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Lesson 5:: Religion and The Search For Ultimate Meaning

The document discusses religion and its role in society. It defines religion as a system that connects human beings to transcendent realities and influences culture, society and individuals. Religion provides explanations for human suffering and helps people cope during difficult times. It also discusses different types of religious organizations like churches, sects, denominations and cults. The document examines religious syncretism and folk religious practices in societies as well as the influence of religion on women.

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Missy Ecleo
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195 views8 pages

Lesson 5:: Religion and The Search For Ultimate Meaning

The document discusses religion and its role in society. It defines religion as a system that connects human beings to transcendent realities and influences culture, society and individuals. Religion provides explanations for human suffering and helps people cope during difficult times. It also discusses different types of religious organizations like churches, sects, denominations and cults. The document examines religious syncretism and folk religious practices in societies as well as the influence of religion on women.

Uploaded by

Missy Ecleo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 5: RELIGION AND THE SEARCH FOR ULTIMATE MEANING

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:


a. Define and explain the meaning of religion;
b. Discuss the significant role of religion in society; and
c. Write an insights based from the religious observation in the society

What is your current religion? Have you ever tried converting to another religion?
Why or Why not?

Are you willing to change your religion for someone you really love? Why? or Why
not?

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Do you believe in God? Why or
why not?

The world RELIGION is from the Latin verb “Religare”, which means “to tie” or “to bind fast”. It
is a powerful institution that connects human beings to a transcendent reality.

Religion has a pervasive effect and influence on the development of humanity, society, culture, and
the individual. However, many scholars in the early 20th century predicted the death of religion as a
social phenomenon because of the advancement in science and technology.

RELIGION is a system of beliefs, rituals, and practices which connects this world with the beyond.

SUBSTANTIVE DEFINITION

This limits religion to the belief in supernatural or


divine force. This presented that religion “is a belief in
spiritual beings.”

RELIGION FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION

Religion does not necessarily refer to the belief in a


supernatural being. But, it defines religion as “a system of
beliefs and practices by means of which a group of
people struggles with the ultimate problems of human
life.”

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Religion provides the ultimate basis for social order. The separation between the sacred and
the profane or the unholy, for instance, is a reflection of the order of the cosmos. Religious
myths designate and consecrate certain spaces as sacred. Hence, holy places are considered
as places for worship and for connecting with the divine such as churches and burial
grounds.
Religion provides an all-encompassing explanation for the negative experiences in this
world (sufferings, pains, and miseries).
Religion helps individual who goes through these situations to continue to exist in the world
of his society.

ACTIVITY:

What biggest problem have you ever experienced in life? How did you overcome
this kind of toughest situation that tests your faith in religion?

TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

RELIGION is necessarily social. Beliefs and rituals are usually shared by people belonging to a
definite religious community. While an individual may opt not to belong to or affiliate with an
established religion or religious tradition, that person is still religious and belongs to an
individualistic or spiritualistic interpretation of religion.

1. CHURCH

It is a religious organization that claims to possess the truth about salvation exclusively.

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A classic example of church is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Membership is by childbirth: new generations are born into the church and are formally inducted
through BAPTISM.
In the Philippines, NSO estimates the Roman Catholics at about 74, 211, 896 in 2014.
Church is the LARGEST religious organization in the Philippines. It is a very powerful
institution as attested by the recent controversy regarding the reproductive health bill.

EL SHADDAI, a Philippines-based Catholic Charismatic religious group, was founded by


Mariano “Mike” Zuniega Velarde better known ass “Bro. Mike Velarde”.
El Shaddai has grown rapidly and as of 2005, had a reported of 8 million members worldwide.

2. SECT

The sect also perceives itself as a unique owner of the truth. However, it constitutes a minority in
a given society.
Recruitment takes place through conscious individual choice.

A good example is BORN AGAIN. It is a Christianity that recruits members by asking them to
accept Jesus Christ in their lives.

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Once an individual has joined, the sect requires a high-level of commitment and activity.
Members are expected to support the teachings of the sect and to comply with its lifestyle, which
may be strict and ascetic
Sects often are breakaway groups from the mainstream churches.

Another example is IGLESIA NI CRISTO or “Church of Christ”. It has 2,251,941 members


in 2014.
INC was established in 1914 by Felix Manalo, who served as the first executive minister.
Iglesia Ni Cristo believes itself to be the one true universal church. It preaches that all other
Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, are apostates.
On July 2, 2014, the Philippine government declared the year 2014 through Proclamation No. 815
as “Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial Year.” The proclamation was issued to “enhance public
awareness” on the contributions of INC to national development.

4. DENOMINATION

The denomination is oriented toward cooperation, at least as it relates to other similar


denominations.
People join through individual and voluntary choice, although the most important form of
recruitment in established denomination takes place through childbirth.
The demands for activity and compliance are moderate, and there is a relatively harmonious
mutual relationship between the denomination and the larger society.
Example of Denomination is the liberal branches of PROTESTANT GROUPS .

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5. CULT

It was introduced in 1932 by sociologist, Howard Becker.


It is a non-traditional form of religion which emphasizes the belief in the divine element within
the individual, and whose teachings are derived from either a real or legendary figure.
Cults are often considered as deviant groups within society. They were considered as
“brainwashed” by their religious organizations.
BRAINWASHING means that cult members were forced to believe in the doctrine of the group
by force.
CULTISTS are called for those cult believers.
In the 1960’s, the term “CULT” was changed to the words “NEW RELIGIOUS
MOVEMENT”.

RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM

With the rapid and accelerated movement of people, culture, and information across national
borders, religious ideas also rapidly transfer from one place to another.
And when foreign religious beliefs reach a different soil, they tend to mix and blend with the
local and indigenous religious beliefs and folk practices.
RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM is the mixing of different religious and cultural beliefs and
practices.
A perfect of this is the various colourful fiestas in the Philippines. While the images of the Sto.
Nino, Black Nazarene, and other cult of the saints are hardly found in the Bible of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Nevertheless, Filipinos have creatively blended these images and rituals with local cultural
practices.
The SINULOG Festival in Cebu , for instance, is a re-enactment of Queen Juana’s baptism.

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FOLK RELIGIOUS PRACTICES INCLUDE:
a. PANA’AD or vows
b. PAGHALAD or offerings
c. PAGPAHID or wiping of the image with handkerchief
d. PAGSINULUG or traditional Sinulug ritual dance
e. The Fluvial Procession
f. Folkloric Narratives legends, and myths.

SPLIT- LEVEL CHRISTIANITY

It is described as the co-existence within the same person of two or more thought-and-behavior
systems which are inconsistent with each other.

RELIGION AND WOMEN

Traditionally, women have equated with religion and with the role of transmitting religious
beliefs and practices to the children.
Men are considered as the leaders of the religious organization.
In short, religious leadership and power have always been dominated by men, while women tend
to become its major transmitters.
However, before the birth of the “Male god”, there was Matriarchy.
MATRIARCHY is the rule and dominance of women in political and social life, religion was
also dominated by women.
BISHOP KATHARINE JEFFERTS SCHORI –first female presiding Bishop in the history of
the Episcopal Church and also the first female primate in the Anglican Communion.

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A. DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT RELIGION FROM YOUR
OWN?

B. DOES RELIGION INFLUENCE YOUR CHOICE OF FRIENDS?

C. DOES RELIGION AFFECT THE WAY YOU INTERACT WITH YOUR FRIEND/S?

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