1.Do you think governments are affected by religious beliefs?

2.Will we ever accept people for who they are or will we always judge people and stereotype based on religious beliefs?

3.How far will people go toward absolutism and conversion to their beliefs? i.e. Western Baptist Church

4.What is the fine line between religion and culture?