Write a Position Paper
The study of various world religions and religious movements, along with the accompanying belief systems, cultural practices, and social phenomena that arise from religion, brings up an important set of questions for philosophical consideration.
For this final assignment, write a “position paper,” which is a particular style of argumentative essay, of somewhere between 1600 and 2000 words that addresses the controlling question and related considerations listed below. (A controlling question raises the main or central idea of an essay or position paper.)
Here is your controlling question:
A consideration of the history of world civilization as well as current world events suggests that there exists a chasm, a very wide gap, which must be crossed in order for interreligious communication to take place.
In your view, given that the different historical backgrounds and cultural settings of people around the world entail that at least some sort of gap or divide does indeed exist, should there be an effort to bridge this to allow for interreligious communication? Is closing this gap even possible?
What are some specific elements that create the gap?
What are some of the reasons that may be advanced in favor of interreligious communication and understanding?
What are some of the commonalities among religious belief systems that might form a basis for communication? Do the differences among various religious belief systems outweigh the commonalities?
Should the cultural diversity stemming from such differences be valued and maintained, or should attempts be made to overcome or even erase some of the differences that make interreligious communication difficult?
Here are the specific guidelines for writing the paper:
Write a position paper of @ 1600-2000 words in response to the controlling question and related considerations listed above.
Choose whichever style best suits your purposes, but note that philosophy papers generally use MLA or CMS.
Approach the assignment in a spirit of critical inquiry, which implies a receptive, reasonable, discerning frame of mind that is open to considering different perspectives. A concern for accuracy, precision, and truthfulness is assumed.
As a reminder, here are the Course Learning Outcomes:
Analyze differences and similarities among familiar religious traditions and other, less familiar or foreign, religious traditions.
Analyze different ways of understanding the concept of the divine through cognitive, experiential, and emotional pathways.
Explain how the idea of “having” or “being” a soul, conceived as the basis or essence of personal identity or ego, informs one’s worldview and behavior towards others.
Analyze what the various world religions understand by the term or concept, “God.”
Evaluate the value and importance of religious belief and practice in human society both historically and in the present day.
Create notions of how tolerance for people of other religious traditions can be built through understanding those traditions while reflecting on the value of religious tolerance itself.
