Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Concept, Elements and Characteristics of Belief Systems,World View, Religion,
and Spirituality
l.Introduction:
In this module, you will explore the world of your faith. You will learn the basic
concept, elements, and characteristics of belief system, worldview, religion, and
spirituality and how these affect you as a person. Are you religious or spiritual? Let
us discover in this module.

ll.OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Differentiate the concept, elements and characteristics of belief

system, worldview, religion, and spirituality.

lll.VOCABULARY LIST

As you go along with the module, you will encounter the following terms.
Familiarize yourselves with its definitions for you to be able to understand the
concepts being presented about religion.

Wo Definition
rd
- is a set of beliefs and practices that is often focused on
Religion
one or more deities or gods
- involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that
there is something greater than myself, something more
Spirituality to being human than sensory experience, and that the
greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or
divine in nature. (Dr Maya Spencer)
- is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe
Worldview
being held by people.
- is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience
Theology especially the study of God and of God's relation to the
world.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

 Eastern Belief - this includes the East Asian religions (Shintoism,
Sindoism, Taoism and Confucianism), Indian religions
(Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism)
(Wikipedia)
- religions that originated within western culture. The
Western Belief term Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, and
Judaism) is often used to refer to this. (Wikipedia)

lV. PRE-TEST
Direction: Match Column A with Column B. Write the letter of the correct answer in
your notebook.

COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. Relating or affecting the human spirit or soul that is one’s A. Religion
personal integrative view on
2. Organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to B. Spirituality
worship a god or a group of gods
3. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by C. Theology
people
4. The systematic study of the existence and nature of the D. Theism
divine
5. A belief in that there is only one God who could have E. Worldview
designed and created the universe

Were you able to get it? If yes congratulations, if not it’s okay, let’s explore the topic below.

V.LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity: MY HAPPY PILL

Instructions: Looking at the pictures below which are related to faith, answer the
question “What are you happy about your faith?” Write your answer in your journal.
Afterwards, answer the processing questions found at the bottom of the illustrations.
Write your answer in your journal.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=helping+hand

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=prayer

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=heaven

https://www.google.com.ph/search?hl=en&authuser

Processing questions.

1. What are the things in my faith that make me happy?

2. How does this happiness affect my relationship with others?
3. What are the things in my faith that make me happy?
4. How does this faith affect my relationship with others?

Vl.DEEPENING

WORLDVIEW

Worldview is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe being held by
people. (The Free Dictionary 2014). This is how every individual sees and interprets
the world. For a certain individual, social environment and upbringing are critical in
the development of a religious life. All these factors influence 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.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

 Kinds of Belief
Description
System
Monism There is no real distinction between god and the universe
Monotheism The doctrine/belief in one supreme god
Polytheism The belief and worship of many gods
Atheism Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god
Agnosticism God cannot be known

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-Websters Dictionary
2014). The Latin word religion 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).
THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
1. The Human Quest for Meaning
Understanding our World and our Experience
2. The Quest of Purpose
The motivation to live a life which promotes human wholeness in
accordance with the meaning discovered.
3. The Quest for Salvation
The search to be free from the feeling of disharmony deep within the
human person.

CONCEPT OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

SPIRITUALITY RELIGION
 Belief that the divine is within us  Belief in a superhuman power
outside of you, the creator of the
universe.
 Personal belief or values system  Dictated belief or conditioned
mind
 God is inside the heart  God is inside the mind
 Spiritual laws-based  Faith-based
Heaven is a state of mind  Heaven is a place you go when
you die

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

  Human relationship/Deed  Brick or Mortar Temple
Others: Others:
 Belies with individuals  Expressly stated, organized
 Internal Focus belief system
 Goal: To determine common  External focus and formal
principles, values, and ethics structure
 Belief about what is good, true,  Goal: Salvation through one
and beautiful truth and one right way
 Unites people over society

Activity: ARE YOU RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL?

Instructions: After understanding the differences between religion and spirituality,
self-assess whether you are religious or spiritual by situating yourself in the meter
below. Explain your answer. Write your answer in your journal.

Religiou Spiritual

Activity: ARE YOU RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL?

Instructions: After understanding the differences between religion and spirituality,
self-assess whether you are religious or spiritual by situating yourself in the meter
below. Explain your answer. Write your answer in your journal.

THEOLOGY

Theology is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience especially the
study of God and of God's relation to the world.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION
Most scholars agree that every religion has the same three basic elements:

1. Wisdom or Creed
a. A creed is a set of truths that must be accepted and agreed to by those
who wish to belong to the religion, those who choose to be a follower or
disciple.
e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments

b. A creed is a summary of the principle beliefs of a religion.

e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments

2. Worship or Cult
a. Refers to the way of worshipping, to the RITUALS that are practiced by
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
 followers of the religion.

b. This is often a difficult element to describe because it involves so many

diverse elements.
3. Works or Code
a. Refers to the ethical values and the system of moral practice directly
resulting from an adherence to the beliefs.

EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS

1. BELIEF SYSTEM or WORLDVIEW: Many beliefs that fit together in a system
to make sense of the universe and our place in it.
2. COMMUNITY: The belief system is shared, and its ideals are practiced by a
group.
3. CENTRAL STORIES/MYTHS: Stories that help explain the beliefs of a group;
these are told over and over again and sometimes performed by members of
the group. They may or may not be factual.
4. RITUALS: Beliefs are explained, taught, and made real through ceremonies.
5. ETHICS: Rules about how to behave; these rules are often thought to have
come from a deity or supernatural place, but they might also be seen as
guidelines created by the group over time.
6. CHARACTERISTIC EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Most religions share
emotions such as awe, mystery, guilt, joy, devotion, conversion, inner peace,
etc.
7. MATERIAL EXPRESSION: Religions use things to perform rituals or to
express or represent beliefs, such as: statues, paintings, music, flowers,
incense, clothes, architecture, and specific sacred locations.
8. SACREDNESS: Religions see some things as sacred and some not sacred
(or profane). Some objects, actions, people, and places may share in the
sacredness or express it.

Activity 2: THE ELEMENTS OF RELIGION IN YOUR LIFE

Instructions: If you do not feel comfortable answering these questions, or if you do
not practice a religion, you may find a friend or family member who will share his/her
beliefs and practices with you. Or, if you like, find answers from doing your own
research on one specific religion (it does not have to be Judaism, Christianity, or
Islam). Write your answers in your notebook.
1. BELIEFS: What is one central belief of your religion?
.
2. COMMUNITY: How is your religion shared with others in your religious
community?
.
3. CENTRAL STORIES/MYTHS: What is one of the myths or stories from your
religion?
.
4. RITUALS: What ritual do you find meaningful in your religion?

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

 .
5. ETHICS: What is one rule from your religion you are supposed to follow?
.
6. EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Have you ever had an emotional religious
experience? What was it like?
.
7. MATERIAL EXPRESSION: What is one thing used in your religion? What is it
used for?
.
8. SACREDNESS: Can you think of a sacred place associated with your
religion? Why is it sacred?

Western Religions Eastern Religions

Buddhism
Judaism
Taoism
Christianity
Shintoism
Islam
Hinduism

Confucianism

ANTHROPOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF RELIGION

Western and Eastern Beliefs (Anthropological Structure of Religions)
Western Beliefs
 MONOTHEISTIC - believe in one God.
 Share a similar view of the world and concept because they both sprang from
Judaism (Islam and Christianity).
 Humans must enter an interpersonal relationship with God.
 Morality is based on learning the will of God, understanding, and living it out
individually and as a community.
 Time is viewed as Linear, from beginning to end.
 The Bible (Christianity, Torah (Judaism), or Qur’an (Islam) are the central
books studied and lived by.

Eastern Beliefs
 POLYTHEISM- belief in more than one god.
 Main concern is to live a good, happier, and have better life.
 Creation contains god within it. All elements of creation from plants to animals
have an animated spirit.
 Meditation is central to these faiths.
 Life is balanced.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

  Holy books are not central to the belief and practice.
 Time is viewed in cycles.
 There is a belief in reincarnations and rebirth.
 Things can be made better or worse through karma.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RELIGION

 Understand the difference and see similarities between nations and culture
both political and philosophical.
 Appreciate our own belief by seeing them alongside those of others.
 Work for Ecumenism through a meaningful exchange of ideas between
religious groups.
SIMILARITIES OF RELIGIONS (THE STRUCTURE OF RELIGIONS)
 Belief in a power greater than humans.
 Holy places (Ex. Mecca, Vatican, Bodh Gaya, River Ganges).
 Set of religious symbols by which the religion is identified.
 Having a liturgy or observance of Holy Days.
 Having Sacred or Holy Writings and list of rules.
 Number of important people, founders, prophets, missionaries, and historical
people.
 Place of worship.Belief in the Golden Rule
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES
 Their idea of sin or evil
 Their idea of salvation
 Their idea of priesthood
 Their idea of a personal God

CHECK WHAT YOU KNOW!

Let us do some processing on the concepts learned in this topic. Write your
answers in your journal.

1. What is your new understanding on the concept of religion and spirituality?

2. Are you familiar with the different ways of your religion? Explain.
3. In your present understanding of your religion, how does this affect your
everyday life?

Congratulations! You finished the task. Continue the work by doing the next task
.

Vll. APPLICATION

Activity: LIVING UP THE FAITH

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Instructions: Your life is the witness to your faith/religion. Make a creative presentation of
how you live your faith. (e.g. comic strip, photo essay, poem, song, life story, etc.) Write
your answer on a bond paper.

IX. POST-TEST

Instructions: Differentiate Religious from Spiritual by classifying the following

statements in the categories below. Create a table in your journal and place the
letter of the correct answer under the right category.
1. Services are done in the place of worship
2. Nurtures relationship with other people
3. Develops inner self through self-reflection
4. Follows sets of creeds and teachings
5. Regularly goes to the place of worship

CONGRATULATIONS!

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

 X. ANSWER KEY

PRE-TEST

1. B
2. A
3. E
4. C
5. D

POST-TEST

1. Religious
2. Spiritual
3. Spiritual
4. Religious
5. Religious
References:

Books

 Cornelio, Jayeel S. Ph.D., Calano, Mark Joseph T, Ph.D., Sapitual, Manuel

Victor J. Ph.D. (2016). Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems.
Manila Philippines: Rex Book Store

 Ong, Jerome A. and Jose, Mary Dorothy dL. (2016). Introduction to world
religions and belief systems. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.

Internet

https://college.holycross.edu/projects/himalayan_cultures/2011_plans/sshmitt/image
s/Elements.pdf

https://www.slideshare.net/arias201625/belief-system-religion-and-
spirituality?fbclid=IwAR0VUAX0BjKOlfSm7JaTsUort7RjBt2sQ21aKZSGxmqTjckQ8_
VZo6UKxbU

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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS