An Eastern Voyage

The Eastern Cradle of World Religions

What are the great religions of the world -where are they located – how did they begin – and what are their prevalence? How does Christianity and dominant cultures influence expressions of faith?

These travelogues continue a look at world religions begun in the previous series: “Holy Lands – Holy Foods”. Taking an even broader look at the subject, they take us through parts of the Eastern Hemisphere with visits to Japan and India, China and Tibet, Nepal and Cambodia. We will see how elements of religion influenced one another, incorporating culturally-specific traditions, and re-interpretted itself as what we recognize as the great faiths of the world migrated and evolving as it move back and forth across continents.

Each of the travelogues were given over a series of dinners involving ethnic foods related to each journey, researched and prepared by members of the parish, affirming the common themes of hospitality and welcome of the friend and stranger alike.

Begin the logs with an overview of how the world’s religions are represented geographically and demographically. Travel in this presentation to Japan and India, look at the myriad of “local religions” that influenced Buddhism and Hinduism, and how its characteristics blend across history and locality.

(Click on the title to open the lecture media)

World Religion: Travel Log I

(Click on the title to open the lecture media)

World Religions: Travel Log II

Travel to Nepal and China as we explore the movement of Buddhism across the continents and the Hindu tradition as well as Moslems, Jains, and the elusive “non-religious.

(Click on the title to open the lecture media)

World Religions: Travel Log III

Our tours conclude with a pilgrimage to the mountains of Tibet with the Palace of the Dali Lama and numerous Buddist monasteries and seminaries, and a visit to exotic and war-weary Cambodia and the Temples of Angkor Wat.



---