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Exam revision with summary notes of unit 3 and 4 for religion and society...

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Religion & Society Revision Book Contents Unit 3 AoS1 Responding to the search for meaning..............................................................................4 The aspects of religion.......................................................................................................................4 Beliefs:...........................................................................................................................................4 Ethics:............................................................................................................................................4 Texts:..............................................................................................................................................4 Social structures:...........................................................................................................................4 SPTA:..............................................................................................................................................4 Symbols:........................................................................................................................................4 Rituals:...........................................................................................................................................4 Spiritual experiences:....................................................................................................................4 Sacred stories:...............................................................................................................................4 The purpose of religion in the search for meaning............................................................................4 The nature of religious beliefs and their role in responding to the search for meaning....................4 For one or more than one religious tradition or denomination, a range of religious beliefs related to:......................................................................................................................................................4 – ultimate reality............................................................................................................................4 – the nature and purpose of human life........................................................................................4 – the meaning of suffering.............................................................................................................4 – death and the afterlife................................................................................................................5 – the relationship between ultimate reality and humanity............................................................5 – the relationship between humans..............................................................................................5 – the relationship between human life and the rest of the natural world.....................................5 The connections between these beliefs............................................................................................5 Unit 3 AoS2: Expressing meaning..........................................................................................................5 For religion in general, the role of each of the aspects, other than beliefs, in responding to the search for meaning............................................................................................................................5 For religion in general, the relationship of the aspects of religion to each other..............................5 For the selected religious tradition/s or denomination/s..................................................................5 – how at least two religious beliefs are expressed through each of the other aspects of religion.5 – the connections between these expressions, for each belief.....................................................5 – how the selected beliefs and their expression in each of the other aspects are intended by the selected religious tradition/s or denomination/s to engender and nurture meaning....................5 Unit 3 AoS3: Significant life experience, religious beliefs and faith.......................................................5

The relationship between a range of significant life experiences and religious beliefs for religion in general...............................................................................................................................................5 A significant life experience of a member from one or more than one religious tradition or denomination....................................................................................................................................5 The member’s level of adherence to, understanding of and faith in, relevant religious beliefs and their engagement with the related expressions prior to the experience, during the experience, and after the experience..........................................................................................................................6 The influence of the member’s religious beliefs and related expressions on their interpretation of the significant life experience............................................................................................................6 Unit 4 AoS1: Challenge and response....................................................................................................7 Challenges involving theology, ethics and continued existence for religion generally over time.......7 The sources of the challenges and what makes a challenge significant and the aspects of religion which are involved and why..............................................................................................................7 The stances adopted by religion generally in the face of challenges and why...................................7 An overview of challenges involving theology, ethics and continued existence faced by one or more than one religious tradition or denomination, including:..................................................................7 – the sources of those challenges..................................................................................................7 – when and where those challenges occurred or are occurring....................................................7 – the aspects in the religious tradition/s or denomination/s involved...........................................7 – what makes the challenges significant to the religious tradition/s or denomination/s...............7 – the stances, and responses supporting them, taken by the religious tradition/s or denomination/s to each of those challenges.................................................................................7 Unit 4 AoS2: Interaction of religion and society....................................................................................7 For one or more than one a religious tradition or denomination:.....................................................7 – a significant challenge involving at least one of the categories of theology, ethics and continued existence.......................................................................................................................7 – the broader context of the particular challenge.........................................................................7 – when and where the challenge occurred or is occurring............................................................7 – the sources of the significant challenge coming from within the religious tradition or denomination and from interactions with society.........................................................................7 How specific aspects of religion were or are involved.......................................................................8 The stances and supporting responses adopted by the religious tradition or denomination, in relation to the challenge....................................................................................................................8 The reasons and intended outcomes for the stances and supporting responses..............................8 The influence of the religious tradition’s or denomination’s stances and supporting responses on the challenge itself............................................................................................................................8 The influence of the responses on the religious tradition or denomination and on wider society....8

Unit 3 AoS1 Responding to the search for meaning The aspects of religion Beliefs: The central aspect for any religion. Beliefs inform the other aspects and are expressed through the other aspects. Beliefs are well-developed ideas regarding the ultimate reality, the meaning of life, the universe and our relationship with it. Beliefs are articles of faith about or related to ultimate reality that are thought by adherents to be true most beliefs are thought to be revealed through the ultimate reality in some way. Beliefs are abstract and the other aspects make them concrete.

Ethics: The system of rules or principles that are designed to guide choices of adherence through urging of virtuous behaviour. Ethics can be considered as what is morally right or wrong in a particular situation or circumstance.

Texts: Sacred texts are consisting of set of writing that venerates the foundational teachings of the faith that are revealed to adherents by the ultimate reality.

Social structures: The organization of religious leadership and hierarchy of followers that relate to the foundation of the religious faith.

SPTA: Encounter with ultimate reality through human interaction in sacred times and places of worship. Sacred places are church, mosques, sacred spaces can be the tabernacle, alter or the confessional. Sacred places generally consist of sacred spaces. Spaces  Designated area within a place where the sacred may be experience and commitment demonstrated. Places  Particular site such as a mountain, river shrine or building that represents the presence of the sacred. Times  Every religious tradition organises daily, weekly, monthly and annual ceremonies and rituals that for the rhythm of life of adherents and communities of that religious tradition. Artefacts  They can be a source of identify, focus for prayer or a way to make public affirmation of their beliefs.

Symbols: Important images or emblems that publicly display or help to explain a religious tradition that typically convey deeper meaning.

Rituals: Prescribed set of actions which attempt to express the symbolic meaning behind particular beliefs of a tradition as tangible actions.

Spiritual experiences: Experiences that go beyond or transcend normal earthly existence which are generally viewed as human divine communication.

Sacred stories: Myths and stories which relate to imaginative detail to a believed truth that convey abstract meaning behind beliefs and ethics

The purpose of religion in the search for meaning Religion has a multitude of purposes in the lives of adherents. It provides a belief of a transcendent authority that provides society with common values. It also provides a truth narrative that makes sense of the world including its origins and end. However, ultimately, it is the view that religion gives individuals meaning and purpose in life that truly establishes its most vital purpose. Firstly, the overall purpose of religion in the search for meaning is to offer the criteria of an ultimate reality to the creation of one’s best self. This ‘best-self’ lives according to the ultimate reality and final meaning that are given as a gift and are not the subjective construction of one’s own desire. Religion seeks to assist the individual to freely conform their earthly existence to the order of a supernatural order that is beyond space and time. Secondly, religions seek to aid and transform society by responding to the vital values of physical and emotional wellbeing. Religions may derive their identity from a transcendent, supernatural otherworldly vision, but the adherents recognise that they live in a natural and imperfect world. Generally, religions in society find purpose in the provision of social services and charity to the poor, homeless and the marginalised in society. Thirdly, religions generally have the purpose of offering society social values that inform and underpin the ethical systems and moral values that guide the co-operative schemes of human behaviour. These underpin the legal and economic systems used in the society. Religions create the framework for acceptable behaviour and the limits of acceptable redress for those who offend against the systems. All this fosters the co-operation that provides for the material wellbeing of individuals and their desire to feel included in society.

The nature of religious beliefs and their role in responding to the search for meaning Religion overtime has found significant purpose for organising and expressing respect in the worship for the Gods. It plays an imperative role in shaping society through providing the essential answers to fill the voids of uncertainty and obscurity. These answers unravel mysteries of the world that we may not have complete understanding of and as long as the unfathomable world poses questions, religion will continue to provide the answers and consequently, support the progress and development of human knowledge. Religious experience

Aspects

Religious knowing

Faith

Beliefs

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Generally: o The search for meaning is a fundamental human response to life, which is both universal and personal. o

There is a question raised about the relationship between experience, religious beliefs and reason. This is an important relationship as some traditions claim that both faith and reason must be respected; however, there are other traditions that accept that beliefs can never be proven by reason.

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Religious beliefs are the objectified content of a faith response to an encounter with ultimate reality. They seek to express something of the nature of the ultimate reality and the ultimate value and final meaning that is derived from that encounter. Bernard Lonergan

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Relates to the faith aspect of religion in which an adherent requires a leap of faith which forms the basis of any religious concept. Religions involve no factual evidence or objective thinking in its teachings, therefore its nature revolves around beliefs, values and morals.

Role in religion in search for meaning: The continued advancement in human knowledge will facilitate the search for meaning in life. The answers that religion proposes will answer the question of meaning in life as it answers the questions that are most enigmatic to the knowledge of humanity. 

Generally: o Sociologists have suggested that the purpose of religion is to help shape society through providing ideas that support progress.

o

“A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden -- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” – Emile Durkheim.

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Three key categories of belief: o Fundamental beliefs are those that establish and define the essential nature of the tradition. These are distinctive (unique) for a tradition. o Subsequent beliefs are those that are derived over time that further develop the implications of the fundamental beliefs. o There are beliefs which give a religion identity  some are foundational beliefs that emerged at the inception of the tradition and helped to define the tradition and distinguish the religion from other groups. These beliefs are also what shape the 9 aspects of religion as all the aspects link to beliefs which often guide and dictate the aspects

For one or more than one religious tradition or denomination, a range of religious beliefs related to: TRINITARIAN GOD (GOD IS LOVE) – ultimate reality The ultimate reality in Christianity is God and that God is the manifestation of love. The universe, the world, all created out of God’s unconditional love for humanity. The universe is not only moral and righteous, but ordered and purposeful. Everything in existence is part of God’s divine plan, a plan too great for humans to fully comprehend, only to interpret it through the belief of God’s loving intentions and he’s willingness to consummate a love which will perpetually last till the end of time.  

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (John 4:8)

These words portray the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe and everything in it. HOLY TRINITY Catholics also believe that the one God exists in 3 persons, the Trinity God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

– the nature and purpose of human life Humans are created in the image of God and our purpose is to know, worship and love God just like he loves us. God is with each and every single one of us, guiding us towards the actualisation of his divine plan.

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“God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27) “He has created them to know, serve and love God” (Catechism 358-389) “this is my command: Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12) “Humans are called to lead their lives the way Jesus did” all human life is made in the “image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26),

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Treat each other as Jesus did—“Humans are called to lead their lives the way Jesus did which he had summarised into one commandment to his apostles”—John 15:12

– the meaning of suffering The crucifix represents the unconditional love through human suffering as it unifies humanity with Christ’s suffering. It is through that which God displays his transformative love towards humanity as he transforms the evils into supreme good and righteousness. 

“The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of [their] faith” (Compendium 631-638 (126) - “suffering should be rejoiced in as it provides hope and character” (Romans 5:3) -It is also taught that God provides humanity with freedom to choose and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and as stated by the Philosopher G W Leibniz, “suffering is the price we pay for the freedom to choose”.

– death and the afterlife God promised that Jesus’ death would achieve salvation, death had been transformed from a consequence of sin into eternal life as a result of God’s transformative love for humanity and thus, those who die will dwell in the afterlife in the love of the trinity.

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“In this love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) “The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of [their] faith” (Compendium 631-638 (126)

Catholics believe that although death is the end of physical existence, it is the beginning of spiritual and external life with God in His Kingdom. However, depending on how life is lived will determine whether you live in heaven or Hell – “It is appointed for men once to die and after his the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27) Catholic scripture teaches that “death is a consequence of sin” (CCC 1008) and “death is transformed by Christ.” (CCC 1009) This means that death entered the world as a result of human sin and ultimately, that Jesus “suffered the death that is part of the human condition” (CCC 1009) – a predisposition to sin. Jesus, however, accepted death as a part of God’s will, and acknowledged that death brings upon entrance into the Kingdom of God and eternal life with the Father. Although “death is the end of earthly life,” (CCC 1007) the Catholic Christian tradition believe...