1. Nature of Religious Beliefs
Preliminary 2 Unit 2007

2. Nature of Religion Fundamental Life Questions What are they?
What are some of the issues associated with ‘Life Questions?’

3. Atheist – no belief Theist – belief in a God Agnostic – needs proof
Nature of Religion
Atheist – no belief
Theist – belief in a God
Agnostic – needs proof

4. Nature of Religion Belief in many gods is……….. Polytheism
Eg; Roman, Greek, Egyptian
Sometimes we see Hinduism as ‘poly theistic’

5. Nature of Religion Belief in one god is……….. Monotheism
Eg; Christianity, Judaism, Islam
These are known as Semitic (Western) Religious Tradition

6. Nature of Religion
Belief that God is everything and everything is God………..
Panthesism
Eg; Cosmic religions of the past believed that something beyond our control was responsible for creation.
Babylonians worshipped Shamash, Greeks Apollo, Indians the sun

7. Nature of Religion
The assignment of a plant, animal object to link the believer to a spiritual force………..
Totemism
Eg; Aboriginal people, it is a social phenomenon BUT has religious over tones – Totem merges with the sacred reality

8. Nature of Religion
The belief that all natural objects have a spirit or soul independent of their physical being…………
Animism
Eg; Primitive religions where the spirit exists alongside the bodies of human & animals. After DEATH the spirit still lives on. Their world is full or fear and fascination

9. Characteristics of Religion
Nature of Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Sacred Sites
Sacred stories and writings
Sacred Symbols
Ethics
Rituals
Sacred Times

10. Comparative Religions
Nature of Religion
Comparative Religions
Judaism
Christianity
Islam

11. Comparative Religions What is similar in the 3 Semitic Religions?
Nature of Religion
Comparative Religions
What is similar in the 3 Semitic Religions?

12. Nature of Religion
Comparative Religions
Creation Story
Prophets – Abraham, David, Moses, Noah

13. Nature of Religion
Comparative Religions
Monotheistic
Western Religion
Understanding of Heaven

14. Nature of Religion
Comparative Religions
Angels
Middle East – foundations
Sacred Text

15. Nature of Religion
Science & Religion
How does science explain the beginning of life?
How does science explain death? To the scientist death is………

16. Nature of Religion
Science & Religion
How does religion explain the beginning of life?
How does religion explain death? To the believer death is………

17. Nature of Religion
Reference Material
The Search for Meaning
Responses to the Super-natural
Science & Religion

18. Nature of Religion Reference Material Essential Elements of Religion
Religious Responses to Fundamental Life Questions