nature of religion

Question 1

define supernatural dimension

Answer 1

an acknowledgement of a dimension that cannot be seen in the natural world. it is a place/dimension where the divine dwell/exists

Question 2

what does search for meaning lead to?

Answer 2

leads us to ask existential questions which make our world view a religious belief system and a non-religious belief system

Question 3

what is a religious belief system?

Answer 3

a worldview that believes in the supernatural dimension in which there is something beyond what we see

Question 4

what is a non-religious belief system?

Answer 4

belief in the natural world in which what you see is what you get

Question 5

define devine revelation

Answer 5

communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency

Question 6

define monotheism

Answer 6

the doctrine/belief that there is only one God

Question 7

discuss a transcendent religious worldview

Answer 7

refers to the ‘out there’ aspects of spirituality. it is a worldview that is beyond the human experience and points believers toward the divine world.

Question 8

what is transcendence in christianity

Answer 8

god is transcendent: belief in heaven as God’s dwelling ‘place’, hell as an absence of God
surpasses human knowledge: sacred/spiritual knowledge come from transcendent god
understanding the divine revelation: scripture (bible) has knowledge of divine revelation
common to monotheism: on e god, the originator/creator. god is all powerful and all knowing

Question 9

define an immanent religious worldview

Answer 9

a system of understanding that enables humans to discover spiritual ‘truth’ within human existence

Question 10

discuss an immanent religious worldview

Answer 10

emphasis is placed on God/s in human existence in day to day life, the deity is to be found within (referring to the inner aspects of spirituality)

Question 11

what are the limitations of categorising transcendent and immanent religious worldviews?

Answer 11

because there is religious that have aspects of both religious worldviews

Question 12

define belief

Answer 12

an acceptance that something exists or its true, especially one without proof

Question 13

what are the characteristics of religion

Answer 13

beliefs and believers, sacred texts and writing, ethics, rituals and ceremonies

Question 14

how can people have the full religious experience?

Answer 14

people need to experience beliefs & believers, sacred texts + writing, ethics, and rituals & ceremonies to have a full religious experience

Question 15

identify examples of beliefs

Answer 15

gods (or one single god), spirits (or forces beyond the natural), angels
human nature and the natural world (its origins and destiny)
life - meaning and purpose

Question 16

define sacred texts and writings

Answer 16

include writings that are believed to be actual copies of the words of God or written by people inspired by God - these words are considered to be holy, devout and wise

Question 17

identify the examples of sacred texts and writings

Answer 17

the Torah, the Bible, the Qur’an

Question 18

define ethics in religion

Answer 18

ethics govern what adherents must do, what is expected upon them to their God/God’s, environment and with treating others - clarifying what is right and wrong thus focusing on moral decision making

Question 19

how are ethics deprived in religion?

Answer 19

in religion ethics may be derived through sacred texts, doctrines, or traditional leadership

Question 20

define ritual

Answer 20

a prescribed pattern of religious behaviours

Question 21

define rituals and ceremonies in religion

Answer 21

they are enactments or systems of actions and beliefs that each have a beginning, middle and an end - they are directly linked to superhuman beings or forces
it assists individuals moving from one stage of life to another

Question 22

what are examples of rituals and ceremonies

Answer 22

in judaism male circumcision (brit milah) and coming of age ceremony Bar Mitzvah

Question 23

what does the transcendent dimension allow humans?

Answer 23

allows humans to move beyond their earthly concerns to the heavenly/spiritual matters

Question 24

what does the transcendent dimension allow humans?

Answer 24

allows humans to move beyond their earthly concerns to the heavenly/spiritual matters

Question 24

what does immance refer to

Question 25

define believers

Answer 25

adherents who have common beliefs that follow and accept the teaching of the religious tradition

Question 26

what is the role of beliefs and believers in the religious experience?

Answer 26

it sustains all religions, the belief in a great reality is central to all religions which can involve transcendent or immanent deities

Question 27

define a dynamic religion

Answer 27

one with energy, new ideas + achievements, that refreshes itself all the time, rather than being predictable and unchanging

Question 28

how does the characteristic interact

Answer 28

the way a community reads and understands their texts affects their beliefs, their lives, their understanding of other texts, their ritual and their ceremonies

Question 29

what is the result of characteristics interacting

Answer 29

when the characteristics interact, they help nurture a religion that is active in the lives of adherents and the society and culture they live in - thus, creating the religious experience

Question 30

what is the contribution of religion to individuals

Answer 30

answers the existential questions in life
provides people their key morality, ethics and values
fosters self-identity
helps people understand the world and provides a framework
can incite violence when adherents are challenged
provides spiritual, philosophical and material support

Question 31

what is the contribution of religion to society and culture

Answer 31

most laws are based on the values of different religions
helped inspire many of the earliest forms of are e.g. music, painting and architecture
basis of many rituals of society e.g. Christmas
promotes social order to a high degree
can be used to justify acts of violence or terrorism
creates a culturally diverse/multi faith society