Grade 11 WORLD RELIGIONS

 means “the love of wisdom”  it is reasoned truth or truth achieved by means of thinking, logic and reason.  it is a logical point of view or code of behaviour.

 Philosophy originated with Plato (c. 428-c. 347 BCE)  He proposed that the visible world is only a fussy shadow of reality. True reality are our “eternal and unchanging ideas”  Intellectual / spiritual over physical / material  “mind over matter”

 The view that the world is entirely dependent on matter.  Things are what they appear to be; nothing more, nothing less.  What we can observe and measure is the final reality.  Based in empiricism, which strives to measure and quantify.  Consumerism which defines and individual by what he / she possesses.

 Philosophy which places a high value on individual freedom and choice.  Often the wants and needs of the individual are valued beyond the needs of the larger group.  Opposes tradition or authority.

 Opposed to individualism.  The individual is subordinate to the social collective (state, nation, race or social class) and is an agent for the “common good.”  Communism is a type of collectivism based on the theories of Marx and Engels and was adapted for their specific states by Lenin, Mao and others.

 Is a cultural complex of beliefs and rituals which supersedes or replaces a religious cosmology for the citizens of various countries.  It has existed throughout history in Imperial Rome, where the emperor was worshipped as God and in Japan, where the emperor was given divine status until WWII.

 In places like the contemporary United States, this religion serves to amplify the loyalty and patriotism of the individual citizen.  Observations and rituals include reverence to the national flag and anthem, placing the hand over the heart, ritualized folding of the flag, special respect for national monuments.

VS

 Worldview is the term we use to thing and speak about a whole way of thinking, feeling and acting about life.  A secular worldview is a way of thinking about the world where the only truth worth considering is one based on human values alone.  Religion is pushed out of the picture and science, technology and philosophy are believed to provide the answers to life’s problems.

 There is no divine purpose or creator of the universe.  Nature can be observed scientifically.  Each human person is self-sufficient and stands alone, with no need for God or an ultimate reality.  Religious worldviews are to be discarded as attempts to deny the dignity and liberty of humanity.

 Means “Nature-centred.”  Nature is an expression of the sacred realm and is alive with the spirit of this sacred source.  People are dependent upon nature and see nature as a living reality infused with a spiritual presence (Aboriginal Spirituality).

 Means “God-centred.”  Life’s meaning comes from its relationship with an ultimate reality.  The purpose of this life is to discover the path that leads to union with God. (Five Great Religions)

 Means “human-centred”  The value of human individuals and communities is central.  Often associated with “Humanism”, which celebrates human values / talents.

 belief that all gods and any God were only creations of the human imagination.  Religion was and is of no benefit to mankind; it only prevents the progress of humanity.

 A concept, not a religion. It is a belief related to the existence or non- existence of God.  An agnostic believes that God’s existence can neither be proved nor disproved on the basis of current evidence.

Consumerism   A person is defined by what they possess.  Consumerism is an attitude to life that rates material goods and personal appearance as more important than inner (spiritual) development or true personal relationships.  Modern advertising reflects and shapes this consumer mentality by suggesting that possessions can fulfill the role of religion.

Moral Relativism   Personal opinion is the ultimate reality and is more important than truth.  All values are relative to each person. Therefore, there are no absolute values (right vs. wrong), only those that are useful in the secular culture.  How you see things and how you feel about them is more important than any considerations about truth or wrong vs. right.