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Task 1: Source Analysis Module 1 - Coggle Diagram
Task 1: Source Analysis Module 1
Module 1a: Search for Meaning
SYLLABUS POINT: The relationship between important life events and the questions people ask about meaning and purpose in their lives.
What experiences prompt people to look for meaning in their life?
search for meaning
Important life events / experiences ca lead people to question the meaning and purpose of their life.
search for meaning through:
their relationship with others
personal mystery
creation
search for meaning through religion.
people find answers to questions and choose to follow a religious way of life
Experiences that prompt questions about meaning and purpose
experiences = ordinary / intense
significant experiences = mysterious = never fully understood and difficult to explain.
MYSTERY
4 characteristics
deeply personal
need to be expressed
cannot be expressed by words alone = non verbal expressions e.g. gestures, symbols and rituals
can never be understood fully, for there will always be new insights and ideas
experiences classified into 3 categories
experiences of creation
experiences of others and relationships
experiences of personal mystery
What questions do such experiences prompt?
experiences of creation
origin: people wonder at the origin of the universe
grandeur: people think about its grandeur and power
future: people wonder about its future as they grow in understanding of its complexities
Wondering about the beauty of the created universe can lead people to ask how it came to be and the source of creation
Type of question lead people to first begin thinking about the existence of something greater
experiences of others + relationships
personal understanding
People may be led to ask important questions about life and its meaning.
Humans created to live in relationship, only by relating with others that people can grow in personal understanding.
human goodness and nobility
May also come to discover examples of human goodness and nobility.
Many examples of this within communities, friends and family and on the world stage of people showing care, courage and other qualities.
Many example of people showing heroic love, kindness and forgiveness
Love, justice and solidarity
different relationships of love, justice and solidarity with others help people in search for meaning and purpose.
such relationships people can discover their own dignity and vocation
may lead to people thinking about existence of a being greater than themselves
Evil, Harm and Destruction
examples of people doing what is evil and causing harm and destruction
trying to make sense of and comprehend such examples lead people to search for and find meaning in life
experiences of personal mystery
discovery of personal mystery is one of the most significant of all human experiences
questions lead:
who they are
the purpose of their life and
3 its meaning
reflection = find new insights and understanding about mystery of themselves
type of questioning lead people to first begin thinking about an existence of a being or beings greater than themselves
questions = basic human mysteries
4 typical moments = birth, adolescence, marriage and death
Birth
parents + others close to them, the birth of a child is a special mystery experience
stir questions before and after birth
unborn life
parenthood
family relationships
belonging
wonder at the new born child
depth of personal joy
if people accept inner questions and ponder them, they come to experience themselves in new ways. They change little as does their outlook + perspective on life
Development into adulthood
adolescence, some societies have initiation rituals, others don't.
most conditions are met before recognising members as capable of living full adult, mature and responsible lives
questions can arise for both, adolescent and parents reaching this stage.
desire to be accepted as responsible
how to become more responsible
work
discovering how to influence and make a difference
personal identity within society
social & community responsibilities
preparing to play a role in society
marriage
human societies recognize that commitment between 2 people to enter marriage = important and not to be treated lightly
before and after questions can arise for the couple, families and others close to them
commitment
path to future life
relationships
parenthood
trust
sharing
such questions urge reflection that leads to greater self understand and self discovery. Both lead to greater appreciation for oneself as a mystery
Death
questions can lead to people greater self-discovery and perspectives on life
what death is like
what happens after death
who are good and those who are not end up together
personal values and priorities
personal life style
how to find forgiveness for past guilt
illness
suffering
people fear death, avoid thinking, feel discomfort attending funerals, avoid the subject of death or people/relatives dying.
Being Religious
people seek, search and think about meaning of life and the reality of God, they are being religious
how a person responds to this search and where they find support and answers to their questioning may lead a person to accept and follow a particular religion
examples of people:
sensing the presence of a greater being
working out reasons for the existence of God
Acknowledging that they are dependent upon a divine being
resisting efforts by others to stifle their religious behaviour, especially by persecution and ridicule
religions of the world: many examples that show people have natural religious capacity.
Different religions we see examples of people:
celebrating experiences of the divine
Recognising sacred places and people
encouraging each other to relate with God, when less in tune with their hearts
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Module 1b: Religion and Being Religious
SYLLABUS POINT: The concept of religion and being religious
Definition of religion
A religion is a particular system of beliefs, values, rituals and worship shared by a no. of people. Every religion centres its ideas 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.
definitions of important words
atheist
adherence
affiliation
agnostic
belief
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The concept of religion
religions of the world are gatherings of people who share common beliefs about their experiences of a God / gods
as a result religions:
develop ideas about their God / gods
share common understandings about basic human questions e.g. purpose of life, life after death and what it means to be a human being
worships, using common rituals + prayers
share memories which have been handed down -> generations
develop codes of behaviour based upon their understanding of how the divine expects them to behave.
Being religious
Recognising a person as religious and understanding what being religious looks like requires both an understanding of a particular religion and a willingness to consider a range of 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.
Being religious requires, at a minimum, a person to do the following:
Have belief in the transcendental or supernatural truths proposed by a religion.
Follow the moral or ethical code of a religion.
Participate in the rituals and practices of a religion
Find meaning and purpose through the teachings of a religion.
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Those who are not religious
An atheist is someone who believes that there is no God. They live as if there is no God. They do not worship, pray or consider religious teachings in their daily lives.
An agnostic is someone who is unsure of the existence of God. Some agnostics believe that it is possible that God exists, but they just cannot be sure or know with certainty anything about it, while others are more sceptical. Generally, agnostics deny the possibility that humans can acquire certain knowledge of God.
A deist/theist is someone who believes in a God or higher being or force. Some deists are very spiritual and live according to their conscience but do not align themselves with a particular religion.
Characteristics of religion
beliefs
teachings
rituals
practices
signs
symbols
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All religions use a range of signs and symbols to represent and convey meaning about beliefs.
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religious practices are a recognised way of doing something religious
religious practices refer to a broad range of experiences that relate to many aspects of religious life. Religious practices might be a way of praying or a style of religious worship, a religioys ways of doing something or how a place or time of the year is used.
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religious rituals use symbolic actions e.g. movement, gestures and words to express and promote what is important about faith.
Rituals help people enter into the mystery of their faith
Catholic rituals = movement + gestures acting out / symbolise important elements of faith.
actions are often repeated + take place during important celebrations
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rituals = communal celebration express a sense of belonging to a community and call for participation
religious teachings guide and inform how people respond to religious belief
Example: CST is a body of Catholic Church teachings that call people to put into practice important beliefs about God and God's creation, including each and every person.
a religious belief is a conviction about an idea central to a religion that expresses a religious truth
example: The Catholic denomination of Christianity is that Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. Key Catholic beliefs can be found in the Nicene or Apostles' creed.
Module 1c: Influence of Religion on Meaning and Purpose
SYLLABUS POINT: Examples of how people are influenced and shaped by religion
The Influence of Religion
Religion can motivate a person to do great good!
Can also work in the opposite and influence can be negative in a person's life
Personal Development
Throughout their life each person experiences a range of influences that shape who they are and how they live
Religion can be one of these influences contributing to the development of a person
How people respond to the meaning and purpose offered by religion
People influenced by religion
Many examples: some grown up in environment rich with examples of religious living embrace and follow the example they have learnt
Others moved by particular situations or circumstances, discover in religion a powerful way to understand and respond to life's challenges
Often it is through the words of other people that a person may find themselves being influenced and shaped by religion.
Within the catholic faith tradition there is a rich collection of stories of people influenced and shaped by catholic faith
Better known: lives of saint
Catholic Perspectives
Catholic believe that faith is not just a reliant upon chance
God reaches out to people
God has been reaching out to people from the moment of creation
Fundamental to Catholic teaching is the belief that all people are called into a deeply personal relationship with God; how a person responds to this call is a free choice
Message = Good News of Jesus Christ - the Gospel message
Proclaiming and sharing this message is the mission of all who follow Jesus, the Church.
(The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1-3)
SYLLABUS POINT: How people respond to the meaning and purpose offered by religion
Responding to 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 by religion 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 a number of factors.
Such factors influencing how person responds to religion include:
Context of a persons' life
The experiences each person has in life
The world which they live in
People respond to religion in different and complex ways, often throughout life
Some, religion does not register as anything important with little known or understand about religion or particular religions
Some may be immersed in a culture or way of life rich in religion without ever having consciously reflecting upon the merits or deeper meaning offered by a religion
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