World religions. Рахимбергенова М.Х. - 68 стр.

rich pluralism of a multi-faith society. But regardless of viewpoint, most people                                 Textual interpretation
in Britain whether religious or not, consider the matter of faith to be a private         Unlike member-only denominations, the Church of England is broad
and personal matter.                                                                 enough to offer a spiritual home for those with almost diametrically opposing
                                                                                     beliefs – practising gay clergy and those who regard them as sodomites, those
                              Section analysis                                       who believe the ordination of women is heresy alongside a thousand woman
     1. The Church of England. In what way does the author believe that the          priests. It is a Church where there has traditionally been space on the pew for
Church of England is “profoundly typical of the English character”?                  heretics and unbelievers, doubters and sceptics. People who pray weekly sit
     2. The Church of England. What are the two poles of the Anglican                next to people who haven’t prayed since childhood. It is all part of what one
Church, and which theologians do they both distrust, and why?                        bishop calls a “grand compromise”.
     3. The other Christian churches. What are the essential differences be-                                       (Martin Wroe and Andrew Adonis. The Observer.)
tween the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, the two “established             1. Do you think this is a good formula for the established church, since it
Churches” of Britain?                                                                must remain at the service of every English person who wishes to join it?
     4. The other Christian Churches. What is the “house church” move-
ment?                                                                                      2. Do you think this kind of approach to the questions of theology and be-
     5. Other religions. What are the main religious and secular institutions of     lief could operate in your own society, or would the obvious contradictions be
the Jewish community in Britain?                                                     unacceptable?
     6. Other religions. Why do you think there has been a revival of religious
observance among British Muslims during the 1990s?

                         Chapter analysis and discussion
     1. Consider the following:
     For the Church of England to be on its own, self-governing, free from par-
liamentary oversight, uninvolved in Prince Charles’s affairs, would be a libera-
tion. It could shake off its innate conservatism. Bishops could address their con-
gregations and the wider world without inhibition. They would lose prestige but
might. paradoxically, gain self-confidence and speak with greater conviction.
The Church of England would be more of an adventure and all the better for it.
                                       (Andreas Whittam Smith. The Independent.)
     What are your reactions to this point of view? Give your reasons.
     2. Find evidence from the chapter both for and against this point of view:
     We have a wonderful opportunity in a country like Britain. We have free-
dom of expression to develop our own thinking without oppression, in spite of
Islamophobia. And we hove the opportunity to live with Muslims from many
parts of the world in a multifarious Islamic cultural mix.
              (Paul Vallely and Andrew Brown. The Independent. Section Two.)
    3. Do you think that religious pluralism offers different communities a way
to make sense of the world they inhabit? Or is it largely responsible for inter-
communal discord? Which do you think is true of Britain? Which is true of
your own country?


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