Module 2 - RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES Flashcards
What is a religious structure?
Refers to the organization of religion, including its leadership.
- Typically the way religion is organized is COMPLEX.
- Needs to be SEEN as a SYSTEM rather than a COLLECTION OF PARTS.
- STRUCTURES MAY BE:
- well established and formal
or less well-defined and infrormal
What is a religious process?
Refers to how things are done in religion.
- often GIVE EXPRESSION to the WORKINGS OF A PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE.
- typically there is a SYSTEM OR WAY OF DOING SOMETHING ACCORDING TO SERIES OF STEPS, ACTIONS, OR UNDERSTANDINGS.
MAY BE
- WELL DEFINED, OTHERS LESS SO.
Why are there religious structures and processes?
As with all organizations and institutions, all religions have some form of organization or structure that SUPPORTS AND ENABLES LIFE AND WORK OF THE RELIGION TO OCCUR.
they are DESIGNED to SUPPORT THE WORK AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
- Typically serves one of the three functions
- TEACHING AND SAFEGUARDING THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
- PROVIDING FOR THE GROWING HOLINESS OF BELIEVERS
- GOVERNING THE CHURCH IN JESUS’ NAME
What are the three functions of the church and its mission?
- TEACHING AND SAFEGUARDING THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
- PROVIDING FOR THE GROWING HOLINESS OF BELIEVERS
- GOVERNING THE CHURCH IN JESUS’ NAME
What are important issues?
- questions for religion and its way of life
- issue may concern its relationship with individuals and groups outside the religion.
- issue may be one shared by many groups in society
ISSUES BY THEIR NATURE, ARE COMPLEX AND INVOLVE A MIXTURE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS.
examples of a religious structure and process
- Synods - eg plenary
- Ecumenical councils such as Council of Trent, Vatican 1, and Second Vatican ecumenical council
- The church in AUSTRALIA
- Magisterium
- ACBC
- process = the works and steps taken by these structures
Key features of a Religious Structure
- MAGISTERIUM
- HIERARCHY OF TEACHERS = leadership
- POPE, CARDINALS, ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS, PREIST, DEACONS AND LAITY
- can be subverted
- Everyone experiences god, however, some are given the vocation and authority/gifts/power/knowledge to teach and explain the understanding of the church according to God.
- each individual is given particular roles and responsibilities to fulfill the work of the church and satisfy its mission.
eg. - The role of bishops
- The role of bishops in a dioceses
- GOVERN: A diocese, communicate events and important issues to the public of the area.
- COMMUNICATE TO OTHER DIOCESE
- addresses and response to issues eg VAD.
- SANCTIFY: provided with the gifts of the holy spirit to perform the sacraments for the public and appoint priests, bless priests to fulfill their duty.
- TEACH: ensure catholic education is prevalent and accurate in society.
eg in catholic schools - the standards of catholic understandings are addressed in catholic churches eg Palliative care and not VAD.
- INFALLIBILITY OF THE CHURCH.
POPE = SUCCESSOR OF PETER
- Papal infallibility, in Roman Catholic theology, the doctrine that the pope, acting as supreme teacher and under certain conditions, cannot err when he teaches in matters of faith or morals.
- As an element of the broader understanding of the infallibility of the church, this doctrine is based on the belief that the church has been entrusted with the teaching mission of Jesus Christ and that, in view of its mandate from Christ, it will remain faithful to that teaching through the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
- As such, the doctrine is related to, but distinguishable from, the concept of indefectibility, or the doctrine that the grace promised to the church assures its perseverance until the end of time.
- Vatican II explained the doctrine of infallibility as follows: “Although the individual bishops do not enjoy the prerogative of infallibility, they can nevertheless proclaim Christ’s doctrine infallibly.
- This is so, even when they are dispersed around the world, provided that while maintaining the bond of unity among themselves and with Peter’s successor, and while teaching authentically on a matter of faith or morals, they concur in a single viewpoint as the one which must be held conclusively.
-This authority is even more clearly verified when gathered together in an ecumenical council, they are teachers and judges of faith and morals for the universal Church. Their definitions must then be adhered to with the submission of faith” (Lumen Gentium 25). - is put in place to fulfill
they are DESIGNED to SUPPORT THE WORK AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
- Typically serves one of the three functions
- TEACHING AND SAFEGUARDING THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
- PROVIDING FOR THE GROWING HOLINESS OF BELIEVERS
- GOVERNING THE CHURCH IN JESUS’ NAME
from Jesus WORKS TO THE NOW bishops OF today to continue to develop the understanding of GOD AND FULFILL HIS WILL ON EARTH.
Define Magisterium
The magisterium may be defined as the perennial, authentic, and infallible teaching office committed to the Apostles by Christ and now possessed and exercised by their legitimate successors, the college of bishops in union with the pope.
HOW A RELIGION USES A PARTICULAR STRUCTURE AND/OR PROCESS TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES.
the structure of the magisterium/ leadership is used in significant other structures of the church such as ecumenical councils
the process/ steps taken by this organization is to understand and respond to issues in areligious understanding, adhere to and teach the beliefs and teachings of the church appropriately and accurately.
eg.
1. Identification of an issue
2. Calling of a council
3. Preparation: pope consulting tradition and scripture, submission from the laity, and scientific knowledge acquired, history + other religions submitting.
4. Assembly
5. Prayer and reflection to the holy spirit for appropriate guidance and support
6. Discussion, understanding, and consultation of issue, improvements to resolve and other things addressed.
7. Any conclusions, understandings and findings are to be appropriately published in encyclicals and documents for the public.
