Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

individuals, communities and authorities
Many
to have religious knowledge. In this section
claim
explore the various ways in which religious
we
is acquired, produced and shared. As
knowledge
read on, consider what gives religious claims
you
claims-makers legitimacy. On what basis
and
religious knowledge be claimed, and what
can
as good evidence for it?
counts
know, it feels good to pray, you
You
as well.
might
knowledge systems very often have
Religious
component of personal practice, variously
a
“inner work”, meditation and prayer.
called
what extent does the knowledge arising
To
this practice—the questions, answers,
from
observations and so on—have a
thoughts,
and status comparable to that of other
validity
of knowledge? Does religious knowledge
areas
from practice, or is the practice itself a
arise
of knowledge, regardless of its results? Is
form
ability to perform a religious ritual as much
the
as knowledge?
skill
– Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s
Shunryu
has notably said that gaining religious
Mind,
by gathering information, as is
knowledge
when people attempt to learn
customary
is a way to “end up not knowing
something,
at all” (2011). To understand Zen
anything
he argues, one should not try
Buddhism,
gather as many pieces of information as
to
but rather to clear one’s mind. This
possible,
has been embraced and trivialized by a
idea
of pop culture artefacts, from Hollywood
range
kids to self-help books. Suzuki refers to
karate
information is processed as an echo of preexisting
new
beliefs and ideas, and true learning is
Many spiritual and religious teachers
impossible.
guides echo the apparently contradictory
and
of knowing and unknowing ourselves, of
ideas
trying to become something but becoming
not
nonetheless. How is the process of
something
this knowledge similar to, different
learning
or incomparable to learning knowledge of
from
forms?
other
the beginner’s mind there are many
“In
but in the expert’s there are
possibilities,
How might a “beginner’s” interpretation
1.
this quote differ from an expert’s?
of
What does it mean for knowledge in
2.
to have accuracy?
religions
To what extent does the concept of
3.
apply to religious knowledge?
reliability
III. Methods and tools
III. Methods and tools
I I I . M E T H O D S A N D T O O LS
III.1 Acquiring and transferring
knowledge in religion
(Epicurus 341–270 bce)
Figure 6.4 Shunryu Suzuki
For discussion
Beginner’s mind
few.” (Suzuki 2011)
achieving “emptiness”; if the mind is unclear,
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