1. Religions of the World Do Now: Compose your own dictionary definition of what religion is.

2. Definition of Religion… “Religion is the whole complexus of attitudes, convictions, emotions, gestures, rituals, beliefs and institutions by which we come to term with, and express, our most fundamental relationship with Reality (God and the created order, perceived as coming forth from God’s creative hand).”

3. Nine Dimensions of Religion There are many ways to analyse a religion. Here are nine dimensions that can help you to analyse a religion. Note that these are imperative in the Unit Standard Assessment at the conclusion of the Unit.

4. Sacred Texts The holy books of the religion. Note that some traditional religions had no sacred texts because they were an oral tradition. However their carvings and other works of art could be regarded as their form of “sacred texts”

5. Sacred Beliefs The holy beliefs of a religious group

6. Sacred Symbols The symbols held holy by a religion

7. Sacred Rituals The Religious Ceremonies

8. Sacred Ethics (Moral Laws) – The moral laws of a religion

9. Religious Social Structure The social organisation of the Religion

10. Religious Experience The personal experience of the believer

11. Sacred Stories The religious stories which explain meaning for the religion

12. Religious History The history of this religion over the ages

13. Examples of the Nine Dimensions Work out examples of each dimension for the Roman Catholic Church

14. Sacred Texts – The holy books of the religion Sacred Beliefs – The holy beliefs of the group Sacred Symbols – The symbols they hold holy Sacred Rituals – Their Religious Ceremonies Sacred Ethics – The moral laws of a religion Religious Social Structure – The social organisation of the religion Religious Experience – The personal experience of the believer Sacred Stories – The religious stories which explain meaning for a religion Religious History – The history of this religion over the ages

15. Sacred Texts The Bible Catechism of the Catholic Church

16. Sacred Beliefs That Jesus is truly the Son of God Heaven and Hell Being created in God’s Image

17. Sacred Symbols

18. Sacred Rituals Baptism Eucharist Marriage Liturgy…

19. Sacred Ethics Ten Commandments Modern ethics Bio-ethics

20. Religious Social Structure Headed by the Pope Cardinals and Bishops Priests and Religious Laity (us)

21. Religious Experience Personal Revelation Mystical Experience Pilgrimage Experiences (e.g. to Lourdes)

22. Sacred Stories The Story of Creation Noah’s Arc Parables Not Jesus though… that’s fact not a story!

23. Religious History Jewish Origins Roman influence in Church’s Infancy Middle Ages Reformation and Counter-Reformation Second Vatican Council