Dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs and attitudes ( Section six ) Flashcards
How many years ago was it when Christianity was introduced in Britain ?
2000 years ago when the Romans first arrived
The Church itself can trace its origins to the early 7th century
Examples of how Christianity is embedded in British society today
School terms are arranged around Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter
The Christian calendar also influences Valentines day , Pancake day ( Shrove Tuesday ) and Halloween ( the day before all saints day )
The week has seven days reflecting the biblical story of the creation of the universe
How is the Queen related to Religion ?
The Queen is head of state and defender of the faith
She is also the supreme governor of the church of England
What is the Queens role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England ?
Approves the appointment of senior clerics ( archbishops , bishops and deans of cathedrals )
Opens new sessions of the General synod ( the church’s governing body ) since 1919, the synod has power to propose laws on any matter concerning the Church of England
Keeps the coronation vow to maintain the Church
House of Lords
The House of lords includes 26 spiritual. They are all bishops of the Church of England. This means the Bishops have a large role in the country’s government
Name Christian rites of Passage ?
baptism : Which celebrates the birth of a baby and welcomes it into the church
marriage : a ceremony that marks the coming together of two people to start a new family
Funerals : When people’s lives are remembered and loved ones can say goodbye to the deceased
Example of how Christian services get to British public life ?
National Service of remembrance i held in London to remember the contributions of service personnel in the two world wars.
Services also are held at war memorials across the country , many of which take the form of a cross.
Name the eight public holidays in England and wales mark christian occasions ?
Good Friday remembers the death of Jesus
Easter Monday is the second Day of Easter. It emphasises the importance of Easter Sunday , which celebrates the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Jesus
Christmas day : Celebrates the Birth of Jesus
Boxing day: Marks the day on which workers were traditionally given a Christmas box or gift , by the people they served. It is also the feast of St Stephen
How where the first schools in England connected to the church ?
The first schools in England where founded by the Church and attached to cathedrals and monasteries
The church of England was responsible for most educational establishments until the state became involved in the education of children in the 1830s
What do the National secular society and British Humanist Association believe about public money to fund schools ?
They are against the principle that religious groups should be able to use public money to fund schools.
They also think that if churches want faith schools they should fund them themselves.
Faith schools select pupils from the wealthiest families and so do not represent their local communities.
What do some religious groups argue about Public money to fund schools ?
Since they contribute 10 % of costs of some of the faith schools , they are actually paying for public education
If some religious families are wealthy , then they are paying higher taxes and so contribute more than most people to state education, including non-faith schools
The curriculum that faith schools follow is the same as that for all the state schools
It is the values and ethos of faith schools that are grounded in the spiritually and morality of the faith organisation
Parents should be able to choose schools for their children that share their values
What is secularisation ?
The idea that religious beliefs , practices and organisations are becoming less important in society
What evidence is there that supports the idea of secularisation ?
Religious teachings and organisations are no longer respected
We can rely on material comforts for our happiness and so have less need to believe in supernatural ideas.
Religion has become a private matter and has less influence in public life
People are increasingly less committed to religious values and practices such as prayer and worship.
Religion has become a leisure pursuit rather than a deep commitment
Name the three processes that occur in the modernisation of society that have a direct influence on the decline of religion.
Rationalisation - Society becomes committed to following practical and provable principles and procedures , such as science, politics and economics
Differentiation - Society develops increasingly specialised institutions eg Economy , law and health. Religion no longer have direct relevance to any of them
Decline of community - Modern life is increasingly organised and regulated. Religion used to be the heart of the community and it is irrelevant for society regulated by the state
Where in society has religion decreased in power and authority ?
Fewer people attend church services
fewer people are willing to work in the church
churches are closed or sold off
fewer people are getting married
Less people are baptised
Christian festivals have lost their significance
Evidence that religion is still part of society
People still hold onto their religious beliefs
Religion is still very important in many social groups, particularity minority ethnic groups eg muslims
New religious movements and eastern religious have experienced considerable popularity
What is humanism ?
A way of seeing and reacting to the world using science , logic and reason and rejecting religious beliefs and ideas
What are the 3 principles humanists have today ?
A scientific view of the universe that rejects supernatural beliefs
A concern for the welfare of other human beings and animals based on reason , not divine authority
The need for each person to create meaning in their own life without the belief in life after death.
What did the group ( British humanist association ) Campaign to do ?
Disestablish the Church of England
Remove the right of Anglican bishops to sit i the house of lords
Abolish faith schools
What is the National secular society’s view on religious education in school ?
It is against the idea of the state promoting religion
It opposes the confessional teaching of Christianity in Christian schools
What is The British Humanist Associations view on religion in schools ?
They oppose religious worship in school.
It says religious worship ignores the right of children to freedom of belief and conscience by giving only parents the right to have a child excused from worship.
What does marriage mean for Christians ?
It is a special relationship between a man and a women that is created by God
When a couple get married they make promises to God that their relationship will be faithful a permanent
What is a civil marriage ?
It is a legal contract between two people that sets out rights and duties between them
What is the Roman Catholic view on marriage between a non-catholic and a catholic ?
They accept the marriage of non-Catholics through a civil ceremony , but do not recognise that Catholics can be married in this way
What is the Church of England’s opinion on same-sex marriage ?
The Church is opposed to same-sex marriages in Church.It teaches that marriage can take place only between a woman and a man
What is the Roman Catholic view on same-sex Marriages ?
Wholly opposed to same sex marriages and does not recognise marriage between two people of the same sex
What is the Church of England’s view on divorce
They believe that marriage is permanent and a lifelong union
What is the Catholic Church’s view
The Church does not recognise Divorce , Divorces are therefore not allowed to remarry in a Catholic Church
What is the Christian view on Marriage ?
Christian Churches teach that consent is an important condition and they opposed forced marriages
Christian view on arranged marriage ?
They are not compatible with this aspect of Church teaching
What is the Roman Catholic view of Marriage ?
Roman Catholic Church allows Bishops in individual countries to set ages for marriage in their own country.
The Catholic Church law does allow for males to marry when they are 16 and females when they are 14
What is the Christian view on equality ?
Christianity teaches that all people are equal , regardless of sex , ethnicity , nationality , sexuality , class or disability
Why does Christianity believe why all people are equal ?
God created the human race
God plays a part in the creation of each individual
God loves each person and accepts them as they are
God creates humans in his own image
Example of Christian s who have fought against secular authorities to establish equality in the face of injustice ?
Martin Luther King in The USA
Trevor Huddlestone in South Africa who campaigned against racial inequality
Bible example of inequality
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians says that women should be silent in church and in submission to men
Church of England view on women equality ?
After years of debate women allowed women to be ordained as priests and bishops
What is the Roman Catholic view on women equality ?
Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is against the will of God for women to have leadership roles in the Church
What is the equality act ?
The equality act of 2010 requires equal treatment of men and women in access to employment
But priests , monks , nuns and ministers of religion are exempt from the provisions of the act
What is the marriage act of 2013 ?
Makes the marriage of same-sex couples lawful in England and Wales in civil memories.
The act ensures that no religious organisations can be made to allow same sex-marriages to happen on their premises
What is assisted suicide ?
When a terminally ill patient asks someone to help them take their own life ; this is a form of active euthanasia
Under what act is suicide illegal ?
Suicide act of 1961
A vote among the Mps in the house of commons in sep 15 saw a proposal to legalise assisted suicide
Why do Christians believe Euthanasia is wrong ?
Life is precious - It is scared because it was created by God ( Sanctity of life )
Euthanasia is deliberate killing , which is murder and the Ten commandments have forbidden murder
Christians have a duty of care for those who are suffering
What are the non-religious reasons against Euthanasia ?
A doctors duty is to preserve life not end it
Medical advances mean that pain control is more effective and cures for illnesses
Some patients agree to Euthanasia against their will so they are not a burden on their relatives
What is a argument to support Euthanasia ?
Murder is committed through anger an hatred where as Euthanasia is performed out of love and compassion
What is the Christians view on the right to die
No one has the right to take a life accept God
He created you so he takes your life as well
What is the Christian view on conception ?
Life begins at conception , the moment that sperm meets the egg
The fertilised egg is a sacred life
God given with the same rights as a baby , child or adult
Define abortion ?
The termination or ending of a pregnancy usually deliberately and through medical processes
What do pro-life people believe ?
The moment of conception marks the beginning of life and believe abortion is wrong
What is the Roman Catholic view on Abortion ?
Wholly opposed to abortion and think its murder
What is the Church of England view on Abortion
They are against it
But if the pregnancy puts the women in danger or if she was raped etc she may have an abortion
What is the pro choice view ?
They believe that women should have an absolute right to decide whether or not to continue the pregnancy
She is affected the most by the pregnancy
What is another view on abortion ?
A balance must be struck between the rights of the fetus and the rights of the women
The rights of the fetus increases as it develops in the womb of the woman.
They believe abortion is acceptable or not in certain circumstances.
What is the Roman Catholic view on Theraputic cloning ?
It is opposed to Therapeutic cloning
It teaches life begins at conception , so the embryo is a human being.
The deliberate destruction of embryos after stem cells have been removed is wrong
Define Artificial insemination
Collecting sperm and inserting it directly into a woman’s uterus through non-sexual means
What is In vitro fertilisation ( IVF )
The bringing together of sperm and egg outside a womans body in laboratory conditions
What does the Church of England teach about conception ?
Conception should occur in a loving sexual relationship
If not possible AI is acceptable
What is the Roman Catholic View on IVF ?
They don’t like it because conception does not take place through sexual intercourse within a marriage
What is the Church of England’s view on IVF
They accept the treatment but understands why some Anglicans may oppose it
It even accepts the use of embryos for medical experimentation
What is Exlcusivism ?
The view that only one religion is true and the others are necessarily false
What is the Christian view on Exclusivism ?
Salvation is only possible through explicit and conscious knowledge of and faith in Jesus Christ
Those who follow other faiths, those who reject the Christian faith or even those of other Christian denominations are destined in hell
What is pluralism ?
It rejects the idea that God has revealed himself only through Jesus Christ and that salvation can be obtained only through him
What is the pluralist view on Exclusivism and inclusivism ?
They disagree with the idea that God has revealed himself only through Jesus Christ and that salvation can be obtained only through him.
God reveals himself through all the worlds religious traditions.
Example of intra - faith communication
ecumenism This means ‘the whole world’
It attempts to bring unity of Christian Churches
What is the WCC ?
World council of Churches
It consists of 350 Churches representing half a million people
What are the three areas that the WCC work in ?
Establishing a global fellowship of Churches seeking a deeper understanding of each other
developing a wider dialogue
Building peace and serving human need
Educating and training to ensure the future of ecumenism
What is the aim for the Council ?
To pursue the goal of the visible unity of the church
Why don’t all Christians like ecumenism ?
Esclusivists find it hard to accept other denominations on equal terms
Some Churches are happy to remain distinct form other Christian groups
Make them less distinct from other Christian groups
Inter faith dialogue ?
It is an attempt to understand the differences and respect them while remaining true to one’s faith.
What are the aims of inter faith dialogue ?
Enabling members of different faith communities to develop a friendship
providing opportunities to learn about each others beliefs
promoting multi faith local events
engaging in local projects
What is the Roman Catholic view on inter faith dialogue ?
The Roman Catholic Church has promoted inter-faith dialogue since the second vatican council
It encouraged more open relations with other faiths
What is the PCID ?
Pontifical Council of Inter religious
What are the aims of the PCID ?
Promote mutual understanding , respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religions
Encourage the study of religion
promote the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue
How does the Church of England encourage inter faith dialogue ?
The Church runs a presence and Engagement programme to engage with people from different faiths
What is a theocracy ?
A country ruled by religious leaders.
Example of a theocracy ?
Iran which has Shia Isalm as its official religion and whose supreme leader is a Muslim cleric
What is Proselytisation and controversial ?
To tell others about their religion and try to convert them so that they become Christian
Proselytisation ?
people who proselytise may call themselves evangelists
The people who feel they are being proselytised may feel that evangelism is an invasion of their privacy
There is tension , then , between freedom of expression
What are the two names of non religious people ?
Atheists - people who believe that there is no God
Agnostics - People who say it is impossible to know whether God exists
What do secularists believe about religious world views ?
Some atheists and agnostics are secularists
They say that everyone has the right to freedom and belief , whether that belief is religious or not
They maintain that beliefs are private and should not affect other people if they do not want to be affected by them
Religious and religions beliefs and practices should not have special status or receive special treatment by the state
What do Humanists believe about world views on religion ?
They believe in the equal treatment of everyone , whether religious view of the universe
They think that the universe can be explained entirely by science and that people find their own meaning in life and behave with compassion and dignity without the need of a god
What do Christians , atheists and agnostics , humanists and secularists all agree on ?
That human beings have a moral sense and have the capacity to behave in a moral way
They disagree because of the Christian teaching that morality is not possible without God and that positive values come from the teaching of Jesus.
A non-religious view is that these values are not Christian values, they are human values.
humanist and Christian values ?
Compassion - For Christians , compassion comes from God , whose own compassion is revealed most in Jesus’ teaching and his sacrificial death
Support for those in need - Christians believe they have a religious as well as a moral duty to help those who need it
The promotion of peace over war - Jesus teaches about the value of peace “ blessed are the peacemakers , for they shall be called children of God “
Protection of the environment - For Christians , the environment is the creation of God
Human beings are stewards - God’s representatives - charged with the duty of caring for the environment
Christian Values concern ?
Christians are concerned that traditional values , which they may call ‘ Christian values ‘ , no longer seem important in secular society
Examples of decline in Christian values ?
The Christian ideal is that sex is an act of love and procreation that should occur only within a married relationship. yet sex before marriage is now socially acceptable
Christianity teaches that a marriage is the relationship within which a couple have children.
Many Christians still believe that same sex relationships is wrong
secular society seems to value wealth and celebrity over spiritual and moral values. Christians believe there is life after death in which wealth and celebrity have no meaning
Examples which in areas of religious values and institutions seem to have special protection or privilege ?
Establishments : Both the national secular society and the British Humanist Association campaign against the establishment of the Church of England. They also believe that religious groups play too great role in advising governments and being involved in making decisions of state
Education: Secularists and humanists oppose the involvement of religious groups in publicly funded education
Religious exemption : employment law in Britain allows religious organisations and discriminate against people who wish to work of them who do not share their faith.
Humanists and secularists are against public services that are run by religious groups selecting employees and clients on the grounds of faith
