YEAR 11

REL (ATAR)
UNIT ONE
MODULE 01

SEARCH FOR MEANING

WACE SYLLABUS POINT

The nature of religion

The search for meaning

The relationship between important life

events and the questions people ask about
the meaning and purpose of their lives
CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING

Outline the relationship between

important life events and the questions
people ask about meaning and purpose
in their lives.
NATURE OF RELIGION
SEARCHING FOR MEANING
experiences that prompt questioning
religious answers
Key points:
• The Search for Meaning
• Life events Prompt Questions
o (Creation / Others / Self)
• Important Life Events
• Being Religious
• Questions of the Human Heart
• Conscience: the source of true religious
yearnings
The Search for Meaning

THE CREATED WORLD

OTHERS

THE MYSTERY OF WHO THEY

creation “man can
come to
know that
there exists
a reality
which is the
first cause
and final
end of all
things”
creation

Thinking about the existence

of a being greater than
themselves
- Power affects people constantly
- Curious about the origin of the universe
people
Positive
experiences
It is only by - Human goodness and nobility

relating with
others can Negative
people grow in experiences
personal - Personal weaknesses

understanding
 It is the MOST
significant of all
human experiences.

Questioning who they

really are.

People spend time

reflecting about
themselves
- Develop new insights
and new
understandings about

personal mystery the mystery of

themselves
 ‘mystery’ refers to
experiences that:
• are deeply
personal
• need to be
expressed
• cannot be
expressed by
words alone
• can never be fully
personal mystery understood
BIRTH ADULTHOOD MARRIAGE DEATH

IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS

 Mystery Mystery
experience: experience:
- Growth of - Independent
unborn life - Responsible
- Parenthood - Make a
- Wonder of new difference
born child - Personal
- Personal joy identity
- Family - Future
relationships vocation/career
- belonging - Social and
community
BIRTH ADULTHOOD responsibilities

IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS

 Mystery Mystery
experience: experience:
- Commitment - Nature of death
- Future path life - Personal values
- Relationships and priorities
- Parenthood - Lifestyle
personal change
priorities - Forgiveness
- Trust - Illness
- Sharing / Input - Suffering
- Seeking
forgiveness
MARRIAGE DEATH

IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS

religion
“Being religious is
when people
seek, sense
and think about
the reality of God ”
Answers
come from
WITHIN
human heart questions
conscience
 Human Heart Questions
Personal Questions
Questions About God

Relationship Questions
Questions About the future
The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man
is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw
man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness
he never stops searching for:
The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to
communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is
addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man
exists it is because God has created him through love, and
through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live
fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love
and entrusts himself to his creator.

Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 27)

...conscience
…is man’s most secret core and sanctuary.
There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his
depths.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1776
...conscience
discover Truth
discover Ideals
Love and do good
Evaluate behaviour
Formation of conscience is
studying and reading the
Scriptures: OT & NT
“… and our heart
is restless until it
rests in you.”
life
death Jesus
resurrection Is the
ANSWER
The teachings and
beliefs of the
Apostles, handed
down within the
Church instituted
by Jesus

&

Christian Moral
Teachings
 genuine AFFECT PEOPLE:
religious long term not short term
Need to be expressed with others
Relate to issues of daily life
experiences