Discussion post on religion

For this discussion board assignment, respond to one of the following prompts. In your post, aim for 250 words. You are not required to comment on other student posts but doing so will earn bonus points (see grading rubric below).

1. In what ways is storytelling an effective approach to understanding the world’s religions? How do stories affect beliefs and practices? And how do beliefs and practices affect stories?
2. How does “bracketing” help students and scholars in the academic study of religion? What might be the downsides to this approach?
3. What are the benefits and pitfalls of comparing religious traditions? What can comparison help us see? What might it obscure?
4. Which definition of religion makes the most sense to you, and why? What does your favorite definition reveal about the world’s religions? What does it miss?
5. What are the components of the four-part approach to studying religion outlined here? How does this approach work to undercut perennialism? In your view, does it fall prey to essentialism?