Unit 1:Nature and purpose of Religion

Question 1

What is the purpose of religion?

Answer 1

Religion is people trying to make sense of their existence and their world,to find a purpose for living and appropriate ways to live safely and comfortable,may have develop religion as a source of social cohesion

Question 2

specific roles of religion in a person’s life

Answer 2

1.answer existential questions
2. find purpose for living
3.ways to live safely and comfortable
4.social cohesion-rituals and aspects can be performed
5.seek order
6.builds community
7.gives hope
8.services for education and healthcare
9.inspiration
10.hope in war and times of hardship

Question 3

Why is defining religion hard?

Answer 3

religion is hard because religion is so big and complex but also so simple. Interpreting and translating it is so hard because there are so many world religions with so many beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, religion can also be so simple to some as they might do some traditions and just brush over the more simple sacraments

Question 4

negatives of religion in the community

Answer 4

possible discrimination between the religions
sometimes it gives people fear leading them to shrink as a person and not express who they are.
Religion also sometimes manipulates the truth and some of the things done are not ethical.
war etc.

Question 5

Positives of religion

Answer 5

gives people social cohesion and social services which they can go to. I.e charities
GIve people a spot for hope (pray for environmental things to be over,poverty etc.)
change direction of their life for the better
religion can be someones identity
somewhere where people have things in common and can listen to storytelling etc

Question 6

what is the purpose of using the aspects to study religion

Answer 6

outlines the crucial points of religion. the main things religion is based on and the positives and negatives associated with it. Gives people something to base their lives off and it makes sure every religion is unique

Question 7

what are artifacts?

Answer 7

artifacts are a focal point of religious beliefs and are linked to the practices of adherents. some artifacts have special meaning in the spirituality of religious traditions.They can be a symbol to identify a focus point for a prayer or ways to make public affirmation

can be used for daily reminders for their faith can be used in traditions and festivals

Question 8

what is a catholic example of an artifact

Answer 8

crown of thorns

Question 9

What are places?

Answer 9

places become sacred to local population such as mountains and rivers
more people became inhabitants this turned into more complex places
places where sacred might have been experience adherents demonstrate commitment to unseen forces by acknowledging spirits or ancestors .
Human representation through rock art,buildings etc.

Question 10

What is an example of a place?

Answer 10

Sistine chapel

Question 11

What are symbols

Answer 11

used to or stand for or represent something else and often a material object is used to represent something immaterial. These are often signs objects people actions or places that acquire a special meaning or power. The same symbol can vary meaning for individuals. the symbolic function is a key element of religious traditions as symbols express significant beliefs identify an adherant as a member of a particular religion

Question 12

significance of symbols for adherants

Answer 12

identify an adherant as a member of a particular religion

Question 13

example of a symbol

Answer 13

the sign of the cross

Question 14

What are sacred stories

Answer 14

are religious narratives that have a setting such as a special space/place and plot developed in a way to relate often with imaginative detail,believed true. Can be conveyed through dancing,ballads,literature,myths legends etc,
purpose is to inspire and instruct the participant audience or truths history and significant ppl in there life

Question 15

example of sacred stories

Answer 15

bible

Question 16

what are social structures

Answer 16

social structures are all the ways a religious tradition organised itself. From memberships,participation,exclusions, and decision making, Some religions make a social hierarchy and focus on authority and power. This is not true for liberal and democratic systems,Sometimes there an extra religious level for adherents who wish to become more spiritually focused.

Question 17

example of a social structure

Answer 17

laity, decons ,priests, arch bishops, cardinals and popes

Question 18

What are spaces

Answer 18

spaces can be literally anywhere and can be accessed trhough everyday activities. They can be personal or community. what sets them apart is that they have religious meaning. Used for purposes /sacred stories) if the space has a religious meaning for the community ,there might be retrictions and rules on how to use it

Question 19

Example of spaces

Answer 19

churches

Question 20

what are times

Answer 20

times of celebrations can be linked to seasons but also the memory of great people and events in the histories tradition. They can be organised around daily, weekly, monthly, annual ceremonies and rituals that form the rhythm of life for adherents and communities. Festivals are based on the agricultural cycle and link the success of failure of crops in some traditions acknowledgement of the gift of food through rituals and thanksgiving.

Question 21

example of times

Answer 21

lent

Question 22

texts

Question 23

beliefs

Answer 23

religious beliefs are ideas that are accepted by their adherent as true. For some religions there may be a particular set of beliefs which could be expressed in an authoritative list(e.g creed) Most beliefs develop as the writings of their founders or based on the teachings and actions of founders. Without beliefs religion would have no internal structure and would disintegrate. beliefs give religion there identity

Question 24

example of a belief

Answer 24

god exists in our world

Question 25

What is ethics

Answer 25

ethics is the study of decision making about right and wrong. in a culture. Guiding ethical thinking and decision making are ethical principles. These are ideals that each theory , perspective, maxim or statement about ethics seek to achieve. Such as visionary ideas offer a picture of a perfect world from which all is morality. how to be the model citizen

Question 26

Whats the importance of ethics with adherants

Answer 26

ethical principles and COB often dictate the precise details of an adherents expression of beliefs through rituals,diet, calendar, personal decoration or clothing use of scared texts, space and their thoughts and actions in their daily lives

Question 27

example of ethics

Answer 27

`serve the poor and powerless’ quote from google

Question 28

what are rituals

Answer 28

rituals are ceremonies with a prescribed set of actions and words that have a symbolic meaning and considered to be sacred. Performing rituals expresses the beliefs of the religion for those involved and any witnesses. There is usually a set procedure that has been passed down by socialization and there are often strong cultural rules that sanction only initiated embers to perform the ritual.

Question 29

rituals with adherants

Answer 29

rituals require an adherent to publicly demonstrate a strong commitment to the religion.

Question 30

example of rituals

Answer 30

baptism

Question 31

what are spiritual experiences

Answer 31

can be had in a religious or a non-religious context. Both participants find meaning in them. A persons religious identity is the sum total of all their religious and spiritual experiences. A positive experience may lead them to want more participation whereas a negative experience can do the opposite or to seek a different religion or spirituality.

Question 32

example of a spiritual experience

Answer 32

participate in sacriments

Question 33

interrelationships between the aspects

Answer 33

aspects of religion are all interrelated and can strongly impact on each other.

beliefs-everything
ethics-beliefs-sacred stories-texts
rituals-beliefs-spiritual experiences
sacred stories-beliefs-texts -ethics
social structure-beliefs-ethics
spaces,places,times an artifacts-beliefs-rituals-ethics
spiritual experiences-beliefs-texts-sacred stories
symbols-beliefs-sacred stories-spiritual experiences
texts-beliefs-sacred stories ethics