World Religions And Belief Systems PDF

REVIEWER IN WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS HUMSS-002 LESSON 1-2- UNDERSTANDING BELIEF, RELIGION, AND OTHER RELATED TERMS WORLDVIEW- a worldview tries to explain and interpret reality, history, and civilization. BELIEF- Refers to a conviction concerning ideas. Belief shapes our ideas reg...

REVIEWER IN WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS HUMSS-002 LESSON 1-2- UNDERSTANDING BELIEF, RELIGION, AND OTHER RELATED TERMS WORLDVIEW- a worldview tries to explain and interpret reality, history, and civilization. BELIEF- Refers to a conviction concerning ideas. Belief shapes our ideas regarding reality, and is influenced by our perception, experiences, and ideas. BELIEF SYSTEMS- attempt to explain larger issues of philosophy, fundamental beliefs, and ways of doing things KINDS OF BELIEF SYSTEM 1. MONISM- There is no real distinction between god and the universe 2. AGNOTICISM- God cannot be known 3. ATHEISM- Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god 4. MONOTHEISM- The doctrine/belief in one supreme god 5. POLYTHEISM- The doctrine/belief in many gods THEOLOGY- refers to the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially, the study of God and of God's relation to the world RELIGION- 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 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 OF 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. SPIRITUALITY- refers to a broad set of principles that transcend all religions. -seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself RELIGION VS. SPIRITUALITY ANTHROPOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF RELIGION 1. Western Religions - MONOTHEISTIC believe in one God. (EX. JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM) 2. Eastern Religions - POLYTHEISM belief in more than one god. ( EX. Buddhism ,Taoism, Shintoism Hinduism ,Confucianism) LESSON 3- How World Religion Began & POSITIVE & NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION THE EMERGENCE OF RELIGION The earliest evidence of spiritual belief among humans' dates back to the Paleolithic Period. It may be said that as communities became increasingly complex and sophisticated, moving beyond merely addressing the most basic needs of food and shelter, humans began to ponder matters of existence, being, and purpose. THE GEOGRAPHIC, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIONS Religions are practiced differently in various parts of the world. They are significant for many people because they establish different lifestyles among their believers. Cultural diversity played a great part in shaping religions. In the Neolithic era, pre-colonial Filipinos expressed their religion through artistic means, such as carving figurines of their deities and gods. Social factors also help shape individuals’ beliefs, lifestyles, and personalities. These may include prominent personalities who have greatly impacted their respective religions: Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.  DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS The Emergence of Civilizations 1. MESOPOTAMIA- The oldest Mesopotamian cities were founded around 3000 BCE by the Sumerians. The Sumerian city-states were dominated by the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian Empires. 2. EGYPT- Irrigated by the Nile River and sheltered by desserts as well as the sea, Egyptian civilization remained more protected and peaceful than that of Mesopotamia. Egypt emerged as a cohesive and thriving empire. Religion greatly influenced Egyptian life. 3. INDUS VALLEY- At about 2300 BCE, approximately seventy Indus cities had developed a sophisticated urban culture, the major cities being Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The Indus people flourished along the banks of the Indus River. They lived in brick houses in well-planned villages, and were successful agriculturists who grew and cultivated cotton, and raised buffalo, goats, dogs, pigs, and sheep. 4. CHINA- The Shang dynasty (1766-1050 BCE) established the first recognized Bronze Age civilization along the Yellow River basin in China. Their successors, the Zhou (1050—256 BCE), reigned from city- states as combatant aristocrats who battled foreigners and each other. 5. THE AMERICAS- The prominent societies in the Americas arose in areas that had robust agriculture. In the region of Mesopotamia, ancient societies cultivated maize or corn. The Andres valleys contributed a mixture of agriculture and the rich marine resources from the Pacific. The Distribution and Spread of Religions The nature of a religion greatly affects the geographic distribution of its adherents around the world. Park (2004) distinguishes between two types of religions based on geographic distribution. 1. UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS - are those that are widely distributed, and whose goal is to convert people. Believers are encouraged to share their beliefs with non-believers. 2. ETHNIC RELIGIONS- are confined to particular countries or regions. Culture, according to de Leon (2012), is a system of vital ideas that contain, energize and direct virtually every aspect of social life and a person's relationship with the world. Culture touches everything from the humanities to the sciences, from religion to technology. POSITIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION 1. Religion Promotes Social Harmony- Religion believes in supernatural beings and powers. It practices a set of rituals and ceremonies rites of passage of intensification. 2. Religion Gives Positive Goals in Life- People were inspired by the story of different prophets from their own religious affiliations, like that Moses, Siddhartha Gautama, and Muhammad. 3. Religion Reduces Fear of the Unknown- Religion was developed from man’s need to have a sense of origin and destination; to discover where they came from and where they are bound to go when they die. 4. Provides Moral Values- Perhaps one of the most significant functions of religion is that it encourages moral values. 5. Gives People a Sense of Belongingness- Just a family, ethnicity, or nationality give people a sense of belongingness, so does religion. 6. Religion Promotes Social Change- Since religion is a source of moral values, religion provides social change. NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION 1. Religion Affirms Social Hierarchy- Some religions affirm social hierarchy often favoring men, as a result, perpetuate the notions of class and gender discrimination and oppression. 2. Religion Triggers Conflicts and Fights- Religion also has some aspects which make it susceptible to be a source of conflicts and war. 3. Religion Causes Discrimination - There are some who say that religion, after turning people against themselves, turns people against each other. 4. Religion Impedes Scientific Success and Development- Throughout history, religion has proven to impede scientific development 5. Religion as an Economic Tool for Exploiting the Masses- According to the German philosopher Karl Marx, “religion is the opium of the masses”. WEEK 5- JUDAISM Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief system during the Bronze Age in West Asia. ✓ Abraham as the founder of Judaism. ✓ The symbol or emblem of the Jewish people is the Magen David, also known as the Star of David. ✓ The Menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It is a candelabrum with seven candle holders displayed is Jewish synagogues. ✓ Jews worship in Synagogues. ✓ Men and women usually sit separately in the Synagogues. ✓ Men must cover their heads. ✓ The Jewish spiritual leaders are called Rabbis. ✓ ABRAM – ABRAHAM ✓ Abraham – “Father of all Nation” ✓ Canaan- Promise land. ✓ “God entered into covenant with Abraham promising him that he would become the father of a great nation and would posses vast tracts of land. Abraham, in return , must remain devoted to the covenant” ✓ JACOB- Israel- “one who has been strong against God.” ✓ “Juda became the origin of the term Judaism” Moses- Considered the most important prophet in Judaism. ✓ An Israelite who grew up in the Egyptian court escaped to Sinai where God spoke to him from a burning bush. ✓ “He was told by God to rescue the people of Israel and bring them to the promise land.” ✓ It took the Hebrews three months to reach Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the moral law, which is also known as the Ten Commandments. ✓ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5. Honor your father and your mother 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. You shall not covet ✓ The Tetragrammaton ; from Ancient Greek consisting of four letters or Tetragram, is the four- letter Hebrew word ,transliterated as YHWH. The name of the National god of Israel. ✓ THE SACRED TEXT OF JUDAISM: TANAKH- It is the acronym of the three principal sections of the BIBLE. 1. TA – TORAH- The first section of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Law or Pentateuch, containing the foundational laws, teachings, and history of the Jewish people. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 2. NA- NEVIM- The second section of the Hebrew Bible, called the Prophets, which recounts the messages and stories of prophets who guided and warned the Israelites. 3. KH- KETUVIM- The third section of the Hebrew Bible, meaning Writings, which includes diverse literary works such as poetry, wisdom literature, and historical accounts.  3 MAJOR SECTS IN JUDAISM: 1. ORTHODOX JUDAISM- This sect strictly follows traditional Jewish laws (Halakha) and practices, emphasizing the Torah as divine and unchanging. They adhere to rituals, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance without compromise. 2. CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM- Balances tradition and modernity, maintaining core Jewish practices while allowing for some adaptation to contemporary life. It seeks to conserve Jewish laws but interprets them in a way that aligns with current social and cultural realities. 3. REFORM JUDAISM- Focuses on individual choice and modern values, emphasizing ethical principles over strict adherence to traditional Jewish laws. It embraces progressive ideas, such as gender equality in religious leadership and mixed seating in synagogues. WEEK 6-7 CHRISTIANITY World’s largest religion. ✓ Christians- Followers of Christianity. ( As of 2025, 2 billion followers. ) ✓ Cross- symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over the sins when he died on the cross for humanity’s redemption and salvation. ✓ Christianity started with a prophecy in the Old Testament that God will send his only begotten Son to save humanity from eternal damnation. Jesus, through his preaching and healing, was seen by his followers to be the Messiah they were waiting for. ✓ Christianity, regarded as an offshoot of Judaism, developed in Palestine around 100 C.E it was founded by Jesus considered to be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior. ✓ 3 Major Sects of Christianity: 1. Roman Catholicism- The largest branch of Christianity led by the Pope in Rome; emphasizes sacraments, tradition, and the authority of the Church. 2. Greek Orthodox Church – The Eastern branch of Christianity, emphasizing icons, and the authority of Patriarchs, separate from Roman Catholicism since the Great Schism of 1054. 3. Protestantism – A branch of Christianity that arose from the Reformation, rejecting the authority of the Pope and emphasizing the Bible as the sole authority in matters of faith. ✓ Christians believe in one God. ✓ God is seen as the creator and maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be : ✓ -Omnipotent ( ALL- POWERFUL) ✓ -Omniscient ( ALL- KNOWING) ✓ -Omnipresent( ALL- PRESENT) ✓ -Omnibenevolent ( ALL- GOOD) ✓ Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means God is composed of three persons: God the Father The Son Holy Spirit The Catholic Church follows a certain hierarchy based on the Canon Law of the Catholic Church. 1. POPE- is the head of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome. The pope is also the head of the sovereign city-state, Vatican City. The pope also has duties both political and religious. 2. CARDINALS- Next to the Pope are the Cardinals, who are also appointed by the Pope. The Primary responsibility of a Cardinal is to elect a new pope when a pope dies or abdicates the papacy. Other Cardinals have different areas of responsibility, called Congregations. 3. ARCHBISHOPS- administers an archdiocese, which is just a really large diocese. 4. BISHOPS- have the right to confirm and ordain members of the clergy, and their main duty is to supervise the clergy within their diocese 5. DEACON- is to be servant in a servant- Church 6. PRIEST- Church a parish priest is appointed by the bishop to represent him to the local parish, which is a collection of neighborhoods in one small region of a country within a given state. ✓ Bible is considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection of songs, stories, poetry, letters, history as well as literature. It is composed of two books: Old Testament And The New Testament 1. THE OLD TESTAMENT: Is the first part of Christian Bible, based primarily upon the Hebrew Bible– a collection of ancient religious writings by the Israelites believed by the most Christians and religious Jews to be sacred Word of God. 2. THE NEW TESTAMENT: The New Testament is made up of twenty- seven different books attributed to eight authors, six of whom are numbered among the Apostles (Matthew, John, Paul, James, Peter, Jude). The New Testament was not written all at once. 3. The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in the Abrahamic religions.  ✓ Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and efficacious channels of the grace of God to all those who receive them with the proper disposition 1. BAPTISM- is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. 2. CONFESSION- is meant to reconcile Christians with God by confessing their sins. 3. EUCHARIST- Holy Eucharist entails the reception Christ’s body and blood which helps Christians grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. 4. CONFIRMATION- is meant to complete Baptism and bring the baptized the graces of the Holy Spirit. If the baptism is the sacrament of re-birth to a new and supernatural life, confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. 5. MATRIMONY- This sacrament is the union of man and woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support. 6. HOLY ORDERS- Considered as the continuation of Christ’s priesthood which he passed on to his apostles. 7. Anointing of the Sick- Is administered to those who are on the verge of death or are seriously ill, or about to undergo a serious operation, for physical and moral strength. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES 1. Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as time expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning “COMING”. 2. Lent, in the Christian Church, a period of penitential preparation for Easter. In Western Churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40- day fast( Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. 3. Easter, is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, as written in the Christian bible. Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from death. 4. Pentecost is noted in the Christian Church as the day on which the Spirit descended upon the apostles, and on which, under Peter’s preaching, so many thousands were converted in Jerusalem. MS. QUEENIE ONCE SAID… “KONTI NALANG BAKASYON NA KAYA GALINGAN NA!!! ” GOODLUCK AND GODBLESS!