Paper 2 - 1.1 Religious Texts and Sources of Authority Flashcards
Ways of interpreting the Bible
Literalists
Conservative
Liberalists
Literalists
The bible is the true voice of God, and relays historical fact.
e.g. the world was literally created in 7 days
Conservative
was written by humans inspired by God
e.g. when creating the world, one of God’s days may not be equivalent to one of our days
Liberalists
Written about God
e.g. Genesis is a story to help show that God is the creator
Uses of the Bible
Public Worship
Private Worship
Education
Examples of Public Worship
Ceremonies/rites of passage - marriage, baptism, funeral
Public Worship - Marriage
Passages about love + honouring your husband/wife
‘Love is patient, love is kind’ - 1 Corinthians 13:4
Public Worship - Baptism
Story of Jesus’ baptism, passages about what it means to be a Christian
Public Worship - Funeral
A bible is placed on top of the coffin before it is lowered to represent that the dead person lived their life by the word of God
Examples of Education
Sunday School
Sermon
Bible Study Groups
Education - Sunday School
For children to understand/more engaging
To teach Christian values/stories
Education - Sermon
Religious discourse delivered in public
Priest reads passages from the Bible
Education - Bible Study Groups
To support eachother in understanding the Bible
Examples of Private Worship
Reading
Listening to Music
Prayer
Private Worship - Reading
To gain knowledge about Christianity + develop beliefs on modern issues
Private Worship - Listening to Music
Contains bible verses
Prayer
Meditational / to connect with God
Sources of Authority
Bible
Pope
Conscience
Conscience
An inner feeling of right or wrong
Seen as the voice of God
Conscience - R.C.C.
The conscience is shaped throughout our life based on accumulated knowledge
Based on human formation
Everyone is born with a conscience as we are ‘made in God’s image’
Conscience - Isaiah 30:21
‘Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it” ‘
The Role of the Conscience
Important in making moral decisions
Christians should never act against their conscience as it is the voice of God
Conscience - Thomas Aquinas
The Conscience is a god given guide
Our conscience can be hidden through negativity e.g. greed
Does the conscience override the Bible?
Yes, because the Bible can be interpreted in different ways
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Teaching on Grace
Most Christians believe that accepting Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to achieve salvation
However he believes that they should be willing to sacrifice things/suffer to achieve salvation -> costly grace
Because Jesus was willing to suffer for them
R.C.C. Authority of the Church - Roles
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops
Priests
Laity
Pope
Head of the Church
Infallible - he is always right
Cardinals
Pope’s close advisors
The pope is chosen from this group
Archbishops
Oversee a number of churches in a certain area
Priests
People incharge of individual churches
Laity
Ordinary members of the Church
Role of the Laity
Proselytize
Hospitality - welcome people
Support eachother
Study to gain better knowledge of Christianity
Advantages of R.C.C Church Hierarchal Structure
Prevents false teaching through having one main leader
Maintains unity as everyone has similar opinions
Creates a strong structure - the Church is less likely to split
Disadvantages of R.C.C Church Hierarchal Structure
All focus on the Pope, not on everyone playing their part
If the main leader makes a wrong decision it
can be harder for people to object.
People can tend to feel less involved and
engaged in the direction and focus of the
Church.
Does Baptist Church have hierarchal structure
Everyone is equal
Congregational (each Church is responsible for itself)
CofE hierarchal structure
Vicar
-> prepares + writes Sermon for Church service
-> visits Church members
-> conducts ceremonies - marriages, baptism, funerals
Sources of Authority - Advantages of Pope
The most learned human about Christianity - closest to God
Can speak about modern day issues by using the Bible as his basis
‘submit yourselves to Earthly authority’
Sources of Authority - Disadvantages of Pope
Influenced by own personal judgements
Human so subject to original sin
The Pope uses his conscience, but can’t people use their own
Not all Popes have the same views
Sources of Authority - Advantages of Conscience
An inner feeling, personal - best for you
Always with you, can guide you always
Direct connection to God
Makes us in ‘Imago Dei’
Sources of Authority - Disadvantages of Conscience
Influenced by negative feelings
May not be accurate
Original sin
Sources of Authority - Advantages of Bible
Broad - can be applied to many issues
‘all scripture is God breathed’ - 2 Timothy 3:16
Foundation of all Christian teachings and all Christian authorities
Sources of Authority - Disadvantages of Bible
Outdated
Contradicts itself
Written by man -> not infallible
