World Religion Module 2
World Religion Module 2
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD
RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM
PRELIM
Modyul 2
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.
Monism
Monotheism
Polytheism
Atheism
Agnosticism
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.
SPIRITUALITY
• Spiritual laws-based
• Human relationship/Deed
Others:
• Internal Focus
RELIGION
• Faith-based
Others:
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.
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.
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.
Western Religions
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Eastern Religions
Buddhism
Taoism
Shintoism
Hinduism
Confucianism
Western Beliefs
• Share a similar view of the world and concept because they both sprang from Judaism (Islam and
Christianity).
• Morality is based on learning the will of God, understanding, and living it out individually and as a
community.
• The Bible (Christianity, Torah (Judaism), or Qur’an (Islam) are the central books studied and lived by.
Eastern Beliefs
• Creation contains god within it. All elements of creation from plants to animals have an animated
spirit.
• Understand the difference and see similarities between nations and culture both political and
philosophical.
• Work for Ecumenism through a meaningful exchange of ideas between religious groups.
• Place of worship.
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES
Activity 1
Let us do some processing on the concepts learned in this topic. Write your answers in the space
provided.
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.
_____________________________________________________________.
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?
_____________________________________________________________.
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?
_____________________________________________________________.
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