Unit 1 Module 2

Question 1

Religion

Answer 1

Is a particular system of beliefs, values, rituals and worships shared by a number of people. Every religion centres its idea and activities on the ‘Other’- a supernatural being, power of force and requires believers to give their loyalty to God or a number of divine beings. E.G. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism

Question 2

Being Religious

Answer 2

Is a deeply personal matter and any effort to describe what it means to be religious can only describe some aspects. For example, being religious may be described in terms of what and how frequently a person practices elements of a religious way of life.

Question 3

Main Characteristics of Religion

Answer 3

Religions share in common, one set of characteristics used to describe religions includes:
• beliefs and teachings
• rituals, practices, events and celebrations
• leadership and rules
• customs and traditions

Question 4

Difference between Religion and Being Religious

Answer 4

Religion is a particular system of beliefs, values, rituals and worship shared by a number of people. Every religion centres its ideas and activities on the ‘Other’ – a supernatural being, power or force and requires believers to give their loyalty to God or a number of divine beings.

Being religious is also a deeply personal matter & there are different ‘measures’ of religiosity. For instance, being religious may be described in terms of what and how frequently a person practices elements of a religious way of life. It can also be described in terms of what a person says they believe in, and going further, how their behaviour matches the stated beliefs of a religion. Religious participation, adherence, observance, practice and identity are all ways people can describe what it means to be religious. However, efforts to describe being religious can only measure being religious at an external, observable level.

Question 5

The Place of Christianity in Australia

Answer 5

A religion in Australia: Christianity or the Roman Catholic Church.

• Australia is a Christian nation – historically and currently – whose values and culture are based on Christian teachings, and that deep in the Australian psyche lie Christian values.
• These values are reflected in the public ethos and institutions, legal system, and social and political structures.
• Christianity has shaped this nation over the past 230 years.
• The Christian heritage is seen as critical to how the Australian Government deals with immigration, legislation, social norms and practices. It is seen as critical to the way Australia understands and identifies itself as a nation.
• The major Christian feasts – Christmas, Easter and the weekly Sunday – continue to be marked by society.