You've all read the interview with Ninian Smart called "The Future of Religion."
Please
discuss anything you found interesting or thought provoking about the
interview. You might want to write about the following:
What
questions might you have asked Mr. Smart? Is there anything confusing
about Mr. Smart's answers? Did you enjoy reading this? Was it boring?
What was going through your head as you read this interview?
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What caught my attention the most was the differences and similarities of Buddhism and Christianity. Smart says, "In a sense, they are incompatible because there is no God in Buddhism..." I was confused about this statement because I always believed that Buddhists did believe in god... Many gods, to be exact. Last year, I went on a trip to China, and I visited multiple temples, witnessing the multiple gods within; the guide there had explained that, while not all gods there were devoted to Buddhism, many were. Another question came to mind when he mentioned the specific type of Buddhism, and it made me wonder what other types there were and their differences. Just some thoughts...
ReplyDeleteAs for if I find this thought provoking or boring, I'd have to say I was a little bit "iff-y" when I first glanced at the text, but during the actual interview, I found myself liking it more, enjoying hearing Smart's beliefs and his mannerism/way of communicating. All in all, it was an interesting read, and I look forward to learning more of him.
I thought the interview was very interesting--Mr. Smart had such deep thoughts and theories relating to the merging of religions that is becoming more and more prominent in the world as people expand their knowledge of other cultures. I could relate to his thoughts about Buddhism and Christianity, as I've also found Buddhism to have many admirable values even though I'm a Christian. I also found it interesting when he said that one could come up with some equations for predicting the mixing of religions--even though his example didn't feature any religions or specify what aspects of religion were mixing, it still seemed to be so logical, as if that would be the case in any mixture. I also found it very true, what he said about children not believing as strongly as their parents, because I think that is exactly the case in my own life. The things he said made so much sense, and many made me realize something that I had known about all my life, though never fully recognized.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think I have ever read an interview that was as open and genuine as this one. Smart is clearly very open-minded and accepting of any religious point of view. It is not very often that you will come across someone that can call it as it is like Mr. Smart does.
ReplyDeleteLike Aurora, I had never heard the relationships between religions be as clearly and uniquely analyzed. I had never before heard of Christianity and Buddhism as "rivals and allies," but now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense.
My favorite part of the interview was when Mr. Smart is describing how he first started learning about world religions. I love the irony in how he first became intrigued: he was a soldier in a very violent war, and yet he spent his time learning about the peaceful aspects of Buddhism and Hinduism. On the other hand, one could argue that he looked into world religions because he was so intrigued by it during an unrestful time.
All in all, I think the interviewer did a great job of giving leading questions that required honest answers. Mr. Smart was a great man to read from, and I wish I could've been there myself, even though I can't think of any other questions I would ask Mr. Smart.
Going into reading this interview, I was not expecting to be as interested and fascinated as I was. Since I have grown up in an environment that celebrated two religions, I have often had to think about what exactly I believe. And in fact, I often found that there were aspects in those two and many other religions that I agreed with. For the first time today I read of someone who shared the same view. I found the term "Buddhist-Episcopalian" simply brilliant. The way that Smart spoke of how some people were gradually finding their own spiritual fulfillment in places outside of formed religions really made me think. I thought it was fantastic when he spoke of how with the increased knowledge that people are getting of other religions, the more they tend to agree with those religions. I was not for one moment bored. The fact he shared about the second largest Greek city being Melbourne, Australia was very cool- I had no idea that was true!
ReplyDeleteI only felt that the interviewer was on a different wave length than Smart. His questions were very good, but I felt as if London's questions were too concrete for the open opinions of Smart.
Ninain Smart's interview was not only intriguing, but clear and he spoke with such an open mind, like Gillian mentioned. I think it is an interesting interview because he talks about certain religions individually as well as how they should coexist and they would benefit from coexisting. I liked how he was asked about a "core wisdom" and disagreed saying he "believe[s] strongly that the mysticism of all the religions is just about the same", meaning there are some shady areas in all religions and there will always be questions about a religion but we can take away from other religions to learn and get answers that may be more clear to us. Smart also explains that tolerance isn't just letting others believe what they want to, but trying to understand more about their beliefs and their religion.
ReplyDeleteI started reading the interview not thinking it would interest me but, as I read on, I found myself wanting to know more and more about what Ninian's thoughts and ideas were because they apply to everyone, not just people of a specific religion. It had opened my mind to thinking about how other religions can be woven into my own.
When I first began reading this interview, I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I was so interested by the fact that Smart believed that no religion contains the "whole truth," and that we should further learn about our own religion by learning and accepting the beliefs of other religions. I have grown up in a very religious Catholic family, and it has always been important for me to have solid faith in my beliefs, so I had never thought that the beliefs of other religions could complement and help me understand my own.
ReplyDeleteI was a little confused when Smart said that children become more liberal in their beliefs through education, which "tends to make people a bit softer." Although people live in many different religious environments, the beliefs of my parents and my education has made my beliefs stronger. However, I do agree that religious beliefs may slightly change as they are passed on to different generations.
I was very intrigued when Smart said he doesn't believe religions will merge into a global faith, but rather tolerance, respect, and understanding of other religions will become one of the top priorities in our world. Overall, I thought Smart's interview was very enlightening, and I hope to learn more of his ideas.
I was surprised that I was interested in the interview because I thought that I wouldnt like it and I found myself intrigued. I thought when Smart talked about Buddhism and Christianity as being "rivals and allies" I was confused at first as to why but then when he explained his thoughts it became clear. I found that really interesting and also when Smart mentions that the two religions are similar - that some parts in Buddhism are similar to Christianity just shows that all religions could connect even in the slightest ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Smart when he says that children believe less strongly in their religion than their parents because I feel like the parents push their children less to be religious. I feel like its more relaxed for the children than the parents.
When Smart says that all these religions are coexisting with one another I think of New York because in NY there are people from all over and they all have different beliefs and customs and no one is pushing others to believe in their religion. They respect people's beliefs.
This interview made me see and wonder about other religions, whether they have similar beliefs in christianity or not. Also if they had connections to each other, similarities and how big would the differences be.
I'll just get right to the point: this interview astounded me. I had no idea that Ninian Smart was drafted in the British Army as a young man, and when I read that he was, I realized that he must have gained a lot of experience and knowledge from being in the countries he was sent to. It also surprised me that he studied chinese because it is an extremely hard language to learn. My favorite part of the interview was when he used the A-B analogy, which explained that when two religions come in contact with each other, they each get a little piece of them incorporated into their religion. However, the people who don't like the change become even stronger believers of their original religion. What I most liked about Ninian Smart was that I could really tell what kind of a person he was, which is an extremely kind, understanding, and tolerant man. Towards the end of the interview, he told Scott London that he didn't believe that all the religions would merge in the future, but that the people who practiced these religion would eventually become more and more tolerant of other faiths. If I was able to ask him a question, I would ask him whether he had ever had any doubts in his own faith. I enjoyed reading this interview very much, and I would've liked to know more about Ninian's Smart experiences in foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteSmart has opened my mind to the way I now look at other religions. It's not that i was closed minded about other religions, i just haven't been exposed personally other than my own. Of course i have many friends of different religion but i haven't gotten the chance to be in their shoes and practice their religion. I feel smart is so open about other religions that he is easily able to really get to understand each religion as its own. When he spoke about Buddhism it intrigued me how we can now switch our religion based off of our own moral beliefs. We are so open to other religions now a days. My mother converted to a catholic church when her and my father married. They took classes together and it was a great learning experience for the both of them. This shows a lot to me because on their own time they were able to show what they believe in. As children it is so easy for us to have questions about our religion and other religions because of the time we are in today i think that we all deserve to get a taste of each and every religion and take what want from it a discard the what we think is unnecessary
ReplyDeleteI agree with Smart with his thoughts on how religions are managing in this new world, where everyone is so connected. In reponse to a question about religions co-exsisting in the future, Smart says, "Not just in the future-they are coexisting now. They are getting on together, despite the clashes and bitter warfare." I think that with technology these days religions have had more of a chance to juxtapose each other than they ever have. But not only are they being contrasted, they are also being compared. People have begun to realize the many similarities between religions. To show this ultimate sameness Smart created a scale with 7 levels that most, if not all religions have. The 7 levels of this scale include: experiential, ritual, social, mythic, material, doctrinal, and ethical. Theologists have also realized that many religions, or certain sects of religions, have the same levels which leads to another thought, that some religions are very alike. For example, Smart quotes St. Fracis Xavier, "It is unfortunate that the Lutherans were here before me", and then Smart explains, "By this he meant that Pure Land Buddhism was so much like Lutheranism." I think this is so because religion began because mankind needed answers, therefore many of the answers about life, and how it came to be, are similar-forming religions that are quite alike. So as technology further advances communication, we begin to see religions borrowing certain aspects, but some of them are also very much alike.
ReplyDeleteI personally found the interview very interesting and like the way Ninian Smart used his experiences to explain his beliefs and ideas. I found it especially interesting when Smart said that children are more liberal in their religious ideas then their parents due to education and exposer to other ways of thinking. I really agree with this statement. I think that education causes us to take a different look at religion and our beliefs. Sometimes education may cause us to doubt our beliefs, but other times education can help us to realize that religion is not about the logical things that you learn in school, but about what you believe, and about having faith, even when it comes to certain concepts that if taken with a literal or educational approach would be hard if not impossible to believe. Another thing that I found fascinating was when Smart was talking about how different religions are starting to mix and how there are some similarities in religions that I would never have thought there would be. Lastly I thought it was really funny when Smart was talking about making a film about Romanian Orthodoxy and said,"when we asked people, 'Why do you go to liturgy?' they said, 'so we will not fall for the tricks of the Baptists."' I thought it was funny how these people were in a way afraid of other religions, and if you look at the way that Smart explained it, you could even say that they were afraid of changing their religion or even just liking concepts and ideas from other religions.
ReplyDeleteReading this interview has opened up my mind to a new idea about world religions. Mr. Smart's ideas and stories of how he came across world religions were truly intriguing. What really caught my attention when reading this interview was when Mr. Smart called himself a "Buddhist-Episcopalian". When I first read this statement I had to read it a few times to understand what he was saying. Buddhist and Episcopal Christianity to me are very different religions but how Mr. Smart explained this weird combination made me think. Mr. Smart explained that if "one accepts that other religions have something to offer and you learn from them, that is what you become". This explanation was confusing to me at first, i didnt really understand what Mr. Smart was trying to say. However, after reading the statement a few times I realized that Mr. Smart is trying to say that if one person is a catholic, for example, then realizes that a teaching from the Jewish faith is something that you follow, that person can call themselves a Catholic-Jewish believer. What also caught my attention, like Gillian, was how Mr. Smart told of how he came across world religions. Not only was it an ironic story being in a war and learning about peace but it was also inspirational. The fact that Mr. Smart and his fellow troops had a monk to become the chaplain for where they were due to the fact that they were in a place that was dominantly Buddhist was amazing. Overall, Mr. Smart is clearly an inspiration for all people and has showed me that i can incorporate other religions into my own practice.
ReplyDeleteKaleigh S.
If you asked me, prior to reading this interview, two religions coexisting in harmony with each other I would been dumb founded by such a thought. After reading about Smart’s belief system, it makes sense. Why not have the best of both worlds? For instance, when Smart refers to Buddhism and Christianity having similar beliefs, at first it seemed bizarre, but with the combination of both you gain a brooder view of religious society. In addition, when Smart said that a child’s parents do not affect their beliefs as much as your education does I was shocked. Then I thought about my personal life. My own parents did not really grow up with any specific belief only the idea that there was some kind of divine existence. On the . other hand, I grew up a Catholic; I realized that my parent’s beliefs didn’t affect mine, but my education did, because I went to a Catholic school. I was taught the Catholic way of life. So, I wondered if I didn’t go to a Catholic school would I still have the same beliefs? Most likely I would not. Smart made me realize that your school does affect the outcome of your beliefs. Furthermore, school helps you raise awareness to different beliefs, through classes like History or World Religions. Through these classes it makes it easier to adapt to different cultures and respect them. We all must make are own decisions about our own religion. Smart is one of the first to practice this new way of religious method. He made his decision to be a Christian-Buddhist; we must make our own decision about other religions through our education, moreover be willing to expand our own personal views.
ReplyDeleteThis interview with Ninian Smart had me thinking about religion in ways that I never had before. When the article opened saying that "the United States appears to be more religious today than it was at its founding" I was confused because I had always thought that compared to other countries, America was not very religious, and I was not noticing America becoming any more religious. Yet later on, Smart explains how Americans are seeking spiritual fulfillment outside established religions, which could be seen as a result of America not being very religious.
ReplyDeleteI agree that no religion contains the whole truth; all major religions have truths in them. One cannot just reject a whole religion and mark it as false, for it consists of at least some truths. Likewise, one does not have to fully believe in every teaching in their religion, such as the Italian man who is not concerned in heaven. We all probably disagree with some minor teachings of our religions; we all come up with our own private conclusions.
Ninian Smart stated that each generation becomes more liberal, as "children never believe as strongly as their parents". This statement is confusing because before it is said that America is becoming more religious. Maybe it is that children from religious families become more liberal, and children from non-religious families feel that they are spiritually lacking, so they "are embarking on a search for the sacred in their lives".
Overall, I found this interview very engaging and thought provoking.
Similar to how many others felt, I was skeptical of wether I would find this article interesting or not; however, to my surprise I found Smart's insights to be fascinating. He made me think about religions on a level that I never expected myself to consider. One thing in particular that I found interesting was how he said that religions can complement and build off of each other. I had never thought of studying other religions as a learning process for my own religion, but now I can see how people use other religions to develop their own individual form of religion. Also, I agree with Smart about education affecting our views. Reading this interview alone, has given me a more open perspective of other religions. I also agree with Smart that having different cores for religion makes each religion more unique and interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this article and I am glad that I was able to take away a new outlook on world religions.
ReplyDeleteOverall the interview was surprising and intriguing. It was very interesting to read and from the first question Ninian Smart answered I was hooked. In the very beginning though, I wrongly judged Smart as being an old man who would talk about only his views on different religions. I did not expect him to be so open minded and interested in all the different ideas that come with different religions. Ninian Smart was a well educated man on all aspects of different religions. He proved in this interview that being more educated with the culture around you, especially in this day and age, helps you to be more tolerant of them. He was, in fact, a part of the Episcopal Church and his knowledge of the religions around him fascinated him and led him to go to different countries and learn more about them, which is important now that different religions are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI also thought Smart's beliefs about young people being less religious then their parents was interesting and mostly true. I mean, looking at my family, who is Catholic, it seems that way. My parents are more religious then I am and I know that my grandparents are more religious then my parents. I think it has to do with the fact that every generation getting more knowledge about different religions then their own and asking more and more questions about their beliefs, therefore more people are converting or not believing at all. All in all, the interview made me think more about learning about different cultures and ideas to be more tolerant and knowledgable.
I found Ninian Smart's interview very thought provoking and I found most of his answers easy to agree with. The way that the article opens the interview by stating, "Never before in history have so many religious values and rituals coexisted within a single society" sets up the interview in a light that I have never had the opportunity to imagine. I particularly liked Smart's idea about how "other religions have something to offer and you learn from them." I think it is important for the world to realize that not one religion is better or more correct than another because in order to survive as a human race, we must learn to accept all religions and learn all that we can from them on a more extreme level than we are now. Smart’s very honest statement: “Yes, they become more liberal partly as a reaction to their parents and partly through education. Education tends to make people a bit softer” really made me think. It is true that in this century, people are becoming more tolerant of different religions and that the newer generations are less prejudiced. I think this is true because in the newer generations, when kids are told “no” by their parents or are forced to practice certain beliefs when they are younger, they often rebel when they are older. A big part of faith for me, is having the freedom to believe what you want to believe about whatever it is that you believe in regardless of what your parents think, because you are your own person, you have the right to make your own choices. Also, now, people have more access to education about other religions and that plays a big role in acceptance, and if not acceptance, at least respect, which I believe is a key factor in religious co-existance.
ReplyDeleteReading Smart's interview was very thought provoking. For instance, the part where he mentions that he is a Buddhist-Episcopalian truly stood out to me. It made me wonder if sometimes our beliefs are not our own. Do we simply conform to the previously set beliefs of our own religion? Smart obviously does not. His extensive knowledge about different religions helps him find new beliefs in different places. Have we been living in ignorance all our lives? If We do not search for the "true" religion, how are we meant to find it? Smart also mentions that with each generation people become more liberal. Everyone is starting to follow their own personal religion. Maybe this is the only "true" religion because your own personal religion is the one you truly believe in, not one where you conform to the ideas of others. We should realize that sometimes we need to step out of the norms set by religion and just follow what we truly believe in.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I found the article with Ninian Smart to be enlightening. Smart makes a lot of brilliant comments about the new, active relationships between global religions that act somewhat as a renaissance of the truth and purpose of religion. I found it very interesting how he says, "No religion contains the whole truth." As humans, we can be quick to overestimate our unique power of understanding, and we forget that truth can't be contained nor fully represented in one channel. Truth lies in bits and pieces, and we must be willing to acknowledge that we do not know exactly where the truth may be found. Therefore, Smart urges us to be open to incorporate different aspects of other religions into our lives to have a full religious experience and understanding.
ReplyDeleteThroughout history, groups of people living in the same area have usually been united through the same religion, which now is not the case in our "global village." Instead of being automatically connected through similar beliefs and ultimately creating no progress, today we must work to unify through an understanding of different religions. I found this fact to be hopeful. To me, it's amazing to see the direction religion is turning in and to see that we have the capability of creating greater progress by utilizing the one aspect that makes us unique: understanding.
I was surprised by the statement that the United States appears to be more religious today than it was at it’s founding. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that all humans ask questions and, in their hearts, search for something to believe in. Maybe, for these reasons, Americans have been gradually searching for religion. I can’t say that I completely agree with Smart in his interview. When talking about Russia, he makes it sound like all Russians should be converted into new religions, because the Russian Orthodox Church is corrupt. As a Russian Orthodox, I have to say that that isn’t really true. After the revolution, the Church was persecuted, and had to fight for it’s very survival. Even if some people in the Church were corrupt, that doesn’t make the whole Church corrupt. Also, I feel that perhaps Smart doesn’t address a different type of people: people who choose to have faith in their own religion, and not mix it with other religions. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t strive to understand what other people believe in, or blindly follow what others tell us without making our own choices based on thoughtful, informed opinions. I agree with Smart in the fact that understanding of other peoples beliefs helps create peace, and that in an increasingly diverse society it is important to understand other cultures and know what they believe in. But I also feel that maybe he overlooked people with a more traditional view. People who also have a place in the modern world. People who choose to believe in their own faith, without mixing in foreign elements, while at the same time respecting other people’s right to think for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI thought Ninian Smart's interview was very interesting. He had such unique views and theories about religions coexisting in the modern world around us and how they shared ideas. What I especially thought interesting was his thoughts on the compatibility of Buddhism and Christianity. "In that respect, Buddhism is complementary to Christianity -- it adds to it." Mr. Smart's views on how Buddhism and Christianity are similar helped me to understand how religions today do coexist. Another pointed he touched upon was how he believed new religions will emerge in the near future due to old ones constantly adapting to today's culture. " One result of all these migrations is the emergence of new forms of religion." And how religions are constantly borrowing ideas and traditions from one another, helping them coexist. Overall, I thought the interview was very thought provoking and helped me form my own views about some of the subjects mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThis interview was truly very genuine and detailed. Smart clearly knows about every aspect of every religion, and he is not afraid to speak his opinion. What makes this interview so captivating is the way he says everything, in an easygoing tone. He doesn’t speak as if it’s a formal interview or speech, but rather it’s a normal conversation one could have at any time.
ReplyDeleteI like how he talked about the fact that religions evolve, and they change to adapt to society. For example, people can easily believe one main religion, but believe smaller aspects of other religions, much like Smart. Also, people aren’t afraid anymore of being as open about their beliefs, and they aren’t afraid of saying that they are, for example, Christian, but believe that the concepts of Buddhism are just as important as the main Christian beliefs. In earlier times, this would never have even been thought, because nobody came in contact with any other religion- you were restrained to your own religious community. Nowadays, since all the religions are mixed, people can begin to think in this way, and religions can change and adapt.
Reading this interview opened up another way of looking at religion. I was amazed by how Smart, himself a Buddhist-Episcopalian ( as he put it), could look at different religions critically, yet open-minded. As was said previously, you could tell that Smart was a very tolerant man. This is understandable since he did experience other cultures while in the British Army and was definitely exposed to different religions. At the end, Smart says he does not think religions will merge into a great global religion. Although he makes a great point, I, personally, do not agree. As we come to understand each others faiths, we may find things we agree with or like and become, as Smart puts it, an AB believer. Then we might take our AB faith and join it with another faith. This could continue on and maybe, one day, create a great global faith that maybe not everyone follows, but that appeases many.
ReplyDeleteNinian Smart’s views are in tune with my thoughts on religion. I took a Faith and the Face of God class at my middle school, during which we discussed faith in relation to God and understanding his ideas. Although we were focusing more on Christianity in explaining concepts, we used various ideas from other religions like Buddhism to better understand the topic. I only realized, reading this interview that Buddhism does, in fact, connect with Christianity. In fact, one of my close friends converted from Christianity to Buddhism, because the more meditative side of religion appealed to him more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with his point of choosing what religion resonates with the individual, and I especially enjoy his idea of blending different aspects of different religions to what adheres to you. I had a history teacher who grew up Jewish but disliked Judaism. He went on to try out various religions and looking at different temples, churches, and other places of worship and decided on none of them, but instead became an agnostic, but in a way took a piece of each religion in appealing ideas. My father believes in God but does not identify with a religion, but he enjoys learning about them and thinking over these beliefs, which I believe is Smart’s point.
I also think his opinion on the conversing with others part of the interview is valid. I’ve learned to respect and understand my friends so much better from daily conversation such as family situations, rules, and religion. Two of my best friends in elementary school were Muslim, and while I never really thought about it, it helped me understand that certain practices were completely normal. I remember talking with them in 5th grade as they contemplated doing the practice of covering their hair in middle school. Last year, we read Zeitoun, in which one of the main characters would wear a hijab and occasionally be harassed, which is fine with me since I grew up used to seeing them walking around my neighborhood. Conversations and basic exposure to different lifestyle, especially at a young age, make the largest difference in one’s perception of them.
I really enjoyed reading this interview with Ninian Smart as I found his opinions original and thought provoking. In particular, the idea of being loyal to more than one religion as an attempt to understand the whole truth of religion, really stood out to me. Smart says that no one religion is able to contain the whole truth but rather it takes the understanding and knowledge of more than one religion to begin to understand this truth. He explains that he himself is a Buddhist-Episcopalian; that from this combination of two such different religions he accepts truths and learns from them. I honestly never imagined the possibility of being more then one religion and find the idea extremely inviting. I completely agree with Smart that there is not just one way to God, or one way to reach the higher plane that is unknown to humanity. If God is in all of us, then all of the ways that we have found to express his Being must all be true. The study of global religions helps us to understand and grow with our spirituality, and it may take more than one religion to help us get to a deeper understanding of God.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this interview, and agreed with most of what Smart said, though the interview was a bit different than what I had expected. I had assumed that Smart would either be adherent to one particular religion or completely non-religious personally- a scholar studying the academic side of religion. I was surprised to find that he identified as an Episcopalian-Buddhist, and found his opinions to be both intelligent and thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that children are becoming less religious than their parents, yet Americans are becoming more spiritual. I think the idea is that people are focusing more on finding their own personal belief system, whether this is through an already established religion, or through self-discovery. Because of this, children of religious parents may not see rituals and texts as quite so important as their own personal connection to faith. Like Joosje, I grew up in a household of two different faiths, and therefore had the opportunity to see the contrast; and decide what I personally belief. I feel that in theory taking bits from other religions and adding them to your own is a great idea, however the question is would it jeopardize the individuality and culture of the religion. I know that while my own beliefs are extremely liberal I feel more comfortable in a formal and traditional religion.
I thought Smart also spoke very eloquently about the future of religion. He made it sound much more exciting than I would have expected. He talked about new ideas and the blending of different cultures. He also spoke of tolerance. I believe tolerance and understanding are the key to the future of religions. Although, as Smart said, religions are coexisting presently, there is still much prejudice. For religions to exist peacefully together, people must work to overcome these prejudices through education and acceptance.
I was pleasantly surprised by Ninian Smart’s interview. I appreciated that he spoke his mind truthfully and said things that others may have been hesitant to say. His thoughts about religion were fresh and truly eye-opening. “No religion, it seems to me, contains the whole truth. I think it's mad to think that there is nothing to learn from other traditions and civilizations” is a thought that I appreciate because it is one of the first steps towards tolerance. Many religions are not at peace with each other because they believe that their own beliefs are the only corrects ones. Instead of viewing their differences in a positive light, they completely reject and sometimes try to alter other religions.
ReplyDeleteHowever, on the topic of change and alteration, I also liked Smart’s thoughts on the evolution of religions. As different religions come into contact with one another, beliefs and practices are shared and borrowed. Even individuals are beginning to merge different religions into a unique religion of their own. They take pieces of different religions and merge them together into one that fits their own beliefs, like Smart himself did. He also says that while it may seem that people are becoming more liberal, it could simply be that individuals are now making their own private beliefs public. This being said, if everyone were to make their beliefs public and still listen to the beliefs of others, the world would see more peace and tolerance amongst the religions.
I found this interview extremely enjoyable to read because Smart’s opinions were educational without being one-sided. By not forcing his beliefs, he really allowed the reader to formulate their own thoughts. I think Ninian Smart is a thought provoking man in general; however what I found most interesting about the interview was the topic of interfaith dialogues. I believe what he has said is extremely true because there is a fine line between being ‘wishy-washy’ and offending someone of a different faith. He also touched upon the matter of Syncretism, which I find to be incredibly intriguing. He really made me understand that in adapting the beliefs of other religions, I am not turning my back on a single one, but instead incorporating them all into a modified version. This interview has left me pondering my own answers to these questions, and I know, it is surely going to affect the way I approach future religious decisions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Ninian Smart did make clear that he did not believe in a single, united world religion, he did stress the inevitable ‘cross-pollination’ of different religions. One thing he stated was that in order to find the truth, you cannot look at just one religion. Different religions emphasize different values, all of which may be important. If you only take to heart the specific values of your religion, it is like eating a poor diet. Your plate should be filled with different nutrients, not necessarily equally, but with all kinds. Another thing that Smart mentioned was new forms of religion. Our population is so mingled, that we have no choice but to integrate and blend. Again thinking about your diet, it is somewhat rare that you eat things individually. Often you mix up the proteins with the vegetables, and the spices, etc. On top of that religions complement each other, which makes it impossible to resist creating your own soup of the colorful flavors that you like and want to be a part of who you are.
ReplyDeleteI found that this was a very interesting interview, and I agree with many of the points that Smart made. For example, he pointed out that, over time, beliefs become more and more liberal. When asked if children believe as strongly as their parents, Smart replied that due to reaction to their parents and education, they do not. I have the same opinion, because it is unusual for a child to believe more strongly in a religion than their parents. Also, Smart’s views on syncretism were very compelling. He said that when one borrows beliefs or values from one religion and transfers it to another, the religions may be able to complement each other (which is why he calls himself a Buddhist-Episcopalian). This provokes much thought because I had never thought of believing in two incorporated religions. I had always thought that you either had to believe in one or the other. This interview has taught me a new and appealing way of looking at religions.
ReplyDeleteThis interview was extremely interesting because it caused me to think about religion in respects to all people, not just in regards to my self. Smart states that religions can be interconnected, and build upon each other. This is because of the nature of religion and because of how integrated our world has recently become. I found this particularly striking because I had never before thought of religion as something that can change; certainly not to the extent of combining and molding different religions together. Personally religion has always been thought of as something that divided different people. However, the idea that religion can drive people to be more open minded and less closed off is very pleasing. It caused me to realize how much we already do that without even realizing it. For example, even though I’m not catholic, I know that when I walk past a church I am to be respectful. Also, after having 13 years of Jewish education and then coming to Scared Heart and learning about Catholicism I have a broader view of God, one I was not aware of until reading this article, which allowed me to think about my own beliefs.
ReplyDeleteAnother point that I found intriguing was when Smart said that our beliefs are not as firm as our parents and so on and so on; and that this is because of our education. After think about this I realize that it might be correct. That is because in school we are connected with so many different types of people with so many different beliefs and customs. This causes our view on the world to be larger and therefore beliefs more complex and less simple and narrow. I agree with the statement that Smart made when he said all of the integration in the world will lead to the combining of faiths, because that seems like the only possible outcome and we have already seen small examples of it.
Like Elena M mentioned, my attention was immediately caught when Ninian Smart started off the first few exchanges of the interview by stating that the United States is more religious now than it was when it was first founded. This interesting fact was followed by many more in the interview, and Smart’s opinions and theories about religion really opened my eyes to possibilities I didn’t even know existed. As we mentioned in class, religion is an undeniable concept- whether you believe in God or believe in nature governed by spirits, whether you contact the divine by praying or partaking in rituals, or even if you don’t believe in religion at all, it still exists and is tangible, and I believe that the existence and important of religion is a globally unifying force. I have no doubt that learning about different religions is beneficial to ones knowledge about other cultures, but Smart makes an excellent example of learning about other religions to deepen your personal faith. Smart’s personal hybrid religion, Buddhist-Episcopalian, is genius. His belief that no one religion can contain the whole truth is extinguished by his merging of these two faiths, thus suiting his personal beliefs. I believe that religion is ones personal connection to a higher power, ones own journey to salvation or reaching spiritual perfection, or simply ones belief in the divine and their way of expressing gratitude, but most importantly, I believe religion should focus on the individual. When Smart tells the story of his wife’s relative, who despite his strict Catholic faith, does not care for heaven or hell, I find it very intriguing that he was able to form his own beliefs and still be a part of a huge religious institute. When Smart mentions that the new generation is adapting to a more liberal belief, I cant help but agree. For whatever reason, either the secular education system of this nation, or the less strict parenting, or the urbanization that is quickly spreading, religion is becoming less prominent to the younger generation. I knew this and realized this from before, which was why the opening statement about the United States being more religious today than it was when it was founded shocked me. Smart closes off his interview answering one of my most burning questions. He bluntly states that he beliefs that all world religions will not form into one, and become a large global religion. However, I still question this. If all religions are able to coexist, compete with eachother, and complete eachother, yet none are able to contain the whole truth, then there must be one, or a combination of all, that will be able to fulfill the whole truth, and the answer to all the seemingly simple questions.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this interview with Mr. Smart because I found his views on religion new and original. Smart believes that “a religion cannot contain the whole truth. If you accept that other religions have something to offer and you learn from them, that is what you become: a Buddhist-Episcopalian or a Hindu-Muslim.” As little as 50 years ago, one was considered unfaithful if they believed in more than one religion, or disagreed with something that their religion taught. However, today, as our world becomes more liberal, many more people are open about their religious beliefs. Before reading this interview, I had never realized that it is nearly impossible to believe everything that a single religion teaches. For example, no Catholic agrees with every parable of the Bible. Therefore, from reading this interview, I have learned that every person, in a way, has their own religion: it is a combination of many different religions, and is made up of that person’s personal beliefs and practices.
ReplyDeleteIf I had had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Smart, I would say the following:
Many people are, in a sense, “born” into their religion. In other words, they are the same religion as their family. However, if someone who does not practice any specific religion wanted to follow one, how would they choose which religion to follow? What should they base their decision off of?
Sophie B
Reading Mr. Smart’s interview was quite enjoyable and fascinating. His responses were very intellectual, and I admire him with his different ways of thinking about the combination of worldly religions. His answers made me truly think, and helped me grasp the idea of different religions and infusing them in our daily lives. The interview made me deepen my ideas on topics that I originally thought were straightforward and one sided. For example, Mr. Smart talked about the idea of tolerance, and how it’s not just accepting a religion. He further explained that tolerance is about complete understanding of the religion and practicing it ourselves. Another interesting topic that caught my attention was “rivals and allies.” I am perplexed how Buddhism and Christianity can be similar, since Buddhism is missing one key component: believing in a Godly figure, and God is the predominant element in Christianity. Despite what others said, I personally feel with the absence of this major element that their values and practices are different as well. Overall, this passage enhanced my understanding on topics I originally thought as simple.
ReplyDeleteNinian Smart’s interview a pleasant surprise. I think that his way of thinking is extremely enlightening and interesting. When he speaks about being a Buddhist-Episcopalian, at first I did not grasp how someone can merge these two religions together. After reading his reasoning I can clearly understand the dualism.I also agree with Mr. Smart, when he speaks about the spread of democracy and the Pope. I do feel that democracy and faith go together. It is very true what Mr. Smart says about the Pope and excommunication. No one is afraid to change their religion or to be something else other that what they currently are, and I feel that this is all due to democracy and the freedoms that come with it. I do however have things that I do not agree with Mr. Smart on. For instance strongly disagree on with the fact he made about parents and faith. I personally feel that my belief has been and will always be as strong as the beliefs of my parents. Yes they are the ones that put forth that belief to me as a child, but as I grow older I feel that I took that belief into my own hands, and have a very strong sense of belief. This interview, has really exposed a lot and has really opened up for me a knew way of viewing other faiths.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to Renata and Jenna, this interview enabled me to apprehend
ReplyDeletethe intersections of world religions through an alternate lense. While
some ideas mentioned perplexed me, I was able to follow along with
Smart’s explanations with an unforeseen amount of enjoyment. As I was
born in the country of England in which the state and church are
slightly related through the queen’s work, the idea of a great number
of Sikhs there, too, is something I could not have imagined. I
especially related to Smart’s words when he explained his thoughts of
their being a “new age phenomenon” in the idea of individualism and
that each person has their own particular denomination of a broader
religion. As my father and mother are members of the Church of England
and Roman Catholic Church, respectively, I always felt it was better
to associate my beliefs with a mixture of the two unique religions,
although always more understanding of the Catholic doctrines due to my
education. Further, I do also agree with the thought that this
individualism of religions has always existed, although perhaps
secretly. However, when Smart conversed about the liberality of
today’s people in regard to religions, I did not quite comprehend his
point. He declared to believe that the incoming generations of people
are more liberal then their predecessors, yet the attendance in the
liberal churches is momentarily declining. Still, I found this
interview quite captivating and thought provoking.
I found this interview with Mr. Smart to be very thought-provoking, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed reading the interview. One thing Smart pointed out during the interview that really stuck with me is the fact that we are all so interconnected by technology and how our technology affects religion. With technology, such as the satellites that were mentioned, we are so easily able to learn about and access different views on religion in seconds or with just one click of a button. I also found Smart’s views on religious mixes to be very intriguing. When he stated that beliefs can be borrowed and and changed, I found that to be very true, especially in today's world. As Smart stated, "People now have their own particular religion — a denomination of one." Many times, we choose aspects of a religion to believe in, and we may adopt some traditions or beliefs from multiple religions as our own. I think we all see and/or have experienced this meshing of religions at some point in our lives, whether they are the beliefs of a family member or friend. This interview has made me think about my own beliefs, and the variety of beliefs that I have yet to explore in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone in the world was as open- minded and understanding as Ninian Smart, there would so much less hatred and prejudice. He believes that even though people might not always agree with certain aspects of a religion, they should still be tolerant of it. However, he thinks that there is more to being tolerant than allowing certain groups to practice freely. Smart said that people should actually learn about the religion and to add it to your own faith. Smart made an interesting point about religion and the younger generations. He thinks that kids are less religious than their parents because they are more liberal. Although that is not the case in my family, I do agree that kids are more liberal than their parents about religion because our world is becoming more and more accepting every day. Smart's opinions were well thought out and very clear to me, and I really enjoyed reading the interview. I had had some of opinions originally, but he also opened my mind to exploring other ideas and thoughts on religion. An example of a new idea introduced to me was the "cross pollination" of religions. Overall, I enjoyed Ninian Smart's arguments and it gave me hope to read he has faith that the world will become more accepting and have mixed religions.
ReplyDeleteReading this interview forced me to look at religion from a whole different perspective. I realized that religion isn't all about worshipping a higher power, but about customs and traditions--it isn't only about beliefs, but WHY we believe.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I find Buddhism and Hinduism both very attractive religions, not only because they both focus greatly on meditation, but because they both have precious mystical artworks related to them. Smart stated that the religion one chooses to believe in often depends on what their values are, and, as many of you know, one of my greatest values is art. I'm not sure if I find the Buddhist and Hindu art more attractive than Christian artwork because it's a ground I've never walked on before, or because their art truly does have an impact on me; however, either way, I can honestly say that I'd LOVE to practice both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions and beliefs in order to understand them better.