RELG 402 - World's Living Religions
Visit to a Temple
The visit is an option - it is not a requirement of the Course, but it will probably be very helpful for understanding people who have different religious views.
These notes are for a visit to a Hindu, Sikh, Jain, or Buddhist temple, or a Shinto shrine.
A visit to another religion or denomination is similar to a cross-cultural exchange.
Be prepared to encounter differences in world-view, religious practice, music, language, standards of dress.
Be prepared to exercise tact, politeness, flexibility and patience.
There are Sikh communities with Gurdwaras in Española, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. The Gurdwara in Roswell appears to be closed.
There are Buddhist Temples in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Grants
There is a Hindu Temple Society and a Hindu Temple in Albuquerque, and a Hindu Temple and Ashram in Taos.
One of the goals of this course is to understand religions as they are lived and practiced by real communities. This assignment provides an opportunity to move beyond the textbook and class notes, by meeting members of another religion at their place of worship or study, and reflecting on your experience. You will be expected to reflect on the relationship between belief, ritual, community, and sacred space.
The assignment is designed to help you develop skills in observation, description, analysis, and self-reflection while engaging respectfully with a religious tradition other than your own.
Locating and contacting a religious community is part of the assignment. members of other religions moving to a new location face this problem also, and it will be part of your experience.
Before attending, you should research the Temple or Religious Center and community if possible (Web Page? Facebook? Yellow Pages? Notice Board? Street Address? Phone Number? Religion? Days and times of meetings? Name of the religious leader?
Contact the Temple or Religious Center to determine whether visitors are welcome, whether there is a dress code, and whether any advance arrangements are necessary.
When visiting a Temple or Religious Center. Upon arrival, introduce yourself to a greeter if there appears to be one, and follow his/her instructions.
Do not take notes during the visit, but allow yourself to experience the visit, and try to take part in activities as far as is comfortable for you.
As soon as possible after the visit, take time to make notes on the following questions:
- What did the place look like from the outside?
- How was the worship space arranged?
- What objects or symbols were prominent?
- What was the sequence of events during the meeting?
- What languages were used?
- How were the prayers conducted?
- Was there music?
- Were sacred texts used?
- Was there one main leader of the meeting, or did different people lead different parts of the meeting?
- Did participants interact with the leader(s), or were they mainly passive observers?
- How did participants interact with one another?
- Were there times for hospitality, instruction, or celebration?
- What did you observe about the demographics of the congregation?
- What were your interactions with members of the community?
- What surprised you?
- What challenged you?
- What questions emerged from the experience?
For your Essay, you should describe the visit in enough detail that a reader who was not present could visualize the experience. Your essay should include:
- The religious affiliation of the place visited
- The Name, address, and contact information of the place visited
- Date and time of the visit
- Type of meeting attended
- Approximate length of the visit
- The name of the religious leader
- How you prepared for the visit
- Your first impressions upon arrival
- The setting and atmosphere
- The sequence of events
- The role of sacred texts
- The use of music
- The actions of leaders and congregation
- A theme from the sermon, homily, or religious instruction (if any)
- Religious objects or symbols that you observed
- Significant rituals or practices that you observed
- A conversation or other interaction between yourself and a member of the community.
- Your personal reflections on the visit
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