Religion and society Unit 4, aos 1

SLE

What is a significant life experience and its impact?

Significant life experiences are events that have a lasting impact on individuals, they are also often emotional in nature and effect people deeply. These experiences impact a persons identity, self esteem or reason for being. These experiences also force major life decisions which impact on a persons relationships and direction in life and can change an adherents perspective.

Examples include:

death of a loved one

serious illness

birth of a child

Reassessing one's direction in life

Adherence to a religious belief?

relates to the degree to which those beliefs are committed to/lived out in a person's life - e.g.: public display of acceptance of those religious beliefs; they may adhere, but their level of faith may vary.

faith in belief?

is the acceptance of religious beliefs. Understanding can have a large role in the level of faith, or minimal. Faith/acceptance of religious beliefs is usually accompanied by commitment in the form of engagement. SLE can cause an adherent to lose trust in their beliefs or can strengthen their trust in said belief

How does it impact understanding of beliefs?

considers breadth and/or depth and level of commitment to their understanding, e.g.: could be basic, or in-depth and unquestioning or questioning. Significant life experiences can provide a new way for adherents to understand their beliefs in a real and personal way

How does it impact engagement with beliefs?

is related to the aspects. This could be discussed in terms of compliance; international; cultural; self-initiated; inspired; disinterested. Usually has to do with acknowledge of behavior. SLE can create doubt and therefore adherents may stop engaging with these beliefs, on the other hand an SLE may strengthen their beliefs and inspire adherents to engage more frequently and significantly with their beliefs

what is the relationship between SLE and beliefs?

SLE can be a catalyst for change in beliefs both negatively and positively. SLE can lead adherents to doubt their faith and their fore their beliefs. however it can also, affirm an adherents beliefs and allow them to develop a new understanding of their beliefs

How can SLE create meaning for adherents?

SLE can create meaning for adherents by strengthening their beliefs and their understanding of these beliefs, however on the other hand it can also cause adherents to lose faith in these beliefs and abundant previous held beliefs. SLE can also help to answer existential question like the purpose of life and the nature of the ultimate reality as these experiences can provide new perspectives or even direct answers, helping adherents construct a new understanding of the ultimate reality that integrates their personal experiences with their beliefs.

liberation theology

Romero’s understanding of beliefs prior to SLE:

Romero understood that through His suffering, death and resurrection, Christ was victorious over death, and so the faithful can also look forward to their own resurrection and eternal life

“predictable, an orthodox, pious bookworm” (Renny Golden) 7/10

Romero’s engagement of beliefs prior to SLE:

Preaching through regular homilies during the ritual of the holy mass. Explaining the meaning and purpose of suffering through sacred story and texts. Being an active member of the social structure. Promoting ethics through his commitment and work with the poor. 6/10

Romeros faith in beleifs before

Prior to Rutillio Grandes death he believed that in Christ there was a pre-existent god the lord. Believed lord Jesus Christ was the incarnation of the pre-existent god who is a transcendent higher authority. Superior to human structures and government structures (authority) Oscar Romero’s belief that he must Love his enemies is a key belief in Catholic Christianity. The suffering Jesus endured has a meaning and a purpose for the suffering that Oscar Romero is witnessing. It brings him into solidarity with a suffering Christ. OR believes in a God who promotes social justice. Jesus promoted inclusivity and love of neighbour. OR’s belief in One Lord Jesus Christ as saviour of the world supports OR’s belief that freedom comes from and through suffering

Romero context

Oscar Romero was born in 1917 in El Salvador a country largly exposed to violence from the authoritarian government, at 14 he realized he wanted to become a priest and later moved to rome to study theology, he then returned to el Salvador in 1944, before becoming archbishop of san Salvador. he was described as quite conservative in nature, he was also heavily dedicated to his religious study called a ‘man of the books’. he also believed that the churches role was to tach the bible rather than to be political this was until 1977 when he experienced a SLE.

Romero’s SLE

In 1977 Romero’s best friend Fr rutillio Grande was murderd by the el salvadorian military, this caused a chance in perspective for Oscar romero

Romero’s adherence to before

Romero was committed to his beliefs in the kog and in the resurrection, evident in becoming an arch bishop