Overall Thesis
Having a World Religions’ class in a Catholic school within the Marianist tradition makes an important contribution to students by allowing them to compare and contrast the Catholic religion with other major world religions. Comparing issues such as the concept of God (is God a single person, a triumvirate, a multi-entity conglomeration, a being or simply energy?), heaven ( is it a perfect place with gold paved streets or the next rung up the reincarnation ladder?) and salvation (is it through faith, good works, or just believing?) helps students of every religion clarify their beliefs and in so doing gain a better understanding of their own religion. This comparison also provides insight into other religions with which the student is not familiar and builds understanding and tolerance as people of other faiths learn about the similarities and the differences between religions.
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