Requirements:

1- Each answer must have 250 words or more 

2- You must read the article BEFORE answering. Do not copy anything from the internet. They must be YOUR Own Thoughts.

4- Do not cite too much. With one or two citations is enough. Note: Do not use outside resources besides the one that I give you. EACH ANSWER HAVE THEIR OWN book.

5- Read the articles.

6- critical thinking. Please

1- In what sense are primal religions primal?

Resource: Huston Smith: The world Religion “ the primal religion”

2- What is Pals’ reservation about explaining religion using an “aggressively reductionist functionalism”? Which theorists are supposed to fall under that description?

Resource Daniel l pals : eight theories of religion: Society as sacred: Emile Durkheim

3- Though Smith warns against romanticizing the primal religions, it is hard to see that he has avoided the tendency. Yes or no? What is it about primal religion that so much draws his admiration?

Resource: Huston Smith: The world Religion “ the primal religion”

4- Armstrong describes two versions of the Flood Myth – from the Artrahasis and the Gilgamesh. How do you explain the differences she describes? In particular, how would you describe the implicit contrast with the Flood Myth as it appears in Genesis?

Resource Karen Armstrong: A short history of myth “ the early civilization”

5- Importantly, Smith claims that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are each “historical” religions, in a way that Hinduism and Buddhism are not. What does he have in mind by “historical” if the idea is supposed to distinguish the Eastern and Western Religious traditions?

Resource: Huston Smith: The world Religion “ judaism ”

6- Very often Christians will read backwards from Christianity to Judaism, and when they do that they usually light onto the idea of “Messiah”. How close is the Judaic idea of Messiah to the idea as it later is used by Christians? If there is more than one idea of ‘Messiah’ or ‘Messianic Ideal’ around, how are they distinguished from one another?

Resource: Huston Smith: The world Religion “ judaism ”

7- One idea of Judaism that regularly draws fire is the idea of a “chosen people”. Why is that such a hot-button? Smith is anxious to interpret that idea in a way that defuses it? How does he try to do that, and how successful would you say he is?

Resource: Huston Smith: The world Religion “ judaism ”