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CLASH OF WORDS What Christians can do in a world of cultures in conflict? Foreword by Peter Cotterell and David Burnett The main topic of this book is worldview. Whats worldview? Its not easy to find completed answer. There is a story like that. King of Siam was surprise about story of Dutch ambassador that in winter elephant could walk on river.
Its hard for King of Siam living in the tropics to believe. The Kings worldview could not allow him to accept this. The aim of this book is to help reader will gain a better understanding of his own worldview. This book seems not interesting for me at the first time I read. However, I realized that sometimes I had asked myself such questions.
After chapter 2 I gradually understand. In chapter 3 tell about the secular world view. It means the world without God and spirits. The rest tell about modernists thought. Some of these are Ludwig Feuerbach (1804 - 1872) he said: humanity created God. Another one is psychologist Richard Gregory said that body is hardware and mind is software.
The other is human is consider a biological mechanism. Sometime I surprise with assumption from it. This non-answer question I asked myself sometimes. The rest of chapter 3 tells about community, value (ethic), Marxism and why the secular worldview influences around the world, and the imperfect. In community, the worth of each member is more important than that of family and social responsibilities. Laws and ethical values are based upon man-made assumption.
The Marxisms view is nothing remains exactly the same or the new generation is better than previous generations. According to this, communism is better than capitalism. Next, the reason why secular worldview influences most the world is affecting the economy and technological development. Therefore, this affects the country economic in specially. However, this worldview has some weakness. The secular worldview has result in major scientific develop but it has failed to provide answer to some of the basis question of human life.
In chapter 4 tell about the traditional worldview. I read this chapter very quickly because I live in a traditional worldview. This chapter compares secular and traditional worldview. For example, persons soul is external which differ to Western worldview. In traditional worldview community or society is more important than individual desires. I always believe that important decisions are made by the community as a whole and age is important and respect.
However, some thought is not up to date such as the viewing time of traditional worldview. Its said that time is not value commodity as in the West As the secular, traditional also have conflict itself. They are isolated from ecological change and contact with other culture. In chapter 5 tell about God and Gurus - The Hindu worldview. This chapter is more difficult than previous chapters. In think the reason is so straight thought of Hinduism.
There are some features of Hinduism. The early system believe based on Brahman - indescribable force. Like Christianity, Hinduism has Vedas. Hinduism dont have founder. The concept of maya - the universal reality - the worlds perceive is no more than iereattion of our minds. Like Buddhism, Hinduism beliefs each person lives as a result of the karma from previous lives.
Whats good or ethical action? According to book, good is doing ones duty and living within the rules of ones particular caste. Another important point is Hindu influence Western society because of yoga - a posture exercise. This chapter makes me surprise and exciting.
Some thought is quite strange for me. But I learn a little about Hinduism. In chapter 6 The Buddha and the Dhamma: Theravada Buddhism The founder is Buddha. He was born at Lumbini in the area that is now called Nepal. His family is member of Sakya clan. On the fifth of his birth an astrologer came to and indicated that the child would grow up the enlightened-one.
His father wanted him to be a great ruler so he lives in luxury life. But one day he went out for hunting. He realized the world so suffering; Therefore, he left his family and learn yoga and the art of meditation and became Buddha. There some basic of Buddha teaching. First, no one would deny that suffering is part of life: birth, old age, sickness, death, separation from loves one, etc.
Second, the Buddhism realized that sooner or later times of happiness always come to an end. Third, all beings is part of birth-rebirth. In chapter 7 Ancestors and almanacs: The Chinese Worldview. The first part of this chapter tells about history of China. The rest, tell about Chinese worldview themes - The cosmos, the self, knowing, community, time, value. I am familiar with Chinese worldview themes because Vietnam near by China.
In chapter 8 Muhammad and the Message: The Islamic Worldview The last prophet of Islam is Muhammad who was born in Mecca in about 570 AD. He reacted against these polytheistic beliefs and conquered al the Arab tribes converting to monotheism. Like Christianity ha Bible, Islam has Muhammad written - Quran. The most famous event of Islam is Ramadan month.
Gods will is the most important. Like Christianity, Islam beliefs the Day of Judgment. Christianity and Islam have many common believe. Both are seeking to present a similar message of one God and have the revelation of God presented in a holy book. In chapter IX - Worldview change tell about social change and 4 patterns of social change. These are demoralization (the traditional worldview will change by the impact of dominant culture), conversion (learning of a new culture), syncretism (the mixing of new ideas and old ideals), and revitalization (new religious movements).
These patterns are having. I can apply it. I now can realize some society changing within these patterns. Its required more knowledge about society to see the world changing. In chapter X and XI tell about new religious movements.
This chapter focuses on revitalization movement (NRM). There are three types of NRM. First, Nrm's emerged as a result of contact of a major World religion and a traditional society. Secondly, Nrm's emerged out of a general dissatisfaction with the traditional expansion of the world religion. Third, Nrm's are built up from the important of ideals and rituals from another dominant culture. This chapter aim to examine the reason for and the first of three categories which those emerging from traditional societies?
There are 5 stage and 7 characteristics of succeed movement. The rest of this chapter introduces some examples of specific part of the world such as: North America - Ghost Dance (1890), Pacific - Tank in New Hebrides and China - Hung His - chuan. In short, Nrm's bring new dream but not all succeed and many prophet fail to meet the expectations of their followers. Chapter XI tells about sects and cults. Sets mean Nrm's coming from main stream (in the West, Christianity) religion and cults means Nrm's coming from outside main stream religion - Run hart Hummels comment. The first of this chapter give examples of sets and cults.
The rest tell about why people join Nrm's. Chapter 12 - Flight from secularism: The New Age Movement. The first chapter tells about historical development of New Age Movement. The rest tell about the themes of it and how Christian react toward it. Chapter 13 - The old religion in the new age. This chapter talks about some straight traditional beliefs in West.
Both chapters I dont like much. The last 3 chapter tell about The Christian World: The Biblical Worldview, Transforming Worldview and Communicating within Worldviews. I like the last chapter. It talks how a communicators message adjusts to a specific culture. But its very general. This is good book I have ever read.
It brings me more knowledge about religions of the world. By understanding other worldview, I can appreciate and have deeper knowing and respect other people.
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Research essay sample on Religious Movements Dominant Culture
