Religion post 1945
Sarah is changing churches, from the Salvation Army to Greek Orthodox. Is this an example of denomination switching?
Yes
Name 3 different ethical teachings in the Christian church
Dignity of the Human Person
Stewardship
Preservation
What is Tawhid?
Submission to the oneness of Allah
The belief system which Aboriginals follow is known as?
The Dreaming
Provide an ecumenical example
The NCCA formed in 1994 (the World Council of Churches in 1946). It aims to bring together various Churches for dialogue and practical cooperation.
It works through a large number of areas:
Faith Unity Commission
Social Justice Network
Youth Network
Gender Commission
Christian World Service (CWS)
Make Poverty History
Christmas Bowl
National Program on Refugees and Displaced People
Refugee week & The Voice to Parliament
Why is stewardship of creation an important Christian responsibility?
Christians believe God is the Creator, so the world is sacred and a gift from God.
Stewardship means humans are caretakers, not owners, of creation (Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 2:15).
Caring for the environment shows respect and gratitude to God.
Protecting creation ensures justice for future generations.
It reflects Jesus’ teaching to love one’s neighbour, since environmental damage harms people, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Pope Francis (Laudato Si’) highlights stewardship as central to Christian life today.
What is the significance of the the Hajj to Muslims?
For pilgrims, performing Hajj fulfills a religious obligation, but it's also a deeply spiritual experience of a lifetime for many. It's seen as a chance to seek God's forgiveness for past sins, grow closer to God, and walk in the prophets' footsteps. Also, the fifth pillar of faith and Muslims should at least once complete the Hajj in their lifetime.
These interact with the physical world shaping the landscape and instituted indigenous culture, law and rituals?
Ancestral spirits / beings
The bringing them home report is an example of...
The Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families. It concluded the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children was a gross violation of human rights
Describe the impact of Baptism on the Christian community.
- strengthens the faith of others
- purifies the faith community
-strengthens the faith of the individual and allows them to live a life of service
What are the sources were Islamic Jurisprudence are derived from? There are five.
Qur'an, Sunna and Hadith, Ijma and the Qiyas
What is the importance of Dreamtime stories?
They contain sacred knowledge of the origins of the universe, rituals, laws and ceremonial sites
According to recent census data, what percentage of Australians are Christian?
43.9%
Describe a Catholic baptism
Godparents
Trinitarian formula
Water = Affusion (pouring), they know that immersion (dunking) and sprinkling are also valid ways to baptize.
Prayer / baptismal candle / font
What influence does A'isha have on Islam today?
As a theologian, scholar and political activist, she is known as the “Mother of Believers” and has made a powerful impact on the development and expression of Islam. A'isha influenced the position of women in Islamic society, challenging Islamic ethics and the understanding and interpretation of the Qur'an.
A’isha was one of the most prolific narrators, having narrated 2,210 hadith. She was also very well versed in hadith literature, having witnessed a lot of the actions of the Prophet pbuh on various aspects of Islam. A’isha therefore had a major impact on our understanding of Islam today. Her importance in hadith is not just limited to her transmission of the knowledge, but her interpretation of hadith assists in understanding the knowledge and applying it contextually. A’isha contextualised what she saw from the Prophet pbuh and put it into practice through daily life activities. The significance of her actions meant that many of the Prophet’s sayings and practices were preserved. Example of a hadith narrated by A’isha: Hamza bin Amr Al-Aslami asked the Prophet, "Should I fast while traveling?" The Prophet replied, "You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish.” (Bukhari, Volume 3, Number 164). From this we learn that during Ramadan we are permitted to fast or to break our fast. Fiqh (Jurisprudence) A’isha was one of the few who could make novel rulings based on her knowledge of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Fiqh is about comprehending the reasoning and justification for judgments. When there is no clear statement, a ruling could only be made by reasoning, and A’isha’s knowledge was advanced compared to her peers. She would ask the Prophet pbuh for the reasoning behind many matters when she was unable to comprehend their lawful cause and received the answer directly from him. She corrected misunderstandings with examples from the Prophet’s pbuh own life. Due to her asking the Prophet pbuh for extra details and the reasonings, she was able to transmit this information after his death, hence preserving it. Tafsir (Qur’anic Exegesis) A’isha closely followed the explanations of Prophet Muhammad pbuh related to the Qur’an and learned the obscure points directly. She acquired the ability to understand the purpose of the Qur’an, and to interpret general principles within the framework of Islam. She was not only a narrator who conveyed what she had heard and seen, but also an interpreter of its meaning. Narrations related to understanding the Qur’an generally passed through Abdullah ibn Abbas and A’isha, which proved A’isha’s importance as an interpreter.
What is the importance of Totems for Aboriginals?
They identify the animal, plant or landmark which the person is linked to the Ancestral being responsible for their existence
Provide an interfaith dialogie example
The Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews
The Dialogue was officially 'launched' in March 2003 after 12 months of formal preparation, which was preceded by informal contact and discussions between the NCCA, AFIC, & ECAJ.
It aims to understand key concepts in each religion that have led to misunderstandings in society:
The Muslim community explained ‘jihad’
The Jewish community explained ‘Zionism’ and
The Christian community explained the ‘Trinity’
The overall aim is to have all faiths living harmoniously.
2024 Stabbings in Sydney - Leaders from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities in Sydney have jointly condemned the violence and divisive rhetoric that's emerged following two separate stabbing attacks in Sydney.
To provide opportunity for the national bodies of each faith to come together to build understanding and harmony in the Australian context.
Objectives
To be a model of how different faiths can live harmoniously together in Australia
To build understanding, good will and a sense of community between people of different faiths
To explore and learn about each other and our faith traditions
To share our knowledge and insights with others
To work together to achieve common goals in Australia
To support each other in times of difficulty
Proposed Strategies
To inform our respective faith communities of the work and understandings that we reach
To use our meetings to increase knowledge and awareness of the issues that face each of the faith communities
To report back to our respective national bodies
To address community issues together where possible
To encourage common projects among the faith communities
To use our meetings to inform the wider community of our commitment to each other
To encourage interfaith dialogue at all levels
Interfaith Relations - NCCA
Francis of Assisi - how does he influence Christians today? Provide two examples.
Care for creation – inspires Christians to live sustainably, protect the environment, and see nature as a reflection of God’s beauty.
Life of simplicity – models living without material excess, encouraging Christians to value humility, generosity, and detachment from wealth.
Commitment to peace – his dedication to peacemaking and reconciliation influences Christians to promote nonviolence and harmony.
Service to the poor – reminds Christians to serve the marginalized, uphold human dignity, and show compassion through charity and social justice.
Focus on prayer and spirituality – his contemplative lifestyle encourages Christians to deepen their relationship with God through prayer and reflection.
Example of living the Gospel – demonstrates how to follow Christ authentically, with joy, humility, and faithfulness.
Franciscan orders and movements – his legacy continues through religious communities (e.g., the Franciscans, Secular Franciscans) and lay groups that live by his values.
Papal inspiration – Pope Francis draws on his example, particularly in Laudato Si’, urging all Christians to care for creation and the poor.
What role does the concept of sanctity of life play in Islamic bioethics?
Life is sacred – In Islam, life is a divine gift from Allah, and only Allah has the authority to give and take it away.
Qur’anic teaching – The Qur’an states: “Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right” (Qur’an 17:33).
Guiding principle – The sanctity of life underpins decisions in bioethics (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering).
Preservation of life (Hifz al-Nafs) – One of the Maqasid al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law), meaning protecting human life is central to ethical decision-making.
Limits to intervention – While medicine and technology are encouraged if they preserve life, any act that deliberately ends innocent life (e.g., euthanasia) is generally prohibited.
Balance of ethics – In difficult cases (e.g., abortion to save the mother), scholars weigh up the sanctity of life of both the unborn child and the mother, guided by Islamic jurisprudence.
What various practices demonstrate Aboriginals inextricable connection to the land?
Art
Totems
Scared sites
Kinship groups
Dreamtime stories