Father Saturnino Urios University

Bp.Pueblos Senior High School

Religion 221
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

Lesson 1
Introduction
Understanding the Nature of Religion

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, (90%) of the students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of belief system or world view.
2. Differentiate spirituality and religiosity.
3. Realize the basic human way of thinking.

I: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE / Share your ideas

What are your personal views on the concept of Spirituality, how it differs from being religious?
What are the things that you are always holding on as you believe in them?

ACTIVITY
In the context of religion, list down 10 things that you believe in by completing the following statements.
What have you observed in your own belief system?
1. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
2. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
3. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
4. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
5. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
6. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
7. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
8. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
9. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.
10. I believe in/that _________________________________________________.

II: ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE / Let us discover another

Why is there a need to study religion? Religion has been in existence since the earliest time of humankind.
Wherever humankind inhabits, religion too exists. Presently, we are all witness as to how religion continues to
play crucial roles in world politics in the twenty-first century as can be seen from the various political conflicts
that have their roots in religious differences. This particular chapter will introduce you to various concepts
related to religion, expound on the origin of religion, and evaluate the many roles played by religion in people’s
everyday lives.
In all parts of the world, religious ideas have helped inflame animosity and discord that shape conflicts and give
rise to oppression and tyranny. Conversely, religious traditions have also created a strong backbone that helped
shape the importance of peace, justice, equality, toleration, and brotherhood.

https://youtu.be/HGlPGG5MKow
Dr. Varun Soni

[Music]
students often ask me why should we study religion in this day and age what
benefit does it have especially if those students aren't religious themselves in

my opinion religion is both relevant and revelatory

it's relevant in that almost anything you want to look at in the

world today politics culture history
economics anything you want to study has
a religious component to it I started to
study religion because I wanted to
understand the nature of God what I
realize is that my study of religion
told me more about what it means to be
human than what it means to be God
[Music]
for anyone to study religion it will
provide a lens to understand the rest of
the world better if you really
understand why people do what they do
you also have to understand how their
religious beliefs compel them to do so
it's more than just the study of God
it's a language that helps us think
about the big questions in our life the
questions that make us human and the
questions that connect us together
questions of meaning and purpose
questions like Who am I and what does my
life mean these are questions that
ultimately make us human
[Music]
religion for thousands of years has
provided pathways of thinking about
these ultimate questions and because of
that religion can be revelatory for each
of us as we think about why are we here
and what is our life mean
[Music]
in this day and age when people often
interpret religious texts for reasons of
violence negativity or oppression it's
very important to also highlight that
religious texts can and should be
interpreted in ways that promote peace
connectivity community joy and love
because if you look at all the different
faith traditions in the world the one
thing that really connects all those
traditions together is this notion that
we are our brother's keeper we are a
global family and to really serve God we
have to serve each other
we really have to come back to the idea
that religion should be interpreted to
promote violence pain exclusivity
[Music]
as a professor it's tough because I have
to grade students I am gonna give
students grades that they might not feel
represents their work or they might not
feel as so compassionate but I don't
focus so much on the grades I focus on
the knowledge and if there is a way for
me to help students in their life to
elevate their consciousness or open
their eyes up to see the world in a
different way then that to me is
knowledge and knowledge to me is light
that's the light that dispels the
darkness of ignorance we all need to
come together and work across faiths
lines because we all have the same goals
and as long as we keep fighting with
each other over our differences we can
never connect with each other over our
many similarities my hope for the world
is that a religion becomes an empowering
opportunity for people to solve crises
it's not just a theoretical idea it
actually translates into real action and
for me that comes from an idea that we
find in all of our religious spiritual
philosophical and mystical traditions
that God is love and love is God
[Music]
Understanding the Nature of Religion
What does it mean to be religious and spiritual? Why is religion linked to
humankind’s quest to search for the real meaning of life and death? As we all
know, when one prays, he or she actively seeks an affinity to divine beings or
supernatural entities that are beyond the purely natural world. The picture below is
a clear depiction of an act of prayer. Majority of world religions follow a set of
prayers in the form of chants, mantras, or creed. Whether you pray or not, you may
have witnessed the influential roles being played by religions all over the world.
Understanding the nature of religion enlightens learners about the common grounds
that bind believers into examining the questions of life and death and why or how
persons yearn for spiritual inspiration. Recognizing the inherent characteristics of
religion provides the opportunity to deeply grasp the many beliefs and practices
that mold humankind's spiritual needs.
* Religion is the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred belief system.
* Spirituality reflects one’s integrative view of life while affecting the human soul.
* Religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2014).

UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEWS

Every individual sees and interprets the world quite differently from one another. This overall perspective is
also termed worldview which is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe being held by people (The
Free Dictionary 2014). For a certain individual, social environment and upbringing are critical in the
development of a religious life. All these factors have an effect on 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.

Likewise, many may have lived and died within just a short period of time. Table below enumerates the
different kinds of belief systems or worldviews.

Kinds of Belief System

Kinds Description
Monism there is no real distinction between god and the universe
Polytheism the belief and worship of many gods
Monotheism the doctrine or belief in one supreme god
Atheism disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god
Agnosticism god cannot be known

Theism, often used as a synonym to monotheism, is defined as “a belief in the existence of one god viewed as the
creative source of the human race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world” (Merriam-Webster
Dictionary 2014). Monotheistic religions claim that there is only one God who could have designed and created the
universe or may have directed all events that led to the creation of everything. There is one supreme God who is both
personal and moral, and who seeks a total and unqualified response from humans (Hick 1990). Modern-day examples of
monotheistic religions include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. On the other hand, polytheistic religions that are common
among early people recognize many principal gods among whom no one is supreme. These include the ancient religions
of Egypt, Greece, and Rome wherein people worship a multitude of personal gods.
Meanwhile, monism asserts that there is no genuine distinction between God and the universe. Two implications arise
from this belief. Firstly, it contends that God is dwelling in the universe as part of it. Secondly, the universe does not exist
at all as a reality but only as a manifestation of God.
Furthermore, while atheists deny the existence of God, agnostics deny the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of
the existence of God.

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-Webster Dictionary 2014). The Latin word religio 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).

Table below summarizes the various definitions forwarded by several social scientists on the nature of religion.
Name of Social Scientist Background View on Religion
Edward Burnett Taylor English anthropologist; the belief in spiritual beings
(1832-1917) founding figure of the science
of social anthropology
James George Frazer (1854- Scottish social a propitiation or conciliation of powers superior
1941) anthropologist; one of the to man which are believed to control and direct
founding figures of modern the course of nature and of human life
anthropology
Bronislaw Kasper an eminent 20th-century a body of self-contained acts being themselves
Malinowski (1884-1942) Polish anthropologist the fulfilment of their purpose; an affair of all,
in which everyone takes an active and
equivalent part
David Ëmile Durkheim French sociologist; father of a unified system of beliefs and practices relative
(1858-1917) sociology to sacred things

Common Characteristics Among Religions the Figure below illustrates the different characteristics that are
common to most major religions
What are the common characteristics of major world religions?
What was the use of religion to early humans?

ORIGINS OF RELIGION
Since the nineteenth century, people began to show great interest in explaining the origins of religion. In fact,
numerous theories have been postulated to explain the origin of religion while looking at primitive societies for
ideas concerning the development of belief systems (Hendry 1999).
Archaeologists believe that they have discovered elements of religious belief practised by Homo sapiens
almost 60,000 years ago. Apart from burying the dead, various items such as foods, tools, and other objects
were placed inside the site. All these rituals imply reverence to their loved ones and perhaps the thought that the
dead will utilize these materials in the afterlife. While they believe in the presence of supernatural entities, they
also try to communicate with them (Ember & Ember 1996).
Various explanations have surfaced that somehow tend to simplify or even denigrate primitive religions.
Others maintain that since early humans are weak and ignorant of the different forces of nature, they had to
invent religion to explain the seemingly unexplainable mystery and fury of nature. In the process, they had to
create a scheme of deities and spirits. Still others contend that religion was conceived by the few to stifle and
repress the ideals of the masses (Hopfe 1983).
The nineteenth century witnessed the development of the fields of the social sciences that enabled scholars to
apply a more scientific way of explaining phenomena rather than speculate on matters concerning the origin of
religion. Through field research, observations, and analysis of historical documents, scholars formulated a
number of theories that have endured well into the present time.

Table below summarizes the different theories on the origin of religion and the major proponents of these
theories.
Name of Proponent Explanation
Theory
Animistic Edward Burnett Tylor (1832- Primitive people believed in souls or anima found in people
Theories 1917), English anthropologist (seen in dreams) and in all of nature. Since spirits could be
 helpful or harmful to human beings, early people had to pray
to these spirits, offer sacrifices, and appease or avoid them.
Robert Henry Codrington (1830-1922), In his investigation, he found out that the Melanesian people
Anglican priest and anthropologist believed in mana, a mysterious force that inhabited all of
nature. All early people began their religion in cognizance of
such force; the destructiveness of the mana can be avoided
by establishing taboos.
Nature-Worship Theory Human beings first developed their religions from their
observations of the forces of nature. Early people became
aware of the regularity of the seasons, the tides and the
phases of the moon, and began personalizing them by giving
them names, describing their activities with tales that
transformed into mythology. Primitive people identified the
forces in nature, personified them, created myths, and
developed religions around them.
Theory of Wilhelm Schmidt (1868- In Australia and Africa, basic cultures held a common belief
Original 1954), Austrian in a distant high god, that originally there had been one great
Monotheism anthropologist and ethnologist god above all others, and that he may have been the creator
of the world or the father of the many lesser deities. This
high god went away and had little contact with the world that
resulted in majority of attention and worship to local deities.
Primitive societies were originally monotheistic, but because
it was difficult to worship just one god, religion was
corrupted to polytheism.
Magic James George Frazer (1854- People had gone three phases of development concerning the
Theory 1941), Scottish social spirit world: (1) primitive magic (wherein people attempted
anthropologist to control nature in the hope that nature will cooperate if
rituals are done properly); (2) religion (wherein people
implored nature to cooperate since they have realized that
nature cannot be coerced); and (3) science (wherein a
rational understanding of nature is operative).
Wish Ludwig Andreas von There were no gods and that belief in gods was simply wish
Fulfilment Feuerbach (1804-1872), fulfilment. Troubled people who could not cope with the
Theory German philosopher and difficulties in life projected their wishes and developed gods
anthropologist and religions.
Karl Heinrich Marx (1818- Religions were developed by the few as a means to control
1883), German philosopher the masses and suppress revolution as a result of the
and sociologist continuing struggle between classes. Rulers and allied priests
wished to control all wealth so they had to create a scheme of
gods, heavens, and hell. Masses were persuaded to accept
poverty and be obedient to inherit bliss in another life.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), Religion originated from the guilt that individuals
Austrian neurologist and supposedly feel in hating their fathers. All males possess a
founder father of similar tendency to desire our mothers and hate our fathers.
psychoanalysis As a result of this subconscious hatred and ensuing guilt, a
great father image was projected in the sky called God. A
healthy mature person can face problems without the need
for gods or religions.

EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY
A comparative analysis of major religions reveals that an important characteristic of their belief system focuses
on the longing for value in life (Parrinder 1971). For thousands of years, people have been searching and
yearning to understand the mystery of life and the universe. There may come a point in time when an individual
realizes that life is not entirely accidental and meaningless (Parrinder 1971). This is where the concept of
spirituality comes in with the term “spiritual” being defined as “relating or affecting the human spirit or soul as
opposed to material or physical things” (Oxford Dictionaries 2014). One author points out that it is quite
common for people to say that they are “spiritual, not religious” (Grassie 2010). Spirituality may be manifested
in quite a number of ways. For example, a person may believe in the presence of an overwhelming power
greater than oneself or perhaps a person can be fully mindful of one’s purpose in life. That person can also have
a feeling of oneness or a bond with other living beings.
While spirituality is derived from the Latin word spiritus, its verb root is spirare which means “to breathe”
literally. There is an impression that people are surrounded by a “divine reality as pervasive, intimate,
necessary, and invisible as the air we breathe” which is similar to Hindu prana and Chinese chi. (Grassie 2010).
While religions are frequently viewed as set of ideals practiced and followed by organized groups,
“spirituality is something an individual can have without being implicated in the ambivalent complexity of
human societies and institutions” (Grassie 2010). Although traditional spirituality is frequently associated with
religiosity, many people assert that personal spirituality can grow separately from religion. One may find inner
peace, satisfaction, and contentment in life that are truly independent of religious dogmas and tenets.
In the study of religion, there are basic concepts that need to be understood such as theology, philosophy of
religion, and spirituality. While religion refers to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning a
supernatural power—theology involves the systematic study of the existence and nature of the divine. It deals
with the study of the nature and purpose of god that may be undertaken using a particular perspective. Theology
is a study, not a formulation of religious beliefs.
On the other hand, philosophy of religion deals primarily with issues concerning religion, which includes
analysis on the existence of a divine being or on sacred texts. It may involve studying the “concepts and belief
systems of the religions as well as the prior phenomena of religious experience and the activities of worship and
meditation on which these belief systems rest and out of which they have arisen” (Hick 1990). It seeks to
analyze various concepts such as god, spirit, karma, creation, immortality, heaven, hell, and purgatory among
others. Philosophy of religion is not a branch of theology but a branch of philosophy. It is said that this
particular study need not be undertaken from a religious perspective at all because atheists, agnostics, and the
person of faith can and do philosophize about religion (Hick 1990).

Meanwhile, spirituality is something an individual can have without being implicated in the ambivalent
complexity of human societies and institutions (Grassie 2010). Thus, spirituality can be described as one's
integrative view of life and involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life as opposed to an
instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. Hence, one can be spiritual without being religious.

Difference between Spirituality, Religion and Theology

https://youtu.be/rV7naW9w9y4
what is the relationship between relationship between these three for example you can certainly attend a
spirituality religion and theology can terms school but if you don't have a lived or
you be spiritual but not religious or spirituality can best be described as a active relationship there you don't get
religious but not spiritual can you lived a relationship with blank I involved you don't make any
practice theology without being either intentionally leave the end of this connections
religious or spiritual today we are definition blank because you can be with your teachers peers or subject
going to look at the differences in spirited at anything think school spirit
matter then you aren't really gonna connection that was so strong in a their calling that the spirit should be
feel any sort of school spirit group that you and other members lively and joyous not sad and grumpy
it's a pep assembly without the path were motivated or in
the word spirit in Hebrew translates to inspired to just go out and do this case Francis was talking about
wind something people who are religious but no longer
or breath and these terms I feel about it if so you had a spiritual spiritual can you practice theology
adequately describe the role of moment so what about theology without being spiritual or religious
spirituality wind is a force that moves theology absolutely but I think it'll get sloppy
you breath is a force that provides life is Greek for God talk and in short it's the judeo-christian tradition is almost
if you are connected enough with people talking about God I've 4,000 years of commentary or
something whether it's school or described instruction
sports in past episodes that a good way of to help guide meaning when doing
or God you will be moved and it will understanding theology is people theology it would be shameful to not at
provide you with a life-giving energy making least tap the resources that religion
religion is best defined as an a sense of stuff or people providing can provide further I think there's an
organized meanings of things that have advantage to doing theology if your
group of worshipers who shared inexplicably happened to them or the spiritual again spiritual means you're
beliefs answers to life questions the key word connected to it so if you're trying to
practices and a moral code the Latin when it comes to theology is meaning make sense of God it's easier writing
root portrayed here translates to to so from an experience you can relate to
bind together if you take a group of what is the relationship between give you a secular example growing
spiritual people that is a group that spirituality religion and theology can up I
feels a connection with each other and you be spiritual but not religious yes cannot imagine having children on my
God and they join forces and organize but as seus Lewis describes religion is own
they become a religion and this like a map it provides a sense of I'd scoff at any parents who narrated
religious identity binds them together direction when you're out at sea every single action a child does or
think Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 what now could you sail the Atlantic without offers to show me a picture or even
many people don't realize is that a map and have a moving experience worse offer me to hold their baby I
Pentecost was actually a Jewish feast absolutely but it's easier to have a didn't understand the mentality
day known as the feasts of the weeks map surrounding parenting because I was
that celebrated the gift of the law to helping you keep your bearings not
the Israelites at Mount Sinai 50 days religion a parent myself now that I am I get it
after the resurrection of Christ the is a tool that aids one spirituality and the meaning of those actions are
Apostles were together in a room keeps us on course can you be much
celebrating this religious holiday when religious clearer to me now because I'm
they encountered spirituality in a but not spiritual unfortunately yes connected
whole I think we've all had experiences in now in regards to theology it's harder
new way being described as like church where there's an absence of to make sense of God's involvements
tongues spirits there's no connection with the in
of fire appearing over them they spoke community the text or the rituals it's your life if you're not involved in God
different languages but understood when people say I get nothing out of so those are my opinions you can be
the going to church the ritual of going to spiritual but not religious you can be
meaning at that religious ritual the church is a religious action but if religious and not spiritual and yes you
Apostles felt a connection to God and there's no connection then it's not can do theology without being either
with each other in a way that they spiritual you're part of a group but but
hadn't before this motivated them to you're not connected to that group and you'll be most effective if all three
be 2013 Pope Francis made headlines work together like it did for the
willing to risk persecution by going out when he apostles at that first Christian
in public to preach the good news of told nuns not to live their vocations as Pentecost
Jesus now have you ever felt a old maids he asked all religious clergy [Music]
and lay people to remember the spirit you
of [Music]
Review
• Religion may refer to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices aimed at communicating or propitiating with
supernatural beings. Humans may recognize a superhuman being controlling power (such as a god or spirit)
that seeks worship and obedience from them.
• Various theories have been formulated that try to explain the origin of religions. Religion may have originated
in response to human’s need to explain their dreams and experiences as well as the need to understand the
different forces of nature, especially so that humans may have faced pain and ignorance in their daily
struggle for existence in early times.
• While religions are frequently viewed as sets of ideals practiced and followed by organized groups, spirituality
involves one’s integrative view of life that is more personal while affecting the human soul.

III: APPLICATION / Let us practice

Critical Thinking
1. How does your conception of a divine or supreme being compare with the supernatural beings found in other
religious beliefs?
2. Do you agree with specific theory of religion? Defend your answer.
3. Do you consider yourself religious, or spiritual? Explain.

IV: ASSESSMENT / Let us Create/ Let us Examine

A. Match Column A with Column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on the blanks provided.

Column A Column B
 _____1. A belief in the existence of one God viewed as A. Theology
the creative source of the human race and the B. Agnosticism
world C. Polytheism
_____2. Relating or affecting the human spirit or soul D. Theism
that is one’s personal integrative view on E. Worldview
_____3. The belief that there is only one God who could F. Monism
have designed and created the universe. G. Monotheism
_____4. The belief in many principal gods among whom H. Atheism
no one is supreme. I. Religion
_____5. The belief that there is no genuine distinction J. Spirituality
between God and the universe.
_____6. Denial of the existence of God. 1. Theism
_____7. The belief that God's existence is unknown and 2. Spirituality
unknowable. 3. Monotheism
_____8. An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and 4. Polytheism
rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. 5. Monism
_____9. A collection of beliefs about life and the 6. Atheism
universe held by people. 7. Agnosticism
_____10. The systematic study of the existence and 8. Religion
nature of the divine. 9. Worldview
10. Theology

B. Answer the following questions.

1. How does religion help explain man's existence and role in the world?
2. How did religion originate? Cite key theories to support your answer.
3. What are the common characteristics of religions?
4. Do you agree that the universe is designed and created by a single divine being or God? Explain your answer.
5. How can an individual lead a spiritual life? Cite some examples.

V: ASSIGNMENT

Write a two-page essay on the topic

“Religion: What Does It Mean to Me?”
guided by the following questions:
a. What different values have your religion instilled in you?
b. What various guiding principles which may have been influenced by your religion do you adhere to in your life?
 RUBRIC FOR ESSAY
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS
Content The content was well-thought of; 7
guide questions were thoroughly
answered
Organization The paper was well-written with 7
ideas easily conveyed to readers.
Development Points are thoroughly developed 6
Total: 20

You have learned in this opening lesson the nature of religion and other concepts related to
belief systems. You have familiarized yourself with the different theories on the origin of
religions as humans continue their endless search to find meanings and explanations in their
everyday existence relative to the world around them. The next lesson will take you into the
historical, geographical, and cultural contexts of various world religions of today

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INTERNET SOURCES
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“Atheism.” New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02040a.htm (accessed September 22, 2014)
“Monism.” New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10483a.htm (accessed September 21, 2014)
“Monotheism.” New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10499a.htm (accessed September 22, 2014)
“Polytheism.” New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12223b.htm (accessed September 22, 2014)
“Spirituality.” University of Maryland Medical Center. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/spirituality (accessed September 19, 2014)
The Free Dictionary. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ (accessed September 20, 2014)