Examples of Ecumenical groups
Taize http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg00xdoryTE
Religious Education Junior Certificate
Ecumenism for greater Christian unity or cooperation among Christian denominations - Catholic, Orthodox Protestant groups. Examples of Ecumenical groups Taize http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg00xdoryTE
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1. Galileo believed earth revolved around sun in conflict what the Church believed - sun revolved around earth, as a result Galileo was put under house arrest More on Galileo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei 2. Charles Darwin theory of Evolution that all live evolved, humans evolve from apes, this is against the Church’s view that God created the world and humans in ‘His image and likeness’ ( Book of Genesis)
Sectarianism hatred of someone because of their religious beliefs. Religious conflict: when there is a lack of trust and deep hatred towards other religions leads to problems in society that is difficult to heal Religious tolerance – religions get on together - efforts of political, clergy celebrities – John Hume, Fr. Aidan Troy, Bono Northern Ireland Catholic Nationalists and Protestant Unionists both Christians between 1969-1998 (Good Friday Agreement) resulted in over 3000 deaths Iraq sectarianism between the Sunni and Shia Today in Syria Shiite Muslims kill Sunni Muslims under President Assa
The changing patterns of religious belief and practice in Ireland and elsewhere since the 1930s and 1940s 1. Some religious practices have died out e.g.
4. Yet from 2006 on wards there is an increase in some Irish communities of faith e.g. between 2002 and 2006, the Orthodox community in Ireland doubled in size and the Muslim community increased by 70 per cent (to over 32,000). The Search for Meaning Human beings unlike other creatures ask questions in order to learn about other people, about life and about the world around us, questions that sometimes cannot be answered. Questions are part of the search for the meaning of life, a sense of purpose in life what makes life feel worthwhile.e.g. WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? Why do people suffer and die? What is life all about? Why be good? How can I find happiness? What do I want to do with my life? What is my goal/purpose in life? Who influences your image of God? 1. Parents influence their children’s images of God as the way they communiate with their children is reflected in their children's image of God - children strictly disciplined by their parents tend to see God as a punisher, children who see their parents as loving and powerful tend to imagine God as loving and powerful. 2. Community of Faith the stories, beliefs and religious practices of a community of faith help to shape a person’s image of God. Research suggests that there are some differences in the way people of different religions think about God. 3. Film for example Bruce Almighty, God is shown as a man dressed in white. This image of God encourages people to imagine God as a human being, usually male. In contrast, the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – teach that God is Spirit and does not have a body. STAGES OF FAITH Childhood (imitate) - Adolescent (question) - Mature (meaning in life) We Express Our Faith (belief and trust in God) through 1. Prayer - communication with God. formal, informal. community prayer individual prayer, - types- petition, intersession, thanksgiving and 2. Worship - honour and praise God e.g. Mass 3. Way of life - people have a deep faith in God, their faith influences the way they live influenced by a moral code – e.g. 10 commandments, beatitudes ( Christianity), 5 pillars ( Islam) World view is the way we look at the world, it shapes the way we see the world and influences-our behaviour and attitudes. Source: Irish Catholic Bishops Conference Practice and Belief among Catholics in the Republic of Ireland Challenges to Religious Belief 1. Materialism is centered on money so it is harder for them to recognise God in the everyday experiences of life. 2. Secularism reduces the influence of religion in society. 3. Individualism get so caught up in pursuing their own interests that they fail to become aware of the presence of God in the world around them. 4. The technological world view conflicts with the religious view of the world and of the human being. The story of creation in Genesis tells us that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and that our role is to imitate God the Creator by looking after all parts of creation. We are called to be stewards of creation. This means that we must use technology sensibly for the benefit of all people and all forms of life on this planet. SCIENCE VERSES RELIGION
In the past disagreement between the worlds of science and religion concerning creation has stopped in recent time. Science sets out to answer the ‘How?’ questions, e.g. How did the universe and life begin? Religion, on the other hand, tends to ask the ‘Why?’ questions, e.g. Why do the universe and life exist? Since religion and science search for truth by asking different questions, we need both in order to make sense of life and of the world. • In 1951, Pope Pius XII welcomed the theory of the Big Bang, saying that it should lead scientists to the Creator. • In 1992, Pope John Paul II said that the Church had made a mistake in the way it treated Galileo. He also suggested that there are ‘points of contact’ between religion and science – each helps us to understand ‘different aspects of reality’. THE FACTS 1. Muslims began arriving in Ireland in increased numbers in the early 1950s mainly as students and people in business. 2. Today the Muslim population is between 25,000 - 30,000. 3. The Muslim community in Ireland is extremely diverse in terms of nationality and ethnicity. 4. Most of Ireland’s Muslims are Sunni with less than 2000 Shia. 5. Some Muslims in Ireland have been here for many years and are Irish citizens. Many have been born here and are 2nd and 3rd generation Irish Muslims. 6. The first Muslim organisation in Ireland, the Dublin Islamic Society was formed in 1959 by a group of Muslim students, 7. In 1983, the Mosque in the South Circular Road was established. The first purpose built mosque was built in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo in 1986 8. In September 1996 the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland at Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 was opened. Both the Centres at South Circular Road and at Clonskeagh are Sunni mosques 9. In 1998 the Ahul Bait Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin was opened, which is representative of the Shia Muslim community in Ireland 10. Islamic centres and Mosques are active in developing initiatives to break down barriers and encourage mutual understanding between Muslims and the Irish public 11. September 2006 the Irish Council of Imams was established. Source: http://www.nccri.ie/pdf/ChallengingMyths-Muslims.pdf Islam means Peace through Submission, Muslim means one who submits to Allah (God: Monotheistic) Islamic beliefs – moral codes 5 pillars 1. Shahadah – CREED, one god Allah and Muhammad is his messanger – all beliefs flow from it – no pictures of ALLAH, 99 names ( merciful, all powerful…) diet – halal or lawful food= slaughter in the name of Allah, no blood eaten, no pigs, do not use silver or gold plates, wash and give thanks to Allah before eating 2. Salah – not personal prayer but organised prayer - pray 5 times ( Friday Mosque, wudu (wash), face Mecca, Adhan – call to prayer, Raka – prayer movements, Mosque – no paintings, prayer mat, symbol = star and cresent, quiblah indicates the direction of Mecca to face when praying, Imam= teacher 3. Zakat – charity give to the poor 2.5%, at festivals give meat to poor 4. Ramadan- sawm fasting daylight hours every Muslin over 12 years, no eating drinking, sexual relations in daylight, fasting an act of personal worship, special prayers, reading the Quran, last 28 days celebrates month ( 9th month) Muahmmad received the Quran from Allah, finished with Festival Eid el Fitr pray in Mosque thanksgiving to Allah, special sermon from Imam, presents and sweets, feast 5. Hajj – pilgrimage – obligation once a lifetime Mecca Muhammad lived and received the Quran, peace with Allah, one’s soul, one’s neighbour a. TAWAF is going around the Kabbah ( in Mecca Great Mosque, Saudi Arabia) 7 times, touch black stone of Kaabah b. SAY is brisk walking between two small hills called Safa and Marwa as Hagar (Abraham’s wife) did during her desperate search of water for her son Ismael. c. Mina 8 km from Mecca spend the night d. Plain of Arafat pray for forgiveness and listen to sermons e. Sun set Mizdalifah road to Mecca evening prayer f. Mina throw stones stone pillars to represent rejection of Satan ( devil) and temptations in their lives Festival after Hajj – Eid el Adha ( sacrifice goat like Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael ( Hagar his mother) to show his love for Allah Ka’bah ( in Mecca Great Mosque, Saudi Arabia) means house of God, first house on earth built by Adam destroyed by Great Flood, Rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael, Abraham given black stone given by angel Gabriel – corner of Ka’bal Abraham - Muslims claim Abraham a Muslim, Arabs descendants of Abraham, Jews descendent of Issac, 7th century forgot about Allah but forgot used to worship idols Cultural context: Arabia- Arabia land of Arab nomads, wealthy- route between Africa and Asia, 7th century divided + lawless, Mecca – pilgrimage to city, Arabs polytheistic – 7th century 360 idols The prophet Muhammad 570 CE, Information about Muhammad (highly praised) Ø Hadith- collections Muhammads sayings Ø Sunnah – stories about Muhammad Ø Biographies of Muhammads life written by Muslim scholars 8 and 9th Centuries Muhammad’s life Member Haslim clan – Quraysh tribe, Orphan, adopted by uncle, Ran a camel caravan carrying cargo – business man, Married widow Khadijjah, 6 children, Respect – Al-Amin – the trustworthy ,Troubled by corruption, greed and injustice Mecca Revelation: The Night of Destiny/Power - Mount Hira 610 CE, Angel Gabriel, Scroll to recite/read, Muhammad illiterate Muhammad preaching in Mecca: 613 CE, 3 years • Wife, children best friend Abu Bakr 1st converts • Beliefs- Allah one God, treat all people as equal, Allah will reward you for your good actions • Uncle protected him, then died, wife died • The night journey – Mi’raj 620CE Angel Gabriel took • Hijrah ( start of Islamic calendar 622AD) Departure from Mecca to Medina persecuted risk of being murdered– in Medina Muhammad accepted converted to Islam, 1st Mosque, n=battle between people from Mecca and Muslims Muhammad and Muslims won, Muhammad went to kaaba and tore down Quran – sacred text in Arabic, word of Allah, means to read, revealed to Muhammad, cannot be changed, not historical facts, oral to written tradition Muhammad got scribes to write down, chapters are called suras, in schools is learnt by heart, person recite the Quran by heart called Hafiz. Rites of Passage - Birth – Adhan whispers call to prayer in baby’s right ear, honey in month for a sweet life, 7 days after Aquiqah – baby named where baby’s hair is shaved, weight of hair in gold given to the poor, sacrifice animal for thanks Marriage – religious duty to marry and have children, arranged marriages unlawful, dowry ( symbol of who valuable she is ), marriage contract, wedding feast, divorcee last resort- free to remarry but unusual Death – death approach Shahadah is repeated last words, soul carried buy and angel to Allah where one is judged good and bad deeds, heaven or hell, body prepared – wudu wrapped in white clothes, buried on right side pointing right towards Mecca Development of Islam /Islamic tradition § 632AD Muhammad died, Islam in central and southern Arabia § Abu Bakr Muhammad’s father in law chosen as Caliph ( deputy of Prophet) § Omar successor but assassinated § Uthmann successor but murdered § war about who would succeed – Ali ( Muhammad’s son in law) or Muawiya ( governor of Syria) § Ali followers – Shi’ites § Muawiya – Sunnis § Christian crusaders attacked and murdered the Muslims 10th century Higher level – tradition, faith and practice today 2nd largest religion (1200 million approx.) and fast growing religion in the world Religious law – Shar’ia law is the law of the country e.g. Iran Iraq, Pakistan, Schism – branches of Islam § Shi’ites- follow bloodline Ali, only 10% not wealthy, many persecuted in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, one infallible Imam for each generation – e.g. Iran homeland of the Shias – 1979 Ayatollahs – Islamic state, strict religious laws and police, Syria President Assad is Shitie and murdering the Sunnis today § Sunnis-orthodox Muslims authority from the Sunnah- words and actions of Muhammad, follow the Caliphs, make up 90% of all Muslims, standardised doctrines of Islam , Saudi Arabia is Sunnai § Sufis – person express their love of Allah in their own way – dervish – music and dance Women in Islam Quran and Sunnah – women high standing, cannot be forced to marry, role of mother and wife is sacred, dress – loose and respectful - Hijab scarf. Iran– chador, Afghanistan – burqua Islamic fundamentalism and Islam’s response to terrorism Islamic Fundamentalism aims to set up a state whose laws and government are based on Islamci /Shar’ia Law e.g. Taliban in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran. Jihad- HolyWar – struggle to follwot he way of Allah ISLAM DOES NOT PERMIT TERROISM OR SUICIDE – AGAINST WHAT ALLAH SAYS IN THE QURAN KILLING FORBIDDEN Islam in Ireland 1950s the first Muslim doctors students study at the college of surgeons 1959 Dublin Islamic Society – build mosque and Islamic centre in Harrington Street Dublin 1983 mosque in South circular road Dublin 1992 1st Muslim TD member of Irish government Dr. Bhamjee elected in Clare 1996 Islamic Cultural Centre Clonskeagh – primary school, halah restaurant, shop library. 2014 mosque in Dundalk , cork ,Belfast, galway over 30,000 Muslims in Ireland |
''It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.” |