SOR II HSC Course - Religion and Non-Religion Notes

The religious dimension in human history
The expression of the religious dimension in human history	Animism - Means ‘having a soul’ Belief that all things in the world have a soul or spirit Reverence for nature Preserve nature Aboriginal people didn't worship whereas some did Believe that the soul survives after death Unknown origins - prehistoric origins Polytheism - Means many gods More like spiritual beings than like God Believed to have originated in Hinduism approximately 2500 BC The ancient polytheistic belief systems viewed gods as being in control of all natural events such as rainfall, harvests and fertility Polytheistic cultures believed in sacrifices to appease their gods The Canaanites sacrificed to the male god, Baal, and his female counterpart, Ashtaroth. Baal controlled the rain and the harvest, while Ashteroth controlled fertility and reproduction Monotheism - Monotheism is the belief in one God The foundation of the Judeo-christian-muslim line of religions, which began with a man named Abraham in about 2000 BC Features of God → omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient
The significance of the religious dimension in human history	Meaning and purpose for the individual - Sense of belonging Growth/development of society Personal search for meaning Social cohesion Beneficial Disadvantages Belonging to a community How to act Systems of social government Family, society Schools Provides material support for the disadvantaged Architecture → worship together in places Sri lanka middle east Exclusion Banning of the Burka in France Quakers and puritans kicked out of northern europe Human experience is characterised by a search for answers to the big questions of life, which are known as the key religious questions The most significant of these questions relate to the origin (where did we come from?), purpose (why are we here?) and destiny (what happens to us when we die?) of humankind The answers provided through religion understanding give meaning and coherence to life One significant role of religion is to provide life with meaning, and hence a sense of overall consistency and direction in a world that is constantly changing During times of crises for example , religion is particularly uplifting because it provides life with a sense of purpose , and a framework upon which to understand life The ritualistic dimension of religion provides individuals with one of the most basic needs of humankind, a sense of belonging within a community Religion can also serve to reinforce the cultural identity of a group, which is particularly important when the group consists of small ethnic minorities or people who have been socially marginalised by mainstream society Social transformation Beneficial Disadvantages (limitation and exclusion) Rise of monotheistic religion Christmas → holidays Laws Art Provides material support for the disadvantaged Architecture Creation of hospitals Music → originally created for worship Schism for christianity Holocaust Misplaced morality Missionisation Colonisation Quakers and puritans kicked out of northern europe
The global distribution of the five major religious traditions	World Religions - Percentage: Christianity = 33% Islam = 21% Hinduism = 14% Buddhism = 6% Judaism = 0.22% Number: Christianity = 2.1 billion Islam 1.5 billion Hinduism = 900 million Buddhism 376 million Judaism 14 million Percentage Stuff (Catholic) - Vatican City = 100% Federated States of Micronesia = 100% [104,000] 2015 Samoa = 100% [1.93 000] 2015 Panama = 100% [3.929 million] 2015 Romania = 99% [19.83 million] 2015 East Timor = 99% [1.2 million] 2015 Venezuela = 98% [31.11 million] Bolivia = 98.1% [10.72 million] 2015 Marshall Islands = 97.2% [52,000] Actual No. (Christian) - USA = 234 million Brazil = 176 million Mexico = 105 million Russia = 102 million Phillipines = 91 million Nigeria = 72 million Congo Democratic Republic = 60 million Germany = 57 million Italy = 52 million Ethiopia = 47 million Muslims Percentages China = less than 1% Saudi Arabia = 100% (90% Sunni, 10% Shi'a) Afghanistan = 99.9% (85% Sunni, 14% Shi'a) Yemen = 99.9% (65-70% Sunni, 30-35% Shi'a) Mauritania = 99.9% (mostly Sunni) Somalia = 99.9% (mostly Sunni) Maldives = 99.33% (mostly Sunni) Oman = 99% (mostly Ibadhi) Djibouti = +99% (mostly Sunni) Tunisia = 99% (mostly Sunni) Algeria = 99% (mostly Sunni) Turkey = 99% (85% Sunni, 15% Shia) Number China = 20,000,000 Indonesia = 202,867,000 Pakistan = 174,082,000 India = 169,745,000 Bangladesh = 145,312,000 Egypt = 78,513,000 Nigeria = 78,056,000 Iran = 73,777,000 Turkey = 73,619,000 Algeria = 34,199,000 Afghanistan = 32,172,000 Judaism   Percentage Israel = 44% United States = 39.5% France = 3.2% Canada = 2.7% U.K = 2.0% Argentina =  1.3% Russia = 1.2% Germany = 0.8% Australia = 0.8% Brazil = 0.7% Number Israel 6,336,400 United States 5,700,000 France 460,000 Canada 388,000 U.K. 290,000 Argentina  180,700 Russia  179,500 Germany 117,000 Australia 113,000 Hinduism India 1,025,430,000 Nepal 23,352,646 Bangladesh 13,500,000 Indonesia 4,259,000 Pakistan 3,626,000 Sri Lanka 2,554,000 United States 2,230,000 Malaysia 1,949,850 Myanmar 893,000 United Kingdom 832,000
New religious expression
The rise of new religious expression and spiritualities	People move away from traditional religions - secularism: Dissatisfaction Losing faith because of personal circumstances Growth in pluralism → questioning the essence of truth, values and religious tradition Organised religion becoming old fashioned → work commitments, lifestyle, work on sunday Youth are no longer interested and attracted to traditional religion Youth are used to individual focus - materialistic Youths attracted to the ritualistic, ceremonial aspects Older generations passing away, middle age - too busy, youth unattracted Fewer families making their children attend church Search for personal fulfilment: In this secular, individual oriented society where traditional religious beliefs are often recognised as irrelevant, there is a strong need to find meaning and purpose in life’s journey The most significant attraction of new age religions is that they offer personal fulfilment Given diverse nature of new age religions, new age religions are well suited to offer personal fulfilment in a considerable variety of ways Seeking ethical guidelines: In accordance with the trend which points to the growing secular society, traditional religious guidance is seen as meaningless and irrelevant The postmodern nature of society means that there is a lack of moral certainty in society, and in its place is the notion of moral relativism Because many people find it difficult to formulate their own ethical guidelines, they turn to new age religions for ethical guidelines Seek to clarify their relationship with society: Human beings are essentially social creatures, and few people will live happily without meaningful contact with others The failure of religious communities to provide meaningful support and the cult of individualism in Western societies has left some individuals feeling isolated from the rest of the community For some, this void may be filled through involvement with new age religions which cater to the needs of the individual
The influences on the growth of new religious expressions and spiritualities	The rise of materialism    Some new age religions indicate a large involvement in gaining profits New age religions which favour individual spirituality and personal fulfilment, thrive in materialistic societies with its cult of individualism In this consumerist environment, new age philosophies which purport to provide personal fulfilment and well being are represented as commodities which can be bought or sold Scientific progress Rapid growth of scientific knowledge has raised serious questions for some religious perspectives Some abandon traditional religious beliefs, in the belief that scientific discoveries have discredited such beliefs When scientific progress has the effect of undermining the authority the authority of religious traditions, some people will go in search of new age religious expressions to meet their needs Many new age religions have a pseudo-scientific basis e.g. numerology This appeals to many, as often science is seen as validating this new age philosophy Growth of ecological awareness The growth of E. A in recent generations has made a scientific contribution to the awareness of the beauty and power of creation A number of new age religions are creation centred spiritualities which adopt animistic and ancient nature religions in response to rising environmental consciousness Such new are religions seek to recapture the traditional wisdom of the environment Many people are attracted to new age religions because they feel that the closeness to the environment is a healing thing e.g. nature retreats and prayers invoking a power from within creation Disenchantment with the traditional religious practice and guidance Many people feel that traditional religious practices do not provide a relevant and meaningful support system for them in the challenges they face in the modern world Increasing disillusionment with traditional religions hypocrisy, abuse of power and/or irrelevance means that religions have lost moral authority and respect It has become increasingly acceptable in contemporary Australian society to have no religious affiliation or not to participate on one's nominal religion The significant decline in religious affiliation is a clear sign of growing secularism New age religions are popular because there is still a longing for a spiritual dimension to life
Non-Religious Worldviews
The human search for personal fulfilment through non-religious practices:
Agnosticism	Agnostic: An agnostic is someone who believes that it is impossible to know anything about God or the creation of the universe, as there is no scientific evidence, and so refrains from commitment to any one religious doctrine. Discuss how Agnosticism, Atheism and Humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals Since agnostics do not believe in God, they are not theists; since they are not certain that God does not exist, they are not atheists. An agnostic usually does not give an answer to these questions – pending the arrival of new evidence. Agnostics are willing to change their belief if some evidence or solid proof is found in the future. Some agnostics who feel the need for religious discussion, fellowship or ritual, join a congregation of the Unitarian fellowship or church. Agnostic – term invented by Thomas Huxley in the 1840’s – a (implies a negative), gnostic
Atheism	Atheism: Atheism is the belief that there are no spiritual forces; they deny the existence of a deity or of divine beings as a whole. The system of beliefs whereby a person lacks a belief that a God or gods exist. What Atheism is: Atheism is the absence of belief in Gods. An atheist needs to be godless, though godlessness isn’t quite the same as atheism. There is no one reason for atheism and no one path to atheism. Atheists don’t see any reason to bother believing in any gods. What Atheism is not: Atheism is not the absence of beliefs, generally. It is not a religion or ideology. Discuss how Agnosticism, Atheism and Humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals A person who believes that there is no God. Most atheists have analyzed the available evidence for the existence of one or more deities and have concluded that there is no real evidence for the existence of a deity. The atheist belief system is confined to one important factor – the existence or non- – existence of a God.
Humanism	Humanism: Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfilment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. A philosophy based on human values, human knowledge of the natural universe, and human endeavour. It is based on the belief that humans are responsible for their own destiny. Discuss how Agnosticism, Atheism and Humanism determine the aspirations and behaviour of individuals Rational Humanism (positions) - Rational Humanism: Develop a reasoning about the world through in-depth reasoning processes. Scientific Humanism (positions) - Scientific Humanism: A rational belief system, based upon the three levels of Human consciousness ⇒ Sentience Awe, Wonder. The three cardinal Precepts of all Human societies result from conjunctions between two of the three aspects of Human consciousness. In Scientific Humanism, these principles are referred to as the Three Precepts: Be Nice, Seek Knowledge to Determine Truth, Obey Just Laws. People strive for Balance among the three Aspects of Human consciousness. When Balance is extended to the three Precepts, People achieve Harmony within themselves. People reach Fulfillment by helping others to achieve Balance and Harmony
The Difference between Religious and Non-Religious Worldviews
The response of ONE religious and ONE non-religious belief system to:
The concept of the transcendent	Christianity - Believe in the supernatural- God and Jesus Christ. Belief in the transcendent vital as God was the creator of humanity. Christians believe in eternity and the afterlife in heaven, transcending beyond the natural world to a paradise where they can live in peace and harmony forever. God and the supernatural created the universe Rational Humanist - Reject the supernatural ->  Unable to be verified or proved through human reason or science and Unnecessary within human life. Only accept what is natural and present within the world we exist in. Do not believe in an afterlife, existentialism whereby once the brain has deceased, our existence stops forever -> Rather believe that utopia can be created on earth through correct and moral human actions. Universe is self existent and was not created by anyone or anything, rather, natural forces
The human person	Christianity - All human life is sourced within God and dictated my God’s will for us. Humans have dignity over all other creations on earth. God plans for all human people to live as free and independent beings. God hopes that the human journey will lead to Him in an afterlife. Rational Humanist - Uses scientific knowledge to explain that humans evolved from animalistic primitive species. Humans have their own ability for reasoning; they are able to dictate their own destiny and path in life, and able to make educated choices regarding themselves. Human life does not continue beyond human existence. Human’s do not need their morals from God, rather it is natural for humankind to act with morality toward one another
Social responsibility	Christianity - Social responsibility and the responsibility of all to each other comes from teachings of Jesus in the Bible to be good people Christian vocation- Christians are called to ‘love thy neighbour’ and be like Jesus in the sense that they are good and contribute to reducing evil Rational Humanist -  Humans should flourish in equality and dignity, Law is to be good and restrict evil, Have responsibility to act morally toward one another and have a duty of care towards society

c. Madison F and Alison L