UNDERSTANDING RELIGION represents a specific religion, it is

INTRODUCTION: fitting to adopt a definition coming

People have different from a perspective that neither favors
attitudes towards religion. Some nor opposes any existing religions.
people are happy to believe and
In the Social Science
practice what they have been taught.
perspective, Religion is defined as a
Others could not care any less. while
system of beliefs and practices by
others still have learnt to be vocal
which a group of people interprets
and militant in opposing religion.
and responds to what they feel is
Regardless of one’s attitude, religion
sacred and usually supernatural as
permeates life, both private and
well. This definition basically means
public, in so many ways (Cornelio et
that Religion is a social entity. As a
al. 2016, v) For this reason, it is vital
social entity it can be understood in
to study religion critically for us to
various senses.
have a wider array of understanding
about the people’s beliefs, traditions, First, RELIGION IS A
and practices and eventually, fosters COLLECTIVE PHENOMENON. An
unity amidst its differences. ​ Individual who professes a religion is
DEFINITION OF RELIGION: typically associated with a particular
Religion is defined in so many religious organization. So, inasmuch
ways by a number of authors who as faith is a personal or private
have different religious backgrounds matter, individuals who profess a
and biases. This is one of the religion also invoke the wider
reasons why religion becomes a community that they are part of.
complex topic to be dealt with. In
Second, RELIGION IS
order to avoid biases, instead of
CONCERNED WITH ORDERING
using a definition of religion coming
BEHAVIOR IN RELATION TO THE
from a particular author who
SACRED/SUPERNATURAL. & collective rituals involving prayer,
According to a prominent sociologist, worship, purification, baptism, and
Emile Durkheim, the sacred is often sacrifice. There are also practices
associated with entities, events, that are in line with moral &
figures, objects, and sights that are behavioral prescriptions such as
treated with reverence as opposed to Wearing particular outfits, Avoiding
those that are taken for granted in the consumption of food, etc.
everyday life. Most of the time the ELEMENTS OF RELIGION:
sacred is often associated with the 1.BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL
supernatural as in the presence of POWERS
heavenly forces or divine beings that
-Every religion believes in the
render a particular text or place holy
existence of some supernatural
in the eyes of the followers.
powers or forces. People believe that
Third, RELIGION INVOLVES A this unseen power influences every
BODY OF BELIEFS AND MORAL aspect of human life.
PRESCRIPTIONS. It is mainly
-Eg. Hindus (many gods/goddesses)
because they are guided by texts
rendered sacred by special events or
2. BELIEF IN THE HOLY OR
figures. These beliefs cover a wider
SACRED
array of ideas that order knowledge
and reality for the followers. -In every religion, there are certain
things which are regarded as holy
Fourth, RELIGION EXPECTS
and sacred that constitute the heart
FROM ITS FOLLOWERS TO
of religion.This belief is often
FOLLOW A SET OF PRACTICES
expressed through symbols; that
THAT RELATES TO THE NOTION
symbolizes both the unseen and
OF THE SACRED. These practices
tangible things. It is a belief that is
are typically in the form of individual
based on FAITH rather than results while sinful acts result in
EVIDENCE. suffering or disaster. This is the
reason why there are concepts of
-Eg. Hindus (cow is sacred)
Heaven and Hell in most religions.

3. SYSTEM OF RITUALS
5. THE METHOD OF SALVATION
-Rituals are the practical side of
-Almost all religions consider
religion that refer to the behavior
salvation as the ultimate goal of life.
performed by the individual or a
group of individuals with reference to Eg. Buddists call salvation as
supernatural power.It includes Nirvana while Hindus called it as
varieties of behavior such as wearing Moksha (free from the chain of cycle
of special types of cloth, reciting of of life)
prayers, hymns, taking a bath in holy
rivers, singing, dancing, crawling, 6. MODE OF WORSHIP
fasting, etc. All these rituals are
-Each religion has a specific
intended to strengthen an individual's
procedure of worshipping.The
faith in the supernatural.
followers of different religions either
-Eg. Christianity (Holy Eucharist) worship the supernatural power in
the form of statue or in a formless
4. SACRED/SINFUL ACTS manner.

-Every religion defines certain acts as Eg. Hindus worship with folded
sacred and righteous and other acts hands while Muslims do not.
as profane and sinful.

-Acting in accordance with religious 7. PLACE OF WORSHIP

principles is believed to reap good

-Each religion has a definite place of
worship which they consider as
sacred.

Eg. Hindus called their place of

worship as a temple,
Muslims:Mosque, Christians:Church
and Jews:Synagogue.
UNDERSTANDING RELIGIOUS ERFAHRUNG
EXPERIENCE
It speaks of real experiences
that are based on INDIVIDUAL
WHAT IS A RELIGIOUS
HAPPENINGS that touched the
EXPERIENCE?
In understanding what is the feelings, picked up by the intellect,

nature of religious experience, it is and given a connection among

good to consider and ask first this themselves and moreover inserted

question, “WHAT DOES THE WORD and integrated into the totality of life.

EXPERIENCE MEAN?” Theologically Thus, in layman's terms, this type of

speaking, the word experience is experience is commonly known as a

derived from the two German terms: significant experience that does not

“ERLEBNIS & ERFAHRUNG” only affect the person into the level of
emotion, but it also leads the
individual to realize something and
ERLEBNIS
eventually, articulate that realization/s
It means an interior experience into one's life in living a life with
of an intensely felt motion. It refers to purpose and meaning. This kind of
an individual event, even a experience becomes a religious
momentary one, realized intensely in experience when the human reason,
the area of the FEELINGS & in the process of integrating,
EMOTIONS. Thus, in layman's interpreting, evaluating and judging,
terms, this type of experience is is guided by FAITH.
commonly known as an ordinary
experience that affects the person in
the level of emotion in a short period
of time.
 Thus, the formula is:

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE=
FEELING + REFLECTION GUIDED
BY FAITH + CONCRETE ACTION IN
LIFE
NATURE OF SPIRITUALITY word, “spirit”. In this sense, there are
two important elements that have to
INTRODUCTION:
be considered in understanding the
The topic spirituality enjoys
word “spirit”. First is the reality of the
immense currency nowadays,
“Spirit of God/Divine/Transcendent
especially in popular periodicals and
Reality” -(this must be the primary
books of fiction and nonfiction.
focus of our consideration). The
Moreover, if we try to travel about the
second reality is the “spirit in us
globe, we would discover that for
human beings & also all those
many people of diverse traditions,
creations with life.” In other words,
spirituality is the central constituent of
spirituality, in its origin of the word,
their life and culture (Laurent, p. 1).
refers to the relatedness of the
By having this context, it leads to an
human spirit or soul to the Spirit of
understanding that spirituality is a
God/Divine/Transcendent.
way of life. Since it is a way of life, it
is therefore necessary to study it Moreover, a theologian named
thoroughly for us to understand how Jordan Aumann in his “Spiritual
it affects the life of the people in all Theology” points out that spirituality,
its aspects. “In its widest sense, refers to any

ETYMOLOGY OF religious or ethical value that is

SPIRITUALITY: concretized as an attitude or spirit
The word spirituality comes from from which one’s actions flow.This
the Latin word “Spiritualitas” which is concept of spirituality is not restricted
an abstract word related to “spiritus” to any particular religion,it applies to
and “spiritualis”, which also means any person who has a belief in the
the state of being spiritual. From divine or transcendent, and fashion a
these two etymological meanings, lifestyle according to one’s religious
what comes out on the surface is the conviction.” Thus, SPIRITUALITY is
a way of life that is based from the 3. QUEST FOR SACRED
experience of the
-It means that spirituality promotes
Divine/Transcendent/God by which
having faith, which can be an
this experience would bring one to
important part of a person’s beliefs
have a moral and virtuous life.
and decisions in life. And this faith
may be viewed as a belief in God,
REFERENCE: (ReMaSe Hound-outs almighty being, ultimate reality, or a
in Spirituality) higher power that gives meaning and
purpose in life.
ELEMENTS OF
SPIRITUALITY: 4. SUGGESTS A
SELF-REFLECTIVE EXISTENCE
1.HOLISTIC
-It emphasizes that in the person's
-It means that spirituality is claimed quest for meaning in life,
to be a fully integrated view of life. It self-reflection is of great
emcompasses all aspects of being importance-which may be expressed
human and is a means of through contemplation or meditation.
experiencing life.Eg. A person is
viewed as a (dynamism of Body,
REFERENCE: (Serapio, p. 18)
Mind ,Spirit)

2. QUEST FOR MEANING CONTEMPORARY

UNDERSTANDING OF
-The quest to determine the meaning
SPIRITUALITY:
and purpose of life arises as the
In today’s era, the word
central theme in spirituality, with the
‘spirituality’ is understood apart from
relationship to the self, others, and
the word ‘religion’ in spite of the
God contributing to its discovery.
relationship of these two terms
regarding its elements. Accordingly, Whereas the latter, refers to the
spirituality today puts emphasis on persons who associate faith with the
subjective experience of sacred or public realm of religious institutions,
spiritual dimension and deepest creeds, and rituals. Thus, they are
purpose, values, and meanings by the individuals who adhere to the
which human beings live, typically in tenets and practices of a particular
an unconnected from organized religion, yet their hypocrisy, empty
religious institutions. In support to ritualism and immorality preclude the
this, the recent social scientific development of their spirituality. For
studies emphasizes that spirituality is this reason, this modern
increasingly used to refer to understanding of spirituality leads a
alternative forms of approaching the modern man to come with an
divine that are not typically understanding that one can become
associated with organized religion (SBNR) Spiritual-but-not-Religious or
(Cornelio et. al, p. 11). By having this (RBNS) Religious-but-not-Spiritual.
context, it resulted in identifying and
However, “RELIGIOUS” in a
distinguishing two types of persons
true sense of the word, a religious
namely spiritual and religious.
person must have been submissive
The former refers to the and obedient to the will of the Lord,
individuals who associate faith with part of it is being truly “SPIRITUAL.”
the private realm of personal In this sense, a person can still be
experience rather than with the Religious at the same time Spiritual if
public realm of religious institutions, one seeks to understand the
creeds, and rituals. Thus, they are meaning behind all the prayers, and
those who have no or low levels of rituals performed and articulate the
interest in church attendance and traditions and doctrines taught in any
commitments to orthodox beliefs. particular religion to one’s life. For
religion itself served as the guide for
any individuals who adhere to its
tenets in living a life with meaning
and purpose.
JUDAISM
(Corral & Kupang, p. 52-61)
INTRODUCTION:
Judaism is the oldest of the According to most of the
monotheistic religions, whose origins Historians, Judaism began when
date back to the mid-second Abraham made a divine covenant
millennium or around 1500 BCE. with GOD. That is why, ABRAHAM is
Jewish tradition traces its known to be as the FATHER OF
development to the ancient patriarch THE SEMITIC RELIGIONS
Abraham, and his descendants Isaac (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).
and Jacob. It is believed that Throughout Judaism History, their
Judaism was instituted with the followers have been called many
covenant between God and Israelites names such as “HEBREWS- those
in Mt. Sinai through the who accepted Yahweh as their God”
instrumentality of Moses (Corral & and “Israelites- who were the
Kupang, p. 53). The adherents of this descendants of the Hebrews, which
religion are called Jews and they are originated from Abraham.”
found in many countries around the
Moreover, JACOB, as the
world. It is in the modern state of
grandson of Abraham, had 12 sons
Israel that the world’s largest Jewish
and their descendants became
population is found.
known as the 12 TRIBES OF
UNDERSTANDING JUDAISM
ISRAEL and it is where the term
IN GENERAL:
“JEW” came from. The term “JEW”
originated from YEHUDAH or
JUDAH, the southern kingdom of
Israel. But now it is used to refer to
BRIEF HISTORY
someone who practices Judaism and
takes part in Jewish Culture.
 Another important figure in in Gk. as the (Pentateuch). The first
Judaism was Moses. He is the leader book is called Genesis (Bereshit); it
who freed the Israelites from slavery contains stories of creation, records
in Egypt and protected the Jews from the establishment of the covenant
the wrath of God, and negotiated between God and the Jewish people,
with God on their behalf. Moses, is tells of the lives of the patriarchs. The
also an important figure as he gave second is called Exodus (Sh’mot); it
the Jews the Torah around 1250 B.C. contains the account of Israelites
The Torah contains the laws of God. enslaved in Egypt, the exodus from
Egypt, the receiving of the 10
Commandments at Mt. Sinai. The

SACRED TEXTS third is called Leviticus (Vayikra); it

gives God’s ethical and ritual laws
The Jewish sacred text is
and specific instructions to priests on
known as the “TaNaKH”. Iit refers to
how to perform their duties. The
the Hebrew Bible; which Christians
fourth is called Numbers (Bamidbar):
called it as the OLD TESTAMENT. It
it recounts the Israelites through the
consists of the following: Torah (The
desert and gives more of God’s
Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and
ethical and ritual laws . And the fifth
Ketuvim (Writings).
book is called Deuteronomy
(Devarim): It reviews the laws and

TORAH (The Law) the people prepare to enter the

promised land.Thus, the Torah
It is the first law given by God
contains the early history of Judaism,
to Moses and recorded into the
as well as the Law and Teaching
sacred text. It is the main sacred text
“handed down” by Yahweh himself.
of Judaism, which corresponds to the
IT IS KNOWN AS THE HEART OF
five books of Moses which is known
THE JEWISH SPIRITUALITY
inasmuch as it is the sacred Songs, Ruth, Lamentations,
summary of what being a religious Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Eza,
Jew is all about. Nechemiah, Chronicles.

NEVI’M (Prophets)
TALMUD
It contains writings of God’s
This sacred text is next to the
messenger, who spoke His word to
TaNakh. It is the compendium of
the Hebrews. The writing is the more
learning that is the basic source for
literary section of the Tanakh,
Jewish Law and codes. It is another
consisting of stories, proverbs,
form of scripture and is the
psalms, and poetries, the narrative
WRITTEN VERSION OF THE
books of (Joshua, Judges, Samuel
JEWISH ORAL LAW which includes
and Kings and the books of Isaiah,
rabbinical commentaries that
Jeremiah and books of Isaiah,
explains the laws that may not be
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and The Twelve
clear in Scriptures. It is composed of
minor prophets). Hosea, Joel, Amos,
the following: First, MISHNAH; It is
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
primarily a compilation of Jewish
Haggai, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
laws that includes discussions
Zechariah, Malachi.
concerning prayer, diet, agricultural
laws, holidays, women and family
KETUVIM (Writings) life, sacrifices, offerings, etc. written

It contains wisdom literature, in Hebrew and edited sometimes

poetry, songs, narrative, history, around 200 C.E. in Israel. Second is

religious philosophy, and love hymns. called GEMARA; It is the rabbinic

There are 12 books in total which commentaries and discussions on

include: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Mishnah.

SIGNIFICANT SYMBOLS: DOCTRINES & BELIEFS OF
JUDAISM (SPIRITUALITY):
THE NATURE OF GOD

MAGEN DAVID THE PRIMARY TENET OF

The symbol or emblem of the Jewish JUDAISM IS THE BELIEF IN ONE
people is the (Shield of David), also UNIVERSAL GOD (Monotheistic).
known as the Star of David. This God is considered as a personal
God who revealed himself to his
people, who is the creator of the
universe, and is eternal, perfect, all
MENORAH
knowing, holy, and without physical
It is a candelabrum with seven
form and that at the end, God will
candle holders displayed in Jewish
send down a messiah to redeem the
synagogues.
Jews (Political Messiah). In the
It symbolizes the burning bush as Jewish belief, this God is
seen by Moses on Mount Sinai. compassionate and merciful but He
is also capable of great anger when
His rules on moral and ethical
behavior are violated. (retributive
MEZUZAH justice)
It is a little case, containing a tiny
THE SECOND IMPORTANT
scroll that is found on doorposts in
BELIEF OF JUDAISM IS THAT
Jewish homes. The writing on the
JEWS WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO
scroll is from the bible that is written
RECEIVE HIS LAW, WHICH IS
in Hebrew and
SEEN IN THE COVENANT. The first
It says that Jewish people should covenant was God’s selection of
love God and keep his rules. Abraham to be the Father of a great
nation that would lie in the Promised God’s shalom according to the
land Canaan. As the scripture points admonition of the Psalmist: (Ps.
out, “And I will establish my covenant 34:14), “depart from evil, and do
between me and you and your good; seek peace, and pursue it!”
offspring after you throughout their And this Jewish theme of God’s
generations for an everlasting Shalom emerges from the Bible’s
covenant, to be God to you and to formula invoking God’s blessing: (Nm
your offspring after you (Gen. 17:7).” 6:23-26), “Thus you shall bless the
The second covenant was Israelites: you shall say to them, The
established by God through Moses at Lord bless you and keep you; the
Mt. Sinai. The book of Exodus 6:7 Lord make his face to shine upon
states, “I will take you to be my you, and be gracious unto you; The
people, and I will be your God, and Lord lift up his countenance upon
you shall know that I am the Lord you, and give you peace!”
your God, who has brought you out
In pursuing God’s Shalom, the
from under the burdens of the
Jewish people strive to become holy
Egyptians”
by sanctifying their lives. As the
mandate of Yahweh in (Lev. 11:44)
JEWISH ULTIMATE GOAL
states, “If I am the Lord your God;

In the Jewish tradition, the sanctify yourselves therefore, and be

ultimate goal of every jewish person holy, for I am holy.” Moreover, in

is to achieve the promise of GOD’s order for the Jews to live a life in

SHALOM. This promise of God is a Holiness, they have to live out their

calling for all Jews to sanctify their spirituality by living a life of

lives according to the way of the obedience to the Torah, through

Torah since it contains the will of which God intends to sanctify every

God. That is why the Jews pursue aspect of human existence. Thus, in
the Jewish way to holiness, they find Kosher which means “ritually correct”
guidance and direction for their lives and particularly refers to food
in the 10 commandments as further preparations and consumptions.
expressed into 613 rules found in the CERTAIN ANIMALS MAY/NOT BE
Torah, which are taught and EATEN: According to the book
interpreted by the rabbis. (Leviticus 11:3-9), “Animals with
cloven hooves and chews its cud.
ETHICAL EXPRESSION OF Anything in the water that has fins
JUDAISM and scales is acceptable.” This
JEWISH LAW (HALACHAH)
therefore excludes shellfish such as

It is the system of Laws that lobsters, oysters, shrimp, clams and

guides the jewish people on how to crabs, all of which are forbidden.

act in accordance with the Will of Moreover, all blood must be drained

Yahweh for they believe that these before the meat is cooked and eaten

laws are the expression of the will of because blood, which gives life, is

God itself. It also includes the Torah, sacred to God. In addition, in the

613 mitzvot concerned with ethical & book of (Exodus 23:19), “Dairy and

social issues and religious rituals and Meat should not be eaten together.

the Talmud. And this system of laws Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and

is divided into two sections: Those grains can be eaten with either meat

about relationships with humans and or dairy.” Thus even the utensils that

God and those about relationships have come into contact with meat

between fellow humans. may not be used with dairy and vice
versa.

DIETARY LAWS [KOSHER JEWISH MODE OF WORSHIP:

In the Jewish tradition, their
PRACTICES] (King, p. 48)
mode of worship before and after the
destruction of the Jerusalem temple
is no longer the same. Before the reminder of the bitter years of slavery
destruction of their temple, they in Egypt, Lamb bone which is a
would offer sacrifices by slaughtering reminder of the lamb killed so its
unblemished animals such as lambs, blood could be sprinkled on the door
goats, bulls, etc. But after the posts of the Jewish houses and that
destruction of the temple, Jewish the angel of death passed over these
people will no longer offer sacrifices. houses, Horeset which is a muddy
Instead, they would spend their time looking mixture of apples, nuts, &
praying in the synagogue & reading spices that stands for the mud bricks
the TORAH. used by the Hebrew slaves to make
Pharaoh’s pyramids and palaces,
JEWISH FEASTS and Green herbs(parsley/lettuce)
(Corral & Kupang, 60) which reminds everyone of renewal
and that it is a spring festival.
FEAST OF THE PASSOVER

In Hebrew, it is called, FEAST OF THE FIRST FRUITS

“PESACH”. It is an 8-day celebration
It is based on Lev. 23:10-11
of freedom that memorializes an
that says, “10 Speak to the people of
event when the Israelites were freed
Israel and say to them: When you
from the Egyptian slavery after the
enter the land that I am giving you
10th plague. During this feast, the
and you reap its harvest, you shall
Jews perform the SEDER MEALS.
bring the sheaf of the first fruits of
The following food that are your harvest to the priest. 11
He shall
placed on the Seder plate: Egg raise the sheaf before the Lord, that
which symbolizes new life in the you may find acceptance; on the day
promised land, Bitter after the sabbath the priest shall
herbs(horseradish) which is a raise it. 12
On the day when you raise
the sheaf, you shall offer a lamb a shall observe a day of complete rest,
year old, without blemish, as a burnt a holy convocation commemorated
offering to the Lord.” This feast is with trumpet blasts.” This feast
celebrated after the sabbath and memorializes the time when the
were Jewish people offer the first trumpets were used to give signal to
fruits of their crops to God through Yahweh’s act of descending and
the instrumentality of the priest who visiting the Israelites on the foot of
does the ritual. Mt. Sinai. It is a time for rest, to blow
the trumpets, to repent in the Lord &

FEAST OF THE PENTECOST make peace with men, to have a

festive banquet.
In HEBREW, it is called
SHAVO’UT and in Greek,
FEAST OF ATONEMENT
PENTECOSTE which means
(50thday). This feast memorializes the In Hebrew, it is called Yom
event when Moses brought 10 Kippur which is the holiest day of the
commandments from Mt. Sinai. year. As the book Leviticus states,
During this feast, Jewish people “For in this day of atonement shall be
spend all night studying the Torah made for you to purify you of all your
(Hebrew Scriptures) And decorate sins: you shall be pure.” During this
their houses with flowers. time, Jewish people make amends to
their family and friends and start

FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS changing their lives. They would also

fast from food, drink, bathing,
In Hebrew, it is called YOM
perfume, sex, wearing leather.
TERUAH that is based on (Lev.
23:24), “24 Speak to the people of
FEAST OF TABERNACLE
Israel, saying: In the seventh month,
on the first day of the month, you
 In Hebrew, it is called SUKKOT
or the feast of booths. This feast is a
commemoration of the people of
Israel who lived in booths while they
were in the wilderness before they
were freed from the bondage of
Egypt.

SPECIAL CLOTHING:

KIPPAH
-It is like a cap placed on the head. It
serves as a reminder to Jews that
God is always above them. It also
reminds them of their obligation to
always follow the laws of God at all
times and in all places.

TALLIT
-It is a shawl that the Jewish people
wear like a cloak on their backs. The
fringes on the shawl remind them of
the many commandments of the
Torah.