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Activity [ Lesson 4]

Ponder Your Position:

The "Major Category" Question

Imagine you have just picked up the phone and been asked to self-identify in response to a call from the American Religious Identification Survey (the ARIS, 2001, which we reported in a Lesson 3 reading). How would you respond to their question?

Note: Choice of a self-describing label can range widely.  One might prefer a very broad category (e.g., Buddhist; Christian; Jewish; Nonreligious; Muslim), or feel better using something narrower (Mahayana Buddhist; Roman Catholic; Reform Jewish; Evangelical Christian; Atheist; Agnostic; Secular Humanist) or perhaps advance a narrower identify connected to a specific sect or denomination. 

Directions:  State what you'd choose as the most comfortable label by which you would prefer to identify yourself to the most people. 

ARIS Question:  What is your religious preference, if any?

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1.  My preferred religious/nonreligious identity is: 

The "Majority/Minority" Question

Based on the identity label you chose above, evaluate your "standing" according to your personal worldview regarding religion.

Directions: Choose the best phrase to complete the sentence.

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2.  Overall, I think of my outlook as being...

a minority worldview in my community 

a majority worldview in my community 

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3.  When I think of how in general this attachment (category) is seen by others, I consider it to be ...

highly acceptable in this community

generally acceptable in this community

not acceptable within this community

The "Demeanor" Question

Directions: Evaluate your posture toward those who hold worldviews very much unlike your own.

Examples: A Hindu meeting a Catholic ; a Christian meeting an atheist; a Jew meeting a Moslem; a Wiccan meeting a Lutheran, etc.

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4.  My general attitude toward those persons who do not share my own worldview is:

highly accepting        mildly accepting

tolerant                    forbearing

edgy                        repelled

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5.  When considering my outlook toward such persons (#4 above), I can honestly state that:

I would look for ways to influence their outlook toward mine

I would probably wish them to have my own outlook

I'd have only a mild desire to influence their outlook

I'd have absolutely no "missionary impulse" whatsoever

End of Activity.  Return to Guide Sheet.

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