ACU HSC SOR FOCUS DAY

Workshop 8: Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post

1945: Interfaith Dialogue
Fr. Brian Vale and Fr. Patrick McInerney

Religious expression 1945-present

Evaluate: make a judgement based on criteria. Determine the
value of.
2011 HSC question
You need examples:
o Centre for Christian Muslim relations
o Granada award for pluralistic endeavours
o FEN multifaith vigil
What is dialogue:
o Not an argument, debate. Not about trying to win points,
nor an attack.
o The purpose of dialogue is to come to an
understanding of the other, not to determine whether
they are good, bad, right or wrong Kay Lindhal
o Before speaking we must take care great care to listen
not only to what people say, but more especially to what
they have it in their hearts to say. Only then will we
understand and respect them Pope Paul VI
o Our first task in approaching another people, another
culture, another religion is to take off our shoes, for the
place we are approaching is holy. Else we may find
ourselves treading on anothers dream. More serious
still, we may forget that God was there before our
arrival Max Warren
Nine guidelines for listening in interfaith
1. When you are listening, suspend assumptions. We
assume others have had the same experiences that we
have, and that is how we listen to them. Learn to
recognise assumptions by noticing when you get upset
or annoyed by something someone is saying.
2. When speaking, express your personal response
informed by your tradition, beliefs and practices as you
have interpreted them in your life. Use I language.
Take ownership of what you say.
3. Listen and speak without judgement the purpose of
dialogue (quote above)
4. Suspend status everyone is equal partner in the
inquiry.
5. Honour confidentiality create a self space for self
expression.
6. Listen for understanding, not to agree with or believe.

7. Ask clarifying or open-ended questions to assist

understanding and explore assumptions.
8. Honour silence and time for reflection notice what
wants to be said rather than what you want to say.
Silence and meditation is useful in many cultures.
9. One person speaks at a time pay attention to the flow
of conversation. Ensure all have an opportunity to
speak.
the act of listening to the other is an act of courage and
confidence. It means abandoning tribalism and xenophobia
but it is difficult to listen to anothers teaching for that it
implies ones own faith
Differences to Ecumenism
o Interfaith Dialogue - Process that seeks to achieve
respect and mutual understanding between people of
different religions.
o Ecumenism movement towards religious unity amongst
Christian denominations.
o Ecumenism has a specific purpose unity for the
Church.
o Interfaith Dialogue does not pretend to bring about
unity in a mega-religion.
The centre for Christian Muslim relations
o Organise conferences and seminars to enable Christians
and Muslims to meet each other and learn from one
another
o Provide resources on Islam and interfaith dialogue
o Publish Bridges newsletter
Granada award for Pluralistic Endeavours
o Granada Interfaith Trek 2013. Young individuals of ages
17-25 - interfaith. Hiking expedition through Tasmanian
wilderness. 6 men, 6 women, 6 different religions.
Purpose to achieve harmony, sharing of experiences,
and understanding of other religions.
FEN Multifaith Vigil
o Faith Ecology Network
o Prayer vigil in Martin Place 14th August 2013.
o Important in contemporary Popes encyclical address
to all people on Climate Change.
Martin Place after Lindt caf. Rabbi, Sheikh Jokawi and Fr
McInerney at Lakemba mosque. Ad-hoc prayer service at the
mosque. All 3 leaders had a photo taken at Martin Place
helped to drive the multicultural feeling.
Abrahamic Conference August 26th 2015.
Multifaith Dinner and Discussion Feb 2014. Atheist, Jew,
Christian, Muslim talk on topic of who God is for them.
Four Kinds of Interfaith Dialogue:

1. Dialogue of Life. People form different religions living

and working side by side. They do not discuss religion,
its in the background. Each lives life according to their
faith, together.
2. The dialogue of Action (hands). People of different
faiths, use common beliefs to do things together. E.g.
FEN, Feeding the homeless etc. Social justice,
almsgiving, making a difference to the community
together.
3. The dialogue of discourse (head). (Theological
dialogue) different faiths come together and talk about
their faith. They talk about God things. E.g. Rabbi,
priest and Sheikh met to talk about fasting form all 3
perspectives.
4. The dialogue of religious experience (heart).
People come together and share about what prayer and
spiritualty means to them. What does praying feel like
e.g. prayers in the mosque, synagogue of church etc.
Not always participating sometimes just respectfully
present to observe other prayer services.
o ALSO - Dialogue in friendship hang out together
without any spiritual conversations, actions, etc.
Why is it necessary?
o 1911 96% Aussies affiliated with Christianity
o 2011 61% Aussies affiliated with Christianity
o 2013 22.3% No Religion also important to dialogue
with them.
o Provides a forum for negative stereotypes to be broken
down.
o Most religions are fundamentally good.
o The Golden Rule. Do unto others It is a common value
of all religions.

Workshop 1: Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post

1945: The Religious Landscape.
Mrs Elizabeth Alderton, St Ursulas College.

2 strands religious landscape & Aboriginal spirituality

Religious Landscape
o Census
o Immigration
o Secularisation
o Denominational switching
o New age philosophies
o Ecumenism
o Interfaith

o White Australia poilcy

10 multiple choice questions plus 5 mark short answer. 30% of
your paper.
Look at the verbs in the syllabus in the outcomes they can al
be used in this topic.
Key terms in learn to statements. Put them together. Not just
facts, but higher order skill.
OUTLINE changing patterns of religious adherence
o Broad brush strokes
o Timeframe specifics across different years.
o Know your numbers/statistics
o Different ways of looking at the numbers
o Different representations of the numbers
o Language of comparison higher, lower, stagnating, etc.
Be aware of both Christian Census data and Non-Christian
data.
No religion became a category in the 1970s census. This
changes the religious landscape as they now had a choice.
Pie chart Christianity would be easy to pick out be careful
about questions about 2nd largest religion. No Religion is not
a religion.
Could get a chart with top 20 religions in Australia.
o What happened?
o What religion?
o Which denomination (if Christianity) etc
Relative and absolute changes. Hinduism fastest growing
religious tradition. There could be tables on all religious
traditions or only Christian denominations. You must be very
careful when answering the question. Ensure you are referring
to the correct table.
DESCRIBE AND ACCOUNT (cause)
o Immigration
1945-1960s Increase in Cath from 20 24%
Post WWII migration from southern European
countries
Middle eastern conflict Lebanese Catholics
Rise of orthodoxy from 0.2 1.6 % - war-torn
Greece and Macedonia
1970s
Islam becomes 0.3% of population abolition of white Australia policy and
conflict.
Continued influx in Catholicism peaking at
27%. Vietnam, SE Asia, Lebanon due to
wars.
You must ENGAGE in the Census material.
1980s

decline in Anglicanism less migration from

GB
More Catholic from war torn Balkans and
Philippines.
Decline in Anglican church attendance.
Continued growth of Islam - migration
Growth of Buddhism SE Asian migration

1990
Increase in Islam, small increase in
Christianity Iraq invasion.
1990s 2011
Increased orthodox migration from Armenia.
Increase in Islam central African countries
Buddhism growth and diversity of
Christianity migration fromHong Kong and
China.
Growth of Hinduism, Sikhism immigration
from Indian subcontinent.
OTHER Factors
Secularism
New age philosophies
Denominational Switching.

o Secularisation
What is it?
Evidence for increased secularism?
What is the impact?
Go to www.mccrindle.com.au great demographic
snapshots.
Last 4 years has evidence for secularisation
Christianity declined 22%
Church attendance down 48%
No religion up 269%
o New Age Philosophies
If you have partaken in massage, chakra reading,
tarot, tea leaves, yoga, wearing crystals,
meditation etc. you are partaking in new age. It
can be hand in hand with religion, or replacing it.
o Denominational Switching
Revolving door syndrome. Go in, come straight
out. Go in for a while, tend to come out again.
By and large a Protestant tendency
Young people tend to be most common switchers
Pentecostals seem to be the main beneficiaries.
Last 3 points are all speculative cannot be
proved.

 www.cartoonchurch.com

o Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue

Check modality each section asks for different
responses.
Describe impact ecumenism
Evaluate important of interfaith
o Ecumenism
Unity amongst Christian denominations. NCCA,
NSW Ecumenical Council. That is all the syllabus
asks you to look at.
NSW ecumenical council now called
Churches Together NSW ACT.
o 16 orthodox and protestant churches.
Catholics are missing.
o Run the Peace and Justice Commission
Asylum seekers
Peacemaking international
days for peace
Justice - House of welcome
Education and advocacy
programs.
NCCA
o Includes Catholics
o Formed in 1994
o NCCA working structure diagram
check website.
o NATSEIC National Aboriginal and
Torres Straight Islander Ecumenical
Commission. Work for Aboriginal
rights, sovereignty, etc.
o They educate and are advocates for
Aboriginal Australians.
Sometimes you might get a question about
TRADITIONS in Interfaith not just tradition. Have
multiple examples.
Workshop 13: Mastering the Short Answer Responses in the
HSC Exam
Michael Reid, CEO Sydney

No diagrams dont draw any in the short answer section.

Q11
o No introduction, the question is already printed on the
answer sheet.
o 12 lines.
o Use the space provided.

o Use ONLY the space provided.

Write inside the markers at the corner of each
page. Also write nothing above the bottom of the
boxes for the student number.
Any page with blank page written on it means
that the marker cannot see it. Dont write it.
Markers have on average 30-40 seconds to mark
question 11, then it disappears.
o Integrate the stimulus if you dont you CANT get full
marks.
o Use specific examples. EVERY TIME. If the questions
dont ask for examples, you STILL NEED THEM.
o Section 2 3 written pages total 15 marks. Use that to
judge how much to write for each . Look at 5 marks per
page as a guide.
Religious landscape every question from the syllabus is
about changing landscapes.
o What is different?
o How is it different?
o Why is it different?
TASK, TOPIC, FOCUS
o Task: what are you being asked to do?
o Topic: what part of the syllabus is this about?
o Focus: The limit
SAMPLE QUESTION: I come from the Methodist tradition of
the Christian church. Although when I do go to church now,
which is more foten than Christmas and Easter, but certainly
not once a week, I tend to go to and Anglican church John
Howard Compass ABC TV 2004.
o Suggest 2 influences on the pattern of religious
affiliation in Australia since the 1970s.
This is about denominational switching from
1970s to present. You must give 2 reasons why
there has been denominational switching in this
time frame.
Marking criteria used examples is lower than
integrated examples
SAMPLE QUESTION: Visual stimulus cartoon. Church being
built from brick of another church being torn down
(denominational switching people leave a church that is
being broken down and go to one that is being built).
Happened 3 times in last few years. Making reference to the
stimulus material discuss the current religious landscape of
Australia. TASK: discuss not the same as in MH or ENG, as for
5 marks there is not the space. TOPIC: current religious
landscape. FOCUS: Australia. (make sure your examples are
from within Australia)

Marking criteria difference between a 4/5 or 5/5 is specificity

of examples and responses.
Every 2 years there has been a multiple choice question on
denominational switching. Know your correct definition.
Definition right, example right, why it is happening you will
get full marks. This question does not really need structure
(not in the criteria) as long as you hit all information required.
www.tinyurl.com/Q11practice
o There is no doing word in the question. how and why
have been used more increasingly. Why suggests a
reasonexplain why
o Relations denotes that two parties are both working
together not one doing something for another.

Workshop 14: Christianity: Marriage

Stay away from same-sex marriage/unions its a trap

because it is in the media. Stick to the syllabus.
This will be put on RE online.
Rite of passage 2 individuals to a union as one with God.
Vocational vocation of 2 people.
Only what the syllabus says not your opinion.
Couple over 18 years.
The place a church
The participants public ceremony vows made in public, two
witnesses, families, friends, priest of minister.
Charter (Orthodox, Catholic) regard marriage as a sacrament.
efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted
to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.
Not only Catholic you must embrace Christian marriage, and
show knowledge in various denominations.
Set form
o Use of symbols
o recitation of vows
o exchange of rings
o lighted candle
o scripture readings
o drinking from chalice (orthodox)
o joining of hands
o nuptial blessing
o signing of the marriage contract
o saying of prayer
o bride wearing the veil
o wearing white

o role relations move from children to adults to married,

couples, parents etc.
STAY AWAY from divorce and annulment not in the syllabus.
o Transformation 2 singles from 2 separate families are
united in love and marriage form a new Christian family
in which husband and wife are responsible for children
o A sacred life long commitment
o Mutual relationship of love and sacrifice vows
o In catholic and orthodox churches, marriage is one of
the sacraments
o A monogamous, indissoluble faithful relationship
o A covenant relationship- a model of love which Christ
has for gods people. (as the Church is wedded to Christ)
o A vocation
o The foundation of the family and the church
o Christianitys understanding of marriage is informed by
scripture you must give specific examples in your
response.
o Gen 1:27-28
o Gen 2:18
o Gen 2: 22-24
o Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-12
o Hebrews 13:4
o 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
o Ephesians 5:21ff
o Married couple is the domestic church
Sacramental grace upon participants
Oriental and Latin sacramental
The grace properone another CCC 1641 celebrate the
Eucharist.
Eastern Orthodox marriage is a sacred mystery and a
sacrament. Recognise the role of the Holy spirit in the
ceremony. Use of crowns and the cup of wine are markers of
the change of status for the bride and groom from single to
married.
Churches of the reformation and the independent evangelical
churches do not regard marriage as a sacrament due to
different understanding of grace a s sole means of salvation.
Oriental & Latin 4 characteristics on which the nature of
marriage rests:
o Consent
Free consent without impediment
Differ on serious impediment
Catholic doctrine precludes those who have been
validly married from re-marrying whilst their
previous spouse survives.
Latin marriage is mutually exclusive

o Unity
Bond between 2 married persons
Oriental and Latin believe this bond is established
by God
Bond is divine in origin and is indissoluble
domestic church
Marriage and family life stand as a witness to the
fidelity of Christ to his Church covenant.
Husband and wife form a communion that is in all
respects a living representation of the body of
Christ.
o Fidelity
Free, without reservation
Exclusive commitment from each partner
Intimate union
Neither husband nor wife hold back anything in
the union.
Catholic doctrine self giving is not conditional
total and permanent condition.
Practice of patience and humility
o Fertility
Be fruitful and multiply
Latin/Oriental marriage by nature, ordered to the
creation of new life.
Latin- marriage must always be possible to new
life expectation reflected in the marriage vow.
Some Christian churches proclaim it is the right of
husband and wife to chose whether or when to
have children.
Marriage is the proper context to have children.
THE INDIVIDUAL
o Scriptural understanding - no longer two but one.
o Structure of their lives as a couple, parents, children.
o Each partner places their whole self in the hands of the
other it elevates the mundane to the supernatural.
o The Christian does not lose themselves in marriage,
they become a part of something that enriches their life
beyond self-interest. It is a way of holiness. Their
relationship should reflect the everlasting love that God
has for the Church through Christ.
THE COMMUNITY
o Body of Christ Christian community is relational.
o Affirm Christian belief and central beliefs about marriage
made clear through rite itself.
o Selfless love husband and wife are called to live out is
CHALLENGING and DEMANDING.

o Community called to acknowledge, support and

encourage the couple in this commitment; the human
conditions of suffering, joy and bereavement.
o To pray for them and to give witness to the
unconditional love of God.
o The marriage vows for better or worsetil death do us
part
EXPRESSIONS OF BELIEF
o Wedding rings fidelity and unity
o Exchange of rings does not affect the marriage just a
symbol of the commitment.
o Oriental Crowning ceremony husband and wife share
in glory of Gods kingdom and undertake their
responsibilities in their domestic church.
o Nuptial blessing solemn blessing man and woman
intended by the creator to live in a loving union and
united together in a sacramental bond created by God