Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

In this module, it aims to examine the basic elements of the three Abrahamic
religions, namely Judaism. Christianity and Islam. This chapter focuses on, specifically
Christianity’s origins, sacred texts, doctrines, practices, denominations and challenges of this
religion.

Objective of this Module

Objective
 Trace the origin of Christianity and identify its sacred texts
 Explain the basic doctrines and practices of Christianity
 Distinguish the different denominations of Christianity and discuss some of its
challenges

Christianity is the religion based on the teaching of its founder, Jesus Christ. His life and
teachings were written in the four books of the Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John)
under the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Jesus was immaculately conceived and
wad born in a manger. Jesus started teachings and performing miracles such as healing at
the age of 30 with the company of his 12 apostles. About three years later, he was
condemned to death via crucifixion.
Sacred Text
o The sacred texts of Christianity are contained in the Christian Bible, usually
referred to as the HOLY BIBLE. The Holy bible is divided into two parts, the Old
Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains all the books of
the Hebrew Bible with some modification in the arrangement.
o The New Testament contains the life and teachings of Jesus, the early
development of Christianity, The New testament contains the essential principles
of core of Christian Teachings; and the Old Testament provides the foundational
principles that properly guide people in understanding Christianity’s essential
principles. The Old Testament contains prophecies that are fulfilled in the New
Testament. Foremost of these prophecies is the coming of the Messiah who would
sacrifice Himself for the sins of mankind, which is fulfilled in the New Testament
through Jesus.
o The New Testament is divided into four main parts; namely; (1) the Gospels,
which are narrations or descriptions of the life and teachings of Jesus ; (2) the
Acts of Apostles, which is generally historical account of the early growth of
Christianity ; (3) the Epistles ; which are letters written mostly by the apostle Paul
 to the early Christians; and (4) the Revelation, which symbolically speaks of the
Christian vision of how in the end of time the good will eventually prevail over
evil or how the Kingdom of God will eventually reign in the world.

Basic Doctrines
o The Nature of God. There is only one God (monotheism), but God has three
persons (the Holy Trinity): God Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
o The Nature of Jesus. Jesus is God the Son who became man to save the mankind
from the consequences of sin. Jesus is wholly God and wholly human (not half-
human and half-God). Jesus is the prophesized Messiah. Three days after his
death on the cross, He resurrected and later on ascended into the heaven. He will
come again to establish the Kingdom of God in this world.
o The Human Condition. Humans are made in the image and likeness of God.
Their sins separate them from God and make them deserving of eternal
punishment. To reunite with God and be spared of the eternal punishment and
consequently to be able to enter the Kingdom of God, they must ask forgiveness
from God and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
o Resurrection of the Dead and Last Judgement. During the second coming of
Jesus, the Messiah, dead humans will be resurrected (their souls will reunite with
their physical but now “glorified “bodies) to face, along with those still alive
during such time, the Last Judgement. In this judgement, it will be finally
determined whether people deserve to go to hell or heaven.
o Angels. Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and help
humans, Like humans, angels have free will which make them accountable for
their actions. Consequently, there are good and bad angels. The leader of bad
angels is Lucifer or Satan. Good angels include Gabriel and Michael.
o The Two Great Commandments. The first is: “Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” The second is: Love
your neighbour as yourself”.

Practices
o Baptism: a ritual for moral purification and that serves as an initiation rite for
Christians in their entry into the Christian community. Different forms of
Christianity differ on how baptism should be done and what exactly does to a
person.
o Lord’s Supper/ Eucharist; this practice sharing a meal of bread or wine, imitates
the Last supper that Jesus had with his disciples before his death, to recall Jesus’
sacrifice leading to his death and resurrection.
 o Lenten Season: the forty days of repentance and preparation for Easter – the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The week before Easter, which falls on a
Sunday, is called the Holy Week.
o Christmas: a celebration of the birth of Jesus, traditionally done on December 25
of every year.
o Ascension: celebrates Jesus’ ascension into heaven forty days after Easter or the
day Jesus resurrected from the dead.
o Pentecost. Recalls the first preaching of the apostles, and is celebrated ten days
after the feast of Ascension.
o Other Practices. Some Christians (the Catholics), celebrates Mary’s birthday.
Called the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which falls on
September8. In addition, they also venerate the saints, who they regard as the
martyrs or heroes of the faith. The veneration is done either individually, in which
all the saints, known and unknown, are given honor. The general veneration,
called ‘All Saints Day’ or ‘All Hallows’ Day,” is done every November 1
Denominations
o Catholic Church; the central authority is the Pope (the Bishop of Rome) who is
believed to be infallible when it comes to doctrinal matters; beliefs in the seven
sacraments, purgatory (in addition to heaven and hell), and transubstiation;
practices infant baptism and devotion to Mary; and venerates the saints; among
many others.
o Eastern Orthodox Church: adheres to the concept of Pentarchy where the
central authority is shared among several Patriarchs or Bishops; and rejects the
Catholic views of Mary’s immaculate conceptions and purgatory and practice of
celibacy among its priests; among many others.
o Protestant Church: does not recognize the authority of the pope; rejects the
doctrine of the catholic view of transubstantiation in favour of either
consubstantiation (Lutheran Church) or transignification (Calvinist Church);
believes in salvation by faith alone; pastors can marry; does not venerate the
saints and does not practice devotion to Mary; practices two sacraments only-
baptism (adult baptism) and the Lord’s Supper; among many others. The
Protestant Church has many sub-churches. Aside from the Lutheran and Calvinist
Churches, we also have under the so-called Protestant Sectarianism, which
include churches of the Anabaptists, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Shakers, and
Pentecostals.
o Anglican Church: developed when the King Henry VIII of England challenged
the authority of the Pope; regarded as a middle way between the Catholic and
Protestant Churches; uses the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer;
ordain women as priests and appoint female bishops; among many others.
 o Non-traditional Christian Churches: deviate from the traditionally views, such
as the belief in the Holy Trinity and Divinity of Jesus, but still profess to follow
the teachings and examples of Jesus as the key to salvation (whether they are still
Christians is subject to discussion); they include the churches of the Mormon and
Jehovah’s Witness.

Challenges
o Issues arising from the use of modern technology in biomedicine, such as
researches involving human embryos (such as stem-cell research), the use of
contraceptives, the practices of invitro fertilization, surrogacy, and organ
transplantation (especially in cases where the organs come brain-dead patients and
severely damaged infants);
o Issues arising from the expanding scope of the concept of human rights (rightly
or wrongly in some cases) which include the right of women to assume leadership
in churches (women as priests and pastors, for example), the right to same sex
marriage, the right to gender preference in one’s sexual lifestyle (which includes
homosexuality, bisexuality, sex change, and others), the right to abortion, and the
right to divorce; and
o Issues about church-state relations, which basically come down to whether
churches should meddle with politics, which translates to endorsing candidates
during elections, endorsing or condemning governmental policies or laws such
those concerning death penalty and reproduction.
Exercise 1
Direction:
1. Identify 2 parables of Jesus Christ that interest you most and write a reflection paper (3 –
5 sentences) on them.
2. Video record yourself, video record it with a duration of 1 to 3 minutes.

Ask them the following questions:

REFERENCE:

 Mabaquiao Jr., Napoleon (2017), The Padayon Series Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems, Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City.