Normative sources Flashcards
1
Q
Define, in detail, inspiration
A
- Often closely tied to the concept of revelation,
- The belief in information being revealed through communication with a higher power
- It is a significant normative source
- Religions is rooted in inspiration.
- In different religions there are various persons who have inspired many followers, for example:
- In Christianity Jesus inspired many followers.
- In Judaism Abraham inspired many Jewish people.
- Inspiration still occurs in our modern day societies and this is referred to as contempary inspiration
- Inspiration can be divided into two branches:
- contempary inspiration
- divine inspiration
2
Q
What is contempary and divine inspiration?
A
- Divine inspiration refers to divine guidance exerted directly on a human mind or soul
- The term contemporary inspiration refers to inspiration that still take place today in modern day societies.
3
Q
What are the 4 types of normative sources?
HISO
A
- Hermeneutics
- Inspiration
- Sacred texts
- Oral tradition
4
Q
Define oral tradition and its role?
A
- a community’s cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth
- for example from one generation to another without written instruction
- The role of oral tradition:
- The Original inspiration and message was spread through oral tradition
- Oral traditions develop and change and adapt over time
5
Q
What are sacred scriptures?
A
- Scripture are the revered texts of the world’s religions.
- Scriptures make up a large part of the world’s literature
- They vary in form, volume, age, and degree of sacredness, but their common attribute is that their words are regarded as sacred.
- Christianity - Bible
- Islam - Quran & Hadith
6
Q
What is the role of sacred scripture?
A
- Oral traditions run parallel to written traditions.
- Sacred books are not individual writings, but part of larger collections.
- The collections of sacred books are generally called CANONS.
- The word CANON refers to a general law or principle.
- There are primary and secondary sacred writings.
- Secondary writing are commentaries on the primary writings.
7
Q
Discuss divine inspiration of the scriptures in Christianity
A
- The Bible is believed to have been written by more than 40 divinely-inspired authors.
- It’s thousands of years old, and Christians still place their trust in it today.
- The earliest collection of written words from God was the Ten Commandments.
- The Ten Commandments form the beginning of the biblical canon.
- God himself wrote on two tablets of stone the words which he commanded his people.
8
Q
Discuss divine inspiration of the scriptures in Islam
A
- There are two main sacred texts: the Quran and the Hadith
- These books teach and illustrate Islamic beliefs, values, and practices.
- They are important historical documents (especially the Quran), which tell the story of the origins of the Islamic faith.
- According to Islamic belief, the Qurʾān was revealed by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad
9
Q
Define hermeneutics
A
- In Religion Studies hermeneutics means the interpretation of (sacred) texts.
10
Q
What are hermeneutical principles?
A
- Grammar and historical context –
- Grammatical-historical principle means you must use the rules of grammar and the historical facts to interpret sacred text.
- You must look at the exact meaning of the words used in their most ordinary sense.
- Clearest meaning:
- People write to communicate thoughts and ideas.
- The writer generally aims to do this as clear as possible.
- When interpreting a sacred text or any normative source, you should take the
meaning that is the clearest to you. - Plan, purpose and context:
- You need to view a piece of writing as a whole.
- What is the writing plan or structure underlying it?
- What was the author’s purpose in writing the text?
- Meanings of words –
- The meanings of words change over time and in different places.
- Try to find out what the meanings of the words were when they were originally used in the normative source.
- Figurative language –
- Some sacred texts use highly figurative, non-literal language.
- This needs to be taken into account when interpreting such texts.
11
Q
Define a Normative source
A
- A source that determines the norms
- In religion the normative sources include sacred texts and books.
12
Q
Define Descriptive statements
A
- Desribe the world
13
Q
What are Normative statements?
A
- They are an account of how the world should be.
- The word contains the stem ‘norm’: something that should be lived up to
- Normative statements are statements about what ought to be.
14
Q
Define Divine inspiration
A
- Divine inspiration that comes directly from a higher power.
- It is the concept of a higher power causing a person to experience a creative desire.
- Important aspect of many religions
15
Q
Define Contemporary
inspiration
A
- The term contemporary inspiration refers to inspiration that still take place today in modern day societies.
- Inspiration that is ongoing and unites members of the faith with the higher power
