religion and non religion Flashcards
Religious Dimension
how humans have explored the forces or powers that could explain why the world is the way it is.
Religious Expression:
the way people show a belief in the powers or forces in the religious dimension.
Animism:
The belief that all-natural objects possess a soul (people, animals + wider environment.)
• All-natural objects need to be treated with respect
• The souls, or spirits of each natural object control the day-to-day activities of the natural world
E.g., the way the trees say in the breeze or the way the tide changes
- Shintoism Kami’s (spirits) inhabit the natural world
- Aboriginal Spirituality
Polytheism:
Belief in the existence of multiple gods
• Believe that different Gods or goddesses have control of specific aspects of the universe
• Gods or deities resemble humans in the sense that they have their own personalities and interact and hold grudges against other gods.
Monotheism: Belief in one god
● Omnipresent: All present
● Omniscient: All knowing
● Omnipotent: All powerful
● One God created the universe and gave humans morals
Meaning And Purpose
the past, present and future
● Where we come from (origins), why we are here (purpose), where we go when we die (destiny)
● Provides meaning in life by answering those big religious questions and giving life a sense of structure and consistency
● Semitic religions: one god, middle east origins
Sacred texts outline creation story
Each religion celebrates important stages – creates cultural identity and sense of belonging
Destiny provides purpose (act morally, obey god) EG. Akhira (heaven) and jannahah (hell)
Social Cohesion
the way society works together and forms communities
● Religion is closely connected to culture and society as it provides a sense of community as it can serve to give their loves to something more stable and constant. E.G., laws, architecture (churches), public holidays, dress codes.
● Social disharmony: when people spread their religious views, it can lead to hostile tension (Sunni v Shia) and the crusades (Christians v Muslims)
Social Transformation:
religion can serve as a force of social change or influence the rate of progress in society
● Social justice: poverty (caritas, Vinnie’s, salvos), environment (Islamic plan for climate change), natural disasters (Jewish coalition for disaster relief), conflict (pacem in terris)
● Education: religion can prevent progress
Science v religion
Religions are becoming supportive of new technologies such as IVF and cures for diseases such as HIV (willing to correct their understanding)
• Religion has acted as a means for change by helping the less fortunate (promoted change)
• Religion has prevented change by maintaining traditional views.
christiantity
31% - 2.2 Billion people USA, Brazil, Mexico, China
islam
23% - 1.6 Billion people Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh
Hinduism
15% - 900 Million people India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Buddhism
6% - 488 Million people China, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar
Judaism
0.22% - 14.9 Million people USA, Israel, France, Canada
Ethical guidance:
religious expressions often provide a moral compass and guide them to be good and principled people
● Outdated: traditional views don’t allow for ethical independence and initiative
NRE encourage ‘moral relativism’: not one true set of universal morals
● Unclear: religions can lack clarity and specificity.
impossible for religious views to keep up with specific problems
people find it hard to apply ethical guidelines to modern problems such as law, medicine, the environment, family and relationships
many modern problems are not addressed in sacred texts
EG: homosexuality, many traditional beliefs say homosexualaity is unethical and people do not want to be associated with this belief
The Rise of Materialism
The obsession with having ‘things’ and ‘possessions’
● Material objects provide people meaning and fulfilled over intellectual or religious thoughts
● Culture of consumerism: people enjoy buying products, people want what is now. NRE focus on experiences that can be bought and sold
● Individualism: things that are personal and perfect for them. They bring satisfaction. NREs focus on materialism they also rely on individualism to sell objects and ideas that seem personal
● This is part of peoples quest for fulfillment
● Traditional religions aren’t offered material possessions and are turning to NREs
e.g. Crystals – used by a variety of NREs
- Bring healing power, good luck and good karma
- Spirituality and materialism collide
Scientific Progress
Rapid scientific progress can raise some questions about religious perspectives
● The more science explains the operations of the world, the less likely people are too need religious explanations for how the world works
● Some people abandon religious thoughts all together while others become spiritual but not religious
● These are people who don’t like traditional religious practice but still want a source of meaning and purpose in their lives
● Science and spirituality can coexist to fulfil, their spiritual needs
Eg, yoga, meditation, mind body spirit festival wellbeing and spiritual guidance
Growth of ecological awareness: NRE focus on caring for and having a relationship with the earth
● Caring: they provide a platform to be active in caring for the earth. They foster attitudes of respect and gratitude
● Relationship: some expressions focus on having a spiritual relationship with the earth. This relationship has a personal and environmental benefit
Eg. Many new age spiritualities are based on the philosophies of ancient expression
● Spiritual ecology: the belief to treat the earth. As id we have a spiritual relationship with it
We are more than inhabitants; earth is profoundly sacred, and we should protect the earth
Disenchantment: Combination of disappointment and dissatisfaction
● Way of worship:
unexciting – formal ways of worship can be dull and not dynamic. Many people are uninterested by traditional forms of worship
Too strict: the lifestyle and ethical rules people are told to live by can be outdated and too prescriptive. It does not provide a meaningful support system in the modern world
● Perception of religion
Religious affiliation: used to be a way of life and it was rare to be irreligious
Having no religious affiliation in modern aus is completely unacceptable. This makes being spiritual – not religious an appealing option
Negative attention: multiple factors are causing peoples views of religion to transform
- E.g. Abuse of power in the catholic church and radicalism in Islam. People are became easily disillusioned by injustice
• Despite people turning away from traditional practice, individuals still long for spiritual meaning in their life.
Rational Humanism: human reason is the highest form of authority in existence
● Humans are the most intelligent creatures in the universe
● The human mind is the most reliable guide for understanding and decision making
● Human experience is sufficient enough to provide morals
● We don’t need external sources of moral authority, such as sacred texts
● We instinctively understand what is wrong and right
● HUMANS NATURALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG WITHOUT A GOD
Scientific Humanism: believe that humans are the ultimate authority
● They place a large emphasis on the power of science and problem solving
● Scientific methods are viewed as keys to solving the world’s problem
● observation, logic, deduction
● Although science can’t provide the answers to everything, it’s the best we have got
Atheism:
● Education and science: keys to a functioning society reach their human potential discover the universe
● Complete freedom: we determine our own destiny and live a full life on earth, as there is nothing after physical death.
● Ethics and morals: relative to the individual intuitive
Agnosticism:
● Living ethically is important
● It is the basis for good relationships and lack of conflict and war
● Being ethical is a part of our human duty
● A meaningful life can be achieved through human reason and freedom
● Our behaviour should focus on bettering ourselves and society as a whole
● Rather than being obedient to a higher power
Humanism:
● The goodness and potential of humans: human potential is greater than current achievement
● We get our morals empirically: morals arise from observation and experience not from sacred texts or other sources
● There is no afterlife: we should reach our full potential on earth we should preserve the environment social harmony and individual happiness should be a priority
