Unit 2 Module 1 Flashcards
Meaning
Human beings have a strong desire to understand themselves and the world around them. They want to understand their unique fit in the world and identify what they are trying to accomplish in their lives.
Purpose
The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. A person’s sense of drive and determination.
Factors
A circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result.
Respond
Do something as a reaction to someone or something.
Influence
The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Nature of religion
The key characteristics/qualities of religion.
Meaning and Purpose
- Christians believe that faith is not reliant on chance, but God is continuously reaching out to people.
- That all people are called into a deeply personal relationship with God and how people respond to this call is a free choice.
- Jesus Christ shared this news in his Gospel message. The purpose of a Christians life is to proclaim and share in God’s Kingdom.
- Christian beliefs help people find meaning in their everyday lives - in both the good and the bad.
- For Christians, the meaning of life is in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, providing the framework for answering the existential questions about the nature and purpose of life.
- It is ultimately the Christian purpose to become another Christ in the world.
- Christian life is lived in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, seeking to deepen that relationship. Central to that relationship is knowing to trust in God.
- When someone knows that God is ‘for us’ people open up to the gift that God wants to give - which is to share in his own love and freedom and mercy.
- People receive God’s spirit (Holy Spirit), which makes them live like Jesus ‘in tune’ with God - selfless generosity.
Why do people follow a religion
- Each Religion offers a way of life that seeks to provide people with meaning and purpose in life.
- How each person responds to what is offered varies and is influenced by how they encounter and interact with Religion in general as well with particular religions.
- Further influencing how this interaction occurs is several factors. Such factors include the contexts of a person’s life, the experiences each person has in life and the world in which they live.
- People respond in different/complex ways, how they respond vary throughout their life.
Why do people follow Christianity
- Believing Christianity is the truth - deliberate and conscious effort
- Believing Christianity is about loving God and other people. Gives them guidance to living a good life and meaning/purpose in life
- Family, childhood, part of a community - valuable friendships, gives meaning and value to their lives
Positive Factors that influence People to respond to Religion in positive ways
- Spiritual experience
- Good example given by family
- Good experiences that they have had from religious people or religious charities
- Convincing explanations, reasons or evidence in favour of a religion
Negative Factors that influence People to respond to Religion in negative ways
- Such attitudes can have different causes: influences of evil in the world; religious ignorance or indifference; the cares and riches of this world (people pursuing money as their primary goal in life)
- The scandal of bad example on the part of believers; thoughts hostile to religion (that science has all the answers and has shown Christianity to be unreliable therefore we don’t need Christianity)
- Finally, that attitude of sinful man which makes him hide from God out of fear and flee his call.
The influence of Religion on the lives of people
- People develop because of Religion. It can motivate a person to behave in a way consistent with the way of life promoted by the religion.
- Religion can be one influence that contributes to the development of a person.
- Some having grown up rich with examples of religious living embrace/follow the example they have learnt. Others moved by circumstances, discover in religion a powerful way to understand and respond to life and its challenges.
How Religion influenced the life of Nic Naitanui
- Christianity has offered Nic Naitanui a way of life that has provided him with meaning and purpose in life.
- His understanding of life has been influenced by his involvement in the religion.
- Naitanui understands he is a son of God, loved and cherished by his Creator.
- He has consciously chosen to respond to the beliefs and teachings of Christianity by accepting the answers provided for life’s existential questions.
- Naitanui has encountered Christianity throughout his life in varies ways- through his family, Fijian community and football club.
- He has interacted with Christianity’s beliefs and practices, for E.G prayer.
