Concepts

Key concepts integrated across Belief Systems.

Concept Definition Questions &/ Examples
Is power being exercised with the consent of the members of
 involves the right to determine, adjudicate, or
Authority* a belief system? If the answer is ‘Yes’, then the individuals &
otherwise settle issues and disputes in society groups exercising power also have authority.
 are principles accepted & shared among a group of people,
Beliefs they indicate a particular way of perceiving the physical Confucianism, feminism, environmentalism etc.
world & the cosmos (the universe)
 any alterations to traditions will affect the nature of the
Change Is there resistance to change in a belief system? By whom?
belief system
 individuals &/ groups may find themselves in a
Conflict disagreement because of their status or role within a belief Judaism & Islam conflicts in ideas and culture.
system or because of incompatible ideas or cultural factors
 traditions will define a belief system, the passing down of
Continuity in Australia is reflected through the celebration of
beliefs, laws, doctrines & customs from generations to
Continuity Anzac Day every year & the continuation of Anzac day
help that particular group of people make sense of their
parades
world and the cosmos
What are the established ways of thinking and acting for
Customs  established ways of thinking and acting
followers of a belief system?
 a term to describe the socially constructed differences
What impact does a belief system have on male & female
Gender* between men and women, referring not only to individual
roles & the relationship between the sexes?
identity & personality but also at the symbolic level
 emergence of a ‘global village’ through sophisticated
Globalisation information systems, transnational corporations & Are these changes beneficial to followers?
consumerism may bring change to a belief system
Hierarchy  different levels an individual is at within a belief system Are there levels of status or importance?
 is a cultural plan with conceived ways of putting that plan
Ideology God sent his son to save the ‘world’ from sin.
into action
 is a feature of culture, but it may be specific to a particular
Language Judaism – Hebrew: synagogue, rabbi, kappa, Mezuzah
belief system
 transition between life stages is often marked by special
Life Cycle Are there specific ceremonies or rituals?
events in a belief system
 belief system may have traditional stories about Do these myths explain natural phenomena? Are they used
Myth
supernatural beings or events to instruct followers in correct behaviour or morals?
 behaviour that is regarded as acceptable for members of a What are the consequences if a person’s behaviour is
Norms*
belief system unacceptable to others?
Is this philosophy solely the domain of those of high status?
Philosophy  system of principles that guide practical affairs Do members of the belief system fully understand this
philosophy or they just understand what to do in daily life?
 the different levels an individual is at within a belief system How are relationships between individuals & groups
Power Structures
by comparing power held by each individual organised in a belief system?
What are the prescribed procedures that people in a belief
Ritual  prescribed procedure that followers must attend to system must follow, perhaps for worship or for life cycle
ceremonies?
 abstract principles may be represented by images within a Are there images by which others can identify a belief
Symbols
belief system system?
 followers of a belief system will hold some things as being Is it adherence to specific morals? Is it consistent
Values
the utmost importance participation in ceremonies & rituals?
 organised & accepted set of ideas attempting to explain Christianity & God’s creation is considered worldview
Worldview
the social, cultural, physical & psychological world because it is the majority of all religions & non-religions
*not in syllabus
The Nature of Belief Systems
 Considering the meaning of the terms ‘belief systems’, ‘worldview’ and ‘ideology’
Belief systems
- are practised worldwide
- are an organised set of principles and ideas,
shared amongst a group of people
- include religious systems that acknowledge the
existence of a being greater than the human
experience and non-religious systems which
focus on the human experience as the ultimate
As society becomes more complex so does the
variety of belief systems.
Worldview
Belief systems produce worldviews.
Belief systems give interpretations and meanings
that people have about the world. This happens
because of the belief systems that they belong to.
It is the “take’ or explanation about the world and
life we construct because of what we believe.
Ideology
The ideas that underpin or are the foundation for
the belief system. These can be a strongly held
position or a set of looser ideas. The ideas form
one's goals, expectations, and actions. An
ideology is a comprehensive vision, as a way of
looking at things as in common sense and several
philosophical tendencies or a set of ideas
proposed by the dominant class of a society to all
members of this society (as a "received
consciousness" or product of socialization).
Examples Role and Questions
5 main religious belief systems practised Belief systems influence people’s
worldwide values, attitudes and behaviour. The
Christianity (Christians), Islam (Muslims) way people relate to each other often
Judaism (Jews), Hinduism (Hindus), Buddhism reflects the beliefs they hold.
(Buddhists). How important are they in a person’s
Non-religious beliefs practised worldwide life and why?
include Humanism, Confucianism, Atheism, How do people ‘act them out”?
Secularism, Capitalism, Environmentalism
Feminism, Totalitarianism.
Some worldviews might include:- Can answer questions about good/
*The ‘one true faith’ view of some religions- bad/ why things happen
*That capitalist societies have a better
lifestyle -
*“liberty equality fraternity’-
*‘the subservience of the person to the
state”-
*submission to the will of Allah”
How is ideology related to belief
One strong example of ideology impacting on systems?
actions would be Nazism where the main or Is this different to beliefs?
core ideas e.g. that the Germans were a Is it a term that fits non religious belief
master race then led to actions against other systems better than religious ones?
groups and countries e.g. laws that targeted
Jewish people, invasion of countries in
Eastern Europe

 Identifying the nature and extent of belief systems both within and outside Australia
Examples Role and Questions
Remember that there are areas of the world that have predominant What factors affect the belief systems in societies?
Global religions. Some religions that are strongly evident in some societies but What are the continuities about belief systems in
Trends minority or non-existent in others e.g. Shintoism (Japan), Caodaism the world?
(Vietnam). Why do they exist in such a changing world?
2006 Statistics: What are the continuities in Australia?
- Atheism 1.1 billion (this figure includes agnostic and non-religious, tend Do they continue for the same reasons?
to be grouped on surveys) What are the changes in world belief systems and
- Christian denominates with 2 billion why?
- Buddhism 360 million What are the changes in belief systems in
- Confucianism 5-6 million Australia over time? Why have they changed?
- Wicca 1-3 million
- Non religious belief system statistical data is harder to obtain worldwide
but Western countries are more likely to also be capitalist and democratic
Communism exists by name in China, North Kore a, Cuba, Vietnam but the
‘variations’ on the model of communism are quite different influence of historical forces and policies
Indigenous Australians
Yr ANG% CATH% Other Christ% OTHER% NONE% Christian
Australia 1901 39.7 22.7 33.7 1.4 0.4 White Australia Policy
Multiculturalism - waves of migration
1961 34.9 24.9 28.4 0.7 0.8
Secularisation in Australia
2001 20.7 26.6 20.7 4.9 15.5
  Identifying some of the questions that humans have asked about human existence, societies,
environments and time that have led to the development of varied belief systems

Examples Role and Questions

- people, civilisations & cultures searched for
answers to some or all questions asked
throughout pre-history & history
- important to acknowledge that many cultures
based in or dominated by ‘Western’ 1st world
countries are not specifically interested in
questions such as these
- cultures e.g. many indigenous ones are not
interested in questions such as these, understand
their relationship with the cosmos in terms of the
perceived unify if past, present & future
- some cultures have very little interest in questions
to do with the origins of universe, humanity or
related areas’ living religions (2nd edition)
Why am I here?
What is the purpose of life and death?
Where did the universe/cosmos come from?
Why are there death, suffering and evil in the
world?
Is there a greater power than me who is
either just there or controlling all that exists?
How was the world created?
How were people created?
Is there an afterlife?
Why do people have better lives?
Why are there good and bad?
What is the key to happiness and the
meaning of life?
Why were these questions asked in
the first place?
How much has science replaced the
way we used to answer these
questions as a human race?
How has Western Modern lifestyle
impacted on the questions some
people now ask?
Are the BIG questions still there if the
little questions have been answered?
IS THERE MORE TO LIFE? What do
you think?
IS IT ALL ABOUT MEANING????

 Exploring the difference between religious and non-religious belief systems

Examples Role and Questions

All belief systems offer an explanation of something.
They offer their followers ways to live life, whether
they are religious or secular (non religious).
One difference between secular (non-religious) and
religious belief systems is that religious systems
normally deal “with the whole of human life and
death”. (John Bowker. World Religions. Dorling
Kindersley. 1997).
Religious belief systems believe in a supreme being
or god or supernatural force and the existence of an
afterlife and divine guidance for life.
Secular belief systems try to explain specific aspects
of life rather than all of life.
Characteristics of religion include: So what are the fundamental
Beliefs and structures, sacred sites and differences?
sacred times, sacred stories and writing, - Godhead
sacred symbols, ethical teachings, rituals that - Faith v reason
have a spiritual message or meaning. - Life v issue
- Is it more than that e.g. de
Non religious belief systems vary more – they Bono
may present a view about whether god/s Can you belong to more than one
exist. They originate over a specific issue that belief system?
the followers are focused on. Can we outgrow religion?
- Feminism – focuses on gender equality Have we outgrown religion?
- Capitalism – offers one explanation of Can religious belief systems change
economic organisation & life and adapt? Do they? How?
- Environmentalism – influences followers Note – differences are easy to
act politically & socially to prevent describe and explain – what about
degradation of environment by human commonalities?
activity
However they do not offer beliefs about
other issues e.g. the afterlife, the existence
of God.

 Examining the nature and role of ideology and beliefs in societies and cultures

Examples Role and Questions

- these are the core ideas they are fundamental to Ideologies vary considerably but they share What does ‘fundamental’ mean?
what the beliefs are about and what the believers dothe same role – they are VERY significant and What are the ideologies that shape
- lead to what the believers do and don’t do in their shape the behaviour, world views and actions your life?
lives of the person, the belief system and relate to What ideologies shape Australian
- provide the common or shared experiences of the the way the believers live, act, think etc. society?
belief system for the group
  Identifying the impact of beliefs upon persons, societies and cultures across time

Examples Role and Questions

Daily prayers, avoidance of intoxicants, scripture reading, hard work, Commonalities?
education, work for social justice and equality. (Baha’i) Differences?
Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Communion), church on How do these exist on a micro world level?
Sundays, numerous holidays (Christianity) Do they influence your life?
Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess, Where do your beliefs come from? How have they changed over your
pilgrimage to holy cities, lives according to one's dharma (purpose/ life? Why have they changed?
role).
What occurs at a macro level – conflict? Change?

 Examining the nature and role of ritual in belief systems

Example Role and Questions

recurrent expression of our beliefs in formal
and informal activities
- are the elements that characterise the belief
system
- often reflect the history of the belief system
- are the appearances that make the belief
system similar and different to other belief
systems
- can be significant and/or everyday practices
of belonging to the belief system
- are the public images that identify members
and bond members
- can represent transitions in the belief system
- consistently renew the believers with their
ideology and their beliefs – daily, weekly etc
These often connect to the values and the myths Consider the way that several
associated with the belief system elements interact – belief, story,
e.g. Jewish Passover – the safe delivery of the person, impact of beliefs,
Jewish peoples by God from their slavery in acceptance of belief systems
Ancient Egypt Are some rituals of more
The Boxing Day sales significance than others?
Elections and referendums Why?
Clean Up Australia Day What rituals do you observe?
Recycling Would beliefs ch ange without
Prayer rituals?
Celibacy
Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting.
Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before
prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the
pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan.
Note that rite of passage are part of a belief
systems’ rituals e.g. baptism, memorial.

 Examining acceptance and rejection of belief systems

Example Role and Questions

-Beliefs are deeply personal aspects of
human nature.
- People reject belief systems when the
ideologies and practices are conflicting
with their own beliefs, values and
customs.
- Rejection of belief systems can occur
especially if one belief system shares a
geographical space or lives on either side
of the world.
- Rejection of beliefs can lead to conflict.
This happens at a person and society level and has What belief systems have you
occurred historically and recently accepted? Why?
For example: How?
Christianity – split that led to the Protestant churches How do people reject belief
forming systems?
Split between the different traditions in Islam – Shia Why do they choose to reject
and Sunni belief systems ?
Different developments in Buddhism as it merged and What other concepts and DP are
changed when it ‘migrated’ to different countries. involved when this happens?
Protests against use of nuclear power, furs in fashion, How do they reject hem?
whaling What are the consequences of
Protests in Egypt last month against the corruption rejection? Can you reject SOME
and the government monopoly on voting rights and but not all elements of belief
freedom of the press and speech. systems