Definitions
What is animism?
The belief that all things in nature are inhabited by spirits or souls.
Name one monotheistic religion.
Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.
What is an aspiration?
A hope, ambition, or goal that a person aims for in life.
What is meant by “new religious expressions”?
Emerging spiritual movements, practices, or groups that differ from traditional religions.
Give one reason why people turn to new religious expressions.
They may seek personal meaning, community, emotional healing, flexible beliefs, or a sense of belonging.
What is Transcendence?
An experience or belief that goes beyond the physical world - often linked to the sacred, spiritual, or mystical.
What is the basic difference between a religious and a non-religious worldview?
A religious worldview includes belief in a transcendent reality (e.g., God, gods, spirits), while a non-religious worldview does not rely on supernatural belief.
How does atheism influence behaviour?
Atheists base their choices on human reasoning, ethics, and personal values rather than divine command.
How has ecological awareness contributed to new spiritualities?
Environmental concern has encouraged nature-based spiritualities that emphasise connection with the Earth.
Why does secularisation lead to new religious expressions?
As traditional religion declines, people look for alternative ways to find meaning, purpose, and community.
What is moral relativism?
That moral decisions become a matter of personal choice, with no clear or universal moral truths.
How do both religious and non-religious worldviews guide decisions in ethical decisions?
Religious worldviews use sacred texts, teachings, and divine principles; non-religious worldviews use reason, human experience, empathy, and societal good.
How do agnostics view the existence of a transcendent reality?
They believe there is not enough evidence to confirm or deny a transcendent being.
How does materialism influence the growth of new religious expressions?
As people feel dissatisfied with consumer culture, they turn to spiritualities that provide meaning beyond material possessions.
Explain how new religious expressions meet needs that traditional religions sometimes do not.
New spiritualities offer flexibility, personal choice, emotional healing, and practices tailored to the individual rather than strict doctrine.
What is 'disenchantment' in terms of new religious expression and spirituality?
The feeling that traditional religions no longer meet spiritual, emotional, or ethical needs.
How do religious worldviews provide meaning differently from non-religious worldviews?
Religious worldviews often explain existence through divine purpose or creation, while non-religious worldviews rely on human reasoning, ethics, and scientific explanations.
How might a non-religious worldview influence a person’s aspirations?
They may aim for goals based on personal achievement, human wellbeing, and earthly fulfilment rather than spiritual or religious goals.
How does pluralism encourage new spiritualities?
People feel free to explore diverse spiritual options without pressure to follow one dominant tradition.
What is an example of a New Age religious expression and spirituality that caters for the 'Search for personal fulfilment'?
Crystal Healing, modern paganism, wicca...
What does 'imago dei' mean?
The 'image of God'
Compare how Christianity and Humanism view the human person.
Christianity: Humans are created in God's image with a soul and moral responsibility.
Humanism: Humans are rational, capable, and responsible based on reason rather than divine authority.
Evaluate how non-religious worldviews shape behaviour in society.
They promote responsibility through reason, empathy, social justice, and moral philosophies that come from human experience rather than divine law.
Explain how dissatisfaction with traditional religions can lead to new spiritual movements.
People may feel traditional religions are too rigid, outdated, or disconnected from modern life, so they seek spiritualities that feel more personal and flexible.
Who are the people most likely to turn to New Age Religious Expressions and Spiritualities?
Women, people of colour, younger people, people in prison, people who have been negatively affected by traditional religions...