Religion work
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24nov2015lecture.pptx24 November 2015
Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)
Nostra Aetate was promulgated or released on 28 October 1965.
Nostra Aetate was written under the guidance of Pope Paul VI during the last session of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II).
The historical context is a post-World War II Church, in the 1960’s. The Cold War was happening.
Vatican II was called by Pope John XXIII
What is Vatican II and why was it called?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= BOCJLb_6a_E
Background
One way to think of Vatican II and the changes brought about from it is in terms of “aggiornamento.” This term means “to update.”
In this case, updating meant to take a serious look at how the ancient Church is responding to an ever changing world.
Some of the changes are globalization, modernized communications, mechanized and devastating warfare, Scientific discoveries and new methods, and diversified cultures.
Which of the topics just mentioned does Nostra Aetate most closely discuss? Why?
Background
Nostra Aetate is interested in “inter-faith dialogue.”
Inter-faith dialogue is when persons from different faiths come together and discuss the differences and similarities in beliefs and practices between the two faith traditions.
Inter-faith dialogue is not new. Thomas Aquinas (Christian), Moses Maimonides (Jewish), and Avicenna (Muslim) spoke frequently about natural philosophy and theology. They used each other’s ideas to help make their own theological conclusions.
Take a minute and write down the evidence from Nostra Aetate that support the claim that the document is interested in inter-faith dialogue.
Now, write down why inter-faith dialogue is important for the contemporary Church?
Is the purpose to water down teachings or practices of practitioners of certain faiths?
Background
What is the impact of Nostra Aetate?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= _LCYRRR7Lfc
According to the video, what historical teaching did Nostra Aetate address? (What is teaching of contempt?)
Another way of thinking of Vatican II is through the lens of Ressourcement. “Ressourcement” means to “go back to the sources.”
Thinking of the Scriptures and liturgy, as well as Christianity as a whole, as having its roots in Judaism is a form of Ressourcement teaching.
Nostra Aetate
Syncretism means to mesh religions and cultures together, which results in the loss of identity for any particular culture.
Is syncretism the goal of Nostra Aetate? Why or why not?
How is Christ (Jesus) portrayed in Nostra Aetate?
How does Nostra Aetate hold together truth in non-Christian religions and the Truth of salvation through Christ? Are these two ideas at odds?
Truth or Syncretism?
