Religion review Notes | Knowt (2024)

Module 1: Important life events & questions about meaning

Important life event cause people to question
Prompt search for meaning/purpose
4 universal important life events

Birth (special mystery experience)

everyone is born
May lead to questioning abt: belonging, family, unborn life etc.

Development into adulthood

Questions can arise for both the individual and family around them
Possibly about: future path, how to be responsible, vocation/work

Marriage

Commitment between 2 people
Stir questions about parenthood, commitment, personal identity

Death (of self or others close to you)

Many people fear death/it can be confronting
Lead to questions about: past choices, self/life-style, nature of death

Search for meaning

Often caused due to life events
Causes people to question - can lead to a religious journey

Life events prompt questioning

Peoples experiences determine many things - prompt questioning

Mainly about

mystery of self
Others
Created world

Mystery of self

Others

Created world

About life & meaning

Spend time reflecting on self

Mystery - never be fully understood

Goodness & evil

Is there such a thing?
Proof of both in history

Harder to be good - easier to be tempted - yet desire to be good

World/god = beautiful

Look at world - creative path

Lead to god

Wonder about origin of universe

Mystery experience - 4 characteristics

personal, must be expressed, can’t express through words alone and never fully understood.

Catholic understanding of search for meaning

No longer universal - specific to one religion

Must understand people were created to relate with creator
God intended us to know him & created reaction to life events to prompt this (HHQ)
God gave us HHQ’s with intent to draw us to him (must partake in voluntary process to listen to heat)
HHQ stem from the heart - conscience discerns them/recognises them
Conscience = most secret sanctuary/core in which one is alone with god

- draws people in dialogue with god

Some people can think they’ve had religious experience when it was motivated externally (other wants, needs, circ*mstances)
Conscience used to discern these and understand the experience
People in history acted out of religion and committed atrocities - moral high ground
Conscience separates what god's telling you from other experiences

Catholic strengthen conscience by

WWJD
Scripture
Teaching of apostles
Moral teachings

Thoughts and feeling evaluated same way as moral actions

Being consistent with all god reveals. Genuine religious experiences tent to

Not short term
Cannot be kept inside
Relate to issues in daily life

GENUINE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE = if inspired actions align with WWJD

Module 2: Concept of religion and being religious

In search for meaning people encounter and respond to answer

Many recognised answer is provided by the divine (in presence of)
All religions place experience of the divine at centre - get answer from
Religion = complex and diverse (across and within religion)
Followers of religions come together & express aspects of religion

- through ie. worship, celebration, rituals & observing special events/seasons

Gatherings help:

- Develop ideas

- Share understanding about HHQ

- Share memories

- Worship

- Develop codes of behaviour

Religious belief develop due to common experiences of God
Many different experiences but develops as result of common experiences
All religions tend to share/express experiences in same basic way:

Beliefs and teachings

Belief: conviction/idea surrounding central idea to a religion that expresses religious truth - insights about life
Expressing of religious faith: beliefs must be expressed typically thought practices
Teaching: official statement of a religious belief - guide/inform how peoples beliefs
Writings: related to significant teachings in a religion (various kinds)

Rituals, practices and celebrations

Signs/symbols: use signs & symbols to represent/convey meaning about beliefs
Rituals: use symbolic actions to promote what is import about faith (gestures, words)
Practice: broad range of experiences that relate to many aspects of religious life

Leadership and rules

Leaders: people to help the community relate with god. Teach others ways to communicate with God and preserve teachings, ceremonies etc
Law: behavioural codes (rooted moral codes/beliefs) (prevent damaging relationship)

Customs and traditions

Celebration: special times = communities come together in worship, ritual etc
Events: set time/sometime set place in which important aspect of faith is celebrated
Places: special/sacred place in which to communicate with god (usually marked with reminders of God’s presence)

Main characteristics of religion:

Beliefs and teachings
Rituals, practices and celebrations
Leadership and rules
Customs and traditions

Catholicism

Belief/teaching = Creed
Practise = Sacraments
Leadership/rules = Commandments
Customs = Prayer

Hinduism

Began in india
Most sacred text = Veda (means “knowledge”)
Upanishads texts that reflects the teaching of the Bhraman priests
Believe in rebirth - based on how good/bad you were in past life - symbolised by wheel in the indian flag
3 major figures Bhraman (creator), Vishnu (Preserver) and Shiva (Destroyer)
Practice meditation and yoga

Islam

Believe God sent 4 prophets (greatest of whom was Mohammed.)
Mohammed felt profound experience of Allah & a calling to preach - no one but God
Persecution by powerful people forced Mohammed to flee the city
Belief All is the cause of all & completely just
No separation between the religious and the state
Sharia law and Ramadan

Buddhism

Originated in India - 500 years before Christ - Indian prince, Siddharta Gautama
Disturbed human poverty/misery - tried understand what realities reveal about MOL
Adopted the life of beggar monk - lead him to enlightenment - called first Buddha
Believe there have been and will be other buddhas
Teaches people can break out of cycle of rebirths by reaching state of Nirvana
Achieved by lifestyle between worldly pleasure and excessive suffering
Ranges in ho to achieve state - by monastic life or open to all who revere Buddhas

Judaism

Jewish people believe God established them as a separate race - not human experience of god - God chose them
Is the religion of the Children of Abraham - beliefs of 12 tribes of descendants
Formed them into a nation through Siana Covenant - Moses given Commandments
Covenant guaranteed god would protect them as long as remain faithful to laws

Relationships between other religions and Catholicism

Periods of intolerance and persecution between Christian and non-christians
Differences between how Christian churches see non-christian religions

General catholic perspective:

Rejects nothing of what is true/holy in these religions
All religious people = searching for god/hidden power behind human life and nature
considers all goodness/truth found in religions as “preparation for the gospel”
Religions have characteristics and teaching contrary to what jesus revealed
Also believe people display limits/errors that disfigure image of god in them

Responses to religion

Secularism: has a variety of meaning - promoting freedom from religious rule/ government imposition of religion upon people

Atheism: people do not believe there is a God or live as if there is no God

Agnosticism: people are uncertain about existence of God/ability to know of God

Humanism: based on understanding that world itself and human reason reveal all things

Being religious

Concept of religion is complex best understood within context of religious way of life
A deeply personal matter - can only describe some aspects
understanding of religions & willingness to consider different measures of religiosity
Can only be measured through external factors - behaviour & frequency of practice
Ie. participation, adherence, observation, practice and identity

Supporting religious faith

Purpose of catholic church = promote, support, develop people HHQ recognising
People seak, sense and think about God - opportunities to develop experience
4 pillars of religious faith:

- Creed

- Ten Commandments

- Sacraments

- Lord’s prayer

contribute to personal religious development & occur at community & individual level

Module 3A: Religious belief

1. How is belief expressed in catholicism?

Nature of religious belief

Belief, teaching, practice, signs & symbols, rituals, celebrations, events

(refer to module 2 for definitions )

Creeds

Profession of faith (something that list beliefs of a group)
Creed means “I believe”
church uses creed to summarise beliefs and things god revealed in old testament
2 main creeds used Caholisms

Apostles creed - based on apostles teachings
Nicrene creed - emphasises importance of trinity in 3 parts

Defines community in 4 qualities; holy, one, catholic, apostolic

Catechism of Catholic church

In order to summarise entire catholic doctrine
Gained official approval from pope (religious teaching)
Written by worlds bishops - Magisterium
Presents essential / fundamental elements of churches faith
4 crucial parts “4 pillars on which Catechism was build”

Creed
Sacraments
Life in Christ
Prayer

2. What reasons do people give for adopting religious beliefs?

5 PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

3. What external factors affect people's religious belief?

Witness accounts - John 20: 19-31

Historical account of Jesus’ resurrection - that many people believed
“Believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those how have not seen and yet have come to believe” - some people accept while other do not
“Written so that you may come to believe” - emphasis that this is historical account

Scientism

Scientism = belief that science/thus “scientific proof” - can alone yield knowledge
Theists have burden of proof to show that god exists
People think themselves justified in rejection of God if proof isn’t strong evidence

Burdens/levels of proof

Reasonable suspicion - amount of evidence and officer needs to ‘frisk’ someone
Probable cause - evidence officer needs to arrest someone
Preponderance - to win an automobile collision case
Clear and convenience - State to take child away from their parent
Beyond reasonable doubt - beyond any doubt base on a reason
Different levels of proof - utilised in daily life
Unfair to only accept scientific proof to religious belief when in law we can punish people/take life away on beyond reasonable doubt/clear and convincing arguments

Faith and understanding

Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth
Given proof/reasons to believe
God wants us too but we can choose not to
Accepting something as true
God willed that external proofs of his revelation should be joined to internal helps of the holy spirit - INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PROOFS
Not compelled to accept them
Miracles of christ and the saints, prophecies, churches growth/holiness and fruitfulness and stability
Assent of faith is not a chance - purposeful

Module 3B: Key features of one religious belief: SELF - REVELATION

As all religions, Christianity is based upon LOTS of religious beliefs
All of these point towards/speak about God/God’s activity
Important area of christian belief concern the nature of revelation

GOD’S SELF REVELATION IS THE CONTINUING & DYNAMIC PROCESS BY WHICH GOD COMMUNICATES WITH PEOPLE

Begins with creation

God is made known to people from very beginning - through creation
People today can/are recognising the creator when reflecting on the universe
St Paul letter to the Romans notes this idea

To Abraham and his descendants

God revealed an unconditional love to God’s people over time and stages

E.g God chose Abraham & his descendants to be God’s own people

Process by which God has led every generation to know god = revelation
Personal revelation of God to humanity - and not primarily a boy of truth or facts

Jesus Christ = fullness of God’s self revelation

Climax of God's revelation is Jesus
God made people of Israel aware that he would send one - called him Messiah
Messiah would have task of restoring God’s kingdom (different opinions on what it was)- some were politically oriented while others more spiritually
Jesus (Messiah & Christ) proclaimed and restored kingdom of God
In practice making it possible for everyone to be free to relate closely with god

Covenants

God enters into one covenant after another with various humans in order to rescue his world
Covenants contain defined obligations and commitments, are direct and personal

Abrahamic Covenant

Promises Abraham 1) offspring, 2) land, 3) universal blessing
Abraham- leave his land, follow god wherever, walking blamelessly before God & train family to do what is right and just, keeping circumcision in every generation

Mosaic Covenant (Israel)

Promised to make them his own treasures possession, a holy, set apart nation
Will personally dwell in their midst and bring them into promise land
Conditional covenant of grace
Israel was to obey the terms embodied in the laws given to Moses as Mt Sinai

The New Covenant

Introduced by prophets in context of total failure
Everyone including religious leaders failed to keep God’s commands

Promised to make an everlasting covenant in which he would:

write his law on their hearts,
bring complete forgiveness of sin,
put his Spirit in them,
raise up a faithful Davidic king to rule over them,
bring them back to the land of to reunify them into one people of God,
cause them to be a light to the nations.
Pushes story forward into pages of the new testament who will fulfil all of this

In Jesus the nature of God and human nature became one

At Jesus’ conception, he accepted fully the human condition (divine and human became one in him)
Jesus accepted human understanding, feeling & limitations
Lived human condition in every aspect - other than sinning
Not son of god acting out human condition - he was fully man whilst remaining divine
Developed a relationship with god - attributes to self-revelation

Conquers power of sin over human nature

as devi was root of human sinfulness - Jesus first conquers the devil
Did this through his public ministry reversing Adam & Eve's disobedience with his own obedience to the father
Restores the relationship and fulfils Jesus’ purpose/obligation on earth

Shared with believers the very nature of god

Modelled in his action/words the ideals & values people need to live if they are to reflect God
Knew if they were to live like him they would need divine nature in them
Promised God (trinity) would ‘make a home in all believers’
Fulfils this promise in all who are baptised - God dwells in them the diving becoming present in the human nature

Transforms human nature today

By making it possible for God to make a home in people Jesus changes human nature
Divine and human grow increasingly close in the believer
This results in gradual transformation by God
Human nature within a person is restored by Christ to function as God originally intended - potential goodness grows, overcoming sinfulness

Church of the people of God

At pentecost Jesus created a new people of God - the church
Has new law (Law of Christ) and new passover (Eucharist)
Early christians used 2 images to understand Jesus’ relationship with the Church
Head of a body and a vine with it;s branches
Represents the intimacy of Christ and Church/people
Cannot be destroyed - parts cannot be separated.

Pope Benedict XVI’s theology of covenant - Catholic Culture

Abrahamic and the Mosaic which relate to the new covenant in different ways
Abrahamic = “fundamental and enduring”
Mosaic = “intervening”

Children of Abraham

God’s promise to Abraham of blessing the Gentiles is the foundation of the gospel
From the perspective of eternity, there is only “one covenant” - “eternally valid” covenant of Abraham now perfectly fulfilled in Christ

The broken covenant

Mosaic Law that renders the covenant conditional and subject to being broken
The tablets of the law have been lost forever with the destruction of the temple
Hasn’t been possible to live in accordance it the law since the destruction
Even if attention is restricted to the old testament - cannot be in accordance

Deuteronomic Curses

By gravely violating Mosaic law, Israel had incurred the curses of Deuteronomic covenant
conditional curses ritually imposed on Israel when covenant was instituted
Jesus took curses upon himself on the Cross - perfect realisation of the Day of atonement

New covenant 2.0

New covenant is described by the words of institution spoken by Jesus in last supper
Echoes institution of Mosaic covenant in Exodus 24:8.
Covenantal ritual of this kind establishes a blood-union or kinship between its participants
Jesus stating his blood will establish the bond of kinship between God and man

Last supper fundamentally sealing the covenant and Eucharist is ongoing en-enactment of this covenant renewal

Module 4: Christian denominations

Nicene Creed

Originated from the council of Nicaea 325 AD
Emperor constantine came to be emperor of Rome as same time he became Catholic - gathered a council ro clarify Catholic belief to citizens
Lists main beliefs of Catholic doctrine (every denominations beliefs)
Main christian denominations are Orthodox Catholic and Protestant.
Disputes about Christian beliefs, observance of traditions and practices, who led and how much authority leaders that the Church have, what rules were important and how christian teachings were to be applied and interpreted
Many cultural and historical differences

Ecumenism

Movement for christian unity
Existence of divisions within Christianity is seen as contrary to the teachings of Christ
Challenge to understand why they come about and who to heal them
Movement that addresses this concern for christian is called Ecumenism

Disputes within the church

Disputes were resolved by councils and other formal gatherings of church leaders
Conversation of Constantine also meant that politics began to influence the church
Constantine called a council of the bishops of the church - Nicea in 325 AD
250 bishops gathers and thus came the Nicene creed

ORTHODOX

Great Schism

Occurred in 1054 (Leaders excommunicated each other)
Lead to a separation between the Roman (Latin) and Byzantine (Greek) branches
Actual break began to occur from 9th century (wasn't permanent till 15th)
Causes of schism uncluded POLITICAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
Some theological differences but not many and unclear

MAIN ISSUES OF DISAGREEMENT

Though time, cultures of latin-speaking west and greek speaking east grew more and more estranged - increasing distrust and hostility

Primacy of the bishop of rome

1054 Pope and Patriarch excommunicated each other
More of an issues of personal animosity and misunderstanding as anything else, schism was never healed
Sack of Constabtinople in 1204
Crusaders spent 3 days looting and vandalising the capital of Greek Empire
Sack cemented eastern distrust and resentment of the west.
Foremost theological-ecclesiological division between Orthodox/Catholicism (role of pope)
Petrine primacy among the apostles was a cornerstone in the west -east regards St Peter and his successors as Bishop of Rome as “first among equals”
Papal primacy was defined at first vatican council - hen pope speaks ex cathedra he possesses infallibility
Eastern Orthodox believe unity is though the common faith and communion in sacraments - rather than centralised authority
Orthodox do not recognise the authority of the bishop of Rome over all christians but rather consider him equal to other bishops, though a primacy of honour.

Filioque - “and the son”

Was added to Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed described process of Holy Spirit
Catholic Church is Spain added to the creed in the 6th century
Added - Holy spirit proceeds from the father and the Son (way to combat Arianism)
Addition flooded the west - east saw it as unnecessary innovation and hetatical

Indissolubility of Marriage

Catholic church believes consummated marriage can be dissolved only by death
Orthodox recognises indissolubility as a characteristic of marriage (and an ideal in which to aim) but they general except that divorce and remarriage can occur
Many divisions within the church

Immaculate conception

Most orthodox reject the immaculate conception
Immaculate conception = Mary born without original sin (w/o separation from God)
Reject it because “it makes Mary a miraculous break in this long and patient growth of love and expectation, of this hunger for the living god which fills the old testament.”
Since seven ecumenical councils (recognised by both) - catholic held 14 more that orthodox doesn't regard as ecumenical & east have held many councils
None of these are (universally) regarded as ecumenical

PROTESTANT

Many leaders not happy subjects had allegiance to the pope
Lead some leaders to attack the popes’ temporal role but also spiritual authority
Bishop of Rome was given territories surrounding Rome (Papal states)
to ensure pope has necessary political freedom to exercise spiritual leadership
Popes grew more involved in governing their states that serving as spiritual leaders
Many felt pope was more of a temporal leader than spiritual

Reformation

Role of the pope as a temporal ruler/poor spiritual leadership of successive Popes
Many factors and ^ lead to the divisions within western christianity

Martin Luther

German priest who belonged to religious order
Confronted the abuses of late, mediaeval church (conflict with church leaders)
Struggled with aspects of church teaching and eventually broke from church
Recognized as father of the European reformation
Turned to scripture - wonders about traditional understanding of grace, free will etc.)
Developed different ideas about church and sacraments (Sole fide, Sole scriptura)
Attracted interest (german princes) - became aligned with german nationalism
Led to cruel wars of religion between catholics and protestants

Ulrich Zwingli

More radical form of protestantism developed under swiss reformer
Believe christian reaching and liturgical practices only based on scripture
Anything not in scriptures = superstitious
Rejected any notion of real presence of christ in Eucharist

John Calvin

Principal teaching was that god has already determined weather people were going to heaven or hell, regardless of lives lived
Signs of person was damned/saved profession of reformed faith and leading upright life
Views were in serious conflict with catholic church - teachings contained in his book

European reformation

Charismatic christian leaders who sought to reform serious abuses whi
Looked to scriturs to support teachings
Reformed valued the bible and believed it was important everyone knows bible for self
Combined with printing press, new technology
Luther was conservative - also prepared to look back to living tradition of church past
Calvin and Zwingli - rejected any appeal to tradition in matters of doctrine/ practice
Rising tide of nationalism and slow responses from pope = rapid development of different national churches in Europe

English reformation

King Henry 8 did not like his wife - Aragon
She didn't give him a son
Pope wouldn't divorce them (pope was connected to aragon)
Henry declared himself head of church of england
Succeeding monarch’s in england continued the reform and development of church
English reformation has a profound impact upon English Society.

Council of trent

Effect of reformation led Pope Paul III to call Council of Trent in Italy 1545\
Bought radical reforms in church which addressed many abuses Luther Zwingli and calvin were concerned about
Disputes about christian message led council to develop systematic outline of beliefs and practice that expresses teachings handed down by apostles

Further divides

Protestantism and Anglicanism underwent further splits
Many christian groups that differ in their teachings with both catholic church and each other

Leading doctrines of Protestantism

Sole fide (faith alone)

Insisted upon justification by faith/ that the sinner is justified by faith alone
God declares the sinner righteous and justified
ISNT: a gradual change or transformation within a human being or based upon anything that we have done, are doing or will do
Justification is based entire upon the righteous of christ
Good works do not justify us, but they necessarily inhabit the lives of every justified person (Justified by faith - which evidences its truth and sincerity by good works)

Sole scriptura (scripture alone)

Pre-reformation church saw other authorities in church as equivalent to Scripture
Reformers insisted that scripture alone is the church’s standard for faith and practice
Set other authorities alongside scripture was in effect to dethrone scripture
Reformation did not dismiss creeds/councils all together

Module 5A: Important event in the history of religion in Australia

Catholic schools

Always been a strong desire for Catholic schools
- Seen cooperation between many religious leaders to build these schools.
Since First Fleet Catholics were saying catholic schools would be the foundation of the Church.
Aus Catholics struggled to build schools, and they would represent hope for the Church's future.
Not all Aus Catholics thought this was necessary.
- Children did not want to go to school either way.
- And parents did not attempt to convince kids.
Early on the government supported Catholic schools financially.
Gov then made it mandatory to attend school, and free to attend
- But no religion would be taught in gov schools.

Defending Catholic Schools

In Victorica 1872 gov refused to fund Catholic schools.
Bishop James Alipius Goold - a critic of colonial gov.
- Thought gov should provide for catholic schools but leave them to run however they wanted
- After all Catholics paid their taxes, and made up ¼ of population
- Like many other religious people he did not want Catholic kids attending gov schools
Pope Pius IX argued that schools were the responsibility of the Church.
- No proper education wouldn’t teach religion.
- He told Bishops around the world to maintain Catholic schools.
Victoria, 1872 - party was elected and they enacted the “free, compulsory and secular” Education Act.
- All kids 14 would attend free schooling and learn the same curriculum.
- People who supported the act said the Church could have Catholic schools, but without aid of gov.
Other Aus colonies passed similar edu acts.
- Caused a division between supporters of gov and Catholics.
Catholic schools were made across Aus but were said to be huts, with minimal resources.
- So religious orders sent nuns, brother, and priests from Europe to help maintain schools

Expanding Catholic schools

Found ways and means to support their school
Worked for lower wages than public schools
Mother Mary MacKillop established a teaching order of religious women
Catholic parishioners ran activities (fetes, raffles, bingo games etc.)
Contributed to the sense of solidarity and united Australian Catholics
Australian Catholics felt isolated in Australia - shut off from the world
Many tired of the struggle looked/argued for more direct means of protest

The Strike

1960’s began to campaign for political action (draw focus to their situation)
Town in NSW, Goulburn was the sit of the demonstration
requested multiple times for government for funds to renovate the school
Closed all schools in the arch-diosese and enrol students in public school
test if it would cost more to absorb the students into public or give them the funds
Sat 16 July 1962, Goulburn's Catholic schools closed
Government school enrolled 640 of the 1350 students
State government promised correspondence for those left unaccommodated
After 1 week, it was called off and Catholic students returned to their schools
Marks the shift in government attitudes on funding non-government schools
1964, government approved to finance science blocks in non-gov schools
Direct funding for libraries and book stocks was approved
Most states introduced a form of interest-support schemes for non-gov schools
Today, most catholic schools receive funding from the government
Fetes and raffles still feature in school life but do not solely fund the school

Catholic schools today

1,700 catholic school in Australia
1 in 5 students goes to catholic school
2nd largest school type after gov
Not just for catholic students, 1 in 4 students at catholic school is non catholic

Catholic universities

Universities were first founded in mediaeval times by the catholic church to educate clergy and men seeking other professions.
First catholic university in Australia opened, 1989
UNiversity of Notre Dame opened campus in Freo WA
Has expanded to to offer 9,000 student entry over 3 campuses
1991 - Australian Catholic University opened from 4 institutions in eastern states
Private university and received most funding from government
3rd was opened in 2005, small liberal arts college in sydney, Champion College

Module 5B: Place of religion in society

Religious Role

the way the Church is organised, diocese etc)

CEWA

Using music, art, literature to give expression to how people find meaning/purpose in their life

https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/religious-affiliation-australia

Over the past 50 years, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of Australians who reported an affiliation with Christianity

https://westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/story_archive/2021/opinion_yes,_religion_plays_a_more_prominent_role_in_politics._but_secular_australia_has_always_been_a_myth

30% of people ticked no religion in the last census. But research with young people found 18% were spiritual but not religious, 8% were seekers, 17% were religiously committed, 20% were nominally religious, 15% were indifferent, and 23% were this-worldly

https://www.catholic.au/s/article/https-www-catholic-org-au-about-us-introduction

The Catholic Church is an intricate and, at first sight, bewildering complex of groups and individuals, each with a defined autonomy and accountability according to the Code of Canon Law, the fundamental legislative document of the Church.
The Church is organised by Christ’s Faithful, Diocese, “Religious Orders” and Provinces and Metropolitans

Christ’s Faithful

All who have been baptised have rights and responsibilities in the Church, whether or not they have been ordained (as bishops, priests or deacons), or taken religious vows
Christ's faithful may freely establish and direct associations which serve charitable or pious purposes or which foster the Christian vocation in the world, and they may hold meetings to pursue these purposes by common effort.

Diocese

Like dioceses, parishes are usually territorial, but need not be. According to church law, a parish is a juridical person and can own and operate prop
The Church defines a diocese as "a portion of the people of God, which is entrusted to a bishop..." or, as "a community of Christ's faithful in communion of faith and sacraments with their bishop...".
A diocese usually has a defined territory and comprises all the Catholics who live there: such is the case with twenty-eight of the Australian dioceses.

Religious Orders

Cultural Role

Political Role

Political role of religion in society

CEWA resource

Promoting, explaining and supporting the beliefs and values of a religion within society
Leaders and members are part of society - can be interested in discussions and decisions made about how society is to be organised and run
Will sometimes actively participate in political debates
Constitution states power is derived from “Almighty God”

https://www.aph.gov.au/sitecore/content/Home/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/pops/pop46/religionin21stcentury

Churches and their agencies and lobby groups - and the attitude of governments towards those churches.
The relationship between religious affiliation & parliamentary representation.
the relationship between individual religious belief and the actions and voting behaviour of citizens.
Voting representation: Catholic with Labour and Protestants with Coalition
political leaders rarely chose to wear their religious faith on their sleeves in an ostentatious way
role of the churches in the delivery of some government services.
Privatisation of the delivery of government services has enabled some churches and charity groups, ie. Mission Australia & the Salvation Army, to participate in the delivery of government programs.

https://westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/story_archive/2021/opinion_yes,_religion_plays_a_more_prominent_role_in_politics._but_secular_australia_has_always_been_a_myth

Australia, the government has delegated the provision of the majority of its welfare services to Christian faith-based organisations, more so since 2010
Sco Mo’s call to “do God’s work” after sighting at a service
Hindering his judgements/actions but also problematic to the other religions

https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/religious-affiliation-australia

Number of people who answered the religion question was 93.1% of the population, an increase from 90.9% in 2016.

In 2021 the most common religions were:

Christianity (43.9%)
No religion (38.9%)
Islam (3.2%)
Hinduism (2.7%)
Buddhism (2.4%)

https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/speeches/religion-law-and-social-stability

Constitutionally Australia is secular. The government is neutral in matters of religion. Secularism allows our society to be truly pluralist in every sense: for religion, but also every other expression of an individual’s identity.

In a truly pluralistic society it provides an important source of non-governmental consideration and authority on public policy matters, as well as consideration of morality.

legacy of informing public understanding of morality and what is necessary for a just society to inform our laws and economic transactions.

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/Quick_Guides/AustPM

five Catholic prime ministers
about nine Anglican prime ministers
three Presbyterian prime ministers (although several others had ‘Presbyterian antecedents’)
one Methodist Prime Minister (although others were ‘brought up Methodists’), and
a high number of agnostic and secular prime ministers when compared with British prime ministers and American presidents.

In another study, Roy Williams considered that 16 of the 23 prime ministers he examined believed in God, although most of the others had some associations with Christianity. The author concluded that only two were ‘lifelong agnostics’ (Edmund Barton and Harold Holt).

https://theconversation.com/as-australia-becomes-less-religious-our-parliament-becomes-more-so-80456

Christians currently number more than 40% of the Coalition government and about 30% of the Labor opposition. This is high for a nation labelled “secular”.

https://www.liberal.org.au/our-beliefs

we simply believe in individual freedom and free enterprise

https://alp.org.au/policies

• Supporting Australians with the cost of living with cheaper childcare, cheaper medicines, extended paid parental leave, energy bill relief and fee free TAFE.

• Investing record amounts into Medicare and bulk billing.

• Building new homes, investing in affordable housing and making renting fairer.

• Tackling climate change by legislating to reduce emissions.

• Managing the economy and creating jobs in challenging times.

Catholic values

Excellence – inspired by our Catholic tradition, strive for excellence.
Integrity – as witnesses to the Good News of Jesus Christ, act ethically.
Justice – as people of faith, foster respectful relationships, advocating for and empathising for those at the margins.
Hope – empowered by the Spirit, embrace the future with confidence.

https://theconversation.com/as-australia-becomes-less-religious-our-parliament-becomes-more-so-80456

large proportion of Christians in the main parties enables Christian politicians to negotiate their religious values in four main ways:

A strong parliamentary Christian fellowship

Parliamentary Christian Fellowship meets fortnightly, with about 60 members from all sides of politics in attendance - quarter of total parliamentary members.
suggests that guest speakers, prayer & Bible studies are features of these meetings

Faith-based delivery of social and community services

the government has outsourced approximately two-thirds of community services to faith-based agencies at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Selective faith keeping

Christian politicians are typically cautious and only talk about the faith on vital matters

Invoking the conscience vote on controversial moral issues

Conscience votes cut across party lines, give ample room for moral interpretations of matters such as euthanasia, abortion and marriage equality.

Christianity seems to be flourishing in both the Coalition government and the Labor Party. Thus, politicians are influencing the nation in particularly interesting ways.

FOR EXAMPLE

Family first party

Mission

To build a political movement that will fight for and sustain the social and economic well-being of the nation by promoting family, life, faith, freedom, enterprise and subsidiarity (empowering individuals, families and communities to resolve the matters closest to them)

Campaigns

Christian schools campaign
Pro-life campaign
Close the gender clinics campaign
Religious freedom campaign

Social Role

The Catholic Church provides Australia’s largest non-government grouping of hospitals, aged and community care services. There are 1,759 Catholic schools with more than 104,000 staff providing education to more than 790,000 Australian students. There are two Catholic universities teaching 50,000 students

https://www.catholicdevelopmentfund.org.au/catholicism-the-heart-and-foundations-of-australian-society

Comprising 22.6% of the Australian population today, since the early 1800’s Catholics have contributed to improving education, helping the sick and elderly, supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable, and building communities that strengthen our sense of belonging across the country.

Education

The leaders of the Church in Australia at that time, determined it was important to continue and preserve Catholic education, proceeding with no money to pay teachers in extremely difficult circ*mstances.
The Catholic school system remains holistic and balanced, with the religious influence encouraging school leaders to focus their attention and ensure that each student is led in a direction where they can find identity, purpose, and connection to the community and humanitarian values. Values like peace and compassion are taught and demonstrated.

Helping the sick, the elderly, and the disabled

The Catholic faith takes it further and bases its care for people on a foundation of love and respect for the inherent dignity of every human being, whether they be sick, frail, aged or disabled.
While medical advancements continue to take place, these organisations have had to balance their mission and duty of care with strong ethical standards that keep the dignity of each individual and sacredness of life at the core. As a ministry of the Catholic Church, their work is inspired by the person and mission of Christ, who embraced the world with compassion to bring justice and healing.

Supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable

These aim to empower individuals and help them find ways to live better lives; ultimately an expression of our Catholic faith.
The history and roots of our faith reminds us that the disadvantaged and vulnerable are no less human than any of us, and they must be treated with the same respect and dignity that even the most fortunate receive.
Given the wealth gap in Australia continues to widen, we as Catholics in a modern society are called to do our part in helping the disadvantaged and vulnerable, now more than ever.

Module 5C: Nature of and religions response to a current issue in society

Module 1

1. Helen Racanelli - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

I was raised religious and I don't want to make the same mistake with my son

experienced death of partners sister
Couldn’t participate in religious ceremonies attributed to this
Lead to isolation and feelings which lead to questioning about others/relationships
Experience of death/marriage lead to questioning about children/raising them
Gave choice to child - but with community to fall back on

2. Victor Frankl - Book review - The Marginalian - Maria Popova 2017

Victor Frankl on the human search for meaning

Feelings for wife - killed in Holocaust - gave him meaning
Challenges assumption that human beings are shaped by circ*mstances
Suffering = essential piece of existence and meaningful life
Without suffering/death - human life cannot be complete

Module 2

1. Spiritual or religious - Blog post on Woolf institute - Galen Watts 2019

Are you spiritual, religious or both?

Claims emerge from context - claim by me political or theological - 2 main claims
Spiritual without religion is to embrace religious quest characterised by selfishness
Argue wont be able to distinguish own desires from those of God
Some see it as harbinger of social and political progress - harmony in modern society and religion
Prizes individual autonomy and self-expression

Module 3A

1. St Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs - Corpus Christi Catholic Church

Unmoved mover
First cause
Contingency/necessary being
Gradation
Design

2. John 20: 19-31

Resurrection of jesus was historical event - some accepted and some didn’t

3. Prove to me that God exists - Houston Baptist University

Scientism validates people's rejection of god
Atheists believe theist have burden of proof to show god exists
What is an acceptable level of proof?
Clear and converging arguments vs mathematical and scientific
Scientism - ideal that science and scientific proof can alone yield knowledge

4. Burdens of Proof - Prior Probability

Reasonable suspicion
Probable cause
Preponderance
Clear and convincing
Beyond reasonable doubt

5. Catechism of the Catholic Church - Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 3, Article 1

God willed external proofs to join internal proofs
Many aspects that are signs of divine revelation

6. How can i scientist continue to maintain faith in God - Dr William Reville - The Irish Times

God cannot be proved by science - science = natural world
Believe occurs with adequate grounds- different for each person
Adequate grounds = positive impact on life when believing

Module 3B

1. Covenants: The Backbone of the Bible - Woolard, W - BibleProject

God enters into one covenant after another with various humans in order to rescue his world
Covenants contain defined obligations and commitments, are direct and personal

Abrahamic Covenant

Promises Abraham 1) offspring, 2) land, 3) universal blessing
Abraham- eave his land, follow god wherever, walking blamelessly before God & train family to do what is right and just, keeping circumcision in every generation

Mosaic Covenant (Israel)

Promised to make them his own treasures possession, a holy, set apart nation
Will personally dwell in their midst and bring them into promise land
Conditional covenant of grace
Israel was to obey the terms embodied in the laws given to Moses as Mt Sinai

The New Covenant

Introduced by prophets in context of total failure
Everyone including religious leaders failed to keep God’s commands