Define the supernatural dimension: Supernatural dimension is the belief in the existence of beings or

powers beyond the realm of the natural world. The most significant element of a religious worldview is
the belief in divine or power, which is greater than humankind and the natural world. It refers to place
where all mighty powers exist, but religions have different worldviews. Types of religions are: Immanent,
Transcendent, Monotheism, Polytheistic. Monotheism means religions believe that there is only one god.
These include Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Polytheistic means religions believe in more than one god.
The gods and goddesses may have control of happenings in nature. These include Buddhism and
Hinduism.

Discuss a transcendent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine power and/or powers beyond
the human: Transcendent means to have continuous existence outside the physical world. Transcendent
religious worldview refers to a belief of a sacred and divine powers and the world that go beyond the
human. It includes the Semitic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as their god being revealed to
human world beyond the human spirit. They emphasise the idea of god being revealed to humankind from
beyond the human spirit. For example, Muslims believe that the will of Allah has been revealed to the
Prophet Mohammed and is contained in the writings of the Koran. This is a transcendent worldview
because the divine being is seen to be separate and outside of the human.

Discuss an immanent religious worldview which has a belief in a divine being or powers dwelling within
the individual: Immanent is the phenomena of the material world. Immanent religious worldview holds
the belief that supernatural powers or divine spirits dwell within individuals and the presence of god
within human existence, that guides people. It recognizes a continuing presence among believers and the
world. It includes Buddhism and Hinduism. For example, Buddhists follow the Eightfold Path prescribed
by the Buddha in order to reach Enlightenment. This is an immanent religious worldview because the
divine power is believed to be found within the human and awaits discovery through the prescribed path.

Define the characteristics of religion: Characteristics of religion include beliefs and believers, sacred texts
and writings, ethics, rituals and ceremonies. Believers form meaning to formalise their understanding and
record through sacred texts. Sacred texts inform Ethical Teachings and rituals and ceremonies, and
believers abide by it. Sacred texts maintain the integrity of the principle beliefs. As the adherents develop
interpretation of sacred texts overtime that can cause changes in teachings, rituals and ceremonies.

Beliefs and Believers: Beliefs are based on what the believers know through stories of the past and
experiences in the present in greater reality. They have belief in sacred persons and places from past
sacred. Believers adheres beliefs through experiences of ritual and teachings in the present.
Characteristics:
Buddhism: Three Buddha Refuges: The Lord Buddha, the Dharma and Sangha Reincarnation. cc
Judaism: God entered history and formed a relationship with his people.
Hinduism: Ultimate union with Brahman and belief in a supreme being adherence to truth, good conduct
and karma.
Christianity: Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to save humankind from sin and death.
Islam: Submission to Allah; essential for being a human and for understanding his or her place in the
universe Mohammed is his prophet.

Sacred Texts and Writings: The texts are based on stories of what happened in the past. People base their
beliefs on texts and model their behavior on their beliefs. Believers experience their religion in the present
through rituals based on stories happened in the past in sacred texts.
Characteristics:
Buddhism: The Tripitaka (five precepts), the pali canon, the Mahayana Sutras.
Judaism: Torah
Hinduism: The Mahabharata, the teachings of Manu, The Vedas.
Christianity: The Bible
Islam: The Qur’an

Ethics: It is based on demonstrated stories found in sacred texts. It governs what a believer of a religion
must base their behavior on, and obligations upon them. They try to model themselves on the behavior
and teachings of sacred person in the past.
Characteristics:
Buddhism: Five Precepts and the Vinaya Strive to follow the eight-fold path. This gain escape from
suffering.
Judaism: Focus is on laws and commandments in the Torah
Hinduism: Nine Teaching of Manu: Suppression of wrath, truthfulness of speech, justice, forgiveness,
simplicity etc.
Christianity: Human beings are created in the image and likeness of god, the source of dignity. The
Beatitudes, ten commandments are based on tenant of love.
Islam: Muslim ethics about peace and giving to less fortunate and obeying Allah.

Rituals and Ceremonies: It makes religion a live experience in the present. They reflect the beliefs of the
faith, through sacred texts. Different types of ritual bring about a different experience, like ceremonies.
Celebrate and reinforce the central belief and structures for the religion.
Characteristics:
Buddhism: Meditation, scarifies, Pilgrimage aged 8-20, boys become monks living in a monastery.
Judaism: Circumcision for baby boys at the age of 8 days.
Hinduism: Diwali, purification, meditation, sacrifices
Christianity: Baptism confirmation reconciliation, Communion matrimony holy order anointing of the
sick.
Islam: Circumcision for new born boys, Daily prayers observing Ramadan, marriage, Shahada.

Explore the ways in which these characteristics interact to create a dynamic living religion:

A religion is a dynamic, living reality. Dynamic living realities religion help provide meaning for those
who follow them. Dynamic Religion is characterised by energy, ambition, new ideas and practical
achievements. Living Religion is full of life, real and immersed in everyday human existence. People
believe in their religion, and they follow the characteristics of religion to create a dynamic living relgion.
People believe is stories and teachings, through beleifs, sacred texts, ethic and rituals, and together they
reflect on the way people should live. It shows them how they should live in a universe, in which god
gifted them.

Appreciate the contribution of religion to: -Individual and Society and culture


Individuals:
Personal search of meaning:
Religion offers answers to life’s profound questions. It explains the creation of the universe, human
nature and life’s purpose. It provides identity and sense of belonging. Many people follow their religion
for answers about their origin and purpose and destiny.

Ethical guidance:
Religion offers a system of ethics that will guide the person in behaving properly. Ethics advices on how
to treat themselves, others and the environment. It helps address challenging ethical issues that is too
complex and difficult to decide. Bioethics involves the study of moral inferences of new biological
discoveries. Sexual morality, is a voice on the appropriate matters in sexual activities. There are also
guidance in social concerns where it relate to matters socially.

Sense of belonging:
Religion offers a way of perfection, that instructs what is required to become true to themselves as people
of faith and move closer to achieving goals, of their religious tradition. Present role models, guidance and
direction for individuals to develop their understanding of their faith and how to become better people. It
presents ways of achieving inner peace through prayer, reflection and practice. The religion can bring
people together of similar ideals and values and provide an opportunity to express values in an
environment.

Ritual meaning:
Religion gives ways by which they can celebrate significant events and times in their lives. These events
include birth of child, coming of age, graduation, marriage etc. Rituals proclaim that a person has grown
and developed in their faith and can accept greater duties and responsibilities within the community.
Religion places individuals in a long tradition of belief and practice. It gives the people the validity of the
tradition and can observe practices and customs in their lives.

Society and culture

Survival and development of humans:
Humans survived and developed due to the use of materials to improve their life. They used reasons to
create meaning and order. Religion has been a system by which humans made sense of their place in the
universe, and about survival.

Maintain order and wellbeing:

Human society rest on an essential basis of maintain order and wellbeing. Safety and security of people,
ability to feed and house people, ability to hand on the knowledge and skills throughout the generation in
needed to maintain order and wellbeing. Society needs peace and order to survive.

Maintaining peace:
Through principle teachings that acknowledge the responsibility of individuals towards divine being and
their minimal obligations and duties towards their neighbours, to preserve peace and harmony. Religion
have at times create war, but the motivation of religions is to recognise the important goodness of
humanity and destiny.

Societies laws:
Societies laws are based on the ethical systems of a religious tradition. Social welfare has constant
practice within religious traditions. Religious institutes have developed hospitals, orphanages and care.
For example, the Westminster system of law and government, or the laws and government of Islamic
nations.

Education/ learning:
Religion sees the importance of education and need to develop higher forms of learning. Institutes made
sciences and medical knowledge preserved or developed. They encouraged higher skills of philosophy,
cosmology and theology and developed the precision of argument and thought.

Architecture:
Religious tradition has been responsible for most of the world’s wonders of architecture and grandeur
such as Angakor Wat, Taj Mahal etc.

Art:
Religious institutes have sponsored artists to decorate their sacred spaces, to compose music of the
highest quality and decorate the interiors of churches, mosques, synagogue and temples with design and
ornament.