SOR - SECTION 1 - RELIGION AND NON-RELIGION

Evaluate the place of the religious dimension in human history (syllabus)

• meaning and purpose for the individual

• social cohesion

• social transformation

Meaning and purpose

• Help people to understand their place in the world, guiding their values and shaping their communities 

• Answer existential questions

• Provides comfort in times of suffering, loss and uncertainty

Social Cohesion

• Brings people together in the spirit of shared beliefs, values and rituals.

• Unifying force which shapes communities giving people collective identity and purpose.

Social Transformation

• Challenging injustice 

• Seeking to combat social issues on a global scale

STAT - GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION 2020

	Christianity	28.8%
	Islam	25.6%
	Unaffiliated	26.4%
	Hinduism	14.9%
	Buddhism	4.1%
	Judaism	0.2%

Top Countries - Christianity

1. United States

2. Brazil 

3. Mexico

Top Countries - Islam

1. Indonesia 

2. Pakistan 

3. India 

Top Countries - Unaffiliated

1. China 

2. United States

3. Japan

Top Countries - Hinduism

1. India 

2. Nepal 

3. Bangladesh 

Top Countries - Buddhism

1. Thailand 

2. China 

3. Myanmar

Top Countries - Judaism

1. Israel 

2. United States

3. France 

Reason for global affiliation - Christianity

• Religious disaffiliation 

• Colonisation

• Every 3.1 leaving 1 is joining.

• 23% switch denominations every 5 years

Reason for global affiliation - Islam

• Young profile 

• High fertility rate (natural pop growth)

Reason for global affiliation - Unaffiliated

• Modernisation - rise in secularism 

Reason for global affiliation - Hinduism

• Stable growth 

• Natural increase

Reason for global affiliation - Buddhism

• Declining 

• Urbanisation → Disaffiliation

Reason for global affiliation - Judaism

Population decreasing - Aging religion

Reasons for the rise

• Search for personal fulfilment 

• Seek ethical guidelines 

• Seek to clarify their relationship with society 

Personal Fulfilment

A way of living that gives a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction. 

Seek ethical guidelines

Frameworks are too traditional and do not apply directly to modern contexts. 

Seek to clarify their relationship with society 

Individualism, humans want purpose, they want to understand how to contribute and interact to a larger community.

Example - Personal Fulfilment

The Grail - Prioritising individual spiritual growth over rigid institutional dogma, offering self-guided retreats and eco-spirituality for inner purpose.

Example - Ethical Guidelines

Southern Cross 

• Virtual diocese

• Reaction to Anglican Church not being progressive 

• Same Seg marriage beliefs

Example - Clarify Relationship with Society

Spiritual Regeneration Movement 

• Started in India late 50’s 

• Bring meditation to find greater inner peace

• Through meditation and self-realisation, adherents cultivate inner peace, compassion and self-discipline, enabling them to respond to contemporary social issues such as conflict and materialism. Consequently, the movement demonstrates that authentic spiritual development is inseparable from social responsibility, making Hindu teachings relevant within the modern world.

Growth of New Religious Expression is determined by…

• Materialism

• Scientific progress

• Growth of ecological awareness 

• Disenchantment with traditional religious practice and guidance 

Define Materialism

Emphasis of contentment and satisfaction on possessions.

• Instant gratification

• Experiences that can be brought or sold

Define Scientific Progress

Continuous advancement of knowledge can challenge religious worldviews. Increasing disinterest in religious reasonings.

• Turn to NEW AGE spiritualities which do not undermine scientific reason.

Define - Ecological Awareness

Increasing understanding of how human actions impact the natural world. Concerned spike from visible effects of human activity.

• NEW AGE RELIGIONS allow individual involvement to resolve ecological issues

Define - Disenchantment with traditional religious practice and guidance

Growing skepticism, disinterest and rejection individuals feel towards organised religion.

• NEW AGE —> Promotes spiritual meaning on their own terms

Example - Materialism

Hare Krishna

• Material world is temporary

• Attachment to material possessions distracts from their true purpose → Soul 

• PRACTICE —> Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra replaces material thoughts and purifies consciousness from material desires. AND live simply over vegetarian diets to avoid unnecessary consumption

Example - Scientific Progress

Happy Science Movement

• Meditation linking to psychological and neuroscience

• Advances in neuroscience and psychology → increased understanding of the brain and behaviour

• Scientifically justified meditation practice can improve spiritual awareness

Example - Ecological Awareness

Deep Ecology

• Created by philosophers in response to the ecological crisis. 

• Rejects human domination, responding to environmental crises from human destruction

• Conservation projects focusing on → Habitat restoration

• Direct action campaigns to STOP overfishing within marine ecosystems

Example - Disenchantment

Falun Gong

• Offering non-hierarchical spiritual path for action without reliance on formal religious authority. 

• Qigong meditation - slow, structured body movements practiced daily → believed to cultivate qi (life energy) improving physical and spiritual wellbeing. 

What are the Non-religious world views?

• Agnosticism

• Atheism

• Humanism

Define Atheism

Inherent incapability to believe in god.

Religious teachings seem implausible, everything is due to the randomness of the universe.

Define Agnosticism

Existence of the transcendent cannot be proved or disproved, therefore there is NO CERTAINTY.

Define Humanism

Strong passion and genuine care for human welfare.

Rational Humanism

• Human reason as the highest form of authority in existence.

• Human mind is most reliable source

• We instinctively know right from wrong.

Scientific Humanism

• Humans as ultimate source of authority

• Large emphasis on the power of science and problem solving

• Observation, logic and deduction

Features of Atheism

• Education and Science

• Complete Freedom (no consequence after death)

• Ethics and morals (inherently know right and wrong)

Features of Agnosticism

• Living ethically (duty)

• Meaningful live achieved through human reason and freedom

• Behaviour should focus on bettering ourselves as a society

Features of Humanism

• Focus on the potential of human beings

• Move forward and evolve through scientific advancement

Aspirations and Behaviours of Agnostic individuals

POS

• Curious —> independent thinking

• Open-mindedness

• Human responsibility (empathy, reason, reflection)

CONS

• Uncertainty —> Hesitation to make moral decisions

• Inconsistent moral framework

• Struggle to commit to ethical principles if they are skeptical

Example - Agnostic

Charles Darwin

• Created theory of evolution

• Wasn’t sure about God or higher power so didn’t commit —> focused on science

• Noticed natural processes which explained life without needing a creator

• Not entirely dismissive of God

Aspirations and Behaviours of Atheist individuals

POS

• Morality from human reason

• Accountable for own actions - no fear of punishment or reward

• Focus on humanitarian efforts from value of human wellbeing

CONS

• No ultimate moral motivation

• Opinions can differ from person to person

• Apathy - may not care about doing good.

Example - Atheist

Greta Thunberg

• Moral concern for the planet (climate change)

→ Reflects human agency 

→ Human responsibility to care over the Earth

Aspirations and Behaviours of Humanist individuals

POS

• Encourages ethical actions.

• Empathy and ethics (considering impacts of actions) 

• Motivation through potential to advance themselves as a society.

CONS

• Opinions can vary between people

• Focus on humans alone —> Narrow beliefs ignoring transcendent views/beliefs

Example - Humanist

• Evolutionary biologist, prominent intellectual 

• Argued that creation is as a result of scientific evolution over transcendent interference

The Difference between Religious and Non-Religious Worldviews (Syllabus)

• the concept of the transcendent

• the human person

• social responsibility

The concept of the Transcendent - Christianity VS Atheism

Christianity

• God as ultimate creator

• Omnipresent, Omnipotent being

• Revelation is revealed through him

Atheist

• Reject transcendent beliefs

• Universe and life are seen as products of natural processes NOT supernatural power

The Human person - Christianity VS Atheism

Christianity

• The creation of humans is through God. 

• Human nature is reflected in Gods image - there is inherent moral capacity —> belief in original sin (moral weakness for wrong doing).

• Belief in the transcendent realm of heaven and hell —> guiding awareness of consequences

Atheism

• Humans came into existence through biological evolution. 

• Humans are physical beings with consciousness and intelligence stemming from the brain. 

• Purpose is self determined, through relationships, achievements and contributions to society.

• Death is final 

• There is no soul we are just human

• No afterlife exists 

Social Responsibility - Christianity VS Atheism

Christianity

• Key ethical frameworks and moral obligations to act with love, justice, and compassion. 

     → Love thy neighbour 

     → Charity and mercy 

     → Stewardship 

• Environmental Ethics

Atheism

• Morality is grounded in reason, empathy and shared human values. 

      → Since there is no divine 

            expectation for behaviour

            there is a heightened sense 

            of personal responsibility.