Religious studies

Religious studies, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field devoted to research into religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. While theology attempts to understand the transcendent or supernatural according to traditional religious accounts, religious studies takes a more scientific and objective approach, independent of any particular religious viewpoint. Religious studies thus draws upon multiple academic disciplines and methodologies including anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history of religion. Religious studies originated in 19th-century Europe, when scholarly and historical analysis of the Bible had flourished, as Hindu and Buddhist sacred texts were first being translated into European languages. Early influential scholars included Friedrich Max Müller in England and Cornelis Petrus Tiele in the Netherlands. Today, religious studies is an academic discipline practiced by scholars worldwide. In its early years, it was known as "comparative religion" or the science of religion and, in the United States, there are those who today also know the field as the "History of religion" (associated with methodological traditions traced to the University of Chicago in general, and in particular Mircea Eliade, from the late 1950s through to the late 1980s). The religious studies scholar Walter Capps described the purpose of the discipline as to provide "training and practice ... in directing and conducting inquiry regarding the subject of religion". At the same time, Capps stated that its other purpose was to use "prescribed modes and techniques of inquiry to make the subject of religion intelligible." Religious studies scholar Robert A. Segal characterised the discipline as "a subject matter" that is "open to many approaches", and thus it "does not require either a distinctive method or a distinctive explanation to be worthy of disciplinary status.

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Intermediate state (Christianity)

In some forms of Christianity the intermediate state or interim state is a person's existence between death and the universal resurrection. In addition, there are beliefs in a particular judgment right after death and a general judgment or last judgment after the resurrection. Early Christians looked for an imminent end of the world and many of them had little interest in an interim state between death and resurrection.

Afterlife

The afterlife or life after death is a purported existence in which the essential part of an individual's stream of consciousness or identity continues to exist after the death of their physical body. The surviving essential aspect varies between belief systems; it may be some partial element, or the entire soul or spirit, which carries with it one's personal identity. Belief in an afterlife is in contrast to the belief in oblivion after death.

Jewish studies

Jewish studies (or Judaic studies; madey ha-yahadut) is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history (especially Jewish history), Middle Eastern studies, Asian studies, Oriental studies, religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages (Jewish languages), political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies. Jewish studies as a distinct field is mainly present at colleges and universities in North America.

Vallorbe: au fil de l'eau une maison de la nature (VD)

Azalée Truan

L'intervention dans le vallon vallorbier se compose de trois phases : Dans un premier temps, il s'agit de clarifier un parcours pédestre dans le vallon. Le parcours existant est subdivisé en dix lieux ayant chacun d'entre eux une atmosphère propre. L'hypothèse de travail propose une étude détaillée de chacun de ces lieux afin de mettre en place un parcours qui révèle la particularité du vallon, la trilogie eau bois et fer, et de la mettre en scène. Il ne s'agit donc pas d'intervenir sur la globalité du cheminement mais de proposer ici et là quelques interventions. Dans un deuxième temps, il s'agit de mettre en place un échangeur de modalité de transport (train, bus, voiture). Un lieu qui joue le rôle de point de départ des excursions, où les observateurs deviennent randonneurs. La dernière phase, objet du projet présent, est l'implantation d'une maison de la nature (auberge) accueillant les randonneurs et répondant aux principes architecturaux suivants : - lieu d'initiation : L'auberge se situe dans un milieu semi-urbain, au commencement du parcours vallorbier. - lieu d'expression d'ambiances : le bâti se compose d'une charpente métallique modulée accueillant des cellules (chambres). Elles sont travaillées de manières autonomes et possèdent des atmosphères propres. De par leur conceptions (matériaux, éléments), elles se réfèrent au parcours vallorbier. La question fondamentale posée par cet édifice est celle de la représentation de la nature. - lieu de repos, de contemplation et de contrastes : entre le naturel propre et le naturel modifié par l'homme.

2007

Abrahamic religions

The Abrahamic religions are a group of religions centered around the worship of the God of Abraham. Abraham, a Hebrew patriarch, is extensively mentioned throughout the Abrahamic religious scriptures of the Quran, and the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Jewish tradition claims that the Twelve Tribes of Israel are descended from Abraham through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, whose sons formed the nation of the Israelites in Canaan (or the Land of Israel); Islamic tradition claims that twelve Arab tribes known as the Ishmaelites are descended from Abraham through his son Ishmael in the Arabian Peninsula.

History of religion

The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,200 years ago (3200 BCE). The prehistory of religion involves the study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the advent of written records. One can also study comparative religious chronology through a timeline of religion. Writing played a major role in standardizing religious texts regardless of time or location, and making easier the memorization of prayers and divine rules.

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