Religious Rites - Which to study? (1 Viewer)

[*n.a.t.a.l.i.e*]

I am so confused with the Religious Rites part of the syllabus. If I have chosen to do death as a Rites of Passage, I do that for both Christianity and Judaism (my chosen/given religious traditions), whilst for Rites of Public Worship, for Christianity there is Communion Services and for Judaism there is the synagogue, do these correspond correctly? The syllabus states that it must be the same rite. I am doing death in both traditions, but what about public worship??????????????Argh I am confused. Someone please help me!!!!

 

[snapperhead]

I am so confused with the Religious Rites part of the syllabus. If I have chosen to do death as a Rites of Passage, I do that for both Christianity and Judaism (my chosen/given religious traditions), whilst for Rites of Public Worship, for Christianity there is Communion Services and for Judaism there is the synagogue, do these correspond correctly? The syllabus states that it must be the same rite. I am doing death in both traditions, but what about public worship??????????????Argh I am confused. Someone please help me!!!!

in a short answer, yes to all!

you must do *at least* two rites (passage, public, private) across two traditions .: you will need both passage (death) and public worship (communion and synagogue). Sounds stupid but it really depends upon the question as to what you will use ie they could ask for one rite or two that you have studied.
Most important is to know the relevant areas of the syllabus
ie the three bolded bits

In the context of this study, ‘rite’ refers to a formal act in a religious observance.
For the purpose of this study, religious rites are divided into three categories:
Passage, Personal Devotion and Public Worship.

Students learn about:
the nature, role and significance of religious rites:
– religious rites as significant acts performed/undertaken by believers in celebrating, symbolising and making present the central beliefs of the religious tradition
– three categories of religious rites:
- rites of passage, eg initiation, funerals
- rites of personal devotion, eg prayer, fasting, penance
- rites of public worship, eg temple ceremonies, liturgies, communion services, feast days, seasons, religious cycles

religious rites and their effect on the everyday lives of believers:
For this section, students are to study TWO specific religious rites from TWO of the categories for TWO religious traditions.
Note: The rites chosen must be the same across each study.

Christianity
– rites of passage, eg baptism, marriage
– rites of personal devotion, eg retreats, rosary, daily devotions, Bible reading, meditation and prayer
– rites of public worship, eg Divine Office, Communion service, Lent, Christmas, Evensong

Judaism
– rites of passage, eg Brit-milah, Pidyon HaBen, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage and divorce, death and bereavement
– rites of personal devotion, eg Sabbath
– rites of public worship, eg synagogue.

Students learn to:
compare and contrast examples from the same religious rites within TWO religious traditions in relation to TWO of the following:
– the nature, role and function of officiating celebrants
– significance of sacred writings
– use of symbolism
– social structure
– human experiences.

Obviouosly the third part is the "big mark" section though the CSSA trials showed that they can focus on the second part (not in the rites question but for writings)

Past experience has shown that they can specify the rite though I dont see how they can do this under the current exam question structure (one 20 mark question as opposed to 3 questions for a total of 20 marks)

hope this helps/clarifies a little

 

[*n.a.t.a.l.i.e*]

I think I get it now. What confused me was the fact that death remained the same in the two religious traditions whilst communion and synagogue, are different, although they are both rites of public worship. Essentially we have to address the effects on the everyday lives of believers and two areas of the last section?


Is the change in the type of question (one extended response as opposed to a 3 question structure) a definite change? I was told it was easier to obtain marks in the 3-question structure rather than an extended response, but is it definite that it will happen this year?


Thankyou for helping me out.

 

[snapperhead]

I think I get it now. What confused me was the fact that death remained the same in the two religious traditions whilst communion and synagogue, are different, although they are both rites of public worship. Essentially we have to address the effects on the everyday lives of believers and two areas of the last section?


Is the change in the type of question (one extended response as opposed to a 3 question structure) a definite change? I was told it was easier to obtain marks in the 3-question structure rather than an extended response, but is it definite that it will happen this year?


Thankyou for helping me out.

definite change.
The old structure went out in 2003 with 2004 being the new structure. Next year will be the last time under the current structure as the course changes next year .: 2007 HSC will be different again! (very confusing I know).
Have a look at last years paper to see teh structure (get from BOS)

The key to understanding the areas is to think Rites of Passage, Rites of Public Worship and Rites of Private DEvotion, not death, communion etc. They are the examples you use but the they are not the "areas"/actual rites (there are only three rites but many examples of these rites)

 

[*n.a.t.a.l.i.e*]

Ohh i see. I have had a look at last year's paper, I think it is better to some extent, because as long as you answer the question, you can respond how you wish. It does get a little confusing, I think they need to change the syllabus, if they are changing the Religious Rites section, I don't know, but our class always had trouble interpreting it. Oh well. Anyways, thankyou very much for your help.