SOR last minute references Flashcards
Commandment of love
John 13:14.
The first and great commandment” of Christianity, and thus one of its core ethical teachings, is Jesus’ Commandment of Love, which emphasises the need to love God with “all [adherents’] heart, all [their] soul and all [their] mind” (John 13:14) and then extends this love to fellow kinsmen. It emphasises love as the foremost tenet of faith which Christians must harness, providing them a sense of fulfilment and belonging. Christian ethical conduct is thus infused with this message of universal love. For example, the Salvation Army Church embodies the concept of philanthropy and service and combines it with their spirituality, showcasing that a love for others is an extension of the love for God.
Beatitudes
Matthew 5:7-12.
(The commandment of love) influences other ethical teachings such as the Beatitudes (Mt 5:7-12) which describe a life directed towards holiness and saintliness and thus harnessing God’s Love. This has led to more peaceful individuals, who emulate kindness, love and peace to all, such as Mother Teresa and her numerous charity organisations that focus on providing aid to the poor and vulnerable. Further, it has influenced Church communities like the Society of Friends, which are pacifists. Concludingly, two core ethical teachings of Christianity include Jesus Commandment of Love and the Beatitudes and are centred around a universal love for God and others.
Decalogue
Exodus 20:1-17.
The Beatitudes, delivered by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), are a set of blessings that outline the qualities and behaviors valued in God’s kingdom. Each Beatitude begins with “Blessed are…” and praises virtues such as patience, peace, justice, and acceptance.
Emphasise peace and forgiveness, use Mother Teresa.
Salvation… God so loved the world
John 3:16
Jesus prayed for welfare of others (1) and in times of personal crisis (2)
- Matt 29:39
- Matt 26:39
Jesus lived a life of service for others demonstrated through his healing miracles.
Mark 1:23-45
Jesus forgave the adulterous woman (1), the disciples who betrayed him in the post resurrection appearances (2) and his executioners (3).
- John 8:2-11
- John 21:1-14
- Luke 23:24
Golden Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated)
Matt 8:12
Lord’s Prayer
Luke 11:4
Jesus is a model for Chrstian life because he loves others, seen through his life of service to others. Model this response.
1- REFERENCES: Jesus lived a life of services to others as demonstrated through his healing miracles (Mark 1:23-45) and his help of all, whether Jew or Gentile.
2. INDIVIDUALS— This strong legacy of service has inspired a strng sense of philanthropy in Christians (individual) like Mother Teresa to strive in charity to service the poor and needy
3. COMMUNITY– And established it equally in the Christian tradition through movements like liberation Theology (communal)
4. SALVATION ARMY— Further, the existence of churches such as the Salvation Army church embody Jesus example by providing non-discriminatory service to others.
5. LINK— This emphasises the role of Jesus as a model for Christians due to his life of service to others.
Jesus is the model for Christian life because he loved others, seen through his life of forgiveness for others.
1- REFERNCES: Jesus lived a life of forgiveness for others as seen through his forgiveness of the adulterous woman (John 8:2-11) and his executioners resurrection appearances (Lk 23:24)
2. INDIVIDUALS: This inspires Christians today to embody a similar spirit of forgiveness
3. COMMUNITY: leading to the ritualisation of these aspects of Jesus life and ministry. the Lord’s Prayer includes a petition for forgiveness from God because Christians also forgive others (Luke 11:4).
4. CHURCH: It has also led to the incorporation of the sacrament of penance (in some denominations). The Sacrament of Penance is an expression of God’s infinite love and mercy through His forgiveness. This strong link between forgiveness as a product of love further emphasises the importance of love (and hence forgiveness) in the Christian tradition as a cause to be sought and perpetuated.
5- LINK: Hence, Jesus’ love for others is modelled by Christians through their ritualisation of forgiveness as a product of love.
What are the types of personal prayer?
1- WHAT IS IT?: Personal prayer is the connection between adherents and God.
2- WHAT TYPES?: The practice of prayer varies between denominations, with there existing meditative, vocal and mental prayer.
3- VOCAL PRAYER: Generally, vocal prayer may be recited, spoken or sung, and may involve the use of passages from the bible with a long history, such as the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:4). DENOMINATION: Denominations like the Pentecostal are characterised by their lively and emphatic worship in which they spontaneously vocalise their love of Christ.
4. MENTAL PRAYER: Mental prayer refers to a process of reflection that involves the mind, the imagination and the will. During mental prayer, the Christian asks for God’s help to still the wandering mind and, eventually, to move the heart and convert it to the ways of God.
DENOMINATION/CHURCH: This silent prayer is often employed by the Society of Friends Church.
5- MEDITATIVE: Meditation or contemplative prayer is a more introspective prayer and generally understood as the exercising of one’s spiritual memory based on a repetition of words and phrases.
DENOMINATION/CHURCH: It can sometimes be structured, for example, in the Catholic denominations, rosary beads are used to inform this experience. In the orthodox tradition, the “Jesus Prayer” is often repeated, reminding them of Christ’s mercy which is deeply rooted in his unconditional love for adherents.
Explain the inextricable link between identity, land and dreaming
Dreaming, land and identity are inextricably linked, and this relation is foundational to Aboriginal spirituality. The Dreaming is a metatemporal, animistic spiritual framework that is how the ancestor spirits transformed the land and humanised the world. Many sites in the land are understood as provided by ancestor beings in the present, along with many totemic connections to the land. Land is therefore not just a physical space but a living spiritual entity that shares the same essence with humans, all originating from and able to access the initial creative acts of the ancestor spirits. The Dreaming is a distinctive religious system and thus guides individuals in their responsibilities toward it and toward each other; Aboriginal people are continually conscious that they are in the presence of the Dreaming. The Mabo Case of 1992 consolidates this relationship. The Miriam people of Murray Island, through Eddie Mabo’s leadership, challenged the doctrine of terra nullius and implored the court to recognise that the Miriam people’s identity and cultural practices were inseparable from the land.
Define a dynamic religion
A dynamic religion is one that is active and ‘living’, that is, it is able to adapt and is applicable to adherent’s daily lives so that it is a constant part of it. It is practical real and immersed in—not afraid of or removed from—the daily human experience. Hence, it is evident in society and culture.
When the characteristics of religion, i.e., beliefs, believers, sacred texts, ethics, rituals and ceremonies interact creatively, they help to create a religion that is…
actively engaged and expressed through the lives of adherents.
Explain the contribution of religion to individuals, society and culture.
1- DEFINE RELIGION:
Religion is a way of life, a system of beliefs and ethics, that is realised by believers, rituals and ceremonies and derived from sacred texts.
2. POINT: Religion has contributed to society and culture throughout human history by shaping the values, morals and beliefs of the individuals that comprise it.
3. EXPLAIN- FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS: It helps people answer the fundamental questions of human existence such as “Why am I here? Is there a supreme being? Is there a life after death?” Religion helps to construct meaning and provides a sense of belonging and comfort in the lives of adherents through sacred texts, rituals and ceremonies.
4- EXAMPLE, ISLAM: For example, Muslims pray five times a day, with their sense of purpose being defined many times in the Qur’an such as being “to worship [God]” (51:56) and “to know each other” (49:13). It helps them navigate complex ethical dilemmas and situations, providing a foundational framework on which adherents can base their decisions.
5- LINK: Hence, by impacting individuals it can shape and sustain human culture and society, creating social cohesion by establishing rites of passage within cultures through rituals and ceremonies, like baptism and matrimony in the Christian tradition.
