Religious Community
Religious texts & sources of authority
1. Bible
§ Inspired by God = authority
§ Has rules & teachings on how Christians should lead their lives
§ E.g. 10 commandments (OT); sermon on the mount, parables (NT
§ Source of authority for church leaders to pass on to worshippers
· Fundamentalist: contains Word of God à follow closely
· Liberal: inspired by God, written by humans à consult with modern interpretation
· Conservatives: key teachings that can’t be changed; some fit to context
Ø Catholics: read during mass
Ø Anglican: processed through the church & read
Ø Sermon: reading & preaching by priest
Ø Instruction & education within denomination
Ø Daily reading
Ø Aid for meditation (concentrate on a particular part)
2. Church (people)
· Trained priests have studied the Bible & how Church interprets it
· Catholics: pope à infallible guidance à magisterium
· God speak through priests
3. Conscience
· Inner feeling that differentiates right from wrong
· Given by God for guidance
§ “The Lord gave us mind and conscience”
ü Universal agreement on good & bad
ü God’s way of telling us to follow his plan
û Might direct them to do things other people don’t agree with
4. Situation ethics
· Base morals on the most loving to do
§ The Golden Rule (Jesus): treat others the way you want to be treated
ü Jesus “Love over law”
û You can make mistakes
û Church has more reliable teachings à ignoring Word of God
Founders & leaders
Baptism
· Jesus is like ordinary people
· Humility, baptised by cousin
· People follow his steps and get baptised
· God will forgive your sins if you believe in him
· Holy Trinity (God’s voice, dove, Jesus)
· Marks beginning of Jesus’ ministry
Temptations
· 40 days & 40 nights in the wilderness
§ turn stone into bread
§ jump down from the temple – don’t put God to the test
§ bow down and worship me – worship God only
· resisted temptation à example for humans
· Life isn’t meant to be easy
Last Supper
· Washed disciples’ feet à humility, teach them to serve others
· Instructed disciples to eat bread & wine in remembrance of him à sacrament
Death
· died for humans’ sins à saviour à humans can go to heaven
Resurrection
· God has eternal life
· More powerful than death
· Idea of life after death
Ministry of Healing: reward those who had faith & show divinity
· Paralysed man
§ Show concern for the sick
§ Loving in those in need
§ Forgiveness of sins to those who believe in him
§ Divine, can break laws of nature
· Man with evil spirit
§ Jesus’ authority over evil
§ If you believe and ask for help, you will receive it
Disciples
Discipleship: one who embraces & assists in spreading the Jesus’ teachings
ü Wear sandals
ü Stay in houses they are welcomed in
û Carry anything except a stick e.g. bread, money
· Spread the word of God
§ “go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples”
§ give people chance to renounce sin & be baptised
· Be prepared for hardship
§ “he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”
· Priority is to help others
· Be humble & compassionate
§ “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people”
§ The Widow’s Offering
INDIVIDUAL: MOTHER TERESA
· Mum’s examples of taking food, clothing, medicine to the poor
· Taught in a school for poorest families
· Set up school & home for dying people
· Set up Missionaries of Charity
§ Spread the word
§ Donations
· Homes for uncared e.g. lepers, sick, poor, orphans
Ø Jesus’ teaching of love & compassion, 2 great commandments
Ø Faith in god for guidance to help others
Ø Didn’t bring anything with her
Ø Don’t have to start big, be loving
Rules of living
10 commandments
Sermon on the mount
· Teaching on how to live moral life
· Behaviour of agape
Principle of love
· “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”
· “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”
· Agape: unconditional love
· Love over law
Worship and celebration
· Liturgical (Catholic)
§ Formal, set pattern
§ Services designed to stimulate sense e.g. incense
§ Emphasis on ritual
§ Baptism, Holy communion, Confirmation
§ Sign of peace
· Non-Liturgical (Protestant)
§ Emphasis on Word of God
· Quakers
§ Sit in silence, God speaks to them
Places of Worship: church
· Focal point for Christian community
· Building for ceremonies / religious services e.g. marriage, baptism
· Place of calm and refuge
· Sense of awe & wonder (think about power & existence of God)
· Stained glass window
§ Tell stories from the Bible for the illiterate
· Font
§ Bowl of water for baptism
§ Entrance à welcoming to the church
· Altar
§ Focal point, congregation face altar
§ Place for Holy Communion & candles
§ Reminds people of Jesus’ death
§ Jesus is light & guidance
§ Congregation kneel à respected by worshippers, commitment
· Pulpit
o Raised stand where the priest preaches
· Lectern WITH EAGLE
§ Bookstand to rest Bible
· Pews
§ Long wooden benches for congregation
Higher Anglican | Lower Anglican |
Font at the entrance | Font in the middle |
Organ | Piano, drum kit, keyboard, guitar |
Jesus on crucifix à suffering | Empty cross à Jesus conquered death |
Many stained glass windows | Words from Bible à no distraction |
Roles of Christians
· Priest
§ Visit prisons, elderly homes
§ Bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to come to church
§ Marriage, funeral, baptism services
§ Preach, sermon
§ Meet leaders or other faiths
· Laity
§ Sing hymns, listen to sermon
§ Go to church every Sunday
§ Process Holy Communion down the aisle
§ Collect donations
§ Volunteer to do Bible reading
§ Not needed, Word of God more important
Pilgrimage: a journey to a sacred place as an act of devotion
· See where Jesus had been (holy place)
· Experience surroundings à understand Bible teachings better
· Research prior to going
· Discuss with others à broaden knowledge of Jesus
1. Bethlehem
· Church of the nativity
§ Jesus born into poverty
§ Jesus was fully human
· Shepherd’s Fields
§ God cares for ordinary people as well (share news with low reputable people)
§ An angel once appeared there
· Milk Grotto
§ Mary spilt a drop of milk whilst nursing Jesus
2. Jerusalem
· Garden tomb
§ Jesus’ burial site à holy place
§ Understand how Jesus suffered to clear our sins
· Church of the Holy Sepulchre
§ Site where Jesus rose from the dead
§ Resurrection à divine & Son of God, power over death
§ Holiest site in Christian world
· Via Dolorosa
§ Jesus’ route to site of crucifixion after trial with Pilate
§ Jesus suffered for us
§ “walking with” him à his follower
· Garden of Gethsemane
§ Where Jesus prayed before being persecuted
3. Lourdes
· The baths
§ Filled with water from the spring
§ Have healing properties
§ Clear away sins
· Touch the Rock at the Grotto
§ Solid foundation à real
§ Site of Bernadette’s visions of Virgin Mary
· Blessed Sacrament Procession
§ Reminds of Jesus’ sacrifice
§ Bread and wine processed through
§ Monstrance – giant lollipop stick
§ Affirms real presence of Christ
§ Need to see god’s loving nature
§ God’s son is always with us
· Candlelit procession
§ Jesus is the light of the world
Holy Communion
· Celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice
§ Bread = broken body
§ Wine = blood spilt
§ Transubstantiation à Holy Spirit guidance
· Achieve salvation
§ Removes sins
§ Weekly celebration of Jesus
· Follow Jesus’ examples
§ Jesus started this ritual
§ Reminder for Christians to live like Jesus
· Renew your behaviour
§ Give you new energy to follow Jesus à change behaviour
§ Feel like the Holy Spirit is in you
· People can gather together
§ Congregation celebrate together
§ Unity of congregation
Mass
· Unite people in worship
· Readings from Bible about God’s teachings
Marriage
· Introduction
§ Explain Christian beliefs of importance / seriousness of marriage à gift from God; respect
à emphasise love, support and companionship in relationship
· Declaration
§ Promises (love, comfort, protection, honour) in front of God and to one another
à show presence of God
à idea that God is judging our behaviour
à promise God to remain loyal
à emphasise significant role of family and friends
· Vows
à marriage is lifelong or it means adultery because divorce not acceptable
§ “Till death us do part”
à Characteristics of Christian marriage
§ “To love and to cherish”
· Rings
§ Circular à never-ending love, faithfulness, eternity
§ Physical reminder of marriage (faithfulness)
§ God in the marriage to provide love and guidance
· Prayers & Bible readings
§ Emphasize Christian beliefs about marriage and love
§ Bible is the Word of God
Funerals
· Bible readings
§ Jesus’ words
§ “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”
§ Death isn’t the end à eternal life with God
§ “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed”
· Prayers
§ Thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice à allow salvation
§ Ask for comfort
· Hymns
§ Remind people of their beliefs
§ United & support each other
· Sermon
§ Focuses on belief in life after death
§ Reminder to thank God for person’s life
· Burial
§ Body no longer needed, soul lives on
§ Flowers = splendour, candles = Jesus is light and saviour
Christian festivals
· Christmas
§ Incarnation, God becoming flesh / fully human
§ Scenes of nativity put out
§ Money raised for charity
§ Gratitude for the life of Jesus
§ Carol services to rejoice in the good news of Jesus’ birth
§ Midnight mass to mark the beginning of Christmas
§ Christingle service
o Orange = world
o Candle = Jesus is light
o Sweets = God’s gifts to humanity
§ Exchange presents
o Emphasise Jesus’ teaching of love & kindness
§ Family gathering
· Lent
§ Reflection of Jesus’ 40 nights temptation
§ Understand how Jesus felt
§ Give up something à test of self-discipline
· Easter
§ Palm Sunday
à People wave palm leaves & shout “hosanna” (save us)
§ Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper
à Washes disciples’ feet à serving others
à Remind them to serve others first
à Inspire Christians to stand up for injustice (Jesus crucifixion was unjust)
§ Good Friday: death
à Example of love, God’s omnibenevolence (send Son to die)
à Willingly accepted punishment for peoples’ sins
à Proves that he is the Son of God
à Reminder of his suffering leading to salvation
§ Easter Sunday: resurrection
à God has the power to raise people from the dead
à Death is not the end
à Jesus conquered death
à Divine
Sacrament= an outward sign of an inner change
