A U S T R A L I A   P O S T  

1945  

1. CONTEMPORARY ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES  ⇒ 1.1 ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY AS DETERMINED BY THE 

DREAMING  o DREAMING 

- The key concept underpinning all aspects of Aboriginal spirituality and all facets of traditional Aboriginal life 

- Exists in the present and future - It is an eternal timeless cycle of metaphysical existence where humankind, 

land and animals are completely dependent upon one another for their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing  

- The spiritual aspect of Aboriginal religion that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimensions, giving meaning to all aspects of life 

- It describes a variety of spiritual belief and not a single unified system  - It refers to all that is known and understood by Aboriginal people  

  

o KINSHIP - Kinship is the fabric of traditional Aboriginal society, which is essentially one 

large extended family - Complex relationships of blood and spirit - Provides a framework for living which is defined by the Dreaming  - Complex systems of duties, rights and practices  - It is a system based on small local groups who share economic and 

ceremonial dealings  - Specificity allows individuals to be aware that they belong to a greater whole - Children of mother’s sisters are also siblings - Everybody is related through the complex web of the Dreaming  

- It is the complex structure of Aboriginal social systems - Aboriginal people inherit territorial and ceremonial rights and responsibilities 

through kinship - Males and females have different responsibilities - Patterns of kinship are known as ‘skins’ - Kinship refers to the highly sophisticated networks of relationships that 

govern interactions between members of language groups  - Governs interactions between clans - Governs land, dancing, ceremonies, hunting parties - Determined by tribe and family relationships - Moieties organise privileges, duties and rules - TOTEMS 

● Tribes each have a totem animal that is considered to be a natural part of the region the clan originated form 

● Individuals are also given their own specific totem  ● Unifies clans under a single ancestral being  ● Fosters the metaphysical connection of Dreaming  ● Based on where the person was conceived or born  

- “Our spirituality is a oneness and connectedness with all that lives and breathes, even with all that does not live or breathe.” Mudrooroo 

- “Man and nature are partners” - “Kinship is the completeness of the oneness” Bob Randall 

  

o CEREMONIAL LIFE - Aboriginal ceremonies re-affirm the Dreaming in some way - Ceremonies are performed to invoke the Dreaming and its life-giving power - They are often rites of passage - Song, dance, body art, costume preparation is also associated with ritual and 

appropriate age restrictions apply - Ceremonial life perpetuates the Dreaming event  - If the story of a Dreaming legend is being told, it is being recreated - Ceremonies show the ongoing metaphysical presence of the parallel 

Dreaming world - Although the Dreaming happened in the remote past, it is believed to be 

also happening in the present via the ceremonial activity - They usually recreate an eternal moment and allow participants to spiritually 

transform and ‘ascend’ towards the sky heroes  - It acknowledges the Dreaming creation event and shows the ongoing 

metaphysical presence of the parallel Dreaming world - Conducted in song, dance and body art and costumes - Men and women have different - Includes rites of passage, passing on social info, personal connections and 

spiritual connections   - Ceremonial life is made up on Aboriginal people, land and identity  - Ceremonies represent the present part of the Dreaming  - Whilst ceremonies are different, they all: 

● Acknowledge a Creation event 

● Show the metaphysical presence of the Dreaming world in the real world 

- “The Aboriginal Sunrise Ceremonies are very special to our people. At the Sunrise Ceremony, I mediate and ask the Great Spirit for direction” Guboo Ted Thomas 

- “We are dancing, singing, and painting for the land. We are celebrating the land. Removed from our lands, we are literally removed from ourselves.” Mick Dodson 

    

o OBLIGATIONS TO LAND AND PEOPLE - The land, people and the Dreaming is all part of one symbiotic (mutually 

dependent) relationship - One element cannot function properly without the other two - Thus, the land and the people are necessary for the recreation of Dreaming 

events - The people and the Dreaming comprise a complex system of reciprocal 

obligations and rights which contribute to the ongoing physical and spiritual wellbeing of each other  

- The land does not exist to be mercilessly exploited - Tribal law forbids any act that is viewed as disrespectful or exploitative 

towards nature - Humans have a sacred trust to assist the land in ‘living’ to its potential - Aboriginal people believe that they are related to the natural world and this 

relationship provides the advantages of survival and life  - Link between humans and creation is through totemism  - It means that the land, through the totem, owns the people - The land and Aboriginal spirituality are inextricably connected - Land is the physical medium for which the dreaming is lived out - Rituals are connected to sacred sites  - Land is the meeting point (derive identity) - The Dreaming is inextricably connected the land, and the land is the physical 

medium through which the Dreaming is communicated - Aboriginal people are related to the natural world, which provides them with 

advantages of survival and life, and imposes the responsibilities of preservation and education 

- The Land is evidence of the Dreaming Creation Process, therefore it is very significant and sacred 

- The Dreaming provides laws to be obeyed which protect both humanity and land  

- The land is the final dwelling place of ancestral beings  - “We cultivated our land, but in a way different from the white man. We 

endeavour to live with the land; they seemed to live off it.” Elder Tom Dystra -  

 ⇒ 1.2 ISSUES FOR ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES  

THE EFFECT OF DISPOSSESSION THE LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT  

o SEPARATION FROM THE LAND - Removal from the land = loss of spiritual identity and loss of purpose in life - Aboriginals were dispossessed under the doctrine of terra nullius which 

means empty land  - Aboriginal spirituality came under immense stress - Aboriginals access to waterholes, hunting grounds and sacred sites was 

denied - Introduced species destroyed the landscape  - Separation from the Dreaming lands meant they had, in effect, lost their 

spirituality and totemic identity - Whole populations died out/decreased as disease, malnutrition and 

alcoholism took hold - Burden of not being able to fulfil ritual responsibilities - Feelings of homelessness, displacement and being cut off from spirituality 

and identity - Belonging to the Dreaming gives life purpose and therefore removing land 

means removing the purpose of life - Withdrawal from the place where their spirit will lie after death  

o SEPARATION FROM KINSHIP GROUPS - Removal from kinship groups = loss of human identity and loss of direction 

in life - Individuals were isolated form their ancestral territory forced to forfeit their 

places of totemic identity and, consequently their extended spiritual family - As ‘non-people’ they have slowly self-destructed with effects including 

health issues, unemployment, over-representation in jails etc. - Decline of indigenous languages - Languages began to die out and were replaced with Aboriginal English - Many myths have also died out  - There is also a breakdown in the authority of the elders which was essential 

to kinship - Loss of personal identity - Denial of status - Loss of economic base – rely on welfare - Need to understand European legal system to fight against dispossession - 19 th and 20th warfare – aboriginal resistance - Marital law – to put down resistance - Spread of European diseases - Legislation to force Aboriginal people on to resources - Family life destroyed - Legal rights denied - Loss of language, meaning the ability to pass on culture in an authentic and 

traditional way is lost - Destruction of the kinship system which is critical to the passing on of 

Aboriginal culture and Dreaming  

- Loss of purpose and responsibility in daily actions, and lost Dreaming because it is believed that the spirit world has a place in these everyday activities 

o THE STOLEN GENERATIONS 1900-1972 - Government policies which have been most destructive in regard to 

Aboriginal spirituality are those which were forcibly removed from their parents  

- Under the Protection and Assimilation Acts (1883-1969), Aboriginal children, specifically those of mix race were removed from their families and sent to live in foster homes of government institutions  

- The government wanted to raise them white and breed out the race altogether 

- Families were cut off from each other as children were taken far away - Backgrounds were erased  - Violation of the kinship ties has been very profound  - Aboriginals are 3x more likely to suffer from lifestyle diseases, 

unemployment and overrepresentation in correctional facilities - Unable to learn and maintain traditional language and physical trauma - Loss of family, culture, language and identity - “Whole communities lost their confidence in bring up their own children, 

and have been denied one of the most important and precious roles” Bring Them Home Report, 1997  

  

 

 THE LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT  

o Land Rights Movement is a religious-political movement to secure the rights of Aboriginal people to their land and ensure their religious, spiritual and cultural integrity is preserved (connections to the Dreaming  

 

 o NATIVE TITLE 

- Recognises the rights of indigenous peoples in relation to the area of land and water belonging to their particular ancestral tribes 

- It recognises the validity of Aboriginal territorial law - Over 200 years ago, Native Title rights were automatically extinguished 

under the state and federal law  - Today, under specific and restricted conditions, some access to ancestral 

lands - Facilitates use of the land for spiritual and ceremonial purposes  - The first Native Title legislation was passed with the Pitjantjatjara Lands Act 

(1956) - The Woodward Royal Commission was the first governmental inquiry to 

appreciate the crucial link between Aboriginal spirituality and the land  ● It found that only territorial restoration could make 

possible ‘the preservation of a spiritual link’ - The Racial Discrimination Act was enacted in 1975and meant that members 

of minorities were entitles to the same privileges as other social groups - The Native Title Tribunal was established and set out processes for the 

determination of native title rights - The Native Title Act was passed on the 22 December 1993 and followed the 

Mabo decision ● The bill overturned the legitimacy of terra nullius  ● Provided for land claims that there was an unbreakable 

link between with the land  

o MABO - It was the case of Mabo and others vs. The State of Queensland (1992) was a 

pivotal point for the Native Title and land rights movements - In 1982, Eddie Mabo and a group of others took the government to court 

saying that they wanted legal recognition of the land because their families had lived there since ‘time immemorial’ 

- It was appealed to the High Court where it was then successful  - Merriam people proved they had continued to have traditional rights to 

possess and live on most lands of Mer - This decision was unprecedented  - Previously been no recognition  - Rejected terra nullius  - Native Title exists where Indigenous people has maintained traditional 

connection with the land - As a result, Parliament passed the Native Title Act of 1993 which said 

● Native Title is the traditional rights and interests of Indigenous people  

● It also said that Native Title cannot prevail over freehold title which meant most homes and farms still maintained priority 

- On the 3rd June 1992, The Merriam people, led by Eddie Mabo, challenged the High Court to overturn the doctrine of terra nullius  

- Eddie argued that the Indigenous did originally own the land, and for many groups, a continuous unbroken relationship with the land had existed ever since 

- The decision said that terra nullius had been an incorrect assumption - The High Court rewrote the Australian common law and said that Indigenous 

people have rights to the land, which existed before colonisation and still exist. The right is called native title 

- Eddie Mabo began his fight in 1982 o WIK 

- Mabo and the Native Title Act left unanswered questions about whether or not land that was currently under pastoral lease could be subject to Native Title rights 

- 1996, Wik people brought a case to the High Court arguing their right to Native Title on local pastoral land  

- High court rules in their favour and decided that Native Title rights and the rights of the pastoral leaseholders could exist simultaneously  

- In the instance of any dispute, the leaseholders win - Wik people argued that pastoral leases granted over their area didn’t 

extinguish their Native Title rights  - In 1996, the High Court said that Native Title could co-exist with Pastoral 

Leases, however the Pastoralists’ rights prevail in any conflict  - Led to the passing of the Native Title Amendment Act 1998  

● Considered a step backwards - Aimed to answer unresolved issue of native title on pastoral leases - British authorities said that pastoral leases were land owned on behalf of the 

Australian public by the government  

- In the 1890s, about 93% of substantial areas of Australia were subject to pastoral leases 

- In the Wik Case, the government argued that the mere granting of pastoral lease in past centuries extinguished native title, even if the land was never developed 

- Wik people of Cape York claimed native title could coexist with current pastoral leases. The government granted this  

- However, in the case of conflict, the pastoralists’ rights would prevail - The government explained that they had an exclusive right to pasture, but 

not to possession of the land  - Led to a hysterical attack from pastoralists who demanded native title be 

extinguished - Leases covered some 42% of land, meaning thousands of Aboriginal people 

may gain some rights back to their traditional land         

o IMPORTANCE OF DREAMING FOR LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT  - Dreaming is an essential aspect of both Native Title and the land rights 

movement  - It is the restored access to ancestral lands that enables the Dreaming to 

become a dynamic reality for many Aboriginal people  - It is the Dreaming itself that makes the success of land rights and Native Title 

claims possible  - It is the existence of Dreaming sites and the possession of Dreaming 

knowledge that forms the basis of land claims under the land rights and Native Title laws 

- The land rights movement is an important movement in helping Aboriginal people re-establish spiritual links with the land which were lost as a result of the European settlement  

- The Dreaming and its inextricable connection to the land is the driving motivation behind the Aboriginal people’s desire t=for rights over certain parcels of land and bodies of water 

- The land acts as a mother for the Aboriginal people and is the physical medium through which the Dreaming is communicated 

- The ancestor spirits continue to inhabit the land and there are sacred duties and rituals that are required for the wellbeing of the land and all who dwell on it 

- Native Title has assisted some Aboriginal groups to gain economic and social independence 

- The Modern Land Rights Movements is a testament to the centrality of the role of land to Aboriginal Spiritualities 

    

2. RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN AUSTRALIA 1945 TO PRESENT   ⇒ 2.1 RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT  

o CHANGING PATTERNS OF RELIGIOUS ADHERENCE FROM 1945 USING CENSUS DATA 

- Most dramatic difference is the steady drop in the number of people who identify as Anglican 

- The number of respondents categorised as belonging to any Christian denomination has dropped overall since 1947from 88% to 61.1% 

- More traditional churches have experienced a downturn of adherents - Newer Pentecostal movement gained momentum and increased 3.5%  

     

 - Christianity remains one of the largest religious traditions in Australia  - More modern traditions have gained momentum in the past few years 

  ANGLICAN 

CATHOLIC 

TOTAL CHRISTIAN 

OTHER RELIGIONS 

ISLAM  NONE 

1947  39%  20.9%  88%  0.5%  0.3%  0.3% 

2001  20.7%  26.6%  68%  4.9%    15.5% 

2006  18.7%  25.8%  63.9%  5.6%    18.7% 

2011  17.1%  25.3%  61.1%  7.2%  2.2%  22.3% 

2016  13.3%  22.6%  52%    2.6%  30.1% 

- There is a step away from the traditional and regimented faith  - Islam grew  - Hinduism grew by 0.6% (immigration trends) - Sikhism grew by 0.2% (increasing immigration - JUDAISM 

● Decreased by 0.1% between 2011 and 2016 - BUDDHISM 

● Dropped by 0.1% but has stayed fairly consistent  - CHRISTIANITY 

● Dropped from 61.1% to 52% between 2011 and 2016  ● Catholicism dropped but stayed the biggest ● Huge decline in Christian adherence in a variety of 

Christian denominations  ● Generally, all Christian figures are significantly declining 

- Intense growth of atheism and non-religious schools of thought  

o ACCOUNT FOR THE PRESENT RELGIOUS LANDSCAPE - CHRISTIANITY AS THE MAJOR RELIGIOUS TRADITION 

● When Australia was colonised by the British, they brought Christianity and the Church of England  

● Catholicism dominated the Australian landscape in 1986 and has maintained that position 

● Some of the causes for the changes to the Australian religious community include, immigration, conversion, rise of New Age religions, secularism and the rise of atheism 

● Christianity is reflected in the lifestyles of many Australians, the legal and political systems and the dominant culture  

- IMMIGRATION ● The ‘White Australia policy’ previously ensured that those 

who came to live in Australia were primarily Anglo-Saxons 

● Most migrants came from Europe and were Christian  ● Post-war migrants came from Europe and were Christian 

included Italians Catholics and Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe  

● After the Vietnam War there was an influx of refugees from South East Asia coincided with the new policy of multiculturalism  

● This brought Buddhism and Hinduism  - DENOMINATIONAL SWITCHING 

● It means the exchange of church members between different Christian denominations 

● When a Catholic move to a Uniting Church because the style of worship and the attitudes of the congregation are preferable to that individual 

● In the 2006 census, it can be seen that identification with Anglican faith has continued to drop, while Pentecostal identification has increased  

● This can be explained as Pentecostal services are very much like rock concerts with charismatic leaders who evoke emotions  

● Many Christians are attracted to the vitality of the services  

- RISE OF NEW AGE RELIGIONS ● Most New Age religions are extremely diverse in nature  ● It is a range of spiritual beliefs and practices that aim to 

foster individual fulfilment in the form of personal happiness, heath and meaning in life 

 - SECULARISM 

● The belief that religion should not interfere with or be integrated into the public affairs of society  

● It promotes the idea that society would be better off by not being controlled by religion 

 IMMIGRATION  DENOMINATIONAL 

SWITCHING SECULARISATION (Separation of Church+State) 

RISE OF NEW AGE RELIGIONS 

  ⇒ 2.2 RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN MULTI-FAITH AUSTRALIA  

o IMPACT OF CHRISTIAN ECUMENTICAL MOVEMENTS IN AUSTRALIA 

- NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ● NCCA fosters cooperation between the churches at 

formal and informal levels  ● The most important task is to reverse the racist and 

discriminatory legislation that was affecting the social dynamic in Australia  

● It represents the stance of Christianity as a whole, setting a precedent for a relentless movement against racism and towards multiculturalism 

● It aims to deep end the relationship of member churches and strengthen the cause of Christian unity in Australia be leading different denominations to work, pray and grow together 

 

- Massive post-war migration changed the ethnic mix. - Initially from European Christian backgrounds. - Jewish immigration after WWII. - Indo-Chinese immigration after Vietnam War. - Catered for by using existing church buildings. - 14 Orthodox denominations in Australia. - Religion used to be slotted into ethnic boxes. 

- 1991 survey showed 29% who had switched in past 5 years. - Spiritual fulfilment over denominational loyalty. - Large influx in Pentecostal attendance as they offer up-tempo services and focus on personal salvation rather than controversial moral/ethical issues. 

- ‘No religious affiliation’. - Growing ‘spiritual marketplace’. - 2007 research on Gen Y (b.1976-90) showed they were more open to belief in God than parents. - 48% believe, 20% do not, 32% unsure. - Belief in ‘higher being or life force’. - Changes in social values and attitudes. 

- Don’t have a single unifying creed or doctrine. No sacred text, central organisation or formal leadership. - Growth in those seeking spiritual answers. - Interest in experience and rituals both traditional and invented. - Freed from dogmatic religious boundaries. - Potentially more adrift from sense of belonging that traditional religious communities offer. - Hard to categorise. 

- NSW ECUMENICAL COUNCIL ● Established to be the instrument through which the 

churches seek to be faithful to their ecumenical calling and commitment  

● It began in 1982 ● It encourages the pursuit of social justice and operates 

many cooperative charity events ● It believes in unity between those who believe in God  ● They allow different churches to reflect upon theology in 

a united way ● Provides local initiatives which promote ecumenism  ● Unites the different denominations by providing a 

platform for different churches to address social justice issues 

● It recognises that in order to maintain a constant spirit of ecumenism through educational initiatives  

 

 o IMPORTANCE OF MULTIFAITH DIALOGUE 

- Interfaith dialogue is a formal discussion aimed towards developing greater mutual understanding between different religious traditions 

- It allows different religious traditions to come to a. better appreciation of the uniqueness of each other  

- NSW Council of Christians and Jews - As Australia is an increasingly pluralistic society (multi-cultural and 

multi-faith), interfaith dialogue creates respect and appreciation for religious diversity which is essential for harmony and peace 

- If there is not that respect and appreciation, religious conflict often ensues - It helps different religions stand together in proclaiming the importance of 

faith, spirituality and transcendent aspects of life - It helps religions support one another  - It is not about debate or attempts to proselytise (convert) 

  

 

o RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS IN THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION  

- Reconciliation is the acknowledgement by various groups in Australia of the injustices done to Indigenous people and the dispossession that occurred in the past 

- It promotes and builds better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who are respected leaders in their fields and share a determination to do whatever it takes to build reconciliation 

- Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation 

ISRA Islamic Sciences & Research Academy 

- Establish 2009 due to demand from dialogue movement. - Hosts regular interfaith panel discussions to enlighten about Australia’s religious diversity. - Education and research; community building; cooperation in religious, social, environmental (and other) areas of concern. 

JCMA Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia 

- Promotes prevention of emotional and physical abuse arising from religious intolerance and cultural discrimination. - Creates and provides forums for interfaith dialogue & shared experience. 

Uniting Church  - Uniting Church leaders from across Australia gathered with over 100 interfaith/ecumenical people in a statement of solidarity with Australia’s Muslim community. - Rev. Prof Andrew Dutney launched ‘We’ll Love Muslims 100 Years’ statement at Lakemba Mosque on 22 August, 2014. 

- Christian groups were one of the first advocates of Aboriginal rights; showing continued support of the reconciliation movement, land rights, Native Title, and formal apology to the Stolen Generations 

- 1967 Catholic Church and NCCA campaigned for the referendum to grant Aboriginal people citizenship 

- 1975 various church groups supported the first land rights legislation by the Whitlam Government  

- 1992 Mabo Decision publicly supported by Christian church groups  - 1998 Christian churches. Adamantly opposed to John Howard’s Ten Point 

Plan - 1999 Reconciliation Church to involve Aboriginal Catholics in wider 

community events - 2008 World Youth Day. Pope Benedict XVI made a statement of agreement 

with PM Kevin Rudd’s apology - 2016 message from Pope Francis: “Your culture, which shows the lasting 

genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear”  

- Jewish groups hold a week of prayer for reconciliation every year 

- 1998 AU/NZ Union for Progressive Judaism voiced support for Wik Decision and opposed the Ten Point Plan 

- Australian Federation of Islamic Councils & the Buddhist Peace Fellowship have made statements in support of rights and reconciliation  

- The Land, The Cross and the Lotus performance to raise awareness for building social harmony and support 

    

                           

C H R I S T I A N I T Y   1. POPE JOHN XXIII 

  ⇒ 1.1 WHO WAS HE  

o Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli into a poor Italian family in 1881  o Ordained a priest in 1904 o Elected pope in 1958 and took the name of John XXIII o Many expected him to be a transition pope who would continue to run 

things as they were without calling for any significant change o However, he changed the church dramatically  

o He is known as the Pope who changed the entire image of the Catholic Church 

o 1925-1935: He was an Apostolic Delegate in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece 

- He gained experience in a range of different situations o Forged baptismal certificates to protect Jews in 1939 o Elected Pope in October 1958 at the age of 77, to his own great 

surprise o First official acts as pope away from Vatican since 1870 in December 

1958 - Visited children suffering from polio at Bambin Gesù Hospital - Santo Spirito Hospital - Rome’s Regina Coeli prison: “You could not come to me, so I came to you.” 

o Announced in 1959 that he proposed to renew the outdated church with a Second Vatican Council 

o 1960: Met the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury; a huge step forward for the ecumenical movement. 

o 1961: Mater et Magistra . o 1962: Counselled peace with JFK in the midst of the Cuban Missile 

Crisis. o 1962-65: Vatican II. o 1963: Pacem in Terris. o Passed away in June 1963 at 81 “I had the great grace to be born into 

a Christian family, modest and poor, but with the fear of the Lord. My time on earth is drawing to a close. But Christ lives on and continues his work in the Church. Souls, souls, that they all may be one  

o Canonized with PJP2 on 27 April 2014  ⇒ 1.2 ROLE MODEL FOR CHRISTIANS  

o Modelled tolerance and peace in all dealings, such as diplomacy and positive relationships with Orthodox leaders in Turkey and Greece  

o Strong sense of social justice and shared in the suffering of others, such as WW2 experiences 

o His compassion inspired Christians, a true model of Jesus’ commandment of love 

o Modelled St Charles Borromeo: inimitable, disciplines priest, bishop, administrator, cardinal and pope 

o Established Ecumenical council Vatican II and applied Spirit of Aggioramento (renewal) to increase participation of laity and work towards peace in the world 

o Inspired all with vision, enthusiasm, dynamism, deep love and understanding of Christianity and God 

o “Prayer is the raising of the mind of God. We must always remember this. The actual words matter less.” 

o “The true and solid peace of nations consists not in quality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.”  

 ⇒ 1.3 CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIOR TO AND AFTER VATICAN 2 

o It was a call for renewal and to apply a Spirit of Aggioramento to the Church’s faith, unity, holiness, revelation, mission and structures 

o “I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in” 

o “Unity in the Church, unity with Christians separated from the Church, and unity with all mankind.” 

o 17 Orthodox Churches and Protestant denominations; women, lay and religious 

o Has been said that PJ23 launched a ‘New Pentecostal’ like the renewal of the faith of early Christians but the HS 

 BEFORE  AFTER 

The Liturgy - Tridentine Mass used since 1570 - All in Latin - Priests with back to people - Laity were passive observers, the 

clergy did all 

The Liturgy - “Full, conscious and active 

participation of the people in the celebration of the liturgy.” 

- Mass revised in vernacular - Laity given responses, prayers, 

hymns, ministries Ecclesiology  

- Hierarchy: God > Ordained > Nuns and Brothers > Laity  

Ecclesiology  - “The baptised… are consecrated 

as… a holy priesthood.” - Laity and ordained were equal; 

the People of God and the Body of Christ  

Revelation - In Latin, not allowed to be 

translated - Laity should not read the Bible; 

teaching should be left up to the ordained 

- Modern biblical analysis was banned 

Revelation - Encourage to study the Bible in 

the vernacular - Modern methods of analysis 

allowed  

Relation to the world - Church = ‘prefect society’ - Secular world = corrupt - Distinct divide and 

‘us-against-them’ mentality  

Relation to the world - ‘Signs of the times’ were positive 

and negative  - Church stands in solidarity with 

all of humankind  - Place of the church to contribute 

to societal issues  Relations with other Christians 

- ‘Outside the Church is no salvation’ 

Relations with other Christians - Decree of Ecumenism > Better 

relationship, acceptance, sharing of prayer and social actions 

  

  

           ⇒ 1.4 ENCYCLICALS  

o MATER ET MAGISTRA – MOTHER AND TEACHER (1961) - Years prior: Great Depression, WW2, Cold War, new technology, nuclear 

energy, communication 

- Catholic is the one true Church; all others should be supressed by State 

- Orthodox = schematic (broken away from Pope and Church’s authority) 

- Protestants = heretics - Catholics should not mix with 

non-Catholics - Going to non-Catholic services 

was a sin 

- Decree on Missionary Activity > Live with the people and absorb they ways and culture  

- Decree on Eastern Churches > Right of own distinct liturgical practices – Maronite married priests 

Relations with other religions - Superstition of demonically 

inspired  - Non-baptised would go to hell - Jewish people shared collective 

guilt as the decide (God-killers).  

Relations with other religions - All persons have a right to 

religious liberty free of coercion - It is wrong for a government to 

impose religious beliefs - The Church “rejects nothing that 

is true and holy” - Recognition of commonalities 

between Catholic and Islam, Hinduism and Bugghism 

- Special recognition of common heritage with Jews; they are not to be blamed 

 

- Explores the church’s role in achieving social progress and justice in the world 

- Ultimately guidance towards salvation - State must not interfere with one’s ability to support their family - Wages should reflect contribution, determines with justice and equality - Nations should balance economic development with social progress and not 

damage welfare of people - Better relationships between workers/managers - Wealthy nations should act to help less developed - Never forget that wealth is not a real treasure- the KoG is - There cannot be justice on earth until all humanity recognises the dignity of 

humans as Creations of God  - Society can only be transformed by the ferment (living out) of gospel  - “Whatever the progress in technology and economic life, there can be 

neither justice not peace in this world, so long as men fail to realise how great is their dignity; for they have been created by God and are His children” 

- “It is not enough merely to formulate a social doctrine. It must be translated into reality. And this is particularly true of the Church’s social doctrine, the light of which is Truth, Justice its objective and Love its driving force” 

- Mother and teacher - Wrote the encyclical in 1961 - It explores the role of the Church in achieving social progress and justice in 

the world - Helping third world nations  - He notes that new political, social and economic developments have 

necessitated Christianity and Social Progress - He urges a reconstruction of social relationships according to the principles 

of Catholic social teaching and states the responsibility of individual Christians to work for amore just world 

 o PACEM IN TERRIS – PEACE ON EARTH (1963)  

- Addressed to “all men of good will” (not only Catholics) - Development of the UN, height of the Cold War, recent Cuban Missile Crisis, 

nuclear arms race, industrial revolution - Universe created by God, in which the human being and human dignity is 

the highest expression of this creation > importance of human rights - Common good: optimum individual and community development in all 

spheres to preserve human dignity - Parallels with the UN Universal Declaration of HR - Equity among nations; the state to have the same rights and duties as the 

individual 

- Need for better relationships and cooperation between nations; encouraging Catholics to work with others for political and social improvement  

- Call for a desire for peace  - Weapons only lead to fear and danger for all life forms, a waste of 

intellectual and material resources, which only contributes to the oppression of people  

- “Any disputes between nations must be resolved by negotiation and agreement, and not be resource to arms” 

- “Since men are social by nature, they must live together and consult each other’s interests” 

- “Truth calls for the elimination of every trace of racial discrimination” - “Nothing is lost by peace, everything may be lost in war” - Peace on Earth - On establishing universal peace in truth, justice, charity and liberty - April 11, 1963 - It addressed a world deeply engaged in the Cold War - It called for the following rights 

● The right to life ● The right to food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest 

and social services ● Right to be looked after in sickness ● Right to be respected ● Right to a good name ● Right to know and find out the truth 

- Relations between nations ought to be characterised by truth, justice, willing cooperation and freedom 

- Minority groups should be protected and be allowed to live in association with the other peoples within a state 

- Contends that peace can be established only if the social order set down by God is fully observed 

- He sketches a list of rights and duties to be followed by individuals, public authorities, national governments, and the world community  

-    ⇒ 1.5 CONTRIBUTION TO CHRISTIANITY 

o He saw the need to bring the Catholic Church up to date with the rest of the world  

o He proposed this idea on 25 Jan 1959, 3 months after his election 

o As he was elderly, his vision, enthusiasm and dynamism surprised everyone 

o VATICAN II - Meeting of the world’s bishops for four 10-week sessions between 1962 and 

1965 - Its aims were that the Catholic Faith should be kept and taught, but taught 

in the languages of modern man and without resorting to any condemnations, thus appealing to all peoples 

- His previous diplomatic work had instilled in him an understanding of the people and their needs 

- He changed the liturgy ● Priest faces congregation  ● Language became vernacular ● New prayers and music ● Now study and read the Bible 

- Church was more Ecumenical in approach to variants - Removal of triumphalism (belief that Catholic church alone held the truth) - Removal of clericalism (emphasis on clergy and exclusion of laity) - Removal of juridicism (legalism to detriment of people) 

 ⇒ 1.6 ANALYSE THE IMPACT ON CHRISTIANITY 

o The Reforms of the Sacred Liturgy made the Mass and other liturgical celebrations more meaningful and understandable to most Catholics 

o Ecumenism became a new focus of the Catholic Church and assisted the Christian churches to give greater witness to the community  

o Reforms of Vatican II gave rise to a greater involvement of the Laity and an outpouring of spirit within the community  

o The church grew closer to contemporary men and women and made the Gospel more meaningful to them 

o His inclusiveness in Vatican II extended to the Orthodox, Protestant and Catholics 

o There was a renewed interest in the Scriptures, Liturgy and Spirituality o Catholic church continued to expand  o Pope John XXIII astonished the world and the church with his energy, 

vision and spirit of reform. He forged a new era in the history of the Catholic church and brought it up to date with the modern world. The transformation of the Catholic church renewed and re-energised the outdated one, in such a way that it is still forging ahead with the reforms and providing stronger witness to the teachings of Christ. 

  

 ⇒ 1.7 IMPACT OF CHANGES IN THE SHORT AND LONG 

TERM  COMPONENT  CONTRIBUTION  IMPACT VATICAN 2  - Called for renewal of the 

Catholic Church. - “Open the windows” to 

engage with the modern world. 

- Teaching of “priesthood of all the baptised.” 

- Unreasonably harsh Church laws dropped. 

- Vernacular Bible and liturgy. 

- Catholic Church now saw itself as a service to the world rather than in opposition to it. 

- Catholic Church member of World Council of Churches (but not full member). 

- Rights and responsibilities of lay people. 

- Greater emphasis on pastoral care and working for justice. 

- Less institutionalised religious orders. 

- “Full, conscious and active participation…” 

- More meaningful liturgy.  

ECUMENISM  - Promoted ecumenism within Christianity. 

- Challenged Christians to work for peace and justice. 

- Worked to end Catholic hostility to Protestants and Orthodox. 

 

- Catholic Church open to dialogue. 

- Even worked with atheistic governments and Communists. 

- Called Protestants and Orthodox ‘separated brethren’. 

- “Let us place values on those things which unite us and lay aside that which separates us.” 

- 1965 Catholic and Orthodox apology and lifting of mutual excommunications of 1054 Schism. 

- Ended much sectarian conflict. - VII Nostra Aetate recognised 

truth in other religions. - Changed Good Friday prayer 

on ‘perfidious Jews’. - Jews are “elder brothers in 

faith”; anti-Semitism is wrong. - 1986 meeting in Assisi to 

discuss ways to cooperate and save environment. 

      

2. ENIVRONMENTAL ETHICS  ⇒ 2.1 WHAT ARE ETHICS 

o Based on the Old Testament – Ten Commandments o Also based on the New Testament  o At the centre of Christian ethics is “love – love for all people” and are 

based on Jesus’ teaching of live 

- Catholic have worked to defend the religious freedom of Islam and Judaism. 

 ENCYCLICALS  

- MEM: the need for social justice, and the wealthy to support the poor. 

- PIT: peace in a world on the brink of nuclear war. 

- “True peace cannot come save from God.” 

- Counselled peace and disarmament with both JFK and Khrushchev in the Cold War. 

 

- Organisations working for peace and justice (eg. Pax Christi). 

- Pacifism opposes the old ‘Just War’ approach within the Catholic Church. 

- Organisations shifted focus from evangelisation to helping the poor (eg. Catholic Mission). 

PERSONAL  - Personal engagement with the world: met many world leaders, visited prison inmates and children in hospitals personally. 

- Worked with Orthodox in Bulgaria, Muslims in Turkey, and Jews during WWII. 

 

- Resistance within sections of Catholic Church to PJ. 

- Traditionalist Catholic rejected vernacular mass and broke away from Catholic Church, saying PJ was not the true pope (Society of St Pius X). 

- Some blame the decline in religious vocations on VII. 

- Pope Benedict XVI permitted the use of the old Latin mass also. 

o God’s direction to humanity is to be ‘stewards of the earth’ and is the basis for the Christian attitude to the environment  

o Christians should be an integral part of the environment and follow the will of God – to live with or in, rather than on the earth.  

o Moral principles that governs a person’s behaviour, clarify what is right and wrong  

o Religion gives direction, motivation and meaning through beliefs, sacred texts, experiences and authority  

o Christian morality is based on the will of God o Known and shown through Jesus’ life and teachings as recorded in the 

New Testament o At the centre is the idea of love for all people  o “Humans are essentially ‘good; - they are made in the image and 

likeness of God (Genesis1:26)  ⇒ 2.2 SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 

o Christians believe that God has formed mankind for a purpose and has given him dominion over the earth (Gen 1:28) 

o Throughout history, humans have had an interdependence with the environment  

o “the highest heavens belong to the Lord, and the earth He has given to man” Psalm 115 

- It is our duty to impart to our children the stewardship of God’s creation o Those who please the Lord on earth will enjoy nature in the new 

heaven and earth in the fullness of God’s glory     OLD TESTAMENT  NEW TESTAMENT 

   

 ⇒ 2.3 APPROACHES OF DIFFERENT VARIANTS  

o CATHOLIC - God, in his goodness has created a good earth for us and His intentions that 

we respect, love and praise Him throughout lives by caring for His creation. 

- Genesis creation stories. - “God set man and woman in the Garden of 

Eden to look after it” (Genesis 1:28). - From that moment, Christians see themselves 

as being given stewardship of the earth. - Leviticus guides agricultural practises and caring 

for animals. - “But in the seventh year the land is to have a 

year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord” (Lev 25:4). 

- “Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land (Lev 25:24). 

- “When you sacrifice a thank offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf” (Lev 22:29). 

- Psalms celebrate the wonder of creation and Christians’ responsibility to care for it. 

- “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” (Psa 8). 

- Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). 

- Jesus uses stories about God’s care for the earth to demonstrate his care for humanity. 

- “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made” (John 1:3). 

- “Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matt 6:26). 

- “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous” (Matt 5:45). 

- Christians believe that God’s care for humans provides an example of how adherents should respond by maintaining creation, His gift to humanity. 

CONSCIENCE  NATURAL LAW  REVEALED LAW  CHURCH LAW - Individual 

reasoning to weigh up consequences. 

- Developed in Christians through mass, Bible, family, charity work, education (charism, values, mission), Holy Spirit. 

- Perfect creation as ‘given by God’. 

- Links with Aristotle’s philosophy to produce: God has created a purpose for everything. 

- Directly revealed to humankind. 

- Identified in the Bible by Jesus. 

- Official teachers of church law include: 

- Encyclicals. - Ecumenical or 

general councils. 

- Compendium of the Church. 

- Teachings of individual bishops. 

o PROTESTANT - Global Anglican Congress on the Stewardship of Creation called on 

governments of all nation to. Support sustainable community to work together for peace and justice and economic prosperity with a ecological context 

- Baptist World Alliance promotes and educated with the purpose of honouring God and his creation 

o ORTHODOX - Several Fathers affirmed the value of creation and the cosmological 

dimension of the Kingdom of God  - They are recognising the presence of God in the whole creation, and 

outlining the responsibilities we have towards that creation         ⇒ 2.4 FOUR CONCEPTS THAT UNDERPIN CHRISTIAN 

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS                   

⇒ 2.5 ENVIRONMENTAL SSUES  o DEGRADATION 

- Land is infertile - Catholic approach is to read the letter of John Paul II who says to “respect 

nature, for it gives us sources of wellness” - Orthodox people consider the teachings of St. Maximus  

o DEFORESTATION - Trees and vegetation are removed from the earth, leaving land open to the 

elements - Christian approach is that God’s Creation is good, and humans should not 

unnecessarily destroy it such as in deforestation as it further damages the ecology and not what God intended 

o POLLUTION  - Pollution occurs when a natural environment is altered by chemicals, human 

exploitation or disregard for living things - A Christian perspective is that it is wrong because destroying species and 

harming the environment is harmful to humans   ⇒ 2.6 GROUPS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 

o NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND ENVIRONMENT 

- 16 Christian Churches who seek to work cooperatively to promote issues relative to the community  

- They issue statements on the environment and call upon the government and people to affirm the work of Creation to use resources wisely and to work for ecological sustainability  

 ⇒ 2.7 ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 

o Each member of the church has begun to develop an eco-theology to aid and assist the adherents of the faith to realise and actualise their Christian commitment and their role in the protection of the environment 

 3. BAPTISM  ⇒ 3.1 DESCRIBE ONE SIGNIFICANT PRACTICE 

o Derived from Greek, meaning ‘immersing’ or ‘performing ablution’ o First sacrament in most Christian churches 

- One of the seven seen necessary for salvation in Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches 

- Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and Uniting Churches see it as a covenant with God, not for salvation 

- The reception of other sacraments depends on Baptism   WHY BAPTISE  - Signifies a person’s initiation into the 

beliefs and practices of the Christian community  

- Statement of a person’s beliefs in Christian tradition 

- For most denominations in necessary for salvation 

- Share in the death and resurrection of Christ 

- Cleanses from sins INFANT OR ADULT BAPTISM  - Infant is the common practice in 

Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches 

- Parents and godparents make commitments on behalf of child and agree to nurture them in the Christian faith  

- Adult of ‘Believer’s Baptism’ in Baptism and Pentecostal churches 

- Only baptise after a person can make their own decision to repent or be born again 

IMMERSION  - Symbolising the idea of being surrounded by and imbued with the beliefs and practices of the Christian community 

- Being completely saturated with something as a sponge immersed in water 

- Orthodox church immerses child briefly in water three times 

- Pentecostal and Baptist churches immerse adults fully   

ASPERSION OR AFFUSION  - Aspersion: sprinkling - Affusion: pouring - Majority of Catholic and Anglican 

baptisms are aspersion/affusion on the head 

VARIOUS ASPECTS  - Core elements shared across the spectrum of Christian practice are: baptism with water and the Profession of 

Faith by or on behalf of the person being baptised  

A NEW LIFE  - Passed from state of original sin (humanity is innately sinful following Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God) to state of grace 

- “Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God.” Corinthians 1 (6:19) 

- People that are baptised receive theological virtues faith, hope and charity, cardinal virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit 

- Newly baptised raised to the dignity of a child of God. “You will be life God” Genesis (3:5) 

- Baptised are filled with God and called to develop through love for God and doing His will 

 MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH  - In union with other baptised, no longer 

battling against original sin alone - “From the baptismal font is born the one 

People of God… which transcends all limits of nations, cultures, races and sexes: For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.” CCC 1267 

- Permanent spiritual marker, recognised by God as Christian 

- Bless themselves in and out of church, claiming rights and responsibilities of being Catholic 

WHY WATER  - Washing and cleansing of soul from the stain of sin (original and personal) 

- “Get up, be baptised, and have your sins washed away.” Acts (22:16) 

- “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born again of water and the Spirit.” John (3:5) 

BAPTISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH/HISTORICAL CONTEXT 

- Old testament does refer to Baptism, but first to baptise in the New Testament was John the Baptist 

- Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ baptism in River Jordan, proclaiming he id God’s son 

- Jesus referred to his Passion as baptism, opening the fountain of Baptism when 

 ⇒ 3.2 SHARING IN THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF 

CHRIST 

blood and water both flowed from open side 

- “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to abbey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew (28:19-20) 

- Early Christian community baptised as adults 

- Traditionally, the rite began outdoors then moved up to altar of the church 

- Usually in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; but in some churches in Jesus’ name only 

- Existed in Judaism prior to its adoption by Christianity  

- Circumcision replaced by baptism 

⇒ 3.3 THE CEREMONY AND ITS SYMBOLS 

 

⇒ 3.4 COMPARING CHRISTIAN VARIANTS o Salvation Army and Quakers do not baptise 

CATHOLIC  GREEK ORTHODOX  BAPTIST - First of the seven sacraments. 

Most receive as infants. Reception of others. Member of the Church. 

- Christ ordered disciples to preach Gospel to all nations and baptise those who accept God. 

- “Amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (Jesus to Nicodemus), John 3:1-21. 

- Very mark of a Christian, as it brings into new life with Christ. 

- Affusion: “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” 

- Baptism removes guilt and original sin, hence, without it a child’s salvation may be in danger. 

- Adult converts may receive, unless they already have received a Christian baptism. 

- Adult baptism is immediately followed by Comm. and Conf. 

- Six primary effects: Removal of Original and personal sin. Lessening the temporal and eternal punishment of sin. The life of God within them; 7 Gifts of the HS; theological values. Part of Christ. Part of the Church (Mystical Body of Christ on earth). Participation in sacraments; priesthood of 

- Commanded to be baptised by Jesus himself. 

Jesus’ own baptism. Mt 28:19. 

- Trinitarian baptism. - Totally immerse, because it 

symbolises death of the ‘old, sinful man’. 

- The tendency toward and struggle against evil remain after baptism so the Christian may achieve their rebirth. 

- Ceremony begins with rejection of Satan and acceptance of Christ. 

- Words of Apostle Paul chanted as the baptised in led in procession around baptismal font 3x, as a symbol of procession to the KoG and eternal life. 

- Individual is tonsured (cutting of hair) and must receive a cross to wear. 

- Godparents obligated to raise the child religiously. 

- Sacrament of Chrismation is the equivalent to Confirmation. Chrismation follows Baptism immediately. Performed by priest, not bishop. 

- Wears white robe and led into water. 

- Public words of testimony. - Immersion for F, S & HS. - Afterwards, may have ‘laying 

of the hands’ which historically signified the gift of the HS. 

- Baptism does not convey salvation or transformation, but it is a sign/symbol of what happened spiritually. 

- Water is not sacred but symbol. 

- By being baptised, a believer affirms personal commitment to God before the congregation. 

- Often older children or adults who understand the above commitment. 

- ‘Believer’s baptism’ always voluntary. 

- Symbolism of the OT, cleansing from unclean things. 

- Symbol of Christian unity, a uniform experience. 

- Only baptised believers become members of the church and enjoy the obligations and responsibilities of membership. 

 ⇒ 3.5 EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN BELIEFS 

all believers; growth of grace. 

THE TRINITY  - Baptism connects recipient to Jesus; whose work comes from God’s love and reaches its completion in the Holy Spirit. 

- “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20. 

- Called in baptism to share in the life of the Trinity; on earth, and after death in eternal light. 

SALVATION AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD 

- Orthodox believe baptism is necessary for salvation. 

- Since Vatican II, Catholics believe is essential to be a part of the church, but not for salvation. 

- Granted entrance into the Kingdom of God once baptised, as original sin separates Christians from God. 

- In baptism, Christians called to collaborate with God’s plan for creation – to create a world where all life is valued and has dignity: signifying the coming of the Kingdom of God. 

- Through baptism, Christians are saved and brought into the fullness of life with God. 

“Unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the KOG” (John 3:5). 

THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS 

- Jesus often referred to his suffering and death as a Baptism.  

- The water and blood have traditionally been seen as figures of Baptism and the Eucharist.  

- Baptism is closely related to Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus died on the cross for Christians to be cleansed of their sins, in baptism the baby is cleansed of their original sin which resembles the clean start. 

- Baptism is seen as starting a new life, cleansing of the stain of original sin and starting fresh which reflects the process of dying then being reborn as a new person. 

THE DIVINITY AND HUMANITY OF JESUS 

- Jesus was baptised to fulfil God’s plan – to show how to love God, particularly by loving others. 

- Baptism affirms that Jesus was divine but became human to lead people out of darkness. 

- Through Baptism, Christians believe that they share the same divine living on earth as Jesus did. 

- “You will be like God.” Genesis 3:5. - The divinity and humanity of Christ is 

expressed through the white garments symbolising that the person baptised has “Put on Christ” and has risen with Christ (Transfiguration Mark 9:2-9). 

REVELATION  - When Jesus was baptised, it was revealed that he was the Son of God by the Holy Spirit descending on him. 

- “You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self and you have put on a new self.” Col 3:9-10. 

- Baptism is a sign of the revelation that obedience to God and repentance to commit their lives to God will lead to eternal life with Him. 

- Revelations come from the Bible. THE FORGIVENESS OF CLEANSING OF SINS 

- Baptism washes away original sin and personal sin, the recipient becoming a new person in Christ. 

- “Get up, be baptised, and have your sins washed away.” Acts 22:16. 

- Human beings are still inclined to sin, but baptism gives the strength and grace to participate in the life of God. 

- Unites person with Christ, who died for the sins of humanity and rose again. 

GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL  - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the 

            

Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2. 

- The symbolism of water. The water of baptism is part of God’s creation, connecting adherents to all that God created.  

- Through this water, there is a responsibility for Christians to care for all creation. 

- It was out of water that new life emerged in the beginning, linked symbolically to the new Christian life that emerges out of baptism. 

SIGN OF THE NEW COVENANNT  - The Old Covenant was between God, Moses and the Chosen People.  

- The New Covenant fulfils the Old, sealed with the blood of Christ.  

- Circumcision into the Law of Moses is replaced by baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is the sign of the New Covenant, and by baptism, believers are made part of it. 

- “Covenant between God and the Chosen People Israel had prepared the way for the new and everlasting covenant in which the Son of God, by becoming incarnate and giving his life, has united to himself in a certain way all mankind saved by him.” CCC #1612 

- Sign of the Cross on the head signifies a change of ownership: the person is now for Christ. 

 ⇒ 3.6 SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE INDICIDUAL AND THE 

COMMUNITY  

 

I S L A M   

1. HAJJ  ⇒ 1.1 DESCRIBE ONE SIGNIFICANT PRACTICE WITHIN ISLAM  

o Hajj means ‘to embark out for a place’ o Refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims embark 

onto Mecca with the intention of visiting holy places and performing certain religious rites in accordance with the way prescribed by Prophet Muhammad 

o It celebrates 3 events in Muslim History; forgiveness and reunion of Adam and Eve, Prophet Abraham’s faith in taking his son for sacrifice 

o Muhammad’s life of submission o Hajj is a 10-day pilgrimage to Mecca o Involved a spiritual, mental and physical journey from 

one’s normal place of living to Mecca o It is one of the five pillars of faith o Those who complete Hajj are given special 

consideration on the Day of Judgement  o Muslims believe that the rites of Hajj were devised by 

God and taught to the Prophet Muhammad  o Muslims recreate significant moments in Abraham and 

Ishmaels lives o Means ’to continuously strive to reach one’s goal’ o Annual pilgrimage to Mecca as prescribed by 

Muhammad o Fifth pillar of Islam – must be completed by all who are 

able at least once in a lifetime o Nourishes a physical, mental and spiritual connection to. 

Allah, Aqida and sacred sites 

o Encourages more perfect submission to Allah like the example set by Abraham – connects adherents to Abrahamic and monotheistic history of Islam 

o “Mecca is the place where Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace” (Quran 3:97) 

o “Whoever performs Hajj… will come out as the day he or she was born – pure and free from sin”(Hadith) 

 

     ⇒ 1.2 DEMONSTRATE HOW THIS PRACTICE EXPRESSED THE 

BELIEFS OF ISLAM Principal Beliefs  

Demonstration or Expression of Beliefs in the Practice of Hajj 

Tawhid  - Worshipping, glorifying, praising Allah through Hajj. Hajj is a form of collective worship, and a way of establishing a connection within monotheism and its human legacy symbolized by Abraham and the first human Adam.   Muslims obey the call of Allah by turning up in millions.  Pilgrims glorify Allah by going around the Ka’ba, as though saying ‘just as we are circling the one and only Ka’ba, the oldest place of worship on Earth, we only obey you, O Allah, the Absolute One worthy of worship’.  Pilgrims praise Allah through the collective supplication (du’a) and the remembrance of Allah in the plains of Mount Arafat.  

Mala’ika   - Give absolute praise, service and obedience to Allah. - Allah’s messengers. - Hajj obeys Allah’s command to complete and the 

example set by Muhammad. - Brings a fuller submission to Allah. - Many prayers throughout the day and night that glorify 

Allah and his promises. - Circling Ka’ba is a representation of angels that circle 

Allah in adoration. - Angels also keep track of good and bad deeds; Hajj is a 

time to purify/repent. Books of Allah  - Qur’an the most complete and true of all the Books of 

Allah. - Hajj celebrates the forgiveness and reunion of Adam and 

Eve. - Relates to the story of Hagar and the sacred water under 

Ishmael’s feet. - Lived expression of the beliefs found in the Aqida in the 

Qur’an. Rusul  - Messengers or prophets of God who have been 

delivered the holy book. - Hajj celebrates the Prophet Abraham’s faith in taking his 

son Ishmael for sacrifice; and Muhammad’s life of submission. 

- Rites of Hajj were devised by Allah and taught to Muhammad.  

          ⇒ 1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF SPECIFIC RITUALS/PLACES 

 

- They recreate significant moments in Abraham and Ishmael’s lives. 

Akhira  - By performing Hajj, Muslims hope to transform to become a better person in this world and increase their prospects of reward in the afterlife. 

- During Hajj, masses moving in unison and with a common dress stripped of all worldly possessions, enacting the Day of Judgment. It is gathering where the rich cannot be distinguished from the poor, the educated from the uneducated, and the elite from the common.  

- The Prophet Muhammad, in the Hadith – “Whoever performs Hajj to this house – Ka’ba – and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he, or she, will come out as the day he, or she, was born – pure and free from sins”.  

Fate/Predestination 

- Free will to choose between good and evil. - Nothing happens unless it is the will of Allah. 

  Significance of Specific Rituals/Places of Hajj (Meaning or Symbolism Evident)  

Mecca  

- The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3, Verse 97 – “[It is] the place whereon Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace. Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it”. 

Ka’ba   - Symbol of God’s oneness. - At the Ka’ba: “You should be the happiest people on earth, 

because your mission has been accomplished. And you are all 

new born. And Allah has erased and forgiven all your previous sins. This is reality. It’s not a dream anymore”. 

The Black Stone 

- Touching or kissing the Black Stone is supposed to count in the faithful’s favor on the Day of Judgement. 

Ihraam  - The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 22, Verse 27 – “And proclaim to mankind Al-Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep valley and distant place to perform Hajj”.  

Tawaf  - Seven counter-clockwise laps around the Ka’ba. - Implies that all human activity must have God at its center. - Unity of God and mankind, and submission to God’s will. 

Sa’i  - Reenactment of Hagar’s frantic search for water to quench Ishmael’s thirst. She ran back and forth 7 times until she found the sacred water, Zamzam. 

- Walkway between the hills of Safa and Marwah symbolizes the search for things of true and lasting value, and the ultimate realization that Allah will provide all that is needed. 

Arafat  - The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 2, Verse 128 – “[However] you will be committing no sin [during the pilgrimage] you seek to obtain any bounty from your sustainer. And when you surge downward in multitudes from Arafat, remember God at the Holy place, and remember Him as the One who guided you after you has indeed been lost on your way”.  

Eid-ul Adha  (The Festival of Sacrifice) 

- Marks the end of Hajj, a big three-day celebration. - Slaughtering of animal, usually a sheep or goat. Most given to 

the needy and some eaten, some packaged and transported around the world. 

- Similar to Abraham being told to sacrifice Isaac in the Jewish Torah; when he overcame the devil telling him not to. 

Tashreeq Days 

- Part of the Eid-ul Adha. 

Qurban  - Sacrifice of the proper animals. - Muslims who are not travelling to Mecca are expected to buy 

live cattle and distribute to the poor people around their Mosque. 

   ⇒ 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE 

COMMUNITY  o INDIVIDUAL 

Stoning of Jamarah  

- Jamarah means hot bead in Arabic. - Pilgrims stone a wall in basin as a symbolic act of challenging 

Satan and evil desires. - Stones collected at the Muzdalifa are thrown at three separate 

stoning stations (large pillars); seven at each. - Pillars represent the devil from a different time in history. 

First and largest where Abraham was tempted to disregard God’s command to sacrifice Ishmael. Second is where Hagar was tempted to stop him. Third is the temptation of Ishmael to escape. 

- Ritual revisited two more times during Hajj. Shaving   - Shaving head when finished symbolizes spiritual rebirth. 

- Allowed to wear ordinary clothes, symbolizing deconsecrating. 

Pillars of Islam  - Allows completion of the fifth pillar of Islam 

- The pillars guide to submission to the will of Allah 

- Important foundational nature - In obedience to the Qur’an 

Submission  - Allows a fuller and more perfect submission to Allah 

- Difficulty of physical nature of Hajj takes one away from their comfort zone; forces to let go and submit to the will of Allah 

- Internal peace that comes with submission 

- Public statement of submission Spiritual Preparation  - Ensures the efficacy of the Hajj 

and proper spiritual value - Hope to transform to become a 

better person in their world and increase their prospects of rewards in the afterlife 

 o COMMUNITY  

Personal Commitment  - Testing of personal resolve and commitment 

- Rejection of the devil and remaining faithful to Allah 

- Helps to develop mental struggle and a reminder of the importance of physical fitness 

Community  - Experience of the international community of Islam 

- Profound sense of the diversity and unity of the Muslim world 

- No distinction between people, no place for racism or prejudice 

Community significance  - Public statement of. submission to Allah 

- Provides inspiration to others - Edification of the Muslim 

community - Collective worship which 

established a connection with monotheism and its human legacy symbolised by Abraham and Adam  

- Ummah (community)  Public awareness  - Witness to the principles of 

Islam - Symbolises the unity and 

diversity of the faith - Encourages discussion, and in 

the end, more people to submit to the will of Allah 

Inspiration  - Inspiration to others - Community all involved in 

preparation and support - Inspires more people to go. On 

pilgrimages and follow or investigate associated religious practices and behaviours 

Community building   - Community building at an international and local level 

- Spiritual and community focus as a means to strengthen and deepen community life 

- Witness to principles of international and multiracial harmony  

 

 2. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS  ⇒ 2.1 ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE  

o There are four sources of Shari’a Law 

⇒ 2.2 ISLAMIC ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

o Founded on the desire to submit every aspect of life to the will of Allah 

o All life is special and valuable; created by Allah like a majestic palace o Creation connects believers to the divine o Common physical existence with all earthlings o Purpose of humans: the worship of all the heavens and earth o “Eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the 

wasters” (Hadith) 

Tolerance and respect  - Symbolises the unity and diversity of the faith 

- Hajj witnesses the principles of international and multiracial harmony  

- Reminder of the equality of all human beings, of the Day of Judgement, and connecting points of shared ideas, passed on experiences and books 

- Unifying power of Islam in a common act of submission to Allah 

QUR’AN  SUNNAH AND HADITH 

IJMA’  QIYAS 

- Foundations of all teachings 

- Underlying principles for most scenarios  

- Only 300 verses are strictly legal 

- Does not hold the same authority as Qur’an 

- More humans and realistic examples for everyday life 

- Consensus among religious leaders  

- Imam: most senior religious guider 

- Ulama: religious lawyers 

- Taking an established rule from Islamic law and applying it to new situations  

- To create a ruling for things not addressed in the Qur’an or Hadith  

o “Whoever kills so much as a sparrow without just cause, Allah will hold accountable on the Day of Judgement (Hadith) 

o “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and the bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for Allah” (Hadith) 

   ⇒ 2.3 SIX CONCEPTS UNDERPINNING ISLAMIC 

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

⇒ 2.4 EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

TREATMENT OF ANIMALS 

TREE PLANTING & PROTECTION 

RESPONSIBLE WATER USAGE 

- Death is part of the circle of life, must be treated respectfully. 

- Humane/gentle slaughtering. 

- Forbidden to eat tortured animal. 

- Animals are equals and must be protected. To harm is a sin. 

- Muhammad regularly organised meetings to plant trees. 

Ordered where one is cut, another must be planted (Mizan/balance). 

- Deforestation is not at all in line with Islamic thought. 

- Water is a cherished resource, forbidden to be used in excess. 

- ‘Wudu’ is washing ritual. 

Purification and 1/5 Salat. 

- Justice: millions are deprived of fresh and safe water. 

- “If anyone wrongfully kills even a sparrow, he will face Allah’s interrogation” (Hadith). 

- “Forbidden food is the dead animal… that on which Allah’s name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling… violent blow… goring of horns” (Q 5:3). 

- “Whoever plants trees, Allah will give him reward to the extent of their fruit” (Hadith). 

- “Say, have you considered, if your water were one morning to have flowed away, who then could bring you clear-flowing water” (Q 67:30). 

- IFEES EcoIslam 2015 study promoting marine conservation in Zanzibar. 

Issue: overfishing. Solution: reduce illegal fishing, promote awareness. 

- IslamicHelp Trees for Change 2016 in Tanzania. 

Planting trees in Children’s EcoVillage to conserve environment as well as educate young children. 

- Islamic Relief Worldwide help to 110 Tunisian schools. 

‘Good Hygiene that Saves Water’ program in schools. Child Hygiene and Sanitation training (CHAST). 

3. KHADIJAH BINT KHUWAYLID  ⇒ 3.1 WHO WAS SHE?

o She was born in 555 CE and died in 620 o She came from one of the most respected families/tribes o She proposed to Muhammad o She was an entrepreneur and intelligent especially when it came to 

trade relationships o She was one of few people who disbelieved in idols and believed in 

monotheism/unity of God o She greatly changed her way of life from one that although moral and 

honest, had a prime objective of making money, to one where money was only a means of furthering Islam 

o Muhammad and Khadijah were a hospitable couple whose home had frequent visitors and was a blessed place (revelations occurred there) 

o First Muslim after believing Muhammad’s revelations on Mt Hira o Supported Muhammad in his journey o Reassured and comforted him o “I testify that you are the awaited Prophet… and your time, if God 

wills, has come”  ⇒ 3.2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND 

EXPRESSION OF ISLAM o CHARITY 

- Sacrificed her wealth for the less fortunate and for the freeing of slaves - Left no property, being in a state of need only a few years after revelation  - “When people denied me, she believed in me; she affirmed me when 

people labelled me a liar; when people deprived me, she supported me from her property; and God gave me children through her.” 

- She used her life as an example (put belief into action) o SUPPORT 

- First woman and person to embrace Islam from its onset - Support and faith during the early boycott of Islam - Ostracised and persecuted, but never hesitated or withdrew her support for 

him - Emotional and spiritual strength  - “The best of the women of her time was Khadijah  - 25 years of support 

o DISCIPLESHIP - “She believed in me when no one else did” - Legacy of inspiration, courage, companionship and excellence in all facets of 

a woman’s life - Was greeted (Salam) by Allah and the Angel Jibril for her noble character 

and conduct, and everlasting faith in Islam 

- Encouraged others to do the same and be a disciple of the will of Allah  ⇒ 3.3 IMPACT ON ISLAM

o Role model for women’s behaviour and spirituality o Integrity, intelligence and spiritual depth o Umma (Muslim Community) o Faith in action o Her efforts to continue and spread o Example of support and change o Regardless of how focused on individual pursuits one may have been 

in the past; Khadijah shows that there is always the possibility of making amends and changing one’s life