Guiding Thoughts and Questions for Visitors to Houses of Worship for the Purpose of Studying the Beliefs of Various Faiths/ Religions Paul Wheelhouse Adjunct Instructor of World Religions Tallahassee, FL 2012 Contact the author if wanting to seek permission for reproducing this booklet in part or in whole or to request more copies of this booklet for a small donation to cover the cost of printing and shipping. Send request by email to: mark.globalofaith@gmail.
Purpose and Introduction These guiding thoughts and questions are for persons, whether lifelong learners or fulltime students studying the various faiths or religions by actually visiting sacred houses found in the area. The purpose of this Guide is to facilitate the learning process for these engaging visitors. It is not to evaluate the individual churches, temples, synagogues, or shrines (collectively referred to as houses of worship ) nor the sects, denominations, or religions they represent. This purpose is to focus on the visitor learning the beliefs and practices expressed at these various houses of worship. These visitors, come to learn more about the religion represented by or manifested at the houses they visit and thereby experience them. Learning by experience reinforces what may have been known or learned by books, articles, friends, or even family members. This Guide is designed to be used for actually visiting houses of worship or meditation, to reflect while in the experience, and afterwards. It specifically focuses on the interior space, once you have arrived and have found a seat. It is recommended that you get into the house 10 or 15 minutes before the service begins to start reading through the Guide and first observing the visible points. But the author recognizes you may get caught up in the experience that you don t have time to work through the whole Guide during the actual service. Ideally, if going with a study group, I recommend that you meet again afterwards, either perhaps at a café, restaurant, in someone s home, or in a commons lounge to discuss these thoughts/questions as a group within a few days will the experience is still at least somewhat fresh in your mind. Some of the discoveries will take place in fact in the small group discussions after the visit. You will discover that different group members had much different takes and experiences than yourself. This too is a part of the learning process (see pgs. 11-12 below). A Few Pre-Visit Guiding Thoughts Visiting as a Group? Call in Advance If visiting with a group of people, especially if more than a few, it may be a good idea to have a group member (e.g. facilitator) give a courtesy call in advance to the house you will be visiting to inform them of your upcoming visit expressing its purpose is to study their faith. This is your own group s judgment call. Every place is different. Be a Pupil, Not a Mere Observer Virtually all religions and their organizations are eager to have others learn about them and their beliefs, and virtually all places welcome visitors. Some of the places like to really welcome visitors, even acknowledging them during the public service, and perhaps give them a free gift. Some visitors, however, are shy and do not wish to be acknowledged publicly. There are a variety of houses out there, but most places socially have a clear membervisitor distinction, as you will most likely discover. But most places will warmly welcome you. Come full of mutual respect for their faith even if you find the place 2
strange or you realize you don t believe or agree with their beliefs. Have an attitude of learning in the spirit of mutual understanding. Visitors to houses of worship for the purpose of study may find themselves cover the gamut from being a way-outside-their own faith learner to feeling comfortable with worshipping there. Just don t be a mere observer. You may lead some members there to be uncomfortable if they know or sense that you are there just to observe. You are encouraged to engage in the service and participate, if you are comfortable, depending in part on how close or far its belief system is from your own belief system. Many places encourage visitors making an honest attempt to join in with them in the service or worship experience rather than just being an observer. Many places will encourage participation, whether trying to sing along with the congregation or following the liturgy, or actively listening to the homily or sermon. Consider immersing yourself in the worship experience, if you feel comfortable or led to, in as much as you desire within the bounds of being a visitor. Participate in as Much as you are Comfortable If, during the service, you don t know what to do, a general rubric is do what the people are doing. If you feel comfortable doing so, kneel when the people kneel, stand when they stand, and sit when they sit. And if they prostrate well, you may NOT be comfortable doing that. This rubric is not so as to train you like a robotic response, but it has a two-fold purpose. First, it helps you to get immersed in the experience, and two, it communicates to others your willingness to learn by experience, in contrast to being a mere observer which may lead some congregants to feel uncomfortable if they know the are being observed by outsiders. The Purpose of your visit is to study, not stand out of the crowd. Liturgical or Non-Liturgical? Some houses of worship use a liturgy. A liturgy is a pre-written rite of worship prescribed for sacred worship. It may last 1 to 2 hours, for example, the Eastern Orthodox Church liturgy which is especially long and complex. If it is your first experience in following a liturgy, you will get lost in trying to follow it, at least once if not several times. Do not get stressed out. No one ever learned these liturgies on the first go-through. These liturgies are imbedded with ancient traditions. Even though a lot of the words you will not catch the first time around, think about and feel the overall experience. But two key things you should do which will greatly affect you participation and experience: first, make sure you can get a copy the liturgy in your own hand to follow; and second, have someone next to you who can guide you through the service, whether it is your visiting group leader or a member at that house of worship. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help. There will be people there most likely who will be glad to help you, but you have to make your request known (an illusion of Phil. 4:6). Even if you have even studied the liturgy in advanced, every congregation will implement it in their own way. Again, do not worry if you get lost. Relax. You are not expected to come of the service being an expert on this religion or its liturgy. 3
Liturgy does mean worship and that is what it is really all about, a vehicle to lift your mind and soul into the realm of the transcendent. Visitor Do s and Don ts? To Receive or Not To Receive Communion? The purpose of this Guide is not to tell you what you can and cannot do, but to develop your sensitivity to the various houses and their rules of places that may be off limits or inappropriate to visitors. For example, if there is a partition up front from which priests come out of, you can assume that area is off limits to visitors. Touching some sacred objects may be off limits to visitors but touching other sacred objects may be encouraged. Be sensitive to each place. Regarding Communion: Communion is a significant (and perhaps weekly) rite in Christianity and Sikhism. Because there are few Sikh shrines in the U.S., we are referring here to Christian houses of worship. If you use this Guide for visiting a synagogue, mosque, or, for example, a Hindu shrine, then this paragraph does not apply there. So if you visit a Christian church and they have Communion, should you receive it or not? This is the question. We need to ask first What is Christian Communion? Communion means a coming together in a union, but a union of what? Is it simply sharing together the bread and wine? For Christianity historically, it has also meant a shared unity of Christian beliefs. Therefore, if the visitor does not personally believe those beliefs, they should refrain, striving for honesty, and its okay. The social push to partake is understandable in which visitors in general may feel like an outsider if they don t partake. But it is okay to refrain yourself and be honest if you do not hold to the Christian beliefs represented there. The general rubric I suggest should be If in doubt, refrain from partaking. It is best to learn what their Communion means before partaking, and if you have a chance, talk with a minister or usher before the service begins. Because of the great variety of Christian denominations, some churches teach, moreover, that Communion means sharing their specific beliefs, not only their general doctrines but specifically on what their Communion means. Therefore, all the more reason to refrain unless you already know and believe. Some churches take Communion very seriously, based on a literal interpretation of a key New Testament scripture passage, such as this a bit ambiguous verse, I Cor. 11:29, where the apostle Paul writes, For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body (this quote is from the NKJV but with the later textual interpolations removed, that are not in the earlier Gk manuscripts as found in the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Society Gk New Testament texts). So, it is best to refrain from receiving the Christian communion unless you understand and belief it as it is taught in that particular Christian Communion. On the other hand, there are other Christian churches who practice Open Communion which usually means that any baptized Christian can receive it regardless of which denomination their membership may be held at. The guiding thoughts and questions below are in three sections: first, the physical setting; second, the theology of worship, and third, the Reflecting on your visit 4
experience. Guiding Thoughts and Questions While Visiting The Physical Setting Look around. What do you see around this space? First, does it even have a look and a feel to you of being a sacred space? There is a whole variety of types of structures where religious groups meet, sometimes even in schools or rented out store fronts or warehouses. But even if it does not feel like a sacred space to you, for the purposes of respect and this guide, we will consider it a sacred space. Virtually every interior sacred space s design has been purposefully designed (or retrofitted) reflecting their belief system or theology. If it is a theistic belief system, how does one approach God or deities? Is the space in-the-round, an auditorium/theater design, or a nave (a rectangular hall with a aisle from which one can move from the entrance on one end toward the sacred place or chancel on the other end where there may be a focal point representing God s presence)? What is the lighting like? Is it light or dark? Is it natural lighting, or artificial lighting only, or a mix of natural and artificial? What does the lighting suggest about the ambiance and mood they want to create for this sacred space or for a special service (e.g. Tennebrae service on Good Friday in Christianity means a service of darkness ). Are the walls plain like white or are there any paintings or mosaics on the walls? If so, what images do you see? Are they deities, angels, saints, other people, or nature scenes? Some interior sacred spaces have a focal point. If there is one, is it a special box (e.g. Ark in a synagogue) or an altar, or an image? If there does seem to be a focal point, how is it designed in such a way to draw the eye of the viewer to the focal point? What is the significance of this focal point? If there is an altar, is it plain and simple or rich and colorful? Are there any ornaments, symbols, or sacred vessels on it? What might these, especially any symbols, mean? 5
What do you think is the meaning of the altar itself? They don t actually perform any real bloody sacrifices on it, do they? So then why have it? Is there a stage or a chancel or a raised platform in the center where the leader(s) conduct the services from? Are there any stained glass windows? What images do you see in the windows. Usually each window tells a story, or at least has a image that represents one of their key beliefs or is an image of one of their important figures or saints. After you have looked all around, how might this religion s belief system be reflected tangibly? What beliefs do you find manifested symbolically in the interior space design? And ultimately, what does it suggest about where to find God (if a theistic religion)? The Theology of Worship The service has begun. (These guiding thoughts or questions assume it is a regular service, open to the public in distinction with a special service such as a wedding or funeral.) Observe the leaders. What are their titles? (rabbi, priest, pastor, imam, guru, leader, lay leader, meditation leader, etc.?) What are they wearing? Are they wearing any religious garb worn specially during the service which would normally not be worn in pubic? Is the religious garb simple, colorful, or ornate? Does it have any symbols on it? If so, what do the symbols mean? What rituals do you observe during the service by the leader(s)? What rituals do you observe during the service by the people/gatherers/congregants? [Below, you will ponder the meaning of these rituals, but first, some more easy 6
observations:] What language(s) do you hear? Is there any chanting or singing during the service? Does it sound Western, Eastern, blended, contemporary? Do they use a liturgy in printed form (e.g. a book or bulletin) or worship without a written liturgy? Are there any prayers offered up or meditation or both during the service? Are there any readings from sacred scriptures or other books/literature? Is there a homily or sermon given? What kind should it be categorized as: expository (based on a sacred scripture reading), exhortatory, informative, exhortatory, prophetic, or sermonic (a hybrid of other kinds)? What is the tone or main tone (loud preachy, heightened but not too loud, monotone, soothe/calm, peaceful)? Would you say the main genre/category/theme/emphasis is spiritual, religious, intellectual, social, or political? [You can also use this space to take some notes.] Homily/Sermon (Space for Notes) continued: 7
What are the main thoughts you hear expressed in the service? From all the words you hear in the service, from the hymns/songs, liturgy, readings, sermons, and prayers, what beliefs do you pick up on about: Is there a God? Who is God? What is His nature and character? Is He unapproachable or very approachable? Is He Mysterious or close like a friend or brother? What is the view of their Scriptures: the very Word of God or more of a humanistic book? What benefits do the people receive from God Many themes you pick up on? (e.g. Redeemer, Savior, Enlightened One, Bodisvattva, Devi, incarnation of [deity], Salvation, Heaven, Hell, Judgment, etc. Are there any offerings (e.g. of money) received during the service? Do you think this is purely practical, to support the religious house or is there a theology behind it too, such as response in thanksgiving to God and God s spiritual benefits? Back to the rituals you observed both the leaders and the participants perform. What is the meaning or symbolic meaning of these rituals? Were there any aromas like incense used? What rituals may be associated with it, and what is the meaning/symbolic meaning behind it? How much participation is there from the people/gatherers/congregants? Did they seem more actively involved or more like passive recipients? After observing these many things during the service, try to discover how this religion s belief system or theology was reflected in the service (the theology of worship ). Reflecting on Your Experience of the Service Did any of the members/gatherers/congregants or leader acknowledge your presence? Were you greeted either when walking in or by sometime during the service? Did you feel like a stranger, outsider, insider, participant, or like a friend or family member or 8
somewhere in between? At the end of the service, how do you feel: uplifted, refreshed, renewed, positive, cheery, OR lost, confused, bewildered, guilty, depressed, OR a mixture of some positive and negative feelings? Compare with how you felt at the beginning or the service or before you walked in the door. [For example, if you came into the building already feeling depressed, and at the end of the service you were depressed, the service most likely had nothing to do with your feeling depressed.] Did you sense the sacred in the service? How would you interpret the sacred (for example, in a theistic or non-theistic sense)? Would you say you had a spiritual experience, or a God experience, or even just a general other-worldliness experience, OR was it only like a group of people going through some religious rituals or gathered together for intellectual or social purposes? If others in your group did have a spiritual experience but you did not, why do you think that is so? How do we define what is spiritual anyway? Describe your overall experience: 9