22  The Religion of Ordinary Life (Parts 1-3)

INTRODUCTION

Is it possible / desirable to have a religion that does away with all ‘metaphysical’ beliefs? No ‘God’, no ‘life after death’, no ‘soul’ or rebirth/reincarnation’?

Explain that one modern (or post-modern) philosopher who has been promoting this view is Don Cupitt.

Download this information from: www.doncupitt.com/ordinary-life* and copy/show students part 1 on ‘Life’.

Explain that ‘post-metaphysical’, can mean different things and is a contested term, but for the purposes of investigation we might say that it refers to dimensions of existence and being that go beyond the purely physical, and may deal with questions such as whether the universe has an ultimate purpose, whether there is a life after death, whether there is a God or ultimate creator, and so on.

ACTIVITY

Ask the students to respond to such questions as:

Point out that Cupitt (Point 6) quotes John’s gospel, “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1.1). The passage continues, “and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made. Without him nothing was made that has been made.” Ask students to consider that there is poetic wisdom in these verses, and ask them to comment as such questions as:

Show students Parts 2 and 3 of Cupitt’s ‘The Religion of Ordinary Life’. Provide some reading and reflection time and ask students to comment on anything they find puzzling, interesting or contentious.

After some time exchanging views, get some feedback from the groups and encourage an exchange of views and ideas.

In particular bring out their thinking on such ideas as:

Play ‘The Fear’ by Lily Allen [warning – contains explicit lyrics – see, e.g: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lilyallen/thefear.html] and ask students to consider such questions as:

A printable (pdf) version of this text can be found here.


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