The Relationship Between Religion And Society Flashcards
Religion and national identity
The British social attitudes survey shows that sine 1995, the proportion of the population that think being a Christian is important has from down from around 1/3 to 1/4 in 2013
When presented with factors to define what it meant to be British, been a Christian was the least popular.
Proselytisation
“Go and make followers of all people I’m he world. Baptise them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit”
Proselytisation - telling others about their faith and converting them so they become Christian.
Evangelist- someone who spreads good news. They feel the aim of proselytisation is to spread the joy and happiness that Christianity has brought them. They feel it is their religious duty to pass on their faith.
Different Christian views and attitudes towards non -religious worldviews
People who are not religious can be divided into 2 groups:
Atheists- people who believe there is no God.
Agnostics - it is impossible to know if God exists.
Atheists and agnostics believe that humans use their reason and respect for others to work out what is right and wrong.
A survey from 2014 shows that nearly 2/3 of the British public think that atheists are just as moral than religious people.
Christianity teaches that morality comes from god and so behaving morally means acting in accordance with Gods laws. The survey reveals that 60% of Christians believe that atheists are just as moral and religious people
- non - religious people would argue that these values are not Christian values but instead human values
Christian values and ideals shared with atheism, humanism and secularism
- they all agree that human beings have a moral sense and have the capacity to behave in a moral way.
Compassion:
- for Christians compassion comes from God.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only son”
- Jesus showed in his own life and teachings the importance of compassion
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself”
Support for those in need:
- Christians believe they have a religious and moral duty to help those in need.
Parable of the Good Samaritan - he teaches that loving your neighbour extends to having mercy on others
“Give to the one who begs from you and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you”
“You received without paying; give without pay”
“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; whoever has good must do likewise”
Promotion of peace over war:
- in the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah describes the desirability of using technology for creative, peaceful purposes not for war.
“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares”
“Nation shall not lift up swords against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”
The protection of the environment:
- humans, being Stuart’s are charged with the duty of caring for the environment
“The earth is the lords and everything in it”
The world council of churches says:
“The dignity of nature as creation needs to be bound up with our responsibility for the preservation of life “
