Nature of Religion and Beliefs Flashcards
1
Q
Dimensions of Religion
A
Religion:
- natural
- supernatural
- transcendant
- immanent
2
Q
Natural Dimension
A
- makes no reference to divinities
- based on reason rather than divine revelation
3
Q
Supernatural Dimension
A
- implies a foundation on some sort of divine revelation or revealed faith
- cannot be explained according to laws and occurrences
4
Q
Transcendent Dimension
A
- enables humans to surpass the limits of their creaturely existence and earthly concerns
- focuses on heavenly or spiritual concerns
5
Q
Immanent Dimension
A
- emphasises the presence of God/s within human existence
6
Q
Types of Religious World Views
A
- divine power
- divine powers within man
7
Q
Divine Power
A
- belief in one God
- God exists beyond humans
- God guides humanity
- e.g. Judaism, Islam, Christianity
8
Q
Divine Powers within Man
A
- powers within an individual
- search for an ultimate goal or principle
- e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism
9
Q
Characteristics of Religion
A
- a practical and ritual dimension: including worship and prayers
- a narrative or mythic dimension: stories that pertain to a particular tradition
- an ethical and legal dimension
- an experiential and emotional dimension: an emotive content behind ritual and prayers
- a doctrinal and philosophical dimension: a system of values, beliefs and laws
- a social and institutional dimension: including the actual organisations that constitute the religion
- a material dimension: buildings, works of art etc
10
Q
Inner Life of Values, Meanings and Purposes
A
- beliefs and believers
- sacred texts
- ethics
- rituals and ceremonies
- myths and stories
- symbols
- religious experiences
- social structures
11
Q
Beliefs and Believers
A
- ideas that are considered true
- theology is the study of religious beliefs
12
Q
Sacred Texts
A
- contain revelation or a direct relation with transcendant
- can include oral translations and artistic representations
13
Q
Ethics
A
- the explicit, philosophical and/or religious reflections on moral beliefs within a tradition
14
Q
Rituals and Ceremonies
A
- enactments or systems of actions and beliefs that each have a beginning, middle and end
- directly linked to superhuman beings and forces
