HSC Prelim Studies of Religion notes - Nature of Religion and Beliefs

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS] The Nature of Religion Define the supernatural dimension 



The dimension relying upon a divine revelation or revealed faith, exceeding the laws and capacity of nature, and cannot be explained in normal terms of the physical world The spiritual dimension can be described as metaphysical or miraculous

Discuss a transcendent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine power and/or powers beyond the human   

Transcendent means to have continuous existence outside the physical world A transcendent religious worldview is one that refers to the Divine as being above or superior to the world, the highest Being and the ultimate cause in the universe Transcendent religions include Judaism, Christianity and Islam as the central God exists beyond the human world, yet guides humanity through existence

Discuss an immanent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine being or powers dwelling within the individual   

A worldview where a divine being or powers dwell within the individual, and there is a divine principle that guides people It recognises a divine being or powers as a constant reality – an active and continuing presence among believers and this world. Immanent religions include Buddhism and Hinduism

Define the characteristics of religion 1. Beliefs and believers  Sustains all religions  The central belief of a religion is the most important part, as it defines the worldview of the believers  Central to all religious traditions there is a belief in a ‘greater reality’. This can involve a transcendent or immanent god or gods  A believer is somebody that adheres to a religion’s central teaching 2. Sacred texts and writings  At their centre, all religions have oral and/or written sacred texts, writings, or other types of stories  Several sacred writings are presented as a revelation from God  Texts contain rules and directions on how to live as well as prayers and rituals central to the tradition 3. Ethics  Ethics govern what an adherent of a religion must do, and what obligations are upon them, to their god(s) or fellow humans and the environment  Practical application of belief (the way the believers conduct themselves in relation to the teachings of their religion)

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS] 4. Rituals and ceremonies  Celebrate and reinforce the central belief system and structures for that religion, led by religious leaders  All religions have ceremonies that mark points in the year or people’s lives, like marriage, coming of age and funerals Christianity

Judaism

Islam

Hinduism

Buddhism

Beliefs and believ ers

Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead in order to save humankind from sin and death

God has entered history and formed a covenant relationship with his people

Submission to Allah—essential for being a human and for understanding his or her place in the universe Mohammed is his prophet

Ultimate union with Brahman (God) is the only real purpose for humans Belief in a Supreme Being Adherence to truth Good conduct and karma

Sacred texts and writin gs

The Bible (both the old and new Testament)

Torah

The Qur’an

Ethics

Founded on the belief that human beings are created in the image and likeness

Focus is on laws and commandme nts 'Ethical monotheism' - a religion

The Qur’an sets out Muslim ethics, and is about peace and giving to those less fortunate and

The Mahabharata (story of the encounter between Arjuna and Krishna) The Teachings of Manu (guidelines) The Vedas (revelations received by ancient saints and sages) Obliged to attend to nine duties as outlined in the Teachings of Manu: suppression of

Four Teachings of Buddha Three Refuges —the Lord Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha Cycle of birth and rebirth (reincarnation), which must be escaped to reach enlightenment/ Nirvana The Tripitaka (includes the Five Precepts) The Pali Canon The Mahayana Sutras

Include the Five Precepts and the Vinaya Strive to follow the Eight-Fold Path, a way to gain escape

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS]

Rituals and cermo nies

of God, the source of human dignity The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandme nts Based on central tenant of love Baptism Confirmation Reconciliatio n Communion Matrimony Holy Orders Anointing of the Sick

whose faith is in one God who requires human beings to respect one another

obeying Allah Can be summarized in the virtues Muslims are expected to display - love of Allah, humility, modesty, naturalness, selflessness and Jihad

wrath, truthfulness of speech, justice, forgiveness, simplicity etc.

from suffering as outlined by Buddha

Circumcision of all baby boys at the age of eight days Baby naming ceremonies for baby girls Marriage

Circumcision for new-born boys Daily prayers Observing Ramadan Marriage Declaration of faith (Shahada)

Diwali Purification Meditation/ch anting Sacrifices/offe rings (of vegetables, grain, etc.)

Meditation/cha nting Sacrifices/offeri ngs Pilgrimage Aged 8-20, boys become novice monks living in a monastery

Explore the ways in which these characteristics interact to create a dynamic, living religion 

  



A dynamic religion is one characterised by energy, ambition, new ideas and practical achievements. It refreshes itself constantly, and therefore avoids settling into a predictable or conservative rut. A living religion is one that is full of life; it is practical, real and immersed in everyday human existence Any religion is likely to stagnate if it does not constantly revitalise its beliefs and believers, sacred texts and writings, ethics, rituals and ceremonies When these characteristics of religion interact creatively, they help to nurture a religion that is alive, dynamic and active in the lives of its adherents, and in the society and culture in which is exists. A religion that is lived

Appreciate the contribution of religion to:  individuals  society and culture Individuals o Answers life’s profound questions – explains the creation of the universe, human nature and life’s purpose o An identity, sense of belonging, helps the person understand what it is to be human

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS] o o

Behaviour – how to treat themselves, others and the environment Present role models, guidance and direction for individuals to develop their understanding of their faith and how to become better people

Society and culture o Contributed greatly to the survival and development of human kind  Humans have survived and developed because of their capacity to make sense of the world around them and to use various materials to improve their life  Religion has been one such system by which humans have made sense of their place within the universe and what it is they need to do in order to survive both here and after death o Religion helps maintain order and well-being for most members of society  Through principal teachings that acknowledge the ultimate responsibility of individuals towards a divine being and their obligations and duties towards their neighbour, religion has instructed generations on the means of preserving peace and harmony  Have at times created hostilities and wars, but the underlying motivation of authentic religions is to recognise the fundamental goodness of a common humanity and a common destiny

Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spiritualties – The Dreaming Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to:  origins of the universe  sacred sites  stories of the Dreaming  symbolism and art Origins of the universe  The Dreaming explains the origins of the universe (the creation of the physical world, animals and plants which inhabit the world) having been the actions of ancestral beings  To Aboriginal people the Dreaming is not a myth but metaphormaphal, which means it incorporates the past, present and future reality as a complete and present reality  No sense of creation or the first creator Sacred sites  An individual is inextricably connected to the land – gives life, food and shelter and where their ancestor’s dwell  Sacred sites that carry significance because they are associated with various dreaming event  Each Aboriginal tribe has the responsibility to care and learn from these sites. e.g. carrying out prescribed rituals like balance rites Stories of the Dreaming

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS] Stories, songs, art and ceremonies recall the journeys of the ancestral beings (such as shaping the land, laying down the law and responsibilities) and their interactions with people and their bestowal (gifts) of land  When Aboriginal communities take part in kinship, song, dance, art, rituals and stories, it reflects how the Dreaming is a lifelong process  Ancestor spirits created the animals, plants, rocks and other forms of land  Once ancestor spirits created the world, they changed into trees, the stars, rocks, watering holes or other objects, making these sites sacred with special properties  Since ancestors never disappeared this makes the Dreaming a never ending story, linking the past, present and future “Our story is in the land ... it is written in those sacred places ... My children will look after those places, That's the law.” – Bill Neidjie, Kakadu elder. Example: Mirriam the Kangaroo and Wareen the Wombat o Mirriam and Wareen had a major fight because Wareen would not let Mirriam in his camp when it was raining o Mirriam was so angry that he threw a stone at Wareen's face > why the wombat has a flat nose o Wareen struck Mirriam with a spear near his tailbone > why kangaroos have tails o Wombats live in boroughs because of this and kangaroos sleep outside with no shelter Symbolism and art  Explains the creation of the natural world, and the laws which stem from this  Used as a means of teaching Aboriginal children about ethics and behaviour in society  Art has many layers of meaning and is linked by their strong designs and religious significance  Most artworks contain a heavy amount of mythological symbolism (they represent stories of supernatural beings and events): o 1st layer – obvious and open to everyone o The lower layer – some degree of experience or relationship with Aboriginal people or culture o The deepest layer – only available to the Elders. They are sacred and therefore protected and secret. Only initiated Elders can fully understand and appreciate the full story and understand the meaning and significance of it  Aboriginal art is religious, but at the same time represents secret / sacred significance through its totems, carved trees and incised stones  Represents the close connection between the ancestral beings and the values and customs of Aboriginal people Discuss the diversity of the Dreaming for Aboriginal peoples  

There are about 900 Aboriginal nations within Australia and, so, Dreaming stories differ greatly Each of these nations had its own dialect by which they communicated. As a result, there are differences in the Dreaming accounts

[NATURE OF RELIGION AND BELIEFS] 

Some groups that are close to each other geographically share many common elements of their Dreaming stories

Recognise the importance of the Dreaming for the life of Aboriginal peoples       

Envelopes the most essential aspects of their society such as creation, history, ancestry, folklore, laws, rituals, ceremonies, culture and philosophy Closest translation of the Aboriginal concept of how the world works The past, the present and the future Makes the identity of an Aboriginal person Dreaming stories contain a lot of meaning; the truth from a story is what sets the law for the present Dreaming stories give meaning to human life All their rules, laws, way of life and humanitarian way of been is shaped by the stories and experiences that The Dreaming

Investigate the inextricable connection of the Dreaming, the land and identity 

  

The land is the core of all spirituality – the land is not dead, it is alive with power and the Ancestral Beings who live in it. The land is the Ancestors and as long as the land lives, so do the Ancestors. The land is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment, and is sustained by people and culture It is impossible to discuss the beliefs and spiritualties of Indigenous Australians without talking about the land It is the land that gives them their identity – “the Land is my mother” The journeys of the Ancestral Beings (the Dreaming) shaped the landscape and gave birth to its people – journeys that are re-enacted in the rituals and ceremonies of the people and expressed in their art