Draft Teacher Background

REL ATAR UNIT FOUR

Mod Five: Current Issues

Teaching and Learning Suggestions (3 weeks)

A current issue for a religion and how this religion interacts with this issue

  • Introduce the syllabus dot-point: a current issue for a religion and how this religion interacts with this issue
  • Deconstruct the syllabus dot-point by:
  • Identifying key words
  • Exploring how each word relates to each other
  • The relationship between the dot-point and the sub-organiser and content organiser
  • Recall learning that relates to this part of the syllabus
  • List those current issues already studied in previous units
  • Identify a current issue for a religion and describe the main features of this issue from the point of view of a religion
  • Examine how and why a religion interacts with this issue

How and why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs

  • Introduce the syllabus dot-point: how and why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs
  • Deconstruct the syllabus dot-point by:
  • Identifying key words
  • Exploring how each word relates to each other
  • The relationship between the dot-point and the sub-organiser and content organiser
  • Recall learning that relates to this part of the syllabus
  • Consider:
  • What does ‘authority’ look like?
  • In general terms what is considered authoritative in religion?
  • What is considered authoritative in a particular religion?
  • For Catholics, what is meant by Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium?
  • What role do these play in how and why a religion develops and expresses its belief?
  • Recall or identify and define some of the processes and structures used by a religion when developing or expressing its beliefs
  • Examine a suitable case-study that illustrates how and why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs

Mod Five: Religion and Current Issues

Teacher Background

Syllabus content

  • a current issue for a religion and how this religion interacts with this issue

Religion and current issues

Focus Questions

•What are some current issues for a religion

•What are the main features of one current issue for a religion?

•How the religion interacts with this issue and why?

Suggested Outline of Learning

  • Define key terms in the syllabus dot point

•One current issue for a religion

•The main features of this issue

•How and why a religion interacts with this issue

Current issues in society

In all societies there are current issues that concern individuals and communities. Such issues and concern about these issues may be local, regional, national or global. Some current issues have the potential to be important for religions in general, particular religions or those who belong to a religion. Sometimes current issues are a matter of concern because they impact upon the beliefs, practices and/or lifestyle of a religion and its followers. Sometimes a religion will respond to issues in society because it is concerned about the well-being of society or direction society is taking.

The interaction between religion and society: current issues

All religions, in order to remain both authentic and relevant, constantly reflect on how best to respond to changing values and attitudes in society. Rapid changes in such things as technology, the media, family life, marriage, and other dimensions of social life all have the potential to create issues within society that in turn become matters of concern or interest for particular religions.

How a religion responds to and interacts with current issues will be complex and dynamic, and being dynamic, the interaction is not one way. Many factors will influence and shape this ‘interplay’ and the role such factors play will shift and change over time and across different places or contexts.

Current issues

In the Religion and Life ATAR course each unit has provided opportunities to examine elements of the interplay between religion and current issues in society.

Unit 1 / •the nature of one current issue in society to which a religion seeks to respond
•the response of a religion to one current issue in society
Unit 2 / •a comparison of societal and religious views on one current issue in society
Unit 3 / •the nature of one current issue generating tension and conflict in society
•how a religion responds to this tension and/or conflict and the reasons for this response
Unit 4 / •a current issue for a religion and how this religion interacts with this issue

This module is an opportunity to both bring this focus to a conclusion and to explore further the interaction between religion and current issues in society.

Selecting an issue to focus on will depend upon what issues have been addressed in previous units.

It will also depend upon what current issues present the richest opportunity to explore the interaction between religion and a particular current issue in society.

Mod Five: Religion and Current Issues

Teacher Background

Syllabus content

  • how and why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs

Developing and expressing religious beliefs

Focus Questions

  • What is meant by 'authority'?
  • In general terms what is considered authoritative in religion?
  • What is considered authoritative in a particular religion?
  • For Catholics, what is meant by Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium?
  • What role do these play in how and why a religion develops and expresses its belief?

Suggested Outline of Learning

  • Define key terms in the syllabus dot point
  • The processes and structures used by a religion when developing or expressing its beliefs
  • Why these processes and structures exist
  • Why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs

Religion

Religion is a term or concept used to categorise a particular religious way of living. A study of any ‘religion’ will reveal common but also divergent understandings of the way of life promoted and supported by any one religion. As a consequence, the type of and role played by a particular religion’s structures and processes will reflect the deeper understandings of the way of life found in that religion.

Religion and Religious belief

Religious beliefs, whether expressed in statements such as creeds or held within the hearts and minds of believers, are central to each and every religion. When considering any one religious belief it is always important to recognise that it belongs to a web of beliefs and understandings found in a particular religion. Further, from the perspective of most well-known religions, a religion as most people understand the term is not a collection of beliefs but rather a particular way of life. It is from this way of life that religious beliefs develop and find expression, not the other way round.

Religious structures and processes

The structures and processes at work within a particular religion play an important role in shaping how and why a religion operates. An important part of this is also the organisation and structure of each religion. Such organisational characteristics are constantly being tested or re-shaped by the interplay that takes place between individuals, society, the beliefs and way of life of a religion, as well as a religion’s history and traditions.

Developing and expressing religious beliefs

The way of life promoted by a religion finds expression in the beliefs, teachings and practices of the religion. However, because life is not static, religious beliefs, teachings and practices interact with changing historical and cultural contexts. Therefore, from time to time, each religion will need to develop or express in different ways its religious beliefs, teachings and practices.

To support the development and expression of religious beliefs each religion will make use of its religious structures and processes. When using such religious structures and processes each religion will consider what is authoritative.

Authority

The concept of ‘authority’ is useful for understanding how and why a religion develops and expresses its beliefs. The word ‘authority’ suggests an ability to exercise power, to make decisions or exercise control. It can be seen as a power delegated or given. When someone is given authority they are given a right to exercise a particular power.

When applied to the expression and development of religious belief this raises questions about what is considered authoritative in a particular religion.

Religious authority

From the perspective of religion, an important question asked is what is considered authoritative? From religion to religion the response will vary. However, in all religions, what is considered authoritative and who or what has authority will be shaped by the nature of the religion.

Teacher Note

Much of the following content has been covered in previous units (see Unit 2, Module 4; Unit 3 Module 2)

The development and expression of religious beliefs in the Catholic Church

When the Catholic Church develops or expresses its beliefs it does so within the framework of how it understands its work and mission. Further, it draws upon these understandings and its rich Tradition to inform the decisions and actions taken about how it develops and expresses particular Catholic beliefs.

Catholic structures and processes

The Catholic Church has many structures and processes that are designed to support the work and mission of the Church. These structures and processes typically serve at least one of the following three functions:

  • teaching and safeguarding the Christian message
  • providing for the growing holiness of believers
  • governing the Church in Jesus’ name.

The Magisterium of the Church

Catholics believe that the spiritual gifts and authority of the leaders of the Church are given to the Pope and the bishops. Together, these are referred to as ‘the Church’s Magisterium’, from the Latin word for ‘teacher’, magister.

Along with the Pope,bishops are the official teachers of the Christian message and teach in the name of Jesus. They are referred to as the Church’s Magisterium. Their spiritual gifts do not mean they are holier than any other member of the Church. Like every other ‘part of the Body of Christ’ they are called to live fully the Christian message.

Catholics recognise that the purpose of the Magisterium is to ensure that all who are trying to live and to teach the message of Christ do so authentically.

The authority of the Magisterium

The early Christians accepted the authority of the Apostles when they taught in the name of Jesus. This was because they believed that, when they exercised the spiritual gifts Jesus had given them, it was Jesus who was guiding the Church through them [Acts 15:22-35].

Catholics have accepted the authority of the Pope and bishops whenever they have officially and formally exercised their roles of leadership in the name of Jesus. Catholics have accepted the human limitations of members of the Church’s Magisterium, just as the early Christians accepted those of Peter and the Apostles. Catholics believe that the power of Christ is too strong to be affected by these limitations. They believe in the promises of Jesus, especially that he would remain in his Church and sustain it and that he would send the Holy Spirit to guide it in all truth.

Today, people tend to test a teaching by the example of the one who gives it. Jesus, not the Apostles or the Magisterium of the Church, is the one who gives the Christian message. It is he who guides its teaching.

Jesus lived as he taught. Catholics accept his authority exercised through the Apostles and as he has continued to exercise it through the Popes and bishops.

The Church’s Magisterium

The Church’s Magisterium continues to hand on the liturgies, teachings and moral commands of Jesus today. The Magisterium has the responsibility of making sure that the Christian message is not distorted by human opinions or attitudes that conflict with it.

Catholics believe that this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it.

At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this (Word of God) devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully.

All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith. [Divine Revelation 10]

God’s word

The Word of God or God’s Word expresses an important and central Christian belief. God’s word is made present in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully human and fully divine; this enabled people to experience God’s love on a personal level. The Bible is called God’s word because of this close link with Jesus.

It is through the work of inspired writers that the Bible reveals God, God’s nature, God’s saving work and God’s purpose for humanity.

The Bible

The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word biblion which means book or scroll. The plural ta biblia means books or library. The Bible, is exactly that, a library or collection of books. This collection contains books written by a variety of authors over a long period of time.

The Bible has two main parts; the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament records the relationship that God entered into with Abraham and his descendants expressed through covenants. The New Testament focuses on a new covenant, the relationship God desires with all people through Jesus Christ, his Son.

The Church teaches:

The unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God’s plan and his Revelation. The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are true Word of God. [CCC 140]

The more people read, study and reflect on the Bible the more they can discover what God is communicating to people.

Scripture

The Holy Spirit inspired human authors to write down the total teachings or Gospel of Jesus which continues to be handed down from the Apostles through Tradition.

Of the total teachings or Gospel of Jesus, four books of the New Testament are specifically called ‘the Gospels’. The basic purpose of these books is to answer the question ‘Who is Jesus?’

Tradition

Tradition refers to the liturgies, teachings and commands of Jesus that were handed on by the Apostles. Tradition is also referred to as the unwritten Word of God. The Sacraments, the Creeds and the moral teachings of Jesus are all examples of Tradition.

Catholics believe the Tradition of the Church reflects the guiding work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides the Church as each generation accepts these liturgies, teachings and commands of Jesus and hands them on to the next. As each generation does so, it grows in its understanding of the entire truth Jesus referred to, under the Spirit’s guidance.

This understanding of Tradition is different from devotional practices and other religious ‘traditions’. These grow and fade over time and vary from culture to culture.

Tradition therefore is a dynamic reality that influences and is influenced by all baptised members of the Church. The Second Vatican Council document Dei Verbum (paragraph 8) states:

And so the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved by an unending succession of preachers until the end of time. Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude 1:3). Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.

This tradition which comes from the Apostles develop in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. For there is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. This happens through the contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure these things in their hearts (see Luke, 2:19, 51) through a penetrating understanding of the spiritual realities which they experience, and through the preaching of those who have received through Episcopal succession the sure gift of truth. For as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment in her.

The words of the holy fathers witness to the presence of this living tradition, whose wealth is poured into the practice and life of the believing and praying Church. Through the same tradition the Church's full canon of the sacred books is known, and the sacred writings themselves are more profoundly understood and unceasingly made active in her; and thus God, who spoke of old, uninterruptedly converses with the bride of His beloved Son; and the Holy Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel resounds in the Church, and through her, in the world, leads unto all truth those who believe and makes the word of Christ dwell abundantly in them (see Col. 3:16).