Introduction to World Religions and Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏.pdf

Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Lesson One: Understanding the Nature of Religion Religion - is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or...

Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Lesson One: Understanding the Nature of Religion Religion - is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. - Latin word religio refers to “something done with overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail” - Latin verb religare which means “to tie together, to bind fast.” Elements of belief system or worldview: 1. Time - The age of people, the length of a day, the age of the country. 2. Values - It is different from person to person. People to people from different religions, group, countries; the all value different things. 3. Beliefs - science and religion and anything you believe in. 4. Knowledge - the more education a person has, the different view on the world they will have. 5. Economy - The way we view the world has a high dependency on the amount of money you and your country has. 6. Geography - combination of economy, society, time and beliefs. Kinds of Belief Systems or Worldviews in Religion: 1. Theism - the belief in the existence of one or more divinities which exist within the universe and yet transcend it. 2. Monotheism- the view that only one god exists. 3. Polytheism- the belief in or worship of multiple gods. 4. Pantheism- the belief that god is equivalent to nature or the physical universe or that everything is an all-encompassing imminent abstract. 5. Animism- the belief that souls inhabit all or most objects whether they be animals, vegetables or minerals. 6. Atheism - the belief that gods do not exist or a complete rejection of theism in any form. 7. Agnosticism - they believe that the nature and existence of god is unknown and cannot ever be known or proven. Elements of Religion: 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 share and its ideals are practices by a group. 3. Central Stories or myths - stories that help explain the beliefs of a group. 4. Rituals - beliefs are explained, taught and made real truths ceremonies. 5. Ethics - rules about how to behave. 6. Characteristic Emotional Experiences - most religions share emotions such as awe, mystery, guilt, devotion, conversion, inner peace.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 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. SPIRITUALITY - One’s integrative view of life, involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. - The word spirit came from the Latin terms spiritus which is translated as “breath, courage, vigor or soul” and spirare or “to breathe” 4 Characteristics of Spirituality 1. A sense of wholeness and harmony within oneself. 2. A sense of wholeness and harmony with others. 3. A sense of fullness and harmony with god or supreme power. 4. A sense of wholeness and harmony with the ecosystem. 5 Attributes or Elements of Spirituality 1. Meaning: The ontological significance of life; making sense of life situations; deriving purpose in existence. 2. Values: beliefs and standards cherished; having to do with the truth. Beauty, worth of a thought, object or behavior. 3. Transcendence: Experience and appreciation of a dimension beyond the self; expanding self boundaries. 4. Connecting: Relationship with self, others, God/Higher Power, and the environment. 5. Becoming: unfolding of life that demands reflection and experience. Lesson Three: Positive and Negative Effects of Religion - We cannot deny the fact that religion can have positive and negative effects on society and it has a great effect on the way people live their lives today. It plays a significant role in the development of people’s values, cultures, and civilizations. POSITIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION 1. Religion Promotes Social Harmony - It practices a set of rituals and ceremonious rites of passage and rites of intensification. It also regards religious leaders such as priests, priestesses and shamans in high esteem. These characteristics help advance social harmony by assimilating and stabilizing cultures and nations.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 2. Religion Provides Moral Values - It provides a systematic model of the universe, which in effect determines organized human behavior. By providing moral values, one is able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. 3. Religion Provides Social Change - Religion plays a very effective role in lobbying and campaigning for certain social issues by using its moral teachings as the basis of argument. 4. Religion Reduces Fear of the Unknown - religion has provided people with answers to the unknown such as the origin of life and the concept of afterlife. 5. Religion Gives Positive Goals in Life - People were inspired by the stories of different prophets from their own religious affiliations, like that of Moses, Siddharta Gautama, and Muhammad. These people showed how ordinary people like them were given important missions in life, and how they struggled to carry out their respective missions. 6. Religion Gives People a Sense of Belonging - Belonging to a particular religion—whose members share the same beliefs, practice the same rituals, and worship the same god—gives individuals a sense of being in the right place with the right people. NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION 1. Religion Affirms Social Hierarchy - Some religions affirm social hierarchy often favoring men and as a result, perpetuate the notions of class or gender discrimination and oppression. 2. Religion Causes Discrimination - Religion can also be a source of discrimination, or the prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the basis of race, religion, age, or sex. 3. Religion Triggers Conflicts and Fights - History witnessed numerous lives sacrificed and lost in the name of religion. Wars have been fought in the name of religion, and this phenomenon continues up to the present time. In Palestine, the Jews are in conflict with the Muslims; etc. 4. Religion As An Economic Tool for Exploiting the Masses - According to Karl Marx, a German Philosopher, “religion is the opium of the masses.” According to Marx, it maintains social inequality by propagating a worldview that justifies oppression. 5. Religion Impedes Scientific Success and Development - Some of the moral teachings of other religions are deemed by secular communities to be detrimental to development. - For example, some religions express their disapproval against reproductive health programs, access to legal and medically safe birth control, therefore, immoral. Religion-based mortuary practices can also be detrimental to public health and sanitation. 6. Religion Obstructs the Use of Reason - Ancient religious beliefs and practices which have proven to be inhuman should be replaced with sensible ones. Take the case of the trepanning, or the ancient practice of boring holes in the human skull.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 HISTORICAL EVENTS CAUSED BY RELIGION - In some regions of the world, religion has become very influential in almost every aspect of human activity—from personal routines to diplomatic relations. Here are some of the historical events that are caused by religion. 1. Self-Immolation of a Buddhist Monk in Vietnam - The case of self-immolation reported by the Western media was that of a Buddhist monk named Thich Quang Duc in Vietnam in 1963, who set himself on fire in the middle of a street in South Vietnam. This was done in protest against the religious discrimination being experienced by the Buddhists in Vietnam by the Roman Catholic regime of Ngo Dinh Diem. 2. Widow Burning Among the Hindus in India - Sati, or the practice of self-immolation of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre, is said to have originated 700 years ago in India. - When the rajput women burnt themselves to death after their men were defeated in battles to avoid being taken by the conquerors. It has been outlawed by the British rulers in 1829 but rare cases still continue to occur. 3. The Inquisition - The Inquisition was a response to large popular movements in Europe considered heretical or profane to Christianity, particularly - Catharism - a Christian dualist movement which espoused the idea of two gods, one being good and the other evil. - Waldensians - a Protestant Christian movement which advocated that apostolic poverty is the way to perfection. 4. THE GODHRA TRAIN INCIDENT IN 2002 - It was on February 2002 when a train was set on fire in which 59 people, including 15 children and 25 women, were killed. The said fire happened inside the Sabarmati Express train near Godhra railway station located in Indiian State of Gujarat. - The Godhra train incident in 2002 was seen as a Muslim retaliation for the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992. Lesson Four: Judaism - Judaism is one if the Abrahamic religions that include Christianity and Islam. It is professed by the Jews known as the “people of the book” - The Torah is the most important text of the Jewish people. It contains the “Five Books of Moses” and many sacred laws.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - The Jewish people, originally Semites called Hebrews, trace their origins to the desert lands of Arabia. Judaism, their religion, began with the covenant between Abraham and God, making Abraham the father of the Semitic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Abraham had two sons: Ishmael, considered the ancestor of the Arabs, and Isaac, ancestor of the Jewish people. Isaac’s son Jacob, renamed Israel, fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. - Key events in Jewish history include their Exodus from Egyptian slavery, led by Moses, and the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Moses united the tribes under the worship of Yahweh. King Solomon, son of David, built the first Temple in Jerusalem, a central site of Jewish worship. Although destroyed in 70 AD, the Western Wall remains a significant holy site. - The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is central to Judaism and promises the coming of a messiah. While Christians believe this messiah to be Jesus, Jews do not. Jewish people worship in synagogues, and Jerusalem, the holy city, is located in present-day Israel, the land promised by God to Abraham. SACRED SCRIPTURES - The Jewish people have been called the “people of the Book” in reference to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that has been the authority, guide, and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism. - The Hebrew Bible is divided into three principal sections, namely the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. Torah (“Teaching”) / Tanakh (or the “Written Torah”) - is composed of the first “Five Books” or the Pentateuch traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses. Pentateuch - also narrates the history, religious statues, and moral regulations for individuals and society, ceremonial rites and creation stories by Yahweh. - single most important scripture for the Jewish people that became the source of their inspiration and direction for centuries. Nevi’im (“Prophets”) - is subdivided into Earlier Prophets, Later Prophets, and twelve minor prophets. Prophets served as spokespersons who criticize the hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. The Ketuvim (“Writings”) - form the third section of the Tanakh that contains works on poetry, temple ritual, private prayer, philosophical explorations, and other canonical works. Talmud (or the “Oral Torah”) - which means “study.” All studies and interpretations done by Jewish rabbis or teachers of the Torah are contained in the Talmud.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES - In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs. - For the Jews, there is one everlasting god who created the universe. - Human beings were created by God who provided them the capacity to decide what is right and wrong, and gave them the freedom and responsibility for their own actions (Losch 2001). Articles of Faith - Perhaps the closest approach in having an acceptable creed in Judaism was proposed by the eminent medieval Jewish philosopher Moshe ben Maimon. The Ten Commandments - A set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at the biblical Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite. - Inscribed on two stone tablets, these commandments present God’s complete and enduring standard for morality. - 613 mitzvot or laws found within the Torah (as identified by Rambam) that guide the Jewish people in their daily living.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES - Jewish community utilizes a lunar calendar with twelve months, each beginning at the new moon of 29 or 30 days. Sabbath - The most important day in the Jewish calendar is the Sabbath (or Shabbat) which commemorates God’s completion of the creation of the universe and his rest after the six-day toil (Parrinder 1971). The Days of Awe - Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar. The first ten days of Tishri are called the “Days of Awe” (Yamim Noraim) wherein the first two days comprise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the tenth day as the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Yom Kippur is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar that brings the period of repentance to its conclusion. Pilgrimage Festivals - Torah commanded the ancient Israelites to go to Jerusalem on three pilgrimage festivals and participate in the worship at the Temple. Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). Pesach - is an eight-day festival that originally marked the beginning of the barley harvest. Shavuot - is a two-day festival that was originally a celebration of the wheat harvest. Sukkot - is a nine-day festival commemorating the autumn harvest and the forty years of the Israelites’ stay in the desert wilderness. Halakha - Collectively called halakha which translates as “the path that one walks,” it instructs Jews what to do as they wake up in the morning, what foods to eat, what clothes to wear, who to marry, and how to observe Sabbath and holy days. Synagogues - Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship that contain separate rooms designed for specific activities, such as Judaism praying and studying. The Temple - David conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital. Bringing with him the “Ark of the Covenant.”. SUBDIVISIONS Orthodox Judaism - is the most traditional of modern Judaism that adheres to the authority of the entire Torah as given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai. Reform Judaism (Liberal or Progressive Judaism) - is considered the most liberal expression of Judaism that subjects religious laws and customs to human judgment. Conservative Judaism - seeks to conserve the traditional elements of Judaism while at the same time allowing for modernization that is less radical than Reform Judaism.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Hasidism or Hasidic Judaism - emerged in Germany during the twelfth century. It was largely a spiritual movement that gives prime importance to asceticism and experience as a result of love and humility before God. Kabbalah - another mystical form of Judaism that attempts to penetrate deeper into God’s essence itself. SELECTED ISSUES Women in Judaism - Women’s role in the Jewish religion is determined by the Tanakh, the “Oral Torah,” and Jewish customs. Mishnah instructs that women must follow nearly all the negative commandments except trimming the beard and viewing a dead body. Jewish Diaspora and Zionist Movement - Diaspora is the dispersion of Jewish communities outside Israel that have continually occurred since ancient history. - Zionist Movement has come to promote the development and protection of Israel. Holocaust - Greek origin means “sacrifice by fire.” - methodical, bureaucratic, and state-sponsored persecution and execution of around 6 million Jews undertaken by Nazi regime and its collaborators from 1933 to 1945. Anti-Semitism - Pertains to hostility and discrimination against the Jewish people that was strongly felt in France, Germany, Poland and Russia in the late 19th and 20th Centuries. Lesson Five: Christianity - The most popular religion in the world with the most number of adherents among all religions. - The core teaching and message of Christianity is that a loving God sent His begotten Son to redeem humanity from eternal damnation. - Considered the world’s largest religion, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who is considered the Son of God and the Messiah or Savior. Symbols - The cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over sins when He died on the cross for humanity’s redemption and salvation. - The fish symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it was used by persecuted Christians as a secret sign when meeting other Christians. - Greek word for fish, which is ichtys: Iseous Christos Theou Yios Soter, meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 C.E. It was founded by Jesus, considered to be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an offshoot of Judaism. Historical Context - Christianity emerged in Judea, the southern part of Palestine, during a time when Judaism was the dominant religion and the land was considered by Jews as promised to them by God. Historically, Palestine had been conquered by several empires, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and finally the Romans, who ruled the region when Jesus was born. - The concept of a Messiah, as promised in Judaism, resonated with a population under foreign rule, leading to the birth of Christianity. Social conditions, including the relatively peaceful period of Roman rule (Pax Romana), helped facilitate the spread of the new religion. Jesus was seen as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, believed to be God's Son sent to liberate people from suffering and sin, thus giving rise to Christianity. Jesus as the Founder of Christianity - It was in this backdrop that Jesus, founder of Christianity, lived and preached teachings that served as criticisms of Judaism, although he himself was a Jew. His ministry began when he was in his early thirties. Preaching and healing in the villages, he started to preach teachings which were considered revolutionary at that time. Religious Leaders The Pope - serves as the head of the Catholic Church, the inheritor of Peter. He has his headquarters in the Vatican, an independent state in Rome. The Cardinals - who are also appointed by the Pope. The cardinals represent the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in different parts of the world. The Bishops - also form part of the hierarchy. Bishops are teachers of the doctrine, priests of sacred worship, and ministers of church government. The Priests - who are ordained ministers responsible for the administering of the sacraments, such as the Eucharist, Marriage, Baptism, and Confirmation. The deacons - who are classified into two types: the transitional deacon is a seminarian who is studying for the priesthood and the other one is a permanent deacon, who can get married and serve as a priest’s assistant in administering some of the sacraments.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Deity/God - Christians believe in one God, therefore Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 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), and omnibenevolent (all-good). Holy Trinity - Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that God is composed of three persons: God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. SACRED SCRIPTURES - The Bible is considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection of songs, stories, poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. The Old Testament - The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books which are arranged in three parts: The first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are considered “The Law” or Torah which may refer to guidance or instruction. - The second part of the Old Testament is called “The Prophets” which is divided into two parts, the earlier prophets and the latter prophets. Book of former prophets is considered historical while the Book of latter prophets contain sayings and stories of the prophets. - The third part is called “The Writings,” which include Psalms (songs, prayers, and worship liturgies), Proverbs (wise sayings), Job (a drama that explores the nature of suffering), and the five scrolls (Megiloth) which were grouped together for festivals. The New Testament - The New Testament is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E. and is composed of two sections: - The Gospels which tell the story of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John); and - The Letters (or Epistles), written by various Christian leaders to serve as guide to the early Christian communities. BELIEFS/DOCTRINES Ten Commandments - Also called the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments are a set of laws given by God to the people of Israel at Mt.Sinai through Moses.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Seven Sacraments - The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which are considered signs of inner kindness given by God for Christians to live a genuine human life. 1. Baptism - is meant to remove the guilt and effects of Original Sin and welcome the baptized to the Church. 2. Confirmation - is meant to complete Baptism and bring the baptized the graces of the Holy Spirit that were given the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. 3. Holy Communion - entails the reception of Christ’s body and blood which helps Christians grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. 4. Confession - which is meant to reconcile Christianity with God by confessing their sins. 5. The Sacrament of Marriage - with the union of a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support. It also reflects the union of Jesus Christ with His Church. 6. The Sacrament of Holy Orders - is considered the continuation of Christ’s priesthood which He passed on to His apostles. 7. Anointing of the Sick - also known as Extreme Unction or Last Rites, which is administered to those who are on the verge of death or are seriously ill. Eight Beatitudes - The Beatitudes comprise what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in Matthew 5-7. The Beatitudes refer to the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the “Sermon on the Mount.” Apostles’ Creed - The Apostles’ Creed is believed to have developed in the 100 or 200 C.E. and was influenced later by the Nicene Creed. A letter written by the Council of Milan in 390 C.E. is the earliest historical evidence of the existence of the Apostles’ Creed. Story of Creation and Big Bang Theory - The Story of Creation, which narrates how God created the universe in six days, is found in Genesis 1 of the Old Testament. It narrates how God created light and darkness on the first day; the sky and the ocean on the second day; the earth and plants on the third day; the sun, moon, and the stars on the fourth day; sea creatures, land animals, and birds on the fifth day; and finally the first man and woman on the sixth day, after which He rested on the seventh day. - Big Bang Theory, which states that the universe began as an incredibly hot, very dense point in space about 14 billion years ago. It then underwent rapid expansion in no time and, as it cooled, led to the creation of stars, galaxies and planets.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES Advent - refers to the season of waiting for the birth of the Messiah, hence its celebration lasts for four weeks, beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on Christmas eve. Lent - refers to the season observed by Christians in preparation for Easter, a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Ash Wednesday signals the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days before Easter. Pentecost - is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians. Thus, Pentecost is also celebrated as the birthday of the Church. SUBDIVISIONS - Before Emperor Constantine's reign, Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire. In 313 C.E., Constantine legalized Christianity through the Edict of Milan, granting religious equality. After becoming the sole Roman ruler in 324 C.E., he made Christianity the official state religion and sought to resolve doctrinal disputes by convening the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 C.E. Constantine also relocated the capital to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. - Over time, tensions between the Roman and Byzantine Empires led to the Great Schism in 1054, officially dividing the Roman Catholic Church in the West from the Greek Orthodox Church in the East. Later, in the 16th century, Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation by challenging corruption in the Catholic Church, notably the selling of indulgences. His ideas spread widely, especially with the invention of the printing press, leading to the formation of Protestantism. This second major split in Christianity was followed by the Catholic Church's own reforms in response to Luther's critiques. SELECTED ISSUES Ecumenism - refers to the effort of the Catholic Church to sponsor activities and initiatives to promote mutual understanding and unity among all Christians. - However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided.  Introduction to World Religions & Belief System Q1 Reviewer 🙏 Sexuality - The issue of sexuality has always been controversial for the Catholic Church. Due to its conservative view of human sexuality, it has often found itself in conflict with progressive and liberal ideas with regard to certain issues connected to sexuality such as artificial contraception, abortion, and homosexuality. Family and Divorce - Divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church, since it believes in the sanctity of marriage, which should be a lifetime bond between a man and a woman, and is considered a legal bond on earth and a spiritual bond in heaven. - If couples wish to separate, they could seek an annulment, also known as Decree of Nullity, in which it is declared that the marriage was never valid in the first place. Capital Punishment and Euthanasia - Capital punishment or death penalty wherein a person is punished by death for his or her capital crime goes against the Christian belief that life is given by God and should not be taken away by any person. - Euthanasia or mercy killing is also considered immoral since it entails taking away what has been given by God, and that human beings should not interfere with the natural process of death. Even if a person is extremely suffering from his/ her illness, he/she has no right to take away what God has given him/her.