Maintaining Continuity of Religious Beliefs in general The reasons for maintaining continuity of religious beliefs Factors that can promote action to maintain continuity of these beliefs Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs

The Latin word religare, which means “to tie, to bind fast” relegere, which means “to read over again” or “to recover again.” All aspects of the tradition, its history, the faith of current adherents and the future of the religion are at stake when maintaining continuity of religious belief.

The reasons for maintaining continuity of religious beliefs PAST tradere – (tradition) – need to deliver or to hand over the wisdom, doctrine, faith of preceding generations PRESENT exercises the faith of contemporary believers as a community an essential source of meaning and conviction. Each individual adherent is given pause to consider their actions as part of their religious tradition. FUTURE Plans for the development of resources, human and physical The reasons for maintaining continuity of religious beliefs

External factors scrutiny or criticism shifting values of the multicultural society Natural and human-made disasters Internal factors Internal scrutiny or criticism or dissent actions of leadership Factors that can promote action to maintain continuity of these beliefs

Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs There are 4 approaches to maintaining continuity of belief that are used by religious traditions Reaffirmation Application to new circumstances Reinterpretation Reformulation of religious beliefs Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs

Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 1 Reaffirmation of religious beliefs restatement of the traditional faith Strengths Weakness consistency of the unchanged message monotony Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 1

Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 2 Application of reaffirmed religious beliefs to new circumstances ground has shifted leading to restatement of the traditional faith Strengths Weakness Consistency and security of the unchanged message Ancient faith expressions may be losing relevance or appeal Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 2

Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 3 Reinterpretation of religious beliefs creative hermeneutical (meaning making) process Strengths Weakness Ancient beliefs remain but new situation is addressed more fully The ancient expression of beliefs can be seen to be under threat by new interpretations – too modern Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 3

Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 4 Reformulation of religious beliefs a creative reworking of the key aspects of the tradition Strengths Weakness The tradition remains relevant to the world The tradition is seen as too flexible, too accomodating Approaches to maintaining continuity of religious beliefs 4