Module Two - religion and religiosity
terminology:
religion = a system of beliefs, values, rituals, worships, and practices shared by a number of people and guides them as to how they should live.
every religion centers its ideas and 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
each religion offers particular insights and understandings about life
they all share common beliefs about God(s) as such
their insights find expression in various religious teachings, beliefs, and practices
followers also come together to express aspects of their religion through worship, celebrations, rituals, and by observing special events and seasons
religious belief = a conviction about an idea central to a religion that expresses a religious truth (making it at the core of a religion)
they offer particular insights and understandings about life which then find expression in a variety of religious teachings and practices.
religious teaching = what guides and informs people as to how they should respond to religious beliefs eg the Catholic Social Teachings
they can be seen within the creeds
Catholic beliefs and teachings are expressed in a variety of Church documents eg the Catechism of the Catholic Church which acts as the central doctrine that we need
religious practices = a recognised way of doing something religious
they refer to a broad range of experiences that relate to many aspects of religious life
eg a way of praying or a style of religious worship
religious signs and symbols = these are used to represent what’s occurring or important for a religious practice, ritual, celebration, or event
SYMBOLS are tangible items that represent something deeper
they convey meaning and help people see beyond the surface
religious rituals = use symbolic actions, gestures, and words to express what’s important about faith
they play an important role in Catholic worship eg Sacraments
communal celebrations that express a sense of belonging to a community and call for participation NOT observation
religious celebrations = are special times when religious communities join together in worship, prayer or to celebrate a religious festival
religious event = similar to religious celebration
usually has a set time and sometimes a set place in which an important aspect of religious faith is celebrated
RELIGIONS:
develop ideas about their God(s)
share common understandings about basic human questions such as the purpose of life, life after death, and what it means to be human
share cultural memories that have been handed down through generations making these memories then important to their identity
worship using common rituals and prayers
WORLD RELIGIONS:
there are five major world religions
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and, Judaism
EXPRESSIONS OF RELIGIOUS FAITH FOR CHRISTIANS:
These are expressed through established practices, rituals, celebrations, and events
there may be some variations in how such practices, rituals, celebrations, and events are understood and how they are practiced between different denominations
4 RESPONSES TO RELIGION:
Secularism = promotes societal ideas or values over religious ways of thought
it promotes freedom from religious rule and teachings, freedom from government imposition of religion upon the people, and gives NO state privileges or subsidies to religions
Atheism = where people don’t believe there’s a God or live as though there is no God
Agnosticism = where people are uncertain about the existence of God or people’s ability to know if God exists
Humanism = is based upon the understanding that the world itself and human beings reveal all
human reason is the foundation for every situation and action in the world
BEING RELIGIOUS
what and how frequently a person practices elements of a religious way of life —> people who are religious seek, sense, and think about the meaning and purpose of life in accordance with the teachings and practices of the religion
what a person says they believe in and how their behaviour matches the state beliefs of religion
religious participation, adherence to observance, practices, and identity are all ways people can describe what it means to be religious
RELIGIOSITY:
refers to the many aspects of religion eg
identity
participation
affiliation
adherence
religiosity deals with the level of acceptance of religious worship, teaching, beliefs, and participation a person identifies with
this is complex as it’s often a deeply personal matter BUT can only be measured at an external and observable level
QUESTIONS:
1) What is meant by the concept of ‘religion’?
Religion is a system of beliefs, values, rituals, worship, and practices that are shared by a number of people. Every religion centers its ideas and activities on the “other” - some sort of supernatural being, power, or force - and requires believers to give their loyalty to God(s). Each religion guides how people live as they offer particular insights and understandings about life
2) What are examples of world religions?
There are 5 major world religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
3) How do we know someone is ‘religious’?
We know when someone is “religious” by noticing how frequently and what a person practices elements of a religious way of life and if what they say they believe in matches their behaviour which in turn matches the stated beliefs of a religion and observing their own specific religiosity ie their individual level of acceptance of religious worship, teaching, and beliefs they identify with
4) What are some indicators of being religious?
Some indicators of being religious include what and how frequently one practices elements of a religious way of life, their level of religious participation, as well as how much of what one says they believe in matches their actions and in turn the stated beliefs of a religion.