1. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION

2. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Beliefs  in an unseen world of God(s), spirits or natural forces.  about human nature and life  about the natural world  about the ‘afterlife’ and Believers who are the believers?

3. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Sacred Texts and writings Which include, for example: myths relate to stories about ‘beginnings’, how the world was created. legends collection of stories based on sacred or important people from history. parablesfictitious stories told to point out a moral, about ordinary people.

4. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Ethics “Ethics is the examination of collective and individual decision-making about what are desirable human actions, and the exploration of why people make such judgements.” Chaos and Clarity “The rules or standards governing the conduct of the members of a profession.” The American Heritage® Concise Dictionary

5. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Rituals and Ceremonies  Rites of passage and, in particular, initiation rites.  Rites of worship or devotion. Each ritual has:  a structure  symbols

6. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Religion as a Living, Dynamic System

7. © 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. Believers have a sense of the sacred – of something beyond the ordinary. They respond by action – participating in rituals and ceremonies. They formulate this response into Sacred texts, stories and writings.

8. 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. This response is expressed through a belief system and code of conduct (ethics). This is supported by social and communal structures. Adapted from Exploring Religion pages 6-9 - 1 ©

9. 2005 Preliminary Course: Nature of Religion and Beliefs. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use only. © Christianity BELIEFS SACRED TEXTS, STORIES, WRITINGS, ETHICS RITUALS AND CEREMONIES