Structures & Processes of Religion Flashcards
What is a Religious Structure?
A religious structure refers to the organisation of a religion, including its leadership and the way the religion is led, these structures may be well established and formal or less defined and informal
What is a Religious Process?
A religious process refers to the workings of a particular religious structure, a system or way of doing something according to a series of steps, actions or understandings
What is a Religious Belief?
A religious belief refers to the attitudes towards spiritual aspects of a religion
Describe a Religious Structure
- The Catholic Church is led by the Magisterium
- The Magisterium is the teaching body and structure of the Church which is responsible for educating and guiding all Catholics on the bible and theology
- The Magisterium is led by the Pope followed by Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests
- Today the Pope and Bishops continue to hand on the teachings of Jesus and continue to celebrate the liturgies he instituted and call everyone to observe the commands he gave
- If there are issues within the Church, the Magisterium can enable various process which may include; promulgating encyclicals, open a Synod of Bishops or establish an Ecumenical Council
What is Apostolic Succession?
Apostolic Succession refers to the passing of the gifts from the Apostles to the Current Magisterium. The line of bishops stretch back to the Apostles. The Bishops receive the spiritual gifts and authority from the Apostles. The Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles.
Describe a Religious Process (Ecumenical Council)
- An Ecumenical Council is a meeting of official leaders of the Church including cardinals and bishops together with the Pope
- An Ecumenical Council is established in order to discuss one or more issues vital to the universal life of the Church
- It is a Major world and Religious event which seeks to review, consider, discuss and if necessary change the Church teachings and practices
- These are very rare and only called if the Pope sees a need, there has only ever been 21, with the latest being Vatican II
Describe an Event Significant to a Religion
- Vatican III (1962-1965) was the 21st Ecumenical Council called by Pope John XXIII - Angelo Giuseppe Roncali
- Over three years some 2800 Bishops from 116 Countries produced 16 documents that set the Roman Catholic Church’s course for the future
- Vatican II can be described as the most Significant event of the 20th Century, it was significant in that it took into the account the world outside of the Church
- Before Pope John XXIII was elected the Church was very traditional and not up to date with the modern world, times were changing, WWII had just finished and there was post war social justice, there were changes to family values, the contraceptive Pill was created in the 1960’s which led to the sexual revolution, women did not has to be as conservative, body image changed and women were wearing bikinis
- Pope John XXIII called for an ‘aggiornmento’ a freshening of thinking and practices, a renewal that would better enable the Church to do Gods work
- Vatican II addressed and reformed the Catholic Church to be more up to date with the changing of society these changes were known as the ‘people power movement’
What documents were created as a result of Vatican II?
- The Lumen Gentium was one of the principles documents of Vatican II
- It recovered a more sacramental view of the Church describing her as a ‘sign and instrument of communion with God and the entire human race’
- It highlights the unique and distinctive place of laity in the Church
- Holds in high regard members of both Non Catholic denominations and Non Christian religions, stating that the mystery of God’s will is not unknown to to those who ‘seek God with a sincere heart’ which was a major turn around from previous attitudes
