HUMSS

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD
RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM
PRELIM
Modyul 2

Guro: Roniel I. Cagas

WORLDVIEW

Worldview is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe being held by people. (The Free
Dictionary 2014). This is how every individual sees and interprets the world. For a certain individual,
social environment and upbringing are critical in the development of a religious life. All these factors
influence how people organize their beliefs and ideas while eventually creating a comprehensive
narrative through which they look at the world and interrelate with it.

Belief in god or gods is found in almost all religions. There is a good reason to presuppose that
religion had existed during prehistoric times and this has continued to the modern day. Human life may
have produced hundreds of religions and belief systems. There could be more unknown than known
religions in the world since recorded history covers only several thousand years of human existence.

Kinds of Belief System

Monism

There is no real distinction between god and the universe

Monotheism

The doctrine/belief in one supreme god

Polytheism

The belief and worship of many gods

Atheism

Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god

Agnosticism

God cannot be known

DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION

Religion may be defined as “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to
worship a god or a group of gods” (Merriam-Websters Dictionary 2014). The Latin word religion refers to
“something done with overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail” (Bowker 1997). This term may
have probably been derived from the Latin verb religare which means “to tie together, to bind fast.”

In its original sense, the word refers to expression of proper piety, that is, binding to god
(Grassie 2010). Quite later, religion was used to designate formal belief systems and tenets. The term
was eventually applied to what we now call as religion because of the manner in which people
performed rituals during those days. While religion may be universal in all stages of human history, it
does not follow that all individuals are religious or even religious to some degree (Parrinder 1971).
 THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION

1. The Human Quest for Meaning Understanding our World and our Experience

2. The Quest of Purpose The motivation to live a life which promotes human wholeness in
accordance with the meaning discovered.

3. The Quest for Salvation The search to be free from the feeling of disharmony deep within the
human person.

CONCEPT OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

SPIRITUALITY

• Belief that the divine is within us

• Personal belief or values system

• God is inside the heart

• Spiritual laws-based

• Heaven is a state of mind

• Human relationship/Deed

Others:

• Belies with individuals

• Internal Focus

• Goal: To determine common principles, values, and ethics

• Belief about what is good, true, and beautiful

• Unites people over society

RELIGION

• Belief in a superhuman power outside of you, the creator of the universe.

• Dictated belief or conditioned mind

• God is inside the mind

• Faith-based

• Heaven is a place you go when you die

• Brick or Mortar Temple

Others:

• Expressly stated, organized belief system

• Goal: Salvation through one truth and one right way

THEOLOGY

Theology is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience especially the study of God and
of God's relation to the world.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION

Most scholars agree that every religion has the same three basic elements:

1. Wisdom or Creed

a. A creed is a set of truths that must be accepted and agreed to by those who wish to belong to
the religion, those who choose to be a follower or disciple.

e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments

b. A creed is a summary of the principle beliefs of a religion.

e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments

2. Worship or Cult

a. Refers to the way of worshipping, to the RITUALS that are practiced by followers of the
religion.

b. This is often a difficult element to describe because it involves so many diverse elements.

3. Works or Code

a. Refers to the ethical values and the system of moral practice directly resulting from an adherence to
the beliefs.

EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS

1. BELIEF SYSTEM or WORLDVIEW: Many beliefs that fit together in a system to make sense of the
universe and our place in it.

2. COMMUNITY: The belief system is shared, and its ideals are practiced by a group.

3. CENTRAL STORIES/MYTHS: Stories that help explain the beliefs of a group; these are told over and
over again and sometimes performed by members of the group. They may or may not be factual.

4. RITUALS: Beliefs are explained, taught, and made real through ceremonies.

5. ETHICS: Rules about how to behave; these rules are often thought to have come from a deity or
supernatural place, but they might also be seen as guidelines created by the group over time.

6. CHARACTERISTIC EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Most religions share emotions such as awe, mystery,
guilt, joy, devotion, conversion, inner peace, etc.
7. MATERIAL EXPRESSION: Religions use things to perform rituals or to express or represent beliefs,
such as: statues, paintings, music, flowers, incense, clothes, architecture, and specific sacred locations.

8. SACREDNESS: Religions see some things as sacred and some not sacred (or profane). Some objects,
actions, people, and places may share in the sacredness or express it.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF RELIGION

Western and Eastern Beliefs (Anthropological Structure of Religions)

Western Religions

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Eastern Religions

Buddhism

Taoism

Shintoism

Hinduism

Confucianism

Western Beliefs

• MONOTHEISTIC - believe in one God.

• Share a similar view of the world and concept because they both sprang from Judaism (Islam and
Christianity).

• Humans must enter an interpersonal relationship with God.

• Morality is based on learning the will of God, understanding, and living it out individually and as a
community.

• Time is viewed as Linear, from beginning to end.

• The Bible (Christianity, Torah (Judaism), or Qur’an (Islam) are the central books studied and lived by.

Eastern Beliefs

• POLYTHEISM- belief in more than one god.

• Main concern is to live a good, happier, and have better life.

• Creation contains god within it. All elements of creation from plants to animals have an animated
spirit.

• Meditation is central to these faiths.

• Holy books are not central to the belief and practice.

• Time is viewed in cycles.

• There is a belief in reincarnations and rebirth.

• Things can be made better or worse through karma.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RELIGION

• Understand the difference and see similarities between nations and culture both political and
philosophical.

• Appreciate our own belief by seeing them alongside those of others.

• Work for Ecumenism through a meaningful exchange of ideas between religious groups.

SIMILARITIES OF RELIGIONS (THE STRUCTURE OF RELIGIONS)

• Belief in a power greater than humans.

• Holy places (Ex. Mecca, Vatican, Bodh Gaya, River Ganges).

• Set of religious symbols by which the religion is identified.

• Having a liturgy or observance of Holy Days.

• Having Sacred or Holy Writings and list of rules.

• Number of important people, founders, prophets, missionaries, and historical people.

• Place of worship.

• Belief in the Golden Rule

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

• Their idea of sin or evil

• Their idea of salvation

• Their idea of priesthood

• Their idea of a personal God

CHECK WHAT YOU KNOW!

Activity 1

Let us do some processing on the concepts learned in this topic. Write your answers in the space
provided.

. 1. What is your new understanding on the concept of religion and spirituality?

2. Are you familiar with the different ways of your religion? Explain.

3. In your present understanding of your religion, how does this affect your everyday life?
4. How does your understanding affect your relationship with others?

Activity 2

Instructions: If you do not feel comfortable answering these questions, or if you do not practice a
religion, you may find a friend or family member who will share his/her beliefs and practices with you.
Or, if you like, find answers from doing your own research on one specific religion (it does not have to be
Judaism, Christianity, or Islam). Write your answers in your notebook.

1. BELIEFS: What is one central belief of your religion?

_____________________________________________________________.

2. COMMUNITY: How is your religion shared with others in your religious community?

_____________________________________________________________.

3. CENTRAL STORIES/MYTHS: What is one of the myths or stories from your religion?
_____________________________________________________________.

4. RITUALS: What ritual do you find meaningful in your religion?

5. ETHICS: What is one rule from your religion you are supposed to follow?
_____________________________________________________________.

6. EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Have you ever had an emotional religious experience? What was it like?
_____________________________________________________________.
7. MATERIAL EXPRESSION: What is one thing used in your religion? What is it used for?
_____________________________________________________________.

8. SACREDNESS: Can you think of a sacred place associated with your religion? Why is it sacred?
_____________________________________________________________.

Activity 3: LIVING UP THE FAITH

Instructions: Your life is the witness to your faith/religion. Make a creative presentation of how you live
your faith. (e.g. comic strip, photo essay, poem, song, life story, etc.) Write your answer on a bond
paper.

Post Test

Instructions: Differentiate Religious from Spiritual by classifying the following statements in the
categories below. Copy the table in your journal and place the letter of the correct answer under the
right category.

RELIGIOUS SPIRITUAL

1. Services are done in the place of worship

2. Nurtures relationship with other people

3. Develops inner self through self-reflection

4. Follows sets of creeds and teachings

5. Regularly goes to the place of worship