Lesson 1: Introduction to Religion and Philosophy PDF

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION  BELIEF SYSTEM is a particular way of ordering the realities of one’s world. An ideology or set of principles that assists us in interpreting our everyday reality Can be in form of philosophy, political, spiritual and many others Structures of nor...

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION  BELIEF SYSTEM is a particular way of ordering the realities of one’s world. An ideology or set of principles that assists us in interpreting our everyday reality Can be in form of philosophy, political, spiritual and many others Structures of norms that are interrelated, or we think to be interconnected. These are ways to make sense of the world around us and define our role within  WORLDVIEW A theory of the world used for living in it, serving as a mental model of reality, framework of ideas and attitudes about ourselves, the world, and life Serves as a life’s road map It answers: – What are humans, why are we here, and what is our purpose in life? EXAMPLE OF BELIEF SYSTEMS THEISM AS A BELIEF SYSTEM ATHEISM, NATURALISM, AND MATERIALISM AS OPPOSING WORLDVIEWS THEISM Considered as a “common denominator” among world religions Theistic worldview holds that a deity or deities exist/s The self sustaining God is commonly regarded as both immanent and transcended Man’s purpose and supposed destiny is defined by God, his Creator Natural world functions under definite rules and laws that were designed by the Creator ATHEISM, NATURALISM, AND MATERIALISM AS OPPOSING WORLDVIEWS ATHEISM The disbelief, denial of, or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods Denying any supernatural being Rejects belief in a supernatural origin of the universe, an afterlife, the authority of the so called Holy Scriptures They submits that ethical goals must be limited to non-spiritual concerns in this life, since death is the end of man’s existence NATURALISM Rejects all spiritual and supernatural explanations of the world and affirms nature as the totality of reality we can comprehend nature only through scientific investigation since science is the sole basis of what can be known From Empiricism, which claims that all valid knowledge is derived from experience and positivism MATERIALISM A philosophical doctrine that physical matter is the only ultimate reality which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions  RELIGION VS SPIRITUALIT Y, THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION  RELIGION Comes from Latin “re” and “ligare” meaning “to bind back” Peoples beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life An organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to an order of existence  SPIRITUALITY Spirit comes from Latin “spiritus” meaning Soul, Courage, Vigor, or breath One’s integrative view of life. It involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude of life it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience— something that touches us all.  THEOLOGY From Greek “theos” means God and “logos” means Word or Study Study of God. The science of God or of Religion; the science which treats the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, doctrines, and duties we practice… the science of Christian faith and life Set of intellectual and emotional commitments, justified or not, about God and man which dictate one’s beliefs and actions  PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION From Greek word “philo” means Love and “sophia” means Wisdom. “the love of wisdom”, “mother of all branches of knowledge” The philosophical study of the main themes and concepts involved in religions Examine the nature of religion and religious beliefs, ideas related to the existence and nature of the deity, the arguments or proofs for the existence of God. RELIGION VS SPIRITUALITY Focus on doctrines Focus on the soul that and rules to be dwells within a person followed Focus on the within More on outside Does not necessarily expression of faith involve Institutionalizing institutionalization May appear all about Avoiding anything that rituals can become meaningless  RELIGION VS THEOLOGY Anchored on faith and Works on religion, its beliefs principles, doctrines, Work with the idea of beliefs establishing certain An academic discipline concept of truths about that deals with the existence of God and rational analysis of superhuman power religious faith  RELIGION VS THEOLOGY Deals with customs and Attempts to inspect and manners followed by a certain critically evaluate the principle community laid in religions Religious leaders establish Theological leader establish religious truths analytical truths Human’s way to God Study of God’s way to humans  RELIGION VS PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Human’s way to God Reflection of humans lived Profession and practice of experience of God one’s held faith Examine the principles and Deal with philosophical presuppositions of religion discipline but only accidentally Involves main area of and not as its main concern philosophy such as metaphysics, epistemology, logic and philosophy of language  RELIGION VS PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Affirms the existence of a deity Inspect religious issues and About faith in a supreme concerns without a power and worship of Him as presumption of the existence the Creator and Controller of of a God or reliance on acts of the universe without involving faith reasoning Pursuit of wisdom by intellectual search necessarily involving logical reasoning ELEMENTS OF RELIGION A. Man possessing Spirit, Soul, and Body B. It is a framework of transcendent beliefs C. Text or Scriptures D. Rituals E. Sacred Spaces A. Man possessing Spirit, Soul, and Body – Having spirit and soul makes man higher than animals and other lesser creatures – Becoming spiritually developed or mature is a way to elevate oneself to a higher dimension of existence B. It is a framework of transcendent beliefs – Convicted that spiritual and supernatural beings exist. Rejects materialistic doctrine – Supernatural powers are believed to influence human life and conditions C. Text or Scriptures – The central of faith and consider as the word of God and divine revelation – Believe that their holy scriptures are divinely or supernaturally revealed or inspired D. Rituals – Sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects, performed in a sequestered place and perform according to set sequence – ‘religious rituals’ refer to the behavior performed by a religious member or a group of believers with reference to supernatural power or a deity E. Sacred Spaces – Places of worship (chapel or church, temple, building) – Synagogue a Jewish house of prayer – Mosque a place of worship for followers of Islam SYNAGOGUE MOSQUE SOME THEOLOGICAL WORLDVIEWS 1. All is One 2. Many Gods 3. One God 4. No God  1. ALL IS ONE (MONISTIC) All seeming differences, distinctions, and separations are ultimately only apparent or partial aspects of an ultimate whole Oppose Dualism and Pluralism –Dualism – there are two kinds of substance –Pluralism – there are many kinds of substance 2. MANY GODS ( POLYTHEISTIC) Polytheism – worship or belief in more than one deity Existence of many gods or divine beings. Not all polytheists worship all the gods equally – Henotheists – specialize veneration of specific deity – Kathenotheists – worship different gods at different times Includes many religion (Hinduism, Egyptian religion etc.) 3. ONE GOD ( MONOTHEISTIC) Monotheism is the belief in single God or only one God Christian tradition holds that monotheism was the original religion of humanity but lost after the ‘fall of man’ “the doctrine of the Trinity is incompatible with monotheism” – Some Christians “Yet for us there is one God, the Father: (I Cor. 8:6) 4. NO GOD (ATHEISTIC) Disbelief, denial of, or lack of belief in the existence of God Related to naturalism and materialism and compatible to evolutionism and Darwinism ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUALITY a. Holistic b. Quest for Meaning c. Quest for the Sacred d. Suggests a Self-reflective Existence A. HOLISTIC Spirituality is claimed to provide a fully integrated view of life. It encompasses all aspects of being human and is a mans of experiencing life Physical Dimension (body) – world-conscious Psychological Dimension (mind) – self- consciousness and self-identity Spiritual Dimension (spirit) – a unifying force within individuals, integrating and transcending all other dimensions B. QUEST FOR MEANING To determine meaning in life arises s a central theme in spirituality with the relationship to self, others and God contributing to its discovery If a person is unable to find meaning and purpose, all aspects of his/her life may be adversely affected as a sense of emptiness and unworthiness C. QUEST FOR THE SACRED Promotes having faith, which can be an important part of a person’s beliefs and decisions in life. Faith may be viewed as a belief in God that gives meaning and purpose in life D. SUGGEST A SELF- REFLECTIVE EXISTENCE Through self-reflection some so-called spiritualists claim to derive meaning even from adverse experiences Meaning in life can be an outcome of spiritual self- reflection which can be found contemplatively and creatively through painting or poetry, adherence to a political ideology or in relationship with other people A SPIRITUAL MAN VS RELIGIOUS MAN Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) Man – Associates faith with the private realm of personal experiences rather than with the public realm of religious institutions, creeds, and rituals Religious But Not Spiritual (RBNS) Man