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

the context of perspectives, it is interesting
In
consider the engagement of children with
to
knowledge. The child psychiatrist Robert
religious
has built a career writing books about the
Coles
spiritual, political and moral lives
psychological,
children. He asserts that young children may be
of
spiritual than we recognize, that they have a
more
curiosity and interest that aligns with how
natural
born to religious families—whether
Children
are Sikh, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian,
they
Jewish or Hindu—are typically involved
Jain,
the culture of their religion from childhood.
in
knowledge is most often inherited or
Religious
down from parent to child in this way.
passed
children are taught that their parents’
Many
is the one true faith. When religious
religion
is non-contestable, can we still say
teaching
what is being taught is knowledge? More
that
what is the role of contestabilityand
generally,
in producing religious knowledge?
disagreement
is the language of God, all else is poor
Silence
translation.
has played a key role in the spread
Language
religious knowledge, and the processes by
of
religious knowledge is passed down,
which
through spoken or written traditions.
whether
these processes acquire or lose legitimacy
How
authority are rife with knowledge issues.
and
is language essential to knowing something
But
or to sharing it? To what extent is
religiously,
a sufficient means for expressing and
language
religious knowledge?
sharing
traditions often spread to new audiences
Religious
translation. What opportunities and risks
through
from acquiring religious knowledge in a
arise
other than the original?
language
learning in religious
Language
practice
terms: Divine
Search
language learning
words
the gap between religious teachings
Closing
one’s personal practice can be a powerful
and
for learning the language in which
motivator
religious tradition developed. Consider this
a
about learners of Hebrew, Arabic and
article
Tibetan who are hoping to connect
classical
their religions, and the questions that
with
motivating them.
are
To what extent can the nuances of
1.
language be translated?
religious
Does being able to understand a religious
2.
in multiple languages:
text
(a) promote new interpretations
(b) promote more precise interpretation?
whether and how much people trust
(a)
translation of a religious text
a
how people might decide between
(b)
translations without
competing
6III. Methods and tools
religion looks at the world.
our eort in this planet as creatures who have a
It’s
and use language to ask questions and answer
mind
through speculation, through story-telling …
them
do we come from? What are we? … [T]hose
Where
questions inform religious life and
fundamental
the lives of children …
inform
(Coles quoted in Tippett 2009)
Making connections
Translating religious texts
4 explores how the practice of translation in
Chapter
part depends on what is being translated. What
large
the quality of translation of a religious
determines
as compared to other types of text? Is language
text,
enough to qualify or give legitimacy to
uency
aspiring to be a translator of religious texts?
someone
For discussion
inreligious practice
III.2 Religious knowledge and language
(Rumi 1207–1273)
3. Which factors determine:
speaking the source language?
154