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Stephanie Young - SORII Preliminary HSC NOTES Table of Contents Nature of Religion and Beliefs

2

Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spiritualities - The Dreaming

5

Religious Tradition - Judaism

8

Origins Principal Beliefs

8 11

Sacred Texts and Writings Core Ethical Teachings

13 14

Observance

15

Religious Tradition - Christianity

16

Origins Principal Beliefs

17 20

Sacred Texts and Writings Core Ethical Teachings

20 20

Personal Devotion

23

Religious Tradition - Islam

23

Origins Principal Beliefs

23 27

Sacred Texts and Writings Core Ethical Teachings

28 29

Expression of Faith

29

Religion in Australia - Pre 1945 Religious Traditions in Australia

30 31

Ancient Religions-

34

2.

Nature of Religion and Beliefs SST

DEFINITION

Monotheism

Belief that there is only one god.

Polytheism

Belief that there is more than one god.

Pantheism

The belief that God consists in everyone and everything. That all-things compose an all-encompassing, immanent god.

Theism

The belief in the existence of there being a Supreme Being or deities that rises above. Believes there is a God who made and governs all creation.

Deity

A god or divine being that is perceived as divine or sacred in a specific religion.

Semitic

Refers to the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Religion

A system of beliefs related to the worship of an all-powerful, Supreme Being, followed by a series of rules and ceremonies that provide its adherents with a meaning and purpose to life.

Variant

A version of something that differs in some respect from other forms of the initial or standard nature of it.

Doctrine

A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party or other group.

Denomination

A subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.

Religion as a Worldview: The framework of ideas and beliefs through which a religious individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it. Each religion promotes a unique worldview, to which its adherents comply to. The Supernatural Dimension: ●

The Semitic Religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) believe the supernatural dimension is a single divine power/being.

●

 erive from an understanding of a number of divine The Eastern Religions (Hinduism & Buddhism) d powers/beings.

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The dimension relies 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.

3. ●

The spiritual dimension can be described as metaphysical or miraculous.

Discuss a Transcendent Religious Worldview, which has a belief in a divine power; powers beyond the human. ●

Transcendence is defined as the concept of being existent beyond the universe (physical world) to which it is perceived as a supernatural element.

●

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 of the universe. ○

●

The central God exists beyond the human world, yet guides humanity through existence.

Christianity, Judaism and Islam - have a transcendent worldview.

Discuss an Immanent Religious Worldview, which has a belief in a divine being; powers dwelling within an individual. ●

Immanence is defined as the concept of being within; inherited.

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It recognises a divine being or powers as a constant reality – an active and continuing presence among

●

believers and this world. (it is present, not beyond the limitations of the universe)

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An immanent worldview is one where a divine being or powers dwell within the individual.

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Buddhism and Hinduism - have an immanent worldview.

Characteristics of Religion: 1. Beliefs and Believers ●

Belief defines the worldview of the believer & is central to all religious traditions; makes the beliefs specifically applicable to that community.

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A believer is somebody that adheres to a religion’s central teaching.

2. Sacred Texts and Writings ●

Beliefs and key doctrines derive from the sacred texts and writings.

●

At the centre of each religion, there are oral and/or written sacred texts, writings, or other types of stories that strengthen the specific religion or central tradition.

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Texts contain rules and directions on how to live as well as prayers and rituals central to the tradition.

3. Rituals and Ceremonies ●

Give doctrinal elements a lived expression.

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Celebrate & reinforce the central belief system & structures for that religion, led by religious leaders.

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Strengthen the adherents relationship with the supernatural.

4. Ethics ●

Govern what an adherent of a religion must do & their obligations to their God/s, fellow humans & their environment. -- Must be applicable to the practical demands of daily life.

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Embodies the doctrines present in the form of ‘laws’.

●

Derives from the key values of the religion, ie. sacred text.

4.

How do these characteristics of religion interact to create a dynamic, living religion? A dynamic religion is one that can be interpreted according to the needs of the times without losing the central ideas. A living religion is practical, real & immersed in everyday human existence, whilst maintaining its core beliefs, sacred texts, ethics and rituals. When these characteristics interact, they help to nurture a religion that is alive, dynamic and active in the lives of its adherents and the society it exists within. The Contribution of Religion to Individuals, Society & Culture:

Individuals ●

Answers life’s profound questions – explains

Society & Culture ●

the creation of the universe, human nature

Contributed greatly to the survival and development of human kind.

and life’s purpose.

○

Humans have survived and developed because of their capacity

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An identity, sense of belonging, helps the

to make sense of the world around

person understand what it is to be human.

them and to use various materials to improve their life.

●

Behaviour – how to treat themselves, others

○

and the environment.

Religion has been one such system by which humans have made sense of their place within the universe and

●

Present role models, guidance and direction

what it is they need to do in order to

for individuals to develop their understanding

survive both here and after death.

of their faith and. ● ●

Offers a system of beliefs to help guide individuals to behave appropriately (Ethics).

Religion helps maintain order and well-being for most members of society. ○

Through principal teachings that acknowledge the ultimate

●

Assists individuals in celebrating significant

responsibility of individuals towards a

life events (Rite of passage, Marriage)

divine being and their obligations and duties towards their neighbour,

●

religion has instructed generations on

Defines an individual's attitudes & ideas.

the means of preserving peace and harmony. ○

Human society rests on the essential basis of maintaining order to ensure safety & security of its members.

5.

Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spiritualities - The Dreaming SST

DEFINITION

Folklore

Traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

Everywhen

At any or all times the universal operation of Spirit manifested everywhere and everywhen.

Law

The system of rules which a particular country or community recognises as regulating the actions of its members

Lore

A body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group.

Metatemporal

A concept which incorporates the past, present and future reality as a complete and present reality.

Inextricable

Impossible to separate or escape from.

All-encompassing

Broad in scope and content, as a whole.

The Dreaming is a significant collection of indigenous Australian Aboriginal beliefs that provides its descendants a social and spiritual base, heightening their cultural heritage. The philosophies of the Dreaming represent their perceptions on how the world came to be based on the interrelation of all people and all things. Outline the Nature of the Dreaming in Relation to: 1. Origins of the Universe ●

The Dreaming explains the creation of the physical world having been the actions of ancestral beings.

●

No sense of creation or the first creator.

●

The origins of the Dreaming are metatemporal as its teachings are still represented, even though they derive from over 50 000 years ago.

2. Sacred Sites ●

An individual’s connection to the land, which gives life, food & shelter & is where their ancestors dwell. Sacred sites carry significance because of the association with various dreaming events.

●

Aboriginals are responsible to care and learn from these sites.

3. Stories of the Dreaming ●

Stories, songs, art and ceremonies recall the journeys of ancestral beings such as shaping the land, laying down the law and prominent responsibilities.

●

When Aboriginal communities take part in kinship, song, dance, art, rituals and stories, it reflects how the

6. ●

Dreaming is a lifelong process.

●

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:. ○

The Rainbow Serpent: The serpent is pictured as a being representing the divinity. It is depicted as the creator and protector of all people; and the punisher of law breakers. This specific creation story indicated to those of Aboriginal descent they were to obey the various rules created to receive the reward of new life, this is represented in the story through the animals being turned into humans once they display a recurring obedience.

○

The serpent is the giver of life due to its ongoing connection to all the natural elements on our earth; it sends conception spirits to all the watercourses, as it is in control of producing rainfall.

4. Symbolism and Art ●

Art played a significant role in the vital traditions and ceremonies of Aboriginal life, it was perceived as a supernatural power granted by their ancestral beings.

●

Most artworks contain a heavy amount of mythological symbolism (they represent stories of supernatural beings and events: ○

1st layer – obvious and open to everyone

○

The lower layer – some degree of experience or relationship with Aboriginal people or culture

○

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

●

Explains the creation of the natural world and laws.

Discuss the Diversity of the Dreaming for Aboriginal peoples ●

There were over 500 different clan groups or 'nations' around the continent, many with distinctive cultures, beliefs and languages.

●

As a result of this, the Dreaming stories developed from each nation differ greatly as they each have different accounts of the Dreaming through their different dialects.

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.

●

Dreaming gives an identity and meaning to Aboriginal life & sets the law for the present.

●

All their rules, laws, way of life and humanitarian way of being is shaped by the stories and experiences that occurred throughout The Dreaming.

7. Investigate the inextricable connection of the Dreaming, the land & identity ●

The sacred land is immensely significant to the Aboriginal people as their beliefs and dwellings of their Ancestral Beings; whom were the believed creators of the universe, reside in these landforms.

●

From the Aboriginal attitude to the environment, we can infer that respect was a key characteristic in their way of life not only to the communities they surrounded themselves with, but with the environment.

●

Aboriginal people refer to the land as their mother as the land nurtures them and is the provider of all human needs. Everything they required to survive was derived from the environment, the land. ○

The land provides them with identity .

Spirituality VS. Religion ●

Religion and Spirituality ARE NOT the same thing.

RELIGION

SIMILARITIES

SPIRITUALITY

What practices and rites

●

Belief

●

Where do I find meaning?

should I adhere to?

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Comfort

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How do I feel connected?

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What is right and wrong?

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Reflection

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How should I live?

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What is true and false?

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Ethics

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To seek meaning with

●

something bigger than yourself. ●

Having a sense of peace and purpose.

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Gaining perspective.

8.

Religious Tradition - Judaism SST

DEFINITION

Bri’t

Jewish term for covenant

Halakah

Jewish Law

Gemara

Further commentaries elaborating on the Mishnah

Kiddush

Prayer over wine to sanctify the Shabbat

Messiah

The awaited Saviour of the Jewish nation.

Mishnah

Compilation of the oral law recorded by Rabbi Judah around 200 CE

Mitzvot

The 613 commandments prescribed to Moses; mitzvah is one.

Tikkun Olam

Jewish concept meaning, repairing the world.

Torah

First five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, or TaNak, containing the Law.

Origins Outline the life of Abraham ●

Abraham's encounters with God:

●

God promises Abraham that: ○

He will become the head of a great nation.

○

God will provide him with a land of his own, the Promised Land of Canaan. God then instructs him to leave his own territory in southern Mesopotamia.

●

In Hebron, God promises that: ○

Abraham's descendents will be as numerous as the stars, in response to Abraham's plea for a child from his marriage to Sarah, despite their advanced years.

●

Following the birth of Ishmael, Abraham encounters God again where the promise of descendants is reaffirmed. Abraham is obliged to walk in the presence of God and be blameless. This covenant is known as the covenant of circumcision.

●

God requests the sacrifice of Isaac, the only son of Abraham and Sarah, and Abraham complies with this command. At the last minute the angel of God intervenes and saves Isaac from death. God reaffirms the dual promise of descendants and land in response to Abraham's fidelity.

9. Describe the Covenant with the Patriarchs ●

Importance of the covenant - the Covenant lies at the heart of the Jewish religion.

●

It expresses the intimate relationship between God and the people of Israel that is the cornerstone of Judaism.

●

The keeping of the mitzvot of the Torah is now the fundamental measure of fidelity to the Covenant.

●

There are four major covenants recorded in the Hebrew Bible: ○

Noah ■

God's saving actions - Saves Noah and his family from the flood.

■

God's promise - The earth will be destroyed again by flood.

■

Obligation - Noah and his descendants are called upon to live according to the ways of God, by tending to and caring for God's creation.

○

Abraham ■

God's promise - Abraham's descendants will be as numerous as the stars and will lead to the formation of a great nation. This will begin with the birth of Isaac, whose son Jacob is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. ●

■

To live in the promised land of Canaan.

Obligation - Abraham is required in the presence of God and be blameless.

○

Sinai covenant with Moses following the Exodus.

○

Covenant with David regarding the Monarchy.

Outline the story of the Exodus and the giving of the law at Sinai, including the Ten Commandments ●

Exodus is defined as a going out. T he story of Exodus is the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery by the Egyptians. It's key highlight of the story is the Israelites being led out of Egypt to the promised land.

●

Exodus starts off with Pharaoh's daughter discovering an abandoned child, who she chooses to nurse and name Moses. Over time, God becomes concerned for the immense suffering of the Israelites and appears to Moses in the form of a burning bush. He informs Moses of his plan  to return the Israelites  to Canaan; “a  land flowing with milk and honey”.

●

Moses confronts Pharaoh demanding the release of the Hebrew people, but Pharaoh just increases the workload. God responds by inflicting the 10 Plagues of Egypt; Egypt’s livestock with a disease, creates festering boils on humans and animals, and sends thunder, hail, and fire that destroy crops, livestock, and people. God sends swarms of locusts, and covers Egypt with “a darkness that can be felt” (10:21).

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The tenth and final plague kills all the firstborn ma...