Introduction to the Study of Religion

Group Project
(supplement)

Possible religions to choose from:

• Any non-Christian religion that is not your own, the less familiar you are with it the better 

• Any lesser known, non-mainline Christian sect with which you are unfamiliar. Some possible choices: 

  • Orthodox (Russian, Greek, Romanian, Serbian, etc.)  

  • Brethren  

  • Mennonite  

  • Amish 

  • Friends (Quaker)  

  • Seventh Day Adventist  

  • Christian Science  

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) 

  • Unity Church  

  • Jehovah's Witnesses 

  • Unitarian Universalist 

• Here are some resources that will introduce you to some religions you might choose from: 

  • Religions of the World (from Religious Tolerance.org)

  • Group Profiles from the Religious Movements website

  • The Faiths List from Beliefnet.com

    • You might want to try the "Belief-o-Matic" at Beliefnet.com. Here you can answer some questions about your own beliefs and values and see which religions are most in line with your own views. You may find a religion you are not familiar with comes out near the top of the results list. You can choose to research this religion.

Topics to address (the “dimensions” of religion): Some religions may not lend themselves well to one or another of these topics. Others may suggest additional topics not mentioned. Feel free to modify and/or reorganize this list as you see fit, based on your research findings.

• Origins & History (brief overview, just the highlights – founded when, where, by whom…)

• Demographics: population, major subdivisions, and current day location (a map would be a good visual to include here)

• Beliefs about:

  • God(s) or other “Higher Power”

  • Origins of the universe (creation)

  • The Human “problem” and/or purpose and its solution/fulfillment

  • The nature of the afterlife

  • Sacred texts and/or other important texts

• Practices:

  • Life cycle rites and other sacraments

  • Calendar rituals (daily, weekly, annual holidays)

  • Worship practices (when, where, how?)

  • Path(s) to “salvation” or other distinctive or unique spiritual practices

  • Special dress, diet or other personal practices of the religion as a “way of life”

  • Distinctive values, code of ethics, moral concerns

  • Symbols: their meaning and use (images are a must here)

  • Sacred spaces and places (natural or man made, places of worship, pilgrimage sites) (again, images would be helpful)

Roles:

• Group Manager: organizes and orients the group, maintains communication between group members, assures that all tasks are being done in a timely manner, follows up with individual group members who do not seem to be making progress with their part as they should (consult with instructor directly about any serious problems). 

• Researchers: share in locating sources, selecting, writing information for various topics to include in project. Share content with group members for feedback and approval. Group Manager and Project Designer may also take on some of the topics for research and help locate and approve of web sources.

• Project Designer: collects information from researchers, composes the parts into an attractive coherent whole. Project designer should have some technical skill to be able to learn and use presentation tools such as PowerPoint, Video, Prezi, etc.

Resources: This is to be web based research

• Use websites that provide significant information about the religion you are researching

• Be sure you select and use the best websites possible: How to evaluate websites

• Some places to begin:

  • Religions of the World from Religious Tolerance.org
  • Religious Group Profiles from The Religious Movements Homepage Project
  • The Faiths Page from Beliefnet.com contains pages on some of the new religions along with many of the major faiths (this site has annoying pop-up ads - just ignore and close them)
  • The A-Z Religions Index at ReligionFacts.com

The above noted pages will provide a list of links for specific religions - one of which may be the one you are researching. These pages will provide basic information as well as links to other resources that you should also check out. If you use a page at the above noted sites, be sure you cite the URL for the actual page(s) you used and not the jumping off point I link to here.

• Also be sure to use at least one website exclusively devoted to the religion you are researching (an official "insider" website for the religion, if one is available). The sites noted above are about many different religions thus they will only cover the basics and point you on toward other, more comprehensive sources. You may find a more extensive site through references at the above sites or may find one on your own, through an independent web search. (If you have trouble locating a suitable site, I will be happy to help you out - just let me know if you need help)

Project Tasks and Timeline:

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