Religions of the World

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Religions of the World

• Do Now
• Compose your own dictionary definition of what
  religion is.

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Definition of Religion

• Religion is the whole complexus of attitudes,
• convictions, emotions, gestures, rituals,
• beliefs and institutions by which we come to
• term with, and express, our most
• fundamental relationship with Reality (God
• and the created order, perceived as coming
• forth from Gods creative hand).

3
Nine Dimensions of Religion

• There are many ways to analyse a religion.
• Here are nine dimensions that can help you
• to analyse a religion. Note that these are
• imperative in the Unit Standard Assessment
• at the conclusion of the Unit.

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Sacred Texts

• The holy books of the religion. Note that
• some traditional religions had no sacred texts
• because they were an oral tradition. However
• their carvings and other works of art could be
• regarded as their form of sacred texts

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Sacred Beliefs

• The holy beliefs of a religious group

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Sacred Symbols

• The symbols held holy by a religion

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Sacred Rituals

• The Religious Ceremonies

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Sacred Ethics

• (Moral Laws) The moral laws of a religion

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Religious Social Structure

• The social organisation of the Religion

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Religious Experience

• The personal experience of the believer

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Sacred Stories

• The religious stories which explain meaning
• for the religion

12
Religious History

• The history of this religion over the ages

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Examples of the Nine Dimensions

• Work out examples of each dimension for the
• Roman Catholic Church

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• Sacred Texts The holy books of the religion
• Sacred Beliefs The holy beliefs of the group
• Sacred Symbols The symbols they hold holy
• Sacred Rituals Their Religious Ceremonies
• Sacred Ethics The moral laws of a religion
• Religious Social Structure The social
  organisation of the religion
• Religious Experience The personal experience of
  the believer
• Sacred Stories The religious stories which
  explain meaning for a religion
• Religious History The history of this religion
  over the ages

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Sacred Texts

• The Bible
• Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Sacred Beliefs

• That Jesus is truly the Son of God
• Heaven and Hell
• Being created in Gods Image

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Sacred Symbols
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Sacred Rituals

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Marriage
• Liturgy

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Sacred Ethics

• Ten Commandments
• Modern ethics
• Bio-ethics

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Religious Social Structure

• Headed by the Pope
• Cardinals and Bishops
• Priests and Religious
• Laity (us)

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Religious Experience

• Personal Revelation
• Mystical Experience
• Pilgrimage Experiences (e.g. to Lourdes)

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Sacred Stories

• The Story of Creation
• Noahs Arc
• Parables
• Not Jesus though thats fact not a story!

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Religious History

• Jewish Origins
• Roman influence in Churchs Infancy
• Middle Ages
• Reformation and Counter-Reformation
• Second Vatican Council