The Nature of Religion + Aztecs + Shinto

Question 1

What is Religion as a world view?

Answer 1

Religion as a world view acknowledges the supernatural dimension and has a belief in a divine being or powers

Question 2

Define Supernatural?

Answer 2

An extraordinary being or ‘thing’

Question 3

Define Immanent?

Answer 3

Permanetly pervading the universe. Dwelling within the universe

Question 4

Define Transcendent?

Answer 4

Beyond or above the range of normal or physical experience? - Controlling from without the universe.

Question 5

Define Divine?

Answer 5

God like, or a God

Question 6

What is Religion?

Answer 6

A source of purpose for individuals that provides a form of belief and practice that leads to human experience of god of the ultimate reality. It is a search for spiritual meaning.

Question 7

What is the Axial Era?

Answer 7

The era in which most of the worlds religious traditions developed. Human beings were called to reflect upon life, its meanings, etc.

Question 8

When was the Axial Era?

Answer 8

800-400BCE

Question 9

Define Monotheism?

Answer 9

The belief in one God example - Christianity

Question 10

Define Polytheism?

Answer 10

The belief in more than one God Example - Shintoism/Buddhism

Question 11

Which Religions adopt a transcendent worldview?

Answer 11

Semitic Religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - All worship Abraham

Question 12

Which Religions adopt a immanent worldview?

Answer 12

Hinduism and Buddhism - Eastern Religions

Question 13

What are the Characteristics of Religion?

Answer 13

1. Beliefs and Believers
2. Sacred Texts and Writings
3. Ethics
4. Rituals and Ceremonies

Question 14

What are beliefs and believers?

Answer 14

Beliefs - Acceptance of something as real or true

Believers - Adherents to a religion

Question 15

What is a sacred text?

Answer 15

Written, visual or oral texts that contain the truths about a religion

Question 16

What are ethics?

Answer 16

Moral principles that govern a person or group. Provide guidelines to proper and improper behaviours

Question 17

What is a ritual?

Answer 17

A set of series of actions performed in a prescribed order for religious meanings. The practice and practical application of beliefs

Question 18

How do the characteristics of a religion interact to create a dynamic living religion?

Answer 18

• Believers form meaning. They abide and perform rituals and ceremonies.
• Sacred texts maintain the integrity of the principle beliefs
• As adherents develop overtime, their interpretation can cause changes in its expression

Question 19

How does religion contribute to Society?

Answer 19

• Social Cohesion
• Conservative Force (Sexual Morality)
• Progressive Force(social justice/reforms)

Question 20

How does religion contribute to the individual?

Answer 20

• Helps construct meaning
• Gives ethical guidance
• Gives a sense of belonging
• Gives a sense of identity

Question 21

What is the dreaming?

Answer 21

The dreaming is a form of animism - The belief that there is a spirit world that co exists with the natural world.

Question 22

What are the origins of the universe to the Aboriginal people?

Answer 22

Earth was made by the sun, mother and the first humans were thought to have grown out of lizards.

Question 23

What is the dreamtime?

Answer 23

Most often used to refer to the time before time or before the creation of all things

Question 24

What are the sacred sites of the Aboriginal People?

Answer 24

places with significant meaning to the aboriginal peoples - The Pinnacles, The Blue Mountains and Wilpena Pound

Question 25

What is Symbolism and art to the Aboriginal people?

Answer 25

Song, Dance and Stories function as art and narratives to illustrate groups and meaning to life.

Question 26

What is the inextricable connection of the dreaming, the land and identity.

Answer 26

Explains the creation of life and the sustaining of life; it reveals the totemic connection to land and the sacred sites given by the Ancestral Beings.

Question 27

Who were the Azteca people?

Answer 27

Lived in central and southern Mexico. Had an efficient system of farming, using intensive cultivation, elaborate irrigation systems and reclaimed swampland

Question 28

Who are the Shinto people?

Answer 28

Animalistic Belief System present in Japan in 500 BCE.

Question 29

What does Shin Tao mean?

Answer 29

The way of the spirits

Question 30

Define Divination?

Answer 30

The use of the magical or the supernatural to foretell the future

Question 31

Name the different forms of Shinto?

Answer 31

Koshitsu, Jinja, Shuma, Minzoku

Question 32

What is the cipactli Story of the Aztecs, regarding the origins of the universe

Answer 32

Cipactli the goddess destoryed the earth - two gods - tezcatlipoca and quetzalcoatl turned themselves into lizards and destroyed the goddess, creating the earth from her body

Question 33

What is the story of the five suns of the aztec origins?

Answer 33

The five gods of the universe fought over who should be the reigning sun.

Question 34

What is the origin of the universe for shinto people?

Answer 34

The world was created from IN and Yo who formed an egg shaped mass without clear limitations.

Question 35

What is Kami?

Answer 35

Kami are the shinto spirits that are associated with a particular place or site

Question 36

What are Koijki?

Answer 36

The Japanese Religious text that records the ancient matters of shintoism

Question 37

Name three of the Kami?

Answer 37

Amaterasu Tsuki-Yomi Leech Child and Susano-o

Question 38

Who is Amaterasu?

Answer 38

The chief deity as she comes from the imperial family, her shrine is located in Ise.

Question 39

Who is Susano-o?

Answer 39

After descending from heaven and roaming the earth was heroic in killing a great evil serpent

Question 40

What is the Kami;s role?

Answer 40

To protect all their people and sustain their happiness in spirituality

Question 41

Name the principle beliefs of Azteca

Answer 41

- There were five stages of creation - Suns. - There are 13 heavens and 9 underworlds - Adherents had to please their gods through rituals to ensure good crops and weather - The sun and the warrior: Each night the sun fights against the moon to rise again in the morning - Afterlife: The way in which they died determined whether they would go to heaven or hell

Question 42

Outline the principle beliefs of Shintoism.

Answer 42

Tradition and Family: These must be honoured - Love and Nature: Most shrines are built on special places - Physical Cleanliness: Cleansing must be carried out before prayer or when approaching a shrine - Festival and Ceremonies: Joyful occasions with lots of colour and activity

Question 43

What is 'Matsuri'?

Answer 43

Joyful occasions with lots of colour and activity

Question 44

What does Shintoism display?

Answer 44

Positive attitude towards life and the nation.

Question 45

Define Anthropomorphic.

Answer 45

Having human characteristics

Question 46

Name two deities of the Aztecs?

Answer 46

Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl

Question 47

What is unique about Shintoism?

Answer 47

There is no transcendent and Immanent worldview

Question 48

What are the roles of rituals to the aztecs?

Answer 48

- To communicate with their Gods. | - To honour their powerful deities.

Question 49

What are the roles of rituals in Shintoism?

Answer 49

- Bring the community together | - To communicate with Kami

Question 50

Identify the Principal Rituals in Azteca

Answer 50

- Human Sacrifice | - Attending Service

Question 51

Identify the Principal Rituals in Shintoism

Answer 51

Purification Formal reading of prayers Food and Drink prep for Kami - as offerings - Festivals

Question 52

Explain the relationship between Azteca and Society

Answer 52

Set out guidelines for how the civilisation was established and how it should function. Influences festivals, celebration and community rituals. Gods determined their lives and they dedicated most of their time to rituals.

Question 53

Explain how Azteca provides a distinctive response to the search of meaning

Answer 53

Azteca provides adherents with the answers to life and gave them further meaning to all aspects of life. Example - Where they came from, why there were here, what would happen after death.

Question 54

Explain how Shintoism provides a distinctive response to the search of meaning

Answer 54

Shintoism is a set of beliefs and practices that individuals can identify with closely. The rituals enable humans to communicate with Kami, and its essence to fulfilling the rituals rather than the belief.