Unit 4: Religion, Challenge and Change Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the VCE Unit 4 Religion, Challenge and Change curriculum, including general concepts and specific case studies like Arianism, Galileo, and VAD.

Challenge

A situation that stimulates a response from society and/or religious traditions and religious denominations.

Stance

A principled perspective, which may be expressed in various responses, intended to retain integrity, authenticity, authority, and identity.

Theological Challenges

Challenges to a religion's beliefs about God, ultimate reality, sacred texts, or other categories of belief.

Ethical Challenges

Challenges to a religion’s moral teachings and principles of right and wrong, often focused on the behaviour of people within the religion.

Continued existence Challenges

Challenges that threaten a religion’s survival, relevance, authority, or number of adherents.

Internal Challenges

Challenges originating from inside the religion, such as disagreements, schisms, or corruption.

External Challenges

Challenges originating from outside the religion, such as government restrictions, scientific developments, or natural disasters.

Arianism

A 4th-century theological challenge proposed by Arius, a priest from Alexandria, teaching that Jesus was created by God and was not fully divine.

Edict of Milan ($313$ CE)

A decree that allowed the spread of Christianity, after which Arianism began to cause significant division within the Church.

Council of Nicaea ($325$ CE)

An ecumenical council called by Emperor Constantine that rejected Arianism and declared it a heresy.

Nicene Creed

A statement of belief produced in $325$ CE affirming that Jesus is "begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father."

Homoousian

A term meaning "to be the same being," used by Athanasius to describe the relationship between Jesus and God.

Council of Constantinople ($381$ CE)

A council that reaffirmed the Nicene Creed and clarified the doctrine of the Trinity to settle the Arian controversy.

Heliocentrism

The 17th-century scientific theory supporting the idea that the Earth revolves around the Sun, which challenged traditional biblical interpretation.

Galileo Galilei

A 17th-century scientist who used telescopic observations to support heliocentrism and was placed on trial by the Roman Inquisition in $1633$.

Recant

To publicly and formally withdraw, disavow, or renounce a previously held belief or statement.

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)

A modern ethical and theological challenge (2010s-present) resulting from Australian laws allowing terminally ill people to legally end their lives.

Consubstantial

Meaning "of the same substance," a key theological term used to describe the equal divinity of the Father and the Son.

Secularisation

A source of challenge characterized by the removal or decline of religious influence and role in a modern, pluralistic society.

Truth narrative

A means for finding answers to the big questions of life, which religions have historically provided.