RELIGION AND NON RELIGION- SOR 2- New Religious Expressions

SYLLABUS The Religious dimension in human history  Expression of the religious dimension in human history  Significance of the religious dimension in human history  Global distribution of the five major religious traditions New religious expression  Rise of the new religious expression and spiritualties  Influences on the growth of new religious expressions and spiritualties Non-Religious worldviews  Human search for personal fulfillment through non-religious practices: -Agnosticism -Atheism -Humanism Difference between religious and non-religious worldviews  Response of one religious and one non-religious belief system to -Concept of the transcendent -Human Person -Social Responsibility

Rise of New Expressions  Acceleration Post WW2  New religious concepts or new expression of older concepts  Understanding/differentiation between Religion or Spirituality “Spirituality is concerned with those qualities of the human spirit-love, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of harmony which brings happiness to both self and others” Dalai Lama- Ancient Wisdom (1999)  “That is why I sometimes say that religion is something we can perhaps do without, What we cannot do without are these basic spiritualities” (Dalai Lama)

PERSONAL FULFILMENT

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PERSONAL FULFILMENT  Thousands of New Religious/Spiritual Groups since WW2- Over 7000 In Saharan Africa  Individuals seeking answers- personal fulfilment  Modern Western World is constantly changing, Religions have not changed to suit this dynamic nature  Undermining of Judeo-Christian Beliefs  Personal Fulfilment- Spiritual, Physical, Emotional utilising different traditions eg Tai Chi  Different understandings on issues- Sexuality- Increase in Churches accepting of Gay and Lesbians  Seeking Psychologists and Psychiatrists rather than Pastors and Monks

New Age Religions  A new amalgam of the Old  No central organisations, membership or unifying Creed- Opposite of the Jedaeo- Christian traditions  Provide sense of fulfilment without fear of judgement  Vast array of practices and beliefs- Astrology, tarot cards, meditation, divination etc

Krishna  International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)- USA 1966  Reformed Hinduism  New Teachings- Divine Culture  Rejects Sectarian divisions of Religion- Humanity as one family under the Godhead  Counters the failures of traditional teachings  Social backlash against violence and bloodshed

Bahai  First emergence- 1852, late bloom  Follows teachings of Baha’u’llah  All religions are unified- The Same God  Humanity is a single race  End to prejudice and discrimination  Deals with development of technology  Globalisation of Ideas

ETHICAL GUIDELINES

Patterns within new religious expressions  Tolerance, Universalism, Environmentalism and Relativism  No fundamental authoritarian principles  Diverse array of ethical perspectives which are fluid and flexible  Many New Age Religions- Principle of Karma- Good and bad deeds influence our next incarnations  Pantheism- All that exists if God, God is all that exists. We are all Gods and must find answers within ourselves  No definitive right and wrong- Relativism

Relationship with Society

The Individual and Society  New Age Religions have branched out in 2 ways  Principle of Universalism- All embracing, non- sectarian  Seperatist Organisation- Solidarity, security, affirmation. Cults, splinter groups  General principles of a Utopian Society- Society functions smoothly, harmoniously and discrimination/violence/poverty cease to exist

The Individual and Society  Social Transformation will occur when sufficient numbers of people have been transformed “The Essence of the New Age is the impostion of that vision of personal transformation onto society and the world” Gordon Melton (Perspectives on the New Age)

Pentecostal Churches  Developed understanding of existing Faith  Emphasis on the Holy Spirit  Traditional practices- Parish Churches, organ music, robed clergy.. GONE!  Large, Regional Churches, contemporary services, modern music, relaxed leadership  Target Young people with enthusiastic worship  Grown significantly due to denominational switching

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