LOREM IPSUM

Book Title

DOLOR SET AMET

C HAPTER 1

Nature of
Religion
Syllabus:
Students learn about:
religion as a worldview that:


acknowledges the supernatural dimension


has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond


the human and/or dwelling within the individual
characteristics of religion:


beliefs and believers


sacred texts and writings


ethics


rituals and ceremonies
the contribution of religion

R ELIGION AS A WORLDVIEW

A particular world view

A world view means the way in which a society sees
the world. The society into which you were born may
determine how you see the world. Each religion promotes
its own world view. Buddhism and Hinduism, for example,
see time as a cycle, whereas for many Christians, Jews and

Religion as a worldview that:

Muslims time is linearit has a beginning and an end.

What religion does is provide its believers with a source of

acknowledges the supernatural dimension

meaning that both transcends and contains their life and

their world. Religion offers believers a specifi c set of beliefs

has a belief in a divine being or powers beyond the human and/or dwelling within the individual

and practices that give meaning to their lives.

The supernatural
When we talk about the supernatural we are taking about
something being above or beyond what is naturalnot able
to be explained by known natural laws. The supernatural
exceeds the ordinary limits of human existence and is
sometimes described as abnormal, or even miraculous.
Religion has a transcendent dimension
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Religion possesses a transcendent dimension. It points

immanentthe inner aspect.

us towards the sacred or divine world and beyond this

earthly and material world. The words transcendent and
transcendence come from the Latin word transcendere,
meaning to climb over or to surpass. This transcendent
dimension of religion enables humans to surpass the limits
of their creatural existence and earthly concerns to focus
on heavenly or spiritual matters.
In contrast, the immanent dimension emphasises the
presence of God or gods within human existence, in

Answer the following questions in the google form on Page 6

the day-to-day, concrete, ordinary concerns of life,

In your own words, define transcendent dimension. Describe

a transcendent worldview.

rather than above and beyond it. A healthy approach to

religion is often characterised by a balance between the
transcendentthe out there aspect of existence, and the

In your own words, define immanent dimension. Describe an

Immanent worldview.
Explain the difference between the transcendent and immanent worldview.

S ECTION 2

Some scholars would say that a list of characteristics of

Characteristics of Religion

religion should also include many other characteristics,

such as structures and institutions, sacred sites and times,
and sacred symbols and fi gures.
Did you know?
The academic study of religion is a modern development. It
began during the eighteenth-century Enlightenment with its

If religion is a human response to the sense that there is

advancement of the sciences and discovery of other cultures.

something beyond the ordinary and that this sense gives

Beliefs and believers

meaning and purpose to life, it follows that we have to

Beliefs and believers sustain all religions. For example, the

have some organised way of responding to and explaining

central beliefs of ChristianityJesus of Nazareth as the

the sense of mystery, the holy, the sacred, the transcendent,

Son of God, the resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, and

or the ultimate reality. These responses are called the

the divine inspiration of the Biblehelped to keep the

characteristics of religion. Four such characteristics are:

early Christian community unifi ed. At times, however, as

beliefs and believers

is shown in Chapter 3, differing interpretations of these

sacred texts and writings

beliefs have resulted in disunity. For Jewish people from

ethics

the time of the Diaspora, it was their beliefs that kept

rituals and ceremonies.

alive their identity and community.

4

Sacred texts and writings

followers of a religion should freely do, or refrain from

At their centre, all religions have oral and/or written

doing. In Hinduism, sadharana dharma is the general code

sacred texts, writings, or other types of stories. In

of Hindu ethics. It is the universal natural law and also the

Buddhism, these are the Tripitaka or Pali Canon, as well

moral and religious duties, laws and customs that are in

as a huge collection of sutras (threads of teaching).

harmony with the natural law. The ultimate goal of life is

In Islam, the Quran is the central sacred text. Of less

moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth of

importance are the hadith, which detail the life of the

souls (samsara).

Prophet Muhammad, as well as the sunna, the reference

Rituals and ceremonies

point for regulations within Islamic belief and custom.

Rituals and ceremonies are enactments or systems of

This is a good example of how these characteristics are

actions and beliefs that each have a beginning, a middle

interconnectedthe Quran is a sacred text that is not

and an end. They are directly linked to superhuman beings

only read and meditated upon, but which gives essential

or forces. Rituals and ceremonies in Judaism include

direction for Islamic beliefs and customs.

male circumcision and the coming-of-age ceremony Bar

Ethics

Mitzvah, as well as signifi cant rituals for marriage, divorce

Ethics can be understood as the explicit, philosophical

and death. Jewish ritual circumcision or brit milah is

and/or religious refl ection on moral beliefs within a

performed by a mohel on male infants on the eighth day

tradition. They are central to any religion. Their purpose

after birth. Historically, it was required of Abraham and

is to clarify what is right and wrong, and what the

signifi ed the covenant between God and the Jewish people

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(Gen 17:1014). Its intention is to place a permanent

reminder of the covenant in the flesh of the male Jew.
The circumcision is followed by a festive meal for family

Answer the following questions in the attached google

form

and friends.
1. What is the significance of sacred texts within a religion
2. Define Ethics
3. Why are rituals and ceremonies significant to a religious tradition?

S ECTION 3

constantly revitalise its beliefs and believers, sacred texts

A Dynamic Living Religion

and writings, ethics, rituals and ceremonies. When these

characteristics of religion interact creatively, they help to
nurture a religion that is alive, dynamic and active in the
lives of its adherents, and in the society and culture in
which it exists. It is a religion that is lived.
It is important to remember that when studying religion

A dynamic, living religion

it is not enough to just read about its history or study its

These key characteristics create a dynamic, living religion.

texts, but also to see it in action.

A dynamic (Greek dunamikos, meaning powerful)

religion is one characterised by energy, ambition, new
ideas and practical achievements. It develops into
a powerful force that refreshes itself constantly, and
therefore avoids settling into a predictable or conservative

In your Studies of Religion exercise book, write a

list of synonyms for dynamic that could be used
in the following sentence:
Christianity is a dynamic living religion, thriving in the contemporary world today.

rut. A living religion is one that is full of life; it is

practical, real and immersed innot removed from or
afraid ofeveryday human existence.
In general, any religion is likely to stagnate if it does not
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S ECTION 4

a society. Religion can also encourage violence when its

The Questions and the Contribution of Religion

adherents come to believe that their world view is being

challenged.
It is important to acknowledge that many cultures
outside those based in or dominated by Western First
World countries are not specifi cally interested in the
great questions of human existence. For example, many

Certain questions have puzzled people for thousands of

indigenous cultures understand their relationship with

years. These have sometimes been referred to as the great

the cosmos in terms of the perceived unity of past, present

questions of human existence. They include:

and future. Such cultures have very little interest in questions

Is there a supreme being?

to do with the origins of the universe, humanity

Who am I?

or related areas.

Why is there evil, pain and suffering?

Is there a supreme being?

Is there life after death?

A supreme being, god or deity (from the Latin word deus,

Religious beliefs can help us answer such questions. They

god) is the name given to a god or goddess, depending on

can provide a sense of self, and a sense of belonging and

the religion being considered. In the Christian, Jewish and

community. Religion can confront and challenge social

Islamic traditions, the Deity refers to the monotheistic

and political injustices, and can be an agent for change in

God (one God alone). In these religions, the supreme

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being, or God, is understood as the source and creator of

Why is there evil, pain and suffering?

the universe, the source of all that exists, and the ultimate

Human evil, pain and suffering have limitless aspects

ruler of all time and space.

physical illness, death, social injustice and poverty,

Who am I?

loneliness and aloneness. This also raises limitless

The question who am I? takes a person to the heart of

questions: Does life have meaning because of, or apart

human existence. For Christianity, the question who

from, suffering? If God is all powerful and all loving, why

am I? is understood in relation to what is human nature

does God allow evil, pain and suffering to exist?

and what is its ultimate purpose? For many religions and

In most traditions, evil is the opposite of what is good

traditions, the person gains their identity (their answer to

and beneficial. It can be understood as a cosmic power or

who am I?) by relating to their God or gods, guided by

as a human way of behaving or deciding. Evil, pain and

the beliefs and practices of their tradition.

suffering are interrelated. Suffering can be understood

as the experience of pain that could be caused by evil,
ignorance or neglect. As such, this three-part issue raises
crucial questions for religions about the nature of God, of
the universe, and of human existence itself.
Buddhists, for example, refer to suffering as dukkhaa
desire to be in the world too much. The cause of dukkha
is selfish craving.
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If a person sees that suffering afflicts them, let them

examine their deeds.
Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot, 5a

Is there life after death?

Death is generally understood as the ending of ordinary
human existence. Issues and questions about the origin of

For example, Muslims believe that death is the common

destiny willed by God for all living thingsEvery soul
will taste of death (Quran). After death, Muslims believe
that the soul waits in barzakh (the place of waiting for
Judgement Day). When judgement comes, God will

death and the destiny of the dead, as well as rituals for the

deal with everyone according to their actions. After judgement, the dead will be restored to their bodies, so

dead, are part of all religious traditions.

Muslims do not cremate their dead.

Each of the attitudes to death in the major religious

The contribution of religion

traditions is not a scientifi c explanation of death, but an

This section on the nature of religion has provided various

attempt to make sense of lifeto understand death as

examples of how religion contributes to individuals and

a part of the pattern of life. Reincarnation, resurrection

to society and culture. With its claim to a supernatural

and other concepts of life after death provide powerful

dimension (and by association to the transcendent and

images for their believers. They help sustain people in the

immanent world views), religion succeeds in fixing the

knowledge that there is a deeper meaning to life than that

minds and hearts of its adherents in the here and now,

which is played out externally. The responses to death and

while at the same time pointing them beyond the material

afterlife in each tradition have helped humans to live with

to the spiritual or divine realm.

the mystery of existence and to give concrete meaning to

Religion also contributes to individuals, society and

their lives.

culture by adhering to the key characteristics that have

10

been discussedbeliefs and believers, sacred texts and

writings, ethics, and rituals and ceremonies. These
characteristics enable religion to become practical and
concrete. They change over time and affect the society
and culture in which that change takes place. This in turn
not only creates a dynamic and living religious tradition,
but a dynamic and living society in which that particular
religion exists.
Religion has contributed significantly to great

Answer the following questions in the attached google

form
1. In your own words, summarize the enduring questions of human existence. You may use Christianity
and its beliefs in your explanation.


Use the headings:
Is there a supreme being?
Who am I?
Why am I here?


Why is there evil, pain and suffering?


Is there life after death?

architecture, music, literature and art.

11

C HAPTER 2

Christianity

Principal Beliefs
the divinity and humanity of Jesus
Christ
the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ
the nature of God and the Trinity
Revelation
Salvation

Sacred Texts and Writings

Bible

Core Ethical Teachings

the Ten Commandments
New Testament ethics
the Beatitudes
Jesus commandment of love

S ECTION 1

lived experiences. In this context, the principal beliefs of

Principal Beliefs

Christianity are examined here. How these beliefs are put into
practice through the ethical and moral teachings of
Christianity and the personal devotion of its adherents are
examined in later sections.
The divinity and humanity
of Jesus Christ

Over the centuries, Christianity has organised its beliefs

In the centuries after Jesus death it became necessary to

into a systematic theology that draws from its sacred

provide explanations for what was being said about Jesus

writings and traditions. While the major beliefs of

and his relationship to God. Early Christian thinkers

Christianity are shared by all Christian variants, there are

believed that Jesus Christ was divine, yet this in turn

degrees of difference in the interpretation of these beliefs

raised difficult questions about the nature of Jesus and

and how they are lived out in everyday life. The following

the nature of God. In what sense was Jesus both truly

sections take a general approach to the beliefs, devotions,

divine and truly human? Most people understood that

and ethical and moral teachings of Christianity. Any

a man could become a godRoman emperors sometimes

major differences and emphases are noted.

did after death. But it was much more difficult to

Christianity is not just, or even primarily, a list of beliefs

explain how and why a god was made man. Disputes arose

and practices. Being a Christian begins with a persons

over the many competing explanations, such as:

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 Jesus was co-equal but differentPaul of Samosata

God is understood as one God, yet within the

became the bishop of Antioch in 260 CE, and his belief

Godhead there are three distinct personsGod

was that God remained the Logos or Word and Jesus

the Father/Creator, God the Son/Jesus Christ

had put that into flesh.

and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was created by GodArius, a Christian priest from

From that time onwards, Christians have

Alexandria, began teaching in 319 CE that Jesus was

understood more clearly that Jesus was

created by God to put Gods plans into action on earth.

humanhe was born like other human beings;

He believed Jesus was not eternal and, therefore, less

he ate, drank, slept and went to the toilet; and

god-like than God.

he knew sadness, suffering, uncertainty and joy.

Jesus was both human and divineAthanasius

Yet at the same time he was also mysteriously the divine

(296323 CE) was a deacon in Alexandria when

Son of God, one with the Father, the second person of

Arius began his teaching about the nature of Jesus.

the Trinity. In other words, he was a human being who

Athanasius responded that Jesus was both

lived at a particular time and place with normal human

the same nature as God and fully human.

limitations; yet he is also the divine Son of God whose

These and other questions came to a head

life, death and resurrection has cosmic significance for the

at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. The

whole of humanity.

teaching of Athanasius was adopted and the doctrine of the

As the Gospel of John expresses it:

Holy Trinity was formulated:

And the Word [the divine Son of God] became flesh and
14

dwelt among us [became human], full of grace and truth;

The ascension of Jesus refers to the event where Jesus

we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of

returns to heaven after his resurrection (Lk 24:51;

the Father.

Acts 1:9). The Christian feast of the ascension is

Jn 1:14

celebrated forty days after Easter.

Death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ

From the very beginning, Christians believed in the

From the gospels we know that Jesus was arrested, briefly

resurrection of the bodythat each believer will one

examined, taken to Golgotha outside Jerusalem, and put

day be completely human but transformedbody and

to death by crucifixion alongside other criminals. Thus

soulfor all eternity, and share in the glorious life of

ended the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth. But this was

Jesus Christ (refer to 2 Cor 4:14 and 1 Cor 15:3537,

not the endthe gospels affirm that Jesus not only rose

4244). This belief is based on the event that is the heart

from the dead but also was seen by many of his followers

and foundation of all Christian beliefs. At his resurrection,

Jesus Christ, after truly suffering and dying, was raised
to new life and entered a transformed, victorious and
glorified state.
The nature of God and the Trinity
Christians believe that God is One and the Creator of

(Mt 28:115; Mk 16:18; Lk 24:112; Jn 20:118).

all things. This same God is also known as three persons:
As well as the resurrection narratives, there is the
Father or Creator of all; Jesus the Son of God; and the
ascension of Jesus to heaven (Mk 1:619; Lk 24:5053).
15

Holy Spirit or Sanctifier. This is known as the mystery

Holy Spirit.

of the Holy or Blessed Trinity. The Holy or Blessed

Mt 28:19

Trinity is the central dogma and mystery of the Christian

faith. Mystery is used here to mean deepest reality
or that which is always beyond anything we can fully
know or experience. In the Trinity, God exists as three
personstraditionally referred to as Father, Son and
Holy Spiritall existing in a relationship of intimate
self-surrender to each other. When one person in the
Trinity acts, so too do the other two persons. Each person
is distinct but does not act in isolation from the others.
Although the word Trinity does not occur in the Bible,
the origins of the trinitarian formula seem to be present
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Cor 13:14
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the

Christian theologians have also seen early indications

of the existence of the Trinity in such Hebrew Scripture
passages as the apparition of the three angels to Abraham
(Gen 18:115).
The Trinity traditionally has been described in relation to
three key functions:
creating (bringing Gods new life to all creation)
sanctifying (blessing and making holy all creation)
redeeming (turning all creation from sin and darkness
and more fully towards God).
Revelation
Revelation, put simply, is the transmission of knowledge
16

from the divine to the human. It includes not only biblical

and frustrations of the entire world.

revelation but revelation evident throughout the whole

Salvation

of human history. In other words, revelation is knowledge

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

given by God to human beings about persons, events and

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish,

things previously hidden or only partly known.

but may have everlasting life. Jn 3:16

Christians believe that revelation is not only Gods

self-communication to human beings, but it is also a
loving and utterly free invitation to join in friendship with
God. Through this revelation, God calls human beings to
respond in faith and action today, not just intellectually
or by accepting certain doctrines or beliefs.
Gods fullest revelation takes place through the words,
deeds and events associated with the person of Jesus
Christ. Revelation, too, is not simply a past event or
proclamation from God. Revelation continues to happen
as God continues to speak throughout human history
through its historical events, through Christianity,
through world religions, through all the joys, hopes

Salvation is the belief that human beings require

deliverance by God from the power of sin and darkness.
Yet it is also the process or way in which human beings
are saved or brought to fullness of life in God. The New
Testament speaks of salvation as the forgiveness of sin
(Titus 3:5), living as a saved person (Rom 1:17) and
looking forward to a life in heaven (Mt 19:2729).
For Christians, salvation has three main features:
The initial fruits of salvation (of Gods triumph
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through Christ over sin and death and the renewal of

or make it difficult, and what is the grace that God

all creation) may be experienced now in this present

offers us to overcome these obstacles? Is salvation

life, but its full realisation is delayed until the next life

only a personal concern or is it linked to the beliefs

or afterlife. Only in heaven, in the actual presence of

and practices of the faith community and the wider

God, will a persons deepest desires for love, peace and

community?

justice be completely fulfilled. Salvation is therefore

Is salvation possible apart from belief in Jesus Christ

here now but not yet fully complete.

as Lord and Saviour?

Because there are many obstacles in the present life

Is membership of a Christian Church necessary

that make salvation difficult, people cannot achieve

for salvation?

salvation by themselves. It is only through the grace

Some Christian Churches (for example, Catholic,

of God that humans can attain salvation.

Anglican and Uniting Churches) hold that those who

Jesus Christ is central to salvation, for it is through

strive to do Gods will as it is made known to them in

his life, death and resurrection that God has offered

conscience can be saved, even if they are not members

salvation to all humanity.

of that particular church. Other churches hold this

In this broad consensus among Christians, there are

belief partially or would be opposed to it. Whatever their

many different approaches and unresolved questions.

viewpoint, the central question here is: Is there salvation

For example:

apart from belief in Jesus Christ?

What precisely are the obstacles that prevent salvation

In the final analysis, however, salvation is more concerned

18

with the all-powerful and all-knowing love of God who is

of Christ.

Mystery and beyond all human understanding. Christians

Christian lives are to be based on Gods love and

believe that to experience Gods love is to experience the

forgiveness.

essence of salvations meaning and mystery.

Christians are called to live in accordance with the gospel in

Christian beliefs in the everyday life

their own lives, acting justly and compassionately in the

of the believer

world.

For Christians, these principal beliefs are not just a

The whole of humanity is destined for eternal

doctrine but also a living relationship with Jesus Christ,

happiness, yet some may totally and deliberately reject

and can be summarised as follows:

Gods gift of love and salvation.

The divine Christ became human so that humans

might become more divine.

Answer the following questions in the attached google form

God created the world, so everything within it is good.

1. In your own words, explain Christian principal beliefs.

Use the following headings:
The divinity and humanity of Jesus
Death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus
Nature of God and the Trinity
Revelation
Salvation

God saves us but we cannot be saved without our own

cooperation.
God is ever present as Creator (or Father), Son and
Spirit, and Gods Spirit and power make us new people.
Mary followed Gods will.
The Church is necessary for salvation and is the body

19

S ECTION 2

worksthe four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the

Sacred Text

letters (epistles) of the early followers of Jesus and the

final book, the Revelation of John (or the Apocalypse).
The first three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, are the
synoptic gospelsthey share many common features
and concentrate on Jesus public ministry. Johns Gospel,
written much later than the first three, is a series of long

The Bible

reflections on Jesus as the divine Son of God.

The Christian Bible is a collection of writings that

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches accept a number of

Christians believe is of divine and human origin. The

books not found in the Hebrew Biblethe apocrypha or

Bible is accepted by Christians as authoritative for belief

deuterocanonical books. The Bible is sometimes called a

and practice. The Bible is also sometimes referred to as

closed canonno new writings can be added to it.

Scripture and Holy Scripture.

The importance of the Bible

The Christian Bible is divided into the Hebrew or Jewish

All variants of Christianity view the Bible as the basic

Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Christian Scriptures

source of belief and practice. Some Christian Churches,

(New Testament). The Hebrew Scriptures contain

however, hold differing views on the relationship between

thirty-nine books from the Jewish tradition, while the

the Bible and tradition, and the function of modern

Christian Scriptures contain twenty-seven early Christian

interpretation of the Bible.

20

The Bible is the central sacred text for Christians,

in the interpretation of these beliefs and how they are

especially because of its role in the everyday life of

lived out in everyday life. Most Christian beliefs are

believers. The Bible is the basis for many major Christian

introduced in the Bible:

beliefs; it is used in the liturgy of Christianity; it is the

Jesus is Lord (Rom 10:9).

basis for prayer; and it provides the guidelines for the

Jesus is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).

behaviour of Christians. It is particularly in the context of

Jesus is the Son of Man (Mk 2:28; cf. Dan 7).

sacramental liturgy or worship that the Bible is viewed as

Jesus is the Word of God made fl esh (Rev 19:13).

important and sacred, for it is here that Christians at the

Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

same time read from the Bible and celebrate the Eucharist,

(Lk 1:3435).

Mass or Lords Supper. The Bible teaches them about the

Christ will judge both the living and the dead

nature of God and the ministry and teachings of Jesus.

(Rom 14:9).

During the Middle Ages, the Bible was also revered as the

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out and the

sacred page (Latin, sacra pagina) since it was the basis

Church was born (Acts 2:3336).

on which theology (words and teachings about God)

The following sections will demonstrate how the Bible

was developed.

underpins the ethics and devotions of Christianity.

The Bible and beliefs

The everyday life of believers

While the beliefs underpinning sacred texts and writings

The Bible has a role in every aspect of the everyday life

are shared by all Christians, there are degrees of difference

of believers. Various texts are used during the basic rituals

21

and sacraments of the Christian life cycle from baptism

through initiation, the Eucharist, marriage, ordination,
sickness and death. The same range of texts is also used in
the liturgical cycle of each Christian Church, especially
during the Eucharist or Last Supper.
In addition, Christian sacred texts and writings are also
central to the thought, morality and ethics of believers.
For example, they help believers to better understand how
to make decisions and how to act in certain situations.
Finally, Christian sacred texts underpin their practices of
prayer and meditation. Sacred and devotional texts are
also used in domestic rituals such as grace before meals,
prayers at bedtime and the blessing of homes.

22

S ECTION 3

range of sources including the Christian Bible. Some

Core Ethical Teachings

churches such as the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox

also take heed of statements from Church Councils and
Conferences, and the Pope and Bishops of the Church.
Christian ethics pay particular attention to key passages
from the Scriptures such as:
the Decalogue or Ten Commandments (Ex 20:117

Christian ethics refers to the moral norms that are seen

and Deut 5:621)

to be distinctive of Christianity. Moral norms are those

the Golden Rule (Mt 22:3739)

guidelines that help the Christian to reflect on their

the Beatitudes (Mt 57)

moral life and on what actions they should take in certain

actions based on love (1 Cor 13:1)

situations. Christian ethical teachings are based on the

nature of the Final Judgement (Mt 25)

belief that the human person is an image of God with

living a life of service (Lk 22:2627)

intellect, free will and power of self-determination. Most

Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 13:34)

Christian Churches stress the importance of both faith

following the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) as the basis

and works (good moral actions), along with the central

of morality

place of community, prayer and sacraments.

uniting our will to Gods, our spirit united with the

The ethical teachings of Christianity are based on a

Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1517)

23

 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has

For Christians, observance of the Decalogue is based on

welcomed you, for the glory of God (Rom 15:7).

love not fear. The commandments should be viewed as

The Ten Commandments

life principles to be internalised by the human heartnot

(Decalogue)

avoided because of perceived punishment and damnation by

The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue

God. The practice of virtue is understood as more

(ten words from God), are the laws revealed by God to

important than the listing of sins.

Moses (see Ex 20:117 and Deut 5:621). The first three

In the fi nal analysis, the Decalogue is like a set of ten

commandments of the Decalogue refer to the worship of

boundary markers beyond which are sin, alienation,

God, while the rest refer to obligations to ones neighbour

unhappiness and death. The Decalogue is an important

and society.

basis for structuring and living the Christian life. It calls

The Decalogue is introduced by Gods own words of

Christians back to loving God alone and loving their

freedom: I am the Lord your God who brought you out

neighbour as themselves.

of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall

The Beatitudes

have no other gods before me (Ex 20:2). The Decalogue

In his most well-known teaching, the Sermon on the

summed up the type of relationship that Israel should have

Mount (Mt 5:112), Jesus says that certain people will

with God.

be blessed with happiness. Some of the Beatitudes (Latin

Jesus and those to whom he was preaching were, of course,

for blessed) also appear in Lukes Sermon on the Plain Scrip

well versed in the commandments of the Decalogue.

tures, where they were understood as declarations of

24

praise or congratulations for an exercise of virtue.

Further insight into Jesus command to love is found in

In Matthews Sermon on the Mount, Jesus main purpose

the first Letter of John:

is to instruct his hearers. He delivers nine Beatitudes that

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God;

praise people for various virtues that could be cultivated

everyone who loves is born of God and knows God

for example, poverty of spirit, meekness and hunger

Gods love was revealed among us in this way: God sent

for righteousness. The final two praise people for being

his only Son into the world so that we might live through

persecuted and promise future rewards.

him

In Lukes version, Jesus blesses his listeners for conditions

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to

of real poverty, hunger and desolation by promising them

love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one an

future rewards from God. The four consoling Beatitudes

other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected

are then balanced by four threatening woes.

in us

Jesus commandment of love

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God,

Three factors are important in order to understand

and God abides in them.

Jesus ethics:

1 Jn 4:712, 17

repentance as the basis of the ethical life

Importance of the ethical teachings

the radical nature of Gods ethical demand on

in the lives of Christians

humanity

Jesus preaches a God who is the source and model of love

the centrality of the love commandment (Mt 7:12).

for Jesus and his disciples (Mt 5:48). Jesus proclaims a love
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that is to bind and distinguish the Christian community

(1 Cor 1213) and compared to which the individual will

Answer the following questions in the attached google form

ultimately be judged (Mt 25:3146).

In the final analysis, Jesus command to love means
that the Christian expresses their longing for God and
constantly seeks the good of their neighbour. In the first
three gospels in particular, love is connected with the preach
ing of Gods Kingdom that arrives in the person

1. Christian adherents are encouraged to use these core ethical teachings to guide them in making the correct moral decisions in todays society.
Thinking about a contemporary ethical dilemma in your
world today, explain how these core ethical teachings would
be applied to the situation you have chosen. (Max 750
words)

of Jesus, and also with the greatest commandment

(Mt 22:3440). This type of love unavoidably involves
suffering (Lk 6:22 ff.), and the Christian is asked to follow
in Jesus footsteps to the cross (Mt 10:37 ff.) and beyond
to the Risen Christs victory over sin and death.

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