Religion Post-1945 Flashcards
Animism
- Animism is the belief that all natural objects have a spirit or soul independent of their physical being
- Natural events could be attributed to the actions of the spirits
- One of the main purposes of animism is to appease the spirits so they will stop bringing calamity
- Those who practise animism are known as Animists
- Animism is often associated with prehistoric or preliterate societies
- Most religions have an animistic basis
Polytheism
- Means worship of many gods
- Those who worship many gods are known as Polytheists
- Animist spirits take on physical form or identity
- How could one god possibly oversee everything?
- Gods often have a physical representation - commonly animal or person
Monotheism
- Monotheism literally means worship of ONE God’
- This God is understood to be the creator of the universe
- Typically, this God is understood to be an all-knowing and ever-present being
Monotheistic religions include Judaism,
Christianity and Islam
Emphasises the transcendent view of
God
Social Cohesion
- Provides meaning and purpose
- Plays an important part in reinforcing and maintaining social structures, values and customs
- Offers emotional support - can offer comfort, a better view of the future or support
- Offers emotional support by being a constant in life
- For the individual or community
- On the negative side, can also seem to be controlling
Meaning and purpose for the individual
Human experience is characterised by a
search for understanding of the great
questions of life:
O origin
O purpose
O destiny of humankind.
An individual’s belief in a religious
tradition affects all dimensions of the
adherent’s life. It provides:
O certainty
O identity and community
Denominational Switching
Movement between Christian groups mainly Protestant/Anglican - is referred to as ‘denominational switching.
Many young people are attracted to the Pentecostal churches.
Some examples include Hillsong and Christian City Church - contemporary worship
Effect - statistics show that some denominations are declining, e.g. Anglican, while some are growing, e.g. Pentecostal.
Changing Patterns of Religious Adherence
Statistics are collected by the Australian Bureau of
- Statistics in a census held every five years.
Research groups such as the Christian Research Association (CRA) and National Church Life Survey (NCLA) also collect and analyse statistics.
They show:
- a steady decline in the number of people
adhering to Christianity - still the largest religious tradition
38.9% said NO RELIGION (2021) —> %30.1 (2016)
Islam has increased from 1.5% (2001) and 2.6% (2016)
Christianity 52.1% (2016) —> 43.9% (2021)
- an increase in the number of people identifying with Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism
- other religions - total under 10% growth of secularism.
Impact Of Immigration
Post-World War II
- A growth in the number of Catholics from Italy and Western Europe.
- An increase in the number of Eastern Orthodox churches.
Since the abolishment of the Immigration Restriction Act, or ‘White Australia Policy’, in 1973, there has been an increasing number of
- Buddhists - South-East Asia
- Muslims - Indonesia and the Middle East
- Hindus - Indian Sub-continent.
Leading to a multi-faith/multicultural Australia
NSW Ecumenical Council
Ecumenism
‘The NSW Ecumenical Council comprises seventeen (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox)
Christian churches from New South Wales and
the Australian Capital Territory, committed to
peace and reconciliation, and to express a
common voice on issues of concern in Australia
The National Council Of Churches Australia
Ecumenism
The NCCA is a group of 19 Christian Churches gathered from across Australia who share a common faith and acknowledgment in Jesus Christ as God and Saviour. They also believe that the future of Christians in Australia lies together, not in separation.
ATSI Development Fund —> provided
New Age Religions
New Age religion not a religion as such; it
can be considered a blend (syncretism) of
many religious and/or philosophical ideas.
- Thought to be a response to an increasingly materialistic world and growing dissatisfaction with traditional religion.
- No formal structure, texts, doctrines
- Examples include astrology, tarot card readings, using crystals for healing and meditation
- Blend of very old religions and Eastern mysticism as well as holistic health
Scientific Progress
- In some ways, scientific progress has created more interest in religion - both positive and negative influences.
- Traditional and New Age religions share some concerns about scientific progress.
- Some new religions often look to self-sufficiency in order to avoid technology.
- Science seems to have found answers often found in religion.
Growth of Ecological Awareness
- New religions often promote care for the
Earth. - Examples of ecological awareness can be seen in the policies of such political groups as the Greens and lobby groups such as Greenpeace.
- Rediscovery of the ecological teachings of such people as the Christian leaders Hildegard of Bingen and St Francis of Assisi.
- Ecological awareness emphasised by new
religions rather than traditional religious
traditions.
Disenchantement of ‘Traditional’ Religious Practice and Guidance
- More Australians are opting for the ‘No Religion’ answer on the census
- People are less likely to accept membership of religious traditions simply because they were born
into them. - Mainstream religion has been replaced by consumerism, materialism and sometimes other
commitmenis such as soon. - Issues such as sexism and child abuse have led
to disenchantment with traditional religion. - A growing sense that people need to feel that
they gain something from their religion (individualism) has replaced loyalty to an organisation.
Humanism
Humanism
A general term that refers to the philosophy of life that emphasises the human spirit and the dignity of the human person.
Famous Humanists have included:
- Confucius
- Voltaire
- Fred Hollows
Agnosticism
Agnostics
- Do not believe in or disbelieve in the existence of a divine power. They are unsure.
- Say that the most important goal in life is to look after people and the planet.
- Arque that conscience is linked to an individual’s understanding of pleasure and pain, and to how that person would like to be treated by others
- ‘Weak atheism’.
Atheism
Atheists
- Do not believe in the concept of god/gods. They believe this is unproven.
- Often make a conscious decision NOT to believe in a god.
- Do follow a moral code of conduct; they believe in the law and social responsibility.
- Arrive at the decision of what is right or wrong, good or bad, without the help of any divine power.
Mabo
- Eddie Koiki Mabo - Meriam people of the Torres Strait.
- 3 June 1992 - the High Court of Australia Mabo decision.
- Important for recognition of First Nations’ land
rights. - Under Australian law, Indigenous peoples have
land rights - rights to land that existed before
colonisation and that still exist. - Threw out the legal fiction that when Australia
was ‘discovered’ by Captain James Cook in
1788, it was terra nullius, or an empty land. - Land could not be ‘alienated by statute’ and
ongoing access to the land was required.
Ceremonial Life
Aboriginal ceremonial life centres on The
Dreaming, and re-enactment and telling of
story through dance, song, music and
mime
Often associated with ‘rites of passage’
e.g. initiation or death rites
Kinship
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander systems of kinship govern social interactions, including
marriage.
All forms of social interaction are determined by complex kinship laws that determine the place of each individual and their relationships within their community.
Native Tite
1993
- December 1993, the Native Title Act passed through the federal parliament.
- The Act put into law what the Mabo decision had said and made native title claims possible.
- The Act established a National Native Title Tribunal and set out processes for the determination of native title rights over and dealings on native title land.
Wik
1996
- Wik people of Cape York in Queensland and Thayorre people.
- Native title could ‘co-exist’ with current pastoral leases on cattle and sheep stations and mining leases - referred to as co-existence.
- When pastoralists, miners and Aboriginal peoples’ rights are in conflict, the leaseholder’s rights prevail.
Dreaming
The Dreaming refers to the knowledge base and understanding of Aboriginal peoples. It incorporates beliefs and relationships between people and with the environment. It embodies the past, the present and the future.
The Dreaming is the source of the Law and
lore of Aboriginal society.
Rational Humanism
- Emphasises the use of human reason in order to provide answers to the questions of life.
- Believes that doing good for others is
the obvious way to show respect, because rationally it is the best way to
behave. - The mind - reason - rationality
