Religion

BOOKLET ONE
WORLD VIEWS

Religion

Booklet One: Life Visions

 Our worldview acts as the lens which we see the world though.
 Every human has their own personal worldview, and if confronted with it, it
might make us scared, sad or mad.
 The worldview comes from the German word Weltanschauung.
 We may be unaware but, each of us has a worldview.
 A worldview may be understood as a framework or set of fundamental
beliefs through which we view the world and our place in it.
 Worldviews support beliefs, actions, and plans, gives shape to our lives and
hopes for the future.
 World views are different for everyone.
 As we begin to focus on our world views, you will start to form an opinion
about these themes;
 Reality
o Is there a God or Gods? , What is the nature of the world around us?
 Human Nature
o What is a human being?
 Death
o What happens to people when they die?
 Knowing
o How and what do we know about the world and universe?
 Value
o How do we know what is right or wrong?
 Purpose
o What is the meaning or human history?
 Who I am
o What is my purpose?
Religion
BOOKLET TWO: TOPIC ONE
NATURE OF RELIGIONS AND CHANGING
BELIEFS

Booklet Two: The Nature of Religions and Beliefs

Glossary: Definition:

Immanent Religion A religion that holds that God and

 Goddesses or divine spirits live within
nature and that the universe was
created by these spirits and is
maintained by their power.
Monotheism Belief in a single God. Judaism, Islam
and Christianity are monotheistic
faiths.
Pantheism The belief that God and the universe
are one- there is no divine power
outside of the universe, but
everything that makes up the universe
is God.
Paradigm The core belief of a particular religious
tradition that is the basis for all other
beliefs held by believers of that
tradition.
Polytheism Belief in many Gods or Goddesses.
Example: Hinduism.

Transcendent religion A religion that holds that there are

beings that exist beyond known
universe that are not subject to the
laws of nature; polytheism and
monotheism are the two principle
types of transcendent religion.
Worldview A general philosophy or view of life.

Tuesday 02/02/2021- Class Notes

 What is a world view?

 A worldview is how we see the world as our own person.
 What influences your worldview?
 Culture, Science, Friends, Family, Environment and Personality.
  Outline your own world view, and the factors that shape it.
 My own world view is Religious. This is because of people I surround
myself with, my school, family, culture and the was my morals are
represented.

Monday 08/02/2021- Class Notes

The Nature of Religion

 Pantheism: The idea that everything is divine

 Monotheism: The belief there is only one God
 Polytheism : Multiple Gods and Goddesses’
 Immanent Religion: A religion that believes that Gods, Goddesses and/or
divine spirits live within nature and that the universe was created and
maintained by their power.
 Transcendent Religion: Belief that Gods and Goddesses’ are still necessary
for the ongoing existent of the universe.
 Religion is a world view.
 Never compare religions.
 Secularism: belief that religions don’t need an active role in society.
 Ancient civilisations needed to believe in religions for fertitiliy of land,
women, harvest.

Page 5

 Religion has been an essential part of the way humans have ordered
and made sense of the world (world view)
 Religion has been the means of answering some of the most
significant questions that confront humans.
 A system of answers shared by a significant number of people is
called a worldview.
 Every culture that exists today is in fact a different worldview and it is
necessary for humans to appreciate these differing ways of
understanding the world and humans.
  From prehistoric times humans have clearly shown a sense that the
answer to these questions and their survival depended on powers
and forces beyond their direct control.
 These powers needed to be acknowledged, made happy and
worshipped so that the harvest would be plentiful, the hunt would
be successful etc.

CHRISTIANITY ISLAM JEWISH

 1 God  Allah  Yahweh
 Father, Son (Jesus)  Allah means God  God was never on
and Holy Spirit  God was never on Earth
 Shown Himself Earth  Jesus was a trouble
through Jesus (transcendent) maker and
 Jesus was a considered a sinner
prophet

Homework:

Brief summary of;

 Immanent Religion:
 A religion that believes that Gods, Goddesses and/or divine spirits
live within nature and that the universe was created and maintained
by their power. For example; Buddhism.
 Polytheism:
 The belief of many Gods or Goddesses’. For Example Hinduism.
 Monotheism
 The belief in one singular God. For example Christianity.

09/02/2021

Major Religious Traditions:

1. Christianity
2. Islam
 3. Judaism
4. Hinduism
5. Buddhism

 New age (Pagan)

 Shinto
 Sikhs
 Tribal
 Tao
 Aztec
 Mayan
 Inca
 Rastafarianism
 Nordic
 Celtic
 Zoroastrianism
 Dreamtime
 Bahai

4 main factors of Religions:

1. Beliefs (doctrine/paradigm) and believers (adherents)

2. Sacred texts and writings (The Bible, Quran)
3. Ethics (Euthanasia, Capital punishment)
4. Rituals and ceremonies (Holy communion/Church Service; to
communicate with Gods and ceremonies)

Religions must have the 4 main factors above to be considered a religion

Monday 15/02/2021

Page 14: Contribution of Religion

 Religions offer an individual answers to life’s questions.

  Help us understand what it is to be human.
 Religions teach us ethics and it guides us.
 Religions give us peace and purpose.
 Religions influence cultures and societies and we are also
influenced by them.
 Religions have at times been responsible for holding back
progress in society.
 Religions provide a sense of identity.

Influences of Religions

 View on abortion
 View on murder or capital punishment
 Choice of dress
 Choice of food
 The people who we involve ourselves with
 The places we go to
 The rituals we participate in
 The community we involve ourselves with
 The areas we live in
 The way we celebrate milestone events

 Forgiveness gives you peace: The Abdullah Family

Page 15 to 16: Contribution to Society and Culture:

 Religions have 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.
 Islamic law: Sharia law
 Society needs peace in order to survive
 Societies laws are based on the ethical systems of a religious traditions
 Place in society is determined by Religion
 Religions have seen the importance of education for their young and the
need to develop higher forms of learning for the educated.
 Religious traditions have been great patrons of the arts. E.g. Taj Mahal
 Religions have also dictated the appropriate diet and dress for people.
 Religious instates institutes have also have also sponsored artists to
decorate their sacred spaces; Mosques, Temples and music.
 Religions have on occasion prevented the advancement of knowledge and
understanding.
 Religions have been an essential part of society and culture.
 Religion has made the biggest contribution to society.
Religion
BOOKLET TWO: TOPIC TWO
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINIAL BELIEFS AND
SPIRITUALITY- THE DREAMING
Glossary: Definition:

Dreaming A European term that refers to the

essence of truth in Aboriginal religious
beliefs.

Kinship Highly sophisticated networks of

relationships governing interactions
between members of Aboriginal
language groups.
Land rights The inherent rights of Aboriginal of
their land, forming the basis of a
movement designed to ensure the
preservation of Aboriginal spirituality
and culture.
Minis Aboriginal spirits or spirit figures.

Sacred Sites Natural land formations where

Aboriginal Ancestral Spirits interacted
with creation.

Secret Sacred Certain aspects of Aboriginal religion

and spirituality that are reserved for
initiated Aboriginal persons.

Totemism An entity (plant, animal or natural

object) that is sacred. (What connects
you to the spirits/ your religion)

Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spirituality- The Dreaming:

Tuesday 16/02/2021
Australian Aboriginal Beliefs and Spirituality- the Dreaming:

We can understand the impact of dispossession on Aboriginal

Spiritualities.

The Nature of Dreaming:

 Aboriginal world view of creation.

 It holds the creation of life, the birth of humanity and the ordering of all
things.
 It is the past of Spirit Ancestors of Spirit beings or Ancestral Beings.
 Been passed down generation to generation for 140 000 years- The time
Aboriginals lived on ‘Australia’.

Question:
1. Define the ‘Dreaming’
- A European term that refers to the essence of truth in Aboriginal religious
beliefs.

The Importance of Traditional Beliefs and the Dreaming:

 Within the Dreaming, the Creator, through the spirit beings, shaped the
land, making its mountains, valleys hills, gullies, rivers, streams, flora and
fauna.
 The whole creation is of spiritual significance.
 In aboriginal spirituality everything has a place and connection.
 This connection is expressed through totemism.
 The Aboriginals have an intimate connection with the land.
 Inextricable: you cannot be separated from.
 Aboriginals are not compulsive builders; rather their sacred sites are
natural land formations.
 They didn’t own the land; it owned them.
 Cooperation between Aboriginal groups was important, the recognised
each other’s customs.
 This shows they were truly egalitarian (equal).
  Different groups play different roles in rituals.

Ongoing affects of dispassion of aboriginal people:

 Loss of language
 Loss of culture
 Loss of religion
 Loss of identity

Stories of Dreaming

The Story of Nguthunanga Mai Ambatanha

(The Dreaming Spirit Cooking of Damper)

 This story teaches us people (children specifically) about the dangers of

wondering away from your parents, to always stick by your mother and
responsibility. It also shows the length motherly love will take someone
when their child is in danger.

Tuesday 22/02/2021

Aboriginal Symbolism and Art

 Sacred objects, paintings and sacred sites are examples of sacred literature.
 Oral, musical, dance of visual arts are all examples of expression.
 Sacred laws are passed down through art and stories.
 Many layers of meaning.
 Aboriginal people were temporary.
 The Mabo decision overturned the idea that Australia belonged to nobody.
 Many volumes have been written about Aboriginal symbolism.
 Many volumes have been written about Aboriginal symbolism and art- the
particular types and styles, the media, the significance, the aesthetic or
financial value.
 Aboriginal symbolism and art are inextricably linked to aboriginal religion
and spirituality.
 ‘...Aboriginal art and ritual objects play an important role
in telling of stories and in preserving the sacred laws
handed down from the past...’

Activities
1. What is meant by oral traditions?

USE IN RESPONSES:

 Inexorably
 Inextricably
 Means you understand that you can’t separate an aboriginal from
their spirituality and culture.

Women and Dreaming

 Why is women’s place in aboriginal culture very/more important
than a male?
 Responsible for domestic
 Secret sacred for female
 Oldest female had authority
 Fertility; gave birth to everything

Connection of the Dreaming, the Land and Identity

Monday 24/02/2021

 Connection of Land to Aboriginal Spiritualities

 What are we learning: The importance of land to A.S
 Why are we learning: So we can understand the consequences or
impacts of dispassion on A.S