AOS 1 exam revision

Question 1

What are the 9 aspects?

Answer 1

Beliefs
Ethics
Rituals
Texts
Symbols
Sacred stories
Social structure
Spiritual experience
Sacred spaces, places, artefacts, times

Question 2

Define Religion

2 points

Answer 2

A system of beliefs and practices related to the worship of a higher power

often involving rituals, moral guidelines, and a community of followers.

Question 3

What is a religious belief?

Why do people hold religious beliefs?

Answer 3

Ideas or articles of faith that are thought and felt by the adherents to be true.

Provide a reference point for decision making and articulation of faith.

Question 4

What role does religion play in transmitting sacred stories and explaining religious truths?

2 points

Answer 4

Religious traditions use sacred stories to transmit distinctive religious beliefs and truths from generation to generation.

Sacred stories provide adherents with an understanding on the key teachings in the faith regarding the ultimate reality, answering existential questions and guiding moral behaviour.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a religion? What does religion offer society?

(3 points)

Answer 5

Provides:

Sense of belonging for community and individual.

Social cohesion - appropriate ways to live safely and comfortably

Answers existential questions (what is in the afterlife?)

Question 6

What are rituals?

Answer 6

Sacred ceremonies with a prescribed set of actions and words of symbolic meaning.

Question 7

Significance of the aspect ‘rituals’ in religious practice?

Example of a ritual from 2 different religious practices? (Catholic and Buddhist)

Answer 7

Rituals are expressions of the distinctive beliefs.

Catholic faith: sign of the cross at the start and end of prayer to express their belief in the Triune God.

Buddhist faith: meditate ritually in order to achieve nirvana (complete state of bliss where they have broken through the cycle of samsara)

Question 8

What are symbols?

Answer 8

Signs, objects, persons, actions, or places that represent special religious meaning or power beyond themselves.

Question 9

How do symbols contribute to the communication of religious ideas and values?

Example in the Catholic faith?

Answer 9

Symbols are expressions of the distinctive beliefs.

Crucifix is a symbolic representation and expression of the belief in Jesus death and resurrection.

Question 10

What are beliefs?

3 examples of beliefs in catholic faith?

Answer 10

Ideas or articles of faith that are thought and felt by the adherents to be true.

The trinity (father, son, holy spirit), God created the world, There is one God.