WORLDVIEWAPPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING

We will describe how various worldviews impact a community’s response to the world?

• SCV.01: examine the literary characteristics, origin and development of the sacred writings and oral traditions of the various religious traditions;

• PFV.02: describe the worldview of various religions and their precepts;

• CMV.04: explain the influence of culture on the interpretation of moral codes and practices within various religions;

• FLV.04: critically assess how contemporary culture impacts on religious anthropology.

What is a worldview?

• The manner in which a community or individual responds to existential questions is described as a worldview.

• Anything that we know to be true but cannot explain is called a mystery; how we respond to mystery suggests the worldview from which we operate.

• We can describe three basic worldviews:• Theocentric• Cosmocentric• Anthropocentric

What is a theocentric wolrdview?

Theocentric worldviews tend to dominate western religions. They presuppose a central, divine figure.

The Divine: monotheistic

The Imago Dei: relationship

The People:community

Protection/Provision

Worship/ Obeidance

Morals

Ethics

What is a cosmocentric wolrdview?

The individual consciousness incarnates, as do divine beings.

The individual is trapped in the world until they find release through liberation.

Cosmocentric worldviews tend to dominate eastern religions. They presuppose a universal experience.

The Divine:Polytheistic; forms

individual consciousness.

What is an anthropocentric wolrdview?

Cosmocentric worldviews tend to dominate eastern religions. They presuppose a universal experience.

Humanity exists, without the divine, interdependently

with creation. Life is confined to consciousness in

this world.

What do the worldviews have in common?

THE SIX TRAIT MODEL OF RELIGION (Ninian Smart)

When examining religion, we find six general categories regularly appear…• Experience…

• …with the divine, human, and demonic• Sacred stories…

• …myths are oral stories • …scriptures are written stories • …both explain mystery and relate history

• Sacred rituals and symbols…• …worship, objects (totems), rites of passage• …describes where, when, who, and why

• Community of faith…• …organises believers as leaders and laity

• Teaching and doctrine…• …creates creeds, laws, and codes of conduct

• Ethical and moral…• …places the values, virtues, and vice established by doctrine in the context of one’s life

What do the worldviews have in common?

THE SIX TRAIT MODEL OF RELIGION (Ninian Smart)

When examining religion, we find six general categories regularly appear…• Experience…• Sacred stories…• Sacred rituals and symbols…• Community of faith…• Teaching and doctrine…• Ethical and moral…

• Create a chart and brainstorm what you know already about the five religions that we will study…Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism.