AOS 1 SAC Revision

Question 1

Define religion

Answer 1

is regarded as a set of beliefs and values, usually involving the presence of or acknowledgement of a divine being, by which people govern their lives in both a moral and practical sense.

Question 2

Spirituality

Answer 2

the act of being open to perception and experience of everything being interconnected

Question 3

philosophy

Answer 3

the study of laws that govern thought, knowledge, the universe and reality

Question 4

adherent

Answer 4

a follower of a religion

Question 5

theistic

Answer 5

belief in a god or gods

Question 6

difficulties in defining religion

Answer 6

1. range of different understandings
2. some definitions are either too broad or too specific
3. different perspectives from inside to outside views

Question 7

Roles of religion on a person (general and specific)

Answer 7

general
1. make sense of existance
2. provide source of happiness during tragedy
3. provide central element of identity
specific
1. provide answers to the ‘big questions’
2. change lives for better

Question 8

Roles of religion in society

Answer 8

positives:
1. integrates people into community
2. providing framework for justice through legal systems
3. providing ethical principles which underpin charitable work
negative:
1. divisive in society
2. political tool for social control
3. impediment to progress of science and humanity

Question 9

Texts

Answer 9

oral/ written literature in which the essentials of the religion are recorded
eg. bible, qu’ran, torah
purpose: convey spiritual truth, rules and guidelines, promote beliefs, connection to the divine

Question 10

Rituals

Answer 10

a ceremony with a prescribed action/ words that have a symbolic meaning
eg.
individual- prayer, bar mitzvah
communial- sunday mass, xmas mass
purpose: allow adherents to feel connected to their religion and community

Question 11

Individual experience

Answer 11

can be religious or nonreligious but has to have meaning to the person
purpose: create personal relationships with gods
eg. whirling dervish, rosary beads

Question 12

beliefs

Answer 12

ideas that are the heart of religion and give its identity, these are accepted by the adherents to be true
purpose: expresses authoritative list including creeds and dogmas
interpreted to be relevant in current context
eg. god created the world in 7 days

Question 13

ethics

Answer 13

the rules and behaviour for the religion ad provides guidance in moral decisions
purpose: guide religion to a goal
eg. Buddhists believe they should never kill another living thing

Question 14

sacred stories

Answer 14

meaningful stories that reinforce beliefs or values about a religion purpose: authority, meaning, quoted sermons, storehouse of beliefs
examples: Noah’s ark, Adam and Eve, Mohammad, Moses and the Red Sea

Question 15

Symbols

Answer 15

objects that represent a deeper meaning and represents the beliefs or ethic of a religion
purose: identify a person to a religion
eg. crucifix, star of david, dharma wheel- buddhist

Question 16

Spaces, places, times and artefacts

Answer 16

spaces- churches, mosques, temples
places- Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina
time- xmas, lent, ramadan, Dirwali, Hajj
artifact- Shourd of Turin ( worn by Jesus)

Question 17

Social Status and structure

Answer 17

structure of the social hierarchy within a religion
purpose: stable system, built on shared values, allow adherents to understand the denominations of their faith

Question 18

formulate Practice Qs (use ai to help)

Question 19

transcendent

Answer 19

fully above space, time and human’s comprehension

Question 20

immanent

Answer 20

fully present in all things

Question 21

explain three reasons why people are adherents of a religion

Answer 21

people are part of a religion as they aim to improve themselves, be involved in a structured, secure society and be provided answers to the ‘big’ questions

Question 22

Humans are faced with the big questions all the time. Explain how religion can help -using examples

Answer 22

Humans are confronted with ‘big’ questions such as creation, purpose existence and religion assist with providing answers. Creation stories from different religions, allow humans to be provided with an answer such as the Christian story of Adam and Eve and the Taoism story of Pan Gu.

Question 23

Outline positive roles religion plays in society

Answer 23

Some positive roles religion plays is that is integrates individuals into a united community and provides ethical principles which underpins the concepts of charitable work and events.

Question 24

Discuss possible negative roles religion plays in society

Answer 24

Some negative roles religion plays in society is the divisive effects due to conflicting points and the use of religious values as a destructive political tool.