Studies Of Religion Notes

Exam Preparation and Christianity Content

  • The Goal:

    • Finish understanding how to apply questions to a given stimulus.

    • Create study notes for the assessment.

    • Cover Christianity principal beliefs.

  • Assessment Structure:

    • Extended response (essay).

    • Structured response (15 marks, 3 questions) assesses Christianity and a small section of Islam.

    • Next week: Unpacking structured responses.

    • Assessment task includes research.

    • Two lessons on Christianity will be on the exam.

Christianity Beliefs

  • Principal beliefs of Christianity to be taught.

  • Need to know terminology and treat Christianity like a new tradition.

  • Overview of the Great Schism and Orthodox variants.

  • Research on different beliefs, creating a bank of notes for assessment preparation.

  • Structured response questions will be based on Christian beliefs.

Origins Content

  • Origins of Christianity content from the previous Thursday will be examined.

Applying Questions

  • Assessment question has a demonstrate verb.

  • Focus on how it guides adherents.

  • Key elements:

    • Principal beliefs.

    • Ethical teachings.

  • Demonstrate requires examples and lived expression.

  • Tradition guides adherents, influencing their life and practice.

  • Moves them closer to their ultimate goal (e.g., Nirvana).

  • Interact with the language of the question (e.g., "walk the path," "guides adherents").

Stimulus

  • Stimulus needs to be unpacked and addressed.

  • Will contain familiar aspects like guidance or the path.

  • Metaphors:

    • Light.

    • Walking the path.

    • Determination.

    • Control.

Analyzing a Stimulus Example

  • Example: "He who walks the eightfold path with unswerving determination is sure to reach Nirvana."

  • Key words:

    • Unswerving determination: Focus, balance, controlled living.

    • Active choice, requires presence and effort.

  • Focus on:

    • How Buddhism guides to control.

    • How Buddhism guides to balance.

    • How Buddhism guides to focused living.

    • Allows adherents to achieve their ultimate goal.

Applying Beliefs

  • Beliefs guide to the path.

  • Example:

    • Taking refuge in the Three Jewels.

    • Living their faith through meditation.

    • Chanting Dharma.

    • Manifesting control and balance in their life.

  • Elaborate on the belief, link to lived expression, and connect to walking the path.

Essay Structure

  • Basic structure:

    • Principal belief or ethical teaching in the opening sentence.

    • Address the question and stimulus.

    • Elaborate and link to the idea of stimulus and guidance.

    • Integration of quotes from sacred texts.

    • Example of lived expression.

    • Link back to the ultimate goal and walking the path.

  • Essay Foundations document provides guidance.

  • Focus on application of the question.

Key Essay Components

  • Topic sentence: Clear and focused.

  • Explain: Influence on life of adherent.

  • Linking back: Question or stimulus.

  • Scripture: Essential for top-band essays.

    • Must be integrated with lived expression.

Ethical Teachings

  • Ethical teachings:

    • Best way for adherents to walk the path.

    • Focus on action and lifestyle.

    • Aim to create control and balance.

Sila (Ethical Action)

  • Sila: Broad ethical teaching related to all aspects of Buddhist life.

  • Actions:

    • Living an ethically good lifestyle.

    • Creating control and balance.

  • Examples:

    • Vegetarianism.

    • Avoiding livelihoods that harm living beings.

Five Precepts

  • Ethical teaching guiding adherents to unswerving determination to reach Nirvana.

  • Lived expression examples:

    • Holding the precepts.

    • Practicing vegetarianism or veganism.

Contemporary Issues

  • Contemporary issues:

    • Deforestation.

    • Exploitation.

  • Bioethical issues:

    • Abortion: Follow the first precept of ahimsa (non-harming).

  • Variants:

    • Theravada (strictest).

    • Mahayana.

    • Vajrayana (Tibetan) - incorporates esoteric practices and rituals, emphasizing the use of mantras and meditation techniques.

Combining Beliefs

  • Combine beliefs and rituals:

    • Helps in walking the path.

Steps Summary

  1. Take notes, create a new document, and make 3-4 rows mapping out beliefs, ethical teachings.

  2. Include your quote and an example of lived expression.

  3. Incorporate phases, key phrases and linking back to the questions.