Exams Notes on Entire Course of SOR2

Resource Description

Notes on the Year 11 Preliminary Studies of Religion 2
– Nature of Religion and Beliefs
– Australian Aboriginal Beliefs
– Christianity
– Islam

SECTION 1 – Nature of Religion and Beliefs

THE NATURE OF RELIGION

⦁ Define the supernatural dimension

The supernatural dimension implies a foundation on some sort of divine revelation or revealed faith. This revelation exceeds the power and capacity of human nature and any created natural reality. The supernatural dimension of religion cannot be explained according to natural laws or occurrences. This dimension exceeds the ordinary limits of human existence and is sometimes described as abnormal or miraculous

⦁ Discuss a transcendent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine power and/or powers beyond the human

Religion has a transcendent dimension that points us towards the divine world and beyond the material world. The Transcendent dimension of religion enables humans to surpass the limits of their existence and earthly concerns to focus on heavenly or spiritual concerns. Religions that believe in a divine power include; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The followers of these religious traditions believe in the One God who exists beyond the human realm and yet guides humanity throughout its everyday existence.

A worldview is the way in which someone views and interoperates the world they live in.
This system of understanding greatly impacts the way we live our lives by representing the relationship each person as an individual has with themselves, the world and God. Religion is used by many people as a way of searching for the meaning of existence, and although it means different things to different people, is commonly embraced in order to assist us in finding a way past the obstacles of life. There are two types of religious worldview’s; the belief in a divine power is beyond human dimension, and the belief that the divine power is held within the individual. A transcendent worldview is one that embraces the ideology of a divine power beyond human capabilities and experiences. Western “Abrahamic” religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe that the nature of God is transcendent; different from the rest of creation and therefore commonly seen as the “Father”. Transcendent religions such as these, embrace an eschatological outlook meaning God created the world we live in and will someday end it. Another popular belief common to these religions is that it is not in our mortal life where we serve our moral destiny, but rather after death in another dimension of being which we are punished or rewarded for or behaviour as humans. An example of Judaism as holding a transcendent worldview is that Jewish people believe that God is much higher above them, he is not present on earth alongside of them. Other popular Jewish transcendental beliefs include the idea that there is only one God, God is above and beyond all earthly existence, God doesn’t have a body (neither male nor female), God created the universe without help, God is omnipresent; everywhere at all times, God is omnipotent; can do everything, God has and will always exist. An example of christianity as a transcendental religion is that in The Bible, when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments, Moses wanted to see what God really looked like and God replied with; “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” It is due to the belief in divine powers beyond the human which make christianity and Judaism a transcendent religion.