CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE G4.1

Question 1

Interaction between Religion and Society

Answer 1

• The relationship between religion and society is mutually interactive and has the ability to shape each other both positively and negatively.
• work cooperatively for the betterment of the whole society, however during times of conflict or tension they have the ability to challenge, restrict and criticise each other
• Ideally - respect should be the basis of the relationship between society and religion.

Question 2

Religion → society

Answer 2

→ Religion may contribute to social cohesion - provide ethical principles to guide societies values
→ Religion can inform and lead the policies and practices of wider society
→ Religion can contribute to tension and conflict, with secular society, other religious traditions in the society or other groups within their own tradition.
→ Religion can become dominant and autocratic, potentially leading to disharmony and injustice in their society

Question 3

Society → Religion

Answer 3

→ Society is constantly changing… may challenge, inspire, initiate change
→ Society may encourage re-evaluation and change – religion may become more relevant or meaningful to adherents
→ Society can contribute to tensions and disunity within religion
→ Society may partially or completely ban a religion from practising in that society

Question 4

Truth narrative

Answer 4

→ Ongoing story unfolding the lessons learned by religion in the SFM
→ A way of seeing the world and its meaning
→ Only meaningful within that religion
→ The religion has developed their account of the answers to the existential questions

Question 5

Living institution

Answer 5

→Interacts with members and society. - very active
→ Constantly developing and responding to new circumstances
→ Participating in debate discussion
→ Engaging in reflection, evaluation embracing/rejecting change
→ Dynamic, interactive
→ Permeable, in a state of development

Question 6

Engagement and negotiation

Answer 6

• How the trends, ideas, events and innovations of the wider society influence and were influenced by the way the tradition interacts with the wider society in relation to the challenge. Or little or no interaction
• The ways members of a religion are informed / involved / warned / threatened
  Wider societies:
  Power → government, judiciary, large corporation
  Credibility → university, research institutes, peak industry bodies
  Authority → police, school principal, bureaucrats

Question 7

Theology (study of God)

Answer 7

A challenge to the theology of the religion, meaning it calls into question the understanding of religious beliefs and therefore associated practices, whereby the religion has to take a stance and response in order to survive

Question 8

Ethics

Answer 8

There may be a challenge to the ethical principles and moral values of the religion which can call into question the ethics and status quo of the religious tradition

Question 9

Continued existence

Answer 9

A challenge to the continued existence of a religion threatens to destroy the religion and therefore challenges its survival and continuity, as well as having the ability to change the very identity of the religion

Question 10

Internal

Answer 10

• A member of the religion questioning core beliefs (social)
• Corruption within the leadership may result in members moving away (social, ideological, theological challenge)
• The emergence of denominations within the tradition may cause disunity and conflict within the tradition. (political ideology)
• The rise of a new leader or the discrediting of an existing one may threaten the tradition’s integrity of the existing authority structure. (historical, political, economic)

Question 11

External

Answer 11

• Scientific discoveries that contradict religious beliefs
• Social norms / laws are changed and thus, no longer align with the ethical principles of the religion
• Stem from hostile governments, war or persecution, genocide
• Changing political circumstances may result in banning the performance of certain ritual practices, perhaps impacting continued existence or ability to function effectively.
  Natural disasters - destroy places of worship - prayer/rituals. Religion needs to adapt / change beliefs and practices
  → War / persecution, discrimination, groups could split off, new trends / ideas, bioethics

Question 12

Significance

Answer 12

• Threatens distinctive beliefs and religious practice therefore the identity of the religion
• The capacity for the challenge to create a change in stance or point of view that may lead to a different stance or to different supporting responses.
• One that a tradition finds difficult if not impossible to ignore, though responses may be delayed, spasmodic or carried out over lengthy periods.
• If they are seen by a tradition as posing serious risk, threat, uncertainty or contradiction to some aspect of the religion.
• It leads to positive rethinking, stimulating reflection, new insights and opportunities for development in the tradition.

Question 13

Challenge

Answer 13

A challenge is a situation that stimulates a response from society and/or religious traditions. It is a threat or obstacle to the religion or society
- it call into question something about the religion and demands a response; a challenge therefore cannot be ignored by the religion
- Serious / minor

Question 14

Stance

Answer 14

“A stance is a principled perspective” VCAA
- for, against, indifference

Question 15

For

Answer 15

Recognising and acknowledging the challenge but welcoming and supporting whatever the challenge is promoting
→ embrace - change

Question 16

Against

Answer 16

Recognising and acknowledging the challenge but criticising and denying whatever it is promoting
→ resist - maintain the status quo

Question 17

Indifference

Answer 17

Some form of recognition of a challenge but not perceived as important to the status quo of the religion, therefore not responded to
→ ignore

Question 18

Supporting responses

Answer 18

• Each stance would see a religion developing strategies and actions (responses) that would support the stance taken, attempt to bring about change or retain the status quo
• May affect the wider society and or the religious tradition itself.
• A key aim is for the religious tradition to retain its integrity, authenticity and ultimately, identity.
• The strategies and actions (supporting responses) may not always accomplish the desired results

Question 19

Impact of responses

Answer 19

The challenge of change for a religious tradition is to:
- Retain its religious truth - integrity; authenticity; identity
- Ensure that it holds the relationship that it wants with its adherents and with the wider society
May change the way the religious tradition:
- Functions relates to own members
- Relates to the world
- Relates to other religious traditions