AoS 2 Flashcards

• What was the symbolic revolution in terms of a spiritual point of view?


  It was where a shift towards recognising the power of symbols and its ability to connect us deeper to the truth and the divine. It showcases the importance of intuition, imagination and creativity which helps us explore the mysteries of our existence.
• What are the origins of religion?


  animism, the afterlife and ideas about ancestor spirits/gods and their interaction with humans.
• Discuss early evidence of the development of spirituality and religion. (Pre-History)

  Evidence of the development of religion include tangible aspects. This includes cave paintings, burials, grave goods and adornment.
• How does Animism differ from monotheistic religions in its view of spirituality?

  Animism required the belief in multiple spirits that had presence in earthly objects or animals. This is different to the monotheistic view as they only believe in one ultimate reality that possesses a higher power.
• Explain the significance of the "Mungo Woman" discovery in understanding ancient spiritual beliefs.(Pre-History) 


  She was found to be cremated twice = theorised to represent the spiritual idea that was specific to burials to honour people that might have been deeply respected. = Her discover y provided insight to Ancient Indigenous culture and history.
• How long ago was Mungo Woman believed to have lived? When was she discovered?

  Believed to be over 42 000 years ago in Australia and was discovered in 1968.
• What is a shaman? (Pre-History)

  ·       were people believed to have the ability to communicate with spirits and act as an intermediate between people on earth and the spirits.
• What was the significance of shamans? (Pre-History)

  ·       They were able to reinterpret certain life events which was believed to convey a hidden meaning.

  ·       They were able to date back to specific history that had occurred in their community =

  ·       They were able to ask for help from the gods during difficult times.
• How the social environment of the Axial Age influenced religious beliefs and practices


  1. Development of trade

  2. Intellectual expansion
• Development of trade- How did the social environment of the Axial Age influence religious beliefs and practices?


  Brought people together which brought cultures together and supported the growth and diversity of religious beliefs. This allowed for interaction and influence.
• Intellectual expansion- How did the social environment of the Axial Age influence religious beliefs and practices?


  Intellectual activity of people rose when they started to question things and realise new ideas and concepts
• Discuss the role of individual thinkers and spiritual leaders in shaping religious ideas during the Axial Age


  Some spiritual leaders and thinkers included: were Confucius, Buddha and Pythagoras. These individuals challenged traditional beliefs and shaped new religions. Some of these leaders started to question long term reward in spiritual life.
• What ideas did Pythagoras form?

  
  

  Created mathematical theories moving from physical numbers to abstract ideas 
• What was the concept of animism?

  When adherents believed that animals, plants, objects and forces of nature possess a spirit like humans do. One of the oldest spiritual beliefs present in Indigenous spirituality. It involves practices such as ritual sand ceremonies and offerings to communicate and honour the spirits.
• What ideas did Confucius think of?(Axial Age)

  being good to others and having positive intentions for the people around us is not just good for them but also for us. 
• What ideas did Buddha think of?(Axial Age) 


  He created the Four Noble Truths which he taught people should live by and how to reach enlightenment.
• In what ways do you think the religious concepts developed in the Axial Age continue to influence modern beliefs and practices?

  • Many philosophers formulated their own system of beliefs and values based on the notion of finding the meaning of life. This influenced modern religion to have a sole purpose of finding the meaning of life
  • It created morals and ethics for people and other layer religions to value. This was due to the Collapse of the Bronze Age
• Explain how religion contributed to society during the Medieval Times (What religion gave to society?)

  • Religion = mainly used as authority and the law
  • religion was dominant over rationalism which meant that religion was used to reason rather than logic
  • For instance, this caused the Catholic Church to develop monasteries: which provided healthcare, education, welfare, guidance and trade.
• Explain how society shaped religion in Medieval Times (What society gave to religion?)

  • Feudalism: Referred to the social structure in the Medieval Ages which placed the monarchs and nobles at the top and peasants at the bottom. . This meant that religious leaders were put at the top and possessed authority – for instance, the Pope.
  • The Law: The Law of society was heavily influenced by the Church’s laws. This meant that if anyone were to disobey = extreme punishment. This meant that the Christianity was seen something else rather than a religion, but also a system to implement justice.
• Outline the defining attitudes and developments of the Renaissance period

  • It was a time of invention of new objects and things.
  • It was a time of question relating to religion.
  • This was a time where the admiration in art and science grew
  • Reformation
  • The Roman Inquisition
  • The punishment of reformers
• Define the Renaissance period and when did it occur?

  •   was a time in which there was a rebirth of ideas from the views of Ancient Greek and Rome to which caused people to create a new way of thinking.
  • Originated in Florence Italy during the 14th century
• Describe what it meant when admiration in art and science meant during the renaissance?

  • People used these ideas to express what it meant to be human.
  • There were developments to areas like mathematics, science, philosophy, theology and arts.
  • People looked away from spirituality and religion
• When did the Middle Ages occur?

  It occurred between the 5th century and the 15th Century.
• Describe what the Reformation was?.

  • This was the beginning of Protestantism
  • This was a group of people who believed that the Catholic Church's involvement in politics would cause its corruption. FOR EXAMPLE --> THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDULGENCES.
  • Martin Luther was known to start this concept.
• Describe what it mean when people started to question during the Renaissance period?

  people wondered why God would allow suffering during the plague and famine would? This caused religious leaders to no longer be trusted as the faith and religious teachings were not protecting the people.
• Describe what was the Roman Inquisition.

  • Created by Pope Lucius and worked in Europe and the Americas
  • Something that was set up in the 12th Century and later renewed in Rome.
  • also known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation
  • It was created to combat heretics an maintain doctoral purity.
  • Later evolved to persecute those who challenged the ideals of the Catholic Church
• What was the impact of the Roman Inquisition?

  • It helped the Church maintain its power and authority
  • It made people afraid to express their own beliefs and were forced to conform to the beliefs of the Catholic Church.
  • The Church controlled what people should believe in  The creation of the Forbidden Book List had banned books that spoke against the Catholic teachings
• What was the Church's response to the Theory of Evolution.

  • They first remained silent but then opened up on their opinion and condemned the theory
  • They did accept Darwin's 'Origin of Species' and discussed how God used Evolution to create the universe
  • However, there still remained many mixed opinions
• What was the Theory of Evolution? Who Made it?

  • Made by Charles Darwin
  • explains that there was a gradual change in an organism’s inherited characteristics over many generations due to Natural Selection. Natural selection refers to organisms that are best suited for their environment and their ability to survive and pass down their genes that are beneficial for survival.
• Challenges Evolution posed to Catholic Church

  • It challenged the idea of believing in an ultimate reality. there was no need for a designer of the world because evolution was very random. Created atheism.
  • Genesis was displaced by the Theory of Evolution and the Creation Story was claimed to be false which further caused individuals to check the validity of other Bible scriptures.
  • Jesus’ death was irrelevant if Genesis was not factual.
  • God created the world with no suffering = Evolution claims that the world was never perfect as there was an ongoing battle for survival
• When was the Classical Age?


  300s BCE - 500s BCE

  • Greek/Hellenistic Rule over Judea: mid 300s-63 BCE
  • Maccabean Revolt: 167 BCE - 160 BCE
  • Roman Rule over Judea: 63 BCE -476 CE
  • Jewish Roman war and destruction of the temple: 66-77 CE
• What was the Fall of Rome and when did it occur?

  • Occurred between 2nd-5th century
  • when the German chieftain Odoacer deposed the last Roman emperor of the West, Romulus Augustulus.
  • It caused: political instability, barbarian invasions, economic decline and the split of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire
  • THIS LED CHRISTIANITY TO GAIN POWER
• When was the Axial Age?

  500-300 BCE
• When was the Collapse of the Bronze Age?

  1200-1100 BCE
• When was the Iron Age?

  1200-500 BCE
• Define Sea People

  Ancient empires that had survived the collapse of the Bronze Age but were eventually attacked by other empires. 
• Who was Copernicus? What did he propose?


  He was an astronomer who had developed the idea of a heliocentric solar system where everything had revolved around the sun rather than plants all orbiting around the earth.  It revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos and laid the groundwork of modern astronomy.
• Why did Copernicus' idea challenge the Catholic Church?

  • The challenged the Church's geocentric view of the universe which intertwined with their theological doctrines
  • conflicted with established beliefs about Earth's central position and humanity's special place in God's creation.
• Describe how the Church responded to Copernicus' ideas?

  The Church had originally accepted his heliocentric views, but his model was then later banned due to a wave of Protestant Opposition.
• Who was Bruno? What did he propose?

  • Italian philosopher and cosmologist
  • He further expanded in Copernicus’ proposal but stated that the sun was like the distant stars and that the sun wasn’t the center of the universe.
  • He also suggested that other planets might support life.