Definition: An established social model to which society conforms, which often places religious leadership at or near the top of society
Catholic Christianity
There are many people who make up the social structure of Catholicism.
These people include:
• The Pope - Is the head of all churches and guides each church and adherent to faith with God. Even though the Pope must look after the diocese of Rome, he must lead all Christians as told by Jesus in John 21:15-19:15:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”. “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”. He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep". 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
• Cardinals - Are bishops or archbishops which have been chosen as a possible new Pope as arranged by the current Pope. This title is usually given to those in large dioceses and can sometimes help the current Pope in liturgies and mass.
• Archbishops - They look after an archdiocese each and monitor nearby dioceses. They also control the appointing of new Bishops to free dioceses but they cannot control the Bishops deeds. Every year, each Archbishop must visit the Pope under the conversation labelled ad limina. This is a time for the Bishop and the Pope to discuss what has been happening in their diocese and any future plans for it.
• Bishops - Similar to an Archbishop, however, instead of looking after an archdiocese, they look after a diocese, which is smaller. Every year, each Bishop must visit the Pope under the conversation labelled ad limina. This is a time for the Bishop and the Pope to discuss what has been happening in their diocese and any future plans for it.
• Priests - Assist Bishops and Archbishops with rituals and mass. They may be given authority by Bishops and Archbishops to help run a diocese as they can generally be too much area for one person to cover. Priests are also granted authority by Bishops to perform their duties if they are absent.
• Deacons - Deacons assist Priests or Bishops during rituals and mass, however, they are not allowed to conduct mass alone. There are two types of Deacons: Transitional and Permanent. A transitional Deacon is one who is on its way to becoming a Priest while a permanent Deacon is one who is married and cannot become a priest because of being married.
• The Laity - All who are baptised are called by God to proclaim his gospel not necessarily by word but rather by doing good deeds.
These people include:
• The Pope - Is the head of all churches and guides each church and adherent to faith with God. Even though the Pope must look after the diocese of Rome, he must lead all Christians as told by Jesus in John 21:15-19:15:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”. “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”. He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep". 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
• Cardinals - Are bishops or archbishops which have been chosen as a possible new Pope as arranged by the current Pope. This title is usually given to those in large dioceses and can sometimes help the current Pope in liturgies and mass.
• Archbishops - They look after an archdiocese each and monitor nearby dioceses. They also control the appointing of new Bishops to free dioceses but they cannot control the Bishops deeds. Every year, each Archbishop must visit the Pope under the conversation labelled ad limina. This is a time for the Bishop and the Pope to discuss what has been happening in their diocese and any future plans for it.
• Bishops - Similar to an Archbishop, however, instead of looking after an archdiocese, they look after a diocese, which is smaller. Every year, each Bishop must visit the Pope under the conversation labelled ad limina. This is a time for the Bishop and the Pope to discuss what has been happening in their diocese and any future plans for it.
• Priests - Assist Bishops and Archbishops with rituals and mass. They may be given authority by Bishops and Archbishops to help run a diocese as they can generally be too much area for one person to cover. Priests are also granted authority by Bishops to perform their duties if they are absent.
• Deacons - Deacons assist Priests or Bishops during rituals and mass, however, they are not allowed to conduct mass alone. There are two types of Deacons: Transitional and Permanent. A transitional Deacon is one who is on its way to becoming a Priest while a permanent Deacon is one who is married and cannot become a priest because of being married.
• The Laity - All who are baptised are called by God to proclaim his gospel not necessarily by word but rather by doing good deeds.
Aboriginal Spirituality
In Aboriginal Spirituality, there is no chief leader in each clan and there are only specific roles mainly for performing rituals. Other than that, each individual is treated as an equal and continue their lives as per usual. There are three main groups of people:
• Men - In the community, men will only share stories about men to the younger men, as it is forbidden to share such information with women. Men perform the majority of rituals in a clan and, and as a rite of passage, young boys had to pass an "initiation" to become a true man within the clan.
• Women - In the community, women will only share stories about women to the younger women, as it is forbidden to share such information with men. A woman's role in the community is extremely sacred, as they usually performed rituals based on bringing good health to a community as well as resolving most conflicts.
• Elder and Teachers - Elders and Teachers in the community had the highest responsibility of passing on the myths and stories from the Dreaming to each generation. Their authority comes from totemic sites and they could be rainmakers, healers or sorcerers.
• Men - In the community, men will only share stories about men to the younger men, as it is forbidden to share such information with women. Men perform the majority of rituals in a clan and, and as a rite of passage, young boys had to pass an "initiation" to become a true man within the clan.
• Women - In the community, women will only share stories about women to the younger women, as it is forbidden to share such information with men. A woman's role in the community is extremely sacred, as they usually performed rituals based on bringing good health to a community as well as resolving most conflicts.
• Elder and Teachers - Elders and Teachers in the community had the highest responsibility of passing on the myths and stories from the Dreaming to each generation. Their authority comes from totemic sites and they could be rainmakers, healers or sorcerers.
Islamic Religion
In Islam, as a way of following the word of Allah, all have the right to live as equals, whether they be rich, poor, children, men or women. This is derived from a passage found in the Qur'an, being:
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has al-taqwa [i.e., is one of the muttaqoon or pious]. Verily, Allah is all-knowing, all-aware” Formerly, there was a person known as the Caliph in a Caliphate government which was a supreme leader over all Muslims to spread the faith of Allah, chosen by the Prophet Mohammed, but this has disappeared over time. Now, a person known as an Imam leads Muslims in a different regions, however, mainly from the Sunni branch of Islam. A man only becomes an Imam if they are born to a present Imam, meaning that women usually never play this role. As an exception, women will take the role of an Imam if there is no Imam to lead them in prayer. The role of an Imam is to: • recite words of prayer and passages of the Qur'an to adherents • perform the five daily prayers at mosques • deliver the Khutba (sermon) on Fridays in mosques • give spiritual advice to adherents • preach at wedding ceremonies |