INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND created myths, and developed

BELIEF SYSTEM religions

Belief System Original Schmidt there had been
- A set of principles, tenets, or doctrines that Monotheism one great god
guides an individual understanding and above all others,
interpretation of the world. and that he may
Worldview have been the
- A collection of beliefs about life and the creator of the
universe being held by people. Includes
CULTURAL, SOCIAL and EXPERIENTIAL world, this high
influences god went away
and had little
contact with the
world that
resulted in
majority of
attention and
worship to local
Religion deities
- an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, Magic Frazer primitive magic
and rules used to worship a god or a group of (wherein people
gods attempted to
Taylor The belief in spiritual beings control nature in
Frazer A propitiation or conciliation of the hope that
powers superior to man which nature will
are believed to control and cooperate if
direct the course of nature and rituals are done
of human life properly
Malinowski A body of self-contained acts Wish Feuerbach There were no
being themselves the fulfilment Fulfillment gods and that
of their purpose; an affair of all, belief in gods
in which everyone takes an active was simply wish
and equivalent part fulfillment
Durkheim A unified system of beliefs and Marx Religions were
practices relative to sacred developed by
things the few as a
Characteristics Common to Major Religions means to
1. Belief in a deity control the
2. Belief in a deity’s relationship with the world masses
3. Ways to worship a deity Freud Religion
4. Rules followed as a result of beliefs originated from
5. Places and people believed to be holy and the guilt that
sacred individuals
THEORY OF THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION supposedly feel
Animistic Taylor believed in souls in hating their
or anima found fathers
in people (seen
in dreams) and Religiosity Spirituality
in all of nature. - set of ideals - a sense of
Codrington believed in practiced and followed connection to
mana, a by organized groups something greater
mysterious - Focuses on than oneself
force that organized religion, - personal growth,
inhabited all of doctrine, rituals inner peace
nature - Seek redemption - personal
Nature Human beings first developed through adherence to transformation, self-
Worship their religions from their doctrine awareness
observations of the forces of - looking for purpose,
nature, identified the forces in value in life
nature, personified them,
 China China Japan
Confucious Lao Tzu/ Laozi No founder
To harmonize Centers on the way of the
human concept of Dao Gods
relations as a way
concern is on signifying Kami –
ideal human appropriateness gods,
society of one’s Amaterasu
behavior (sun
goddess)–
most
important
kami
Sacred Sites/Holy Places
Mt. Ararat landing place of Noah’s Ark
Mt. Sinai Moses received the Ten
Commandments
Mt. Most sacred site in the world
Zion/Moriah by the Jews, Christians and
Muslims
ABRAHAMIC RELIGION City of David and Temple
-notable figure is Abraham Mount, binding of Isaac
-monotheistic religion – there is only one God (Judaism, Christianity)
-Originate in West Asia /Ishmael (Islam), Prophet
-Judaism, Christianity, Islam Muhammad Ascension
Abraham Mt. Tabor transfiguration of Jesus Christ
- father in faith, ancestor of Jesus Christ Sea of Reeds crossed by the Israelites as
COMMONALITY IN ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS they escaped from Egyptian
1. One supreme being lands
2. Prophets and apostles play major role Sinai Dessert Place of Israelites before their
3. Roles of divine revelation and intervention journey to the Promised Land
DHARMIC RELIGION Dead Sea Hiding Spot of David
- A group of religion that originated in the Indian Church of Place of Crucifixion and Empty
subcontinent and share many common beliefs, The Tomb of Jesus Christ
practices Holy
- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism Sepulcher
- Focus on the enlightenment and emphasize the Dome of the Muhammad ascended to
concept of karma, dharma samsara Rock heaven
KARMA DHARMA SAMSARA Al-Aqsa Night journey of Muhammad
Every action Right conduct Repeated Mosque
has that preserves cycle of birth, GangesRiver Holiest River in Hinduism
consequence society misery and Varanasi First Sermon of Buddha
s death
Hinduism – polytheistic Exclusive Religion Non-exclusive
- Believed in the Trimurti- Brahma (creator), Religion
Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer) - Often Monotheistic in - Often Polytheistic in
- Focuses on religious rituals, a religion that nature nature
preach order and purpose to the cosmos and - More prescriptive - Encourage analysis
human life - Follow scriptures of religion’s purpose
Buddhism – non-theistic believing that they will within a culture
- Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, centers be saved by doing this - Believing that there
attention in the figure of Buddha are many ways to
- Focuses on ethical behaviors enlightenment
DAOIC RELIGION
- DAO – The way - The flow of the universe, the CHRISTIANITY – Trinitarian Creed (Father,
force behind the natural order Son, Holy Spirit)
- originated in East Asia JUDAISM and ISLAM – Unitarian Creed
- Truth, way, the ultimate reality
Confucianism Daoism Shintoism Universalizing Ethnic Religion
 Religion -Teacher and Interpreter of the Jewish Law and
Religions that attempt Religions that draw Customs
to operate on a global members from a WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
scale and are not specific group of SABBATH commemorate Gods
inextricably linked to people from a definite (Shabbat) completion of the creation of
any nation, ethnicity, locality the universe and his rest
or place after the six-day
Rosh New Year
Hashanah
All human relationships had a set of definite Yom Kippur “Day of Atonement”
responsibilities and obligations. A day of fasting, repentance,
If people conform and accept their roles, a perfect and deep reflection
society is attainable. Pesach Commemorate the Exodus
(Passover) of the Jews from Egypt
POSITIVE and NEGATIVE EFFECT OF
RELIGION Shavuot Commemorate the revelation
(Pentecost) of the Torah to Moses at Mt.
Sinai
Sukkot Commemorate the Israelites
(Tabernacles) 40 years stay in the desert

JUDAISM Subdivision
Orthodox - Most traditional of modern Judaism
Conservative - conserve the traditional elements
of Judaism while at the same time allowing for
modernization
Reform - Liberal and progressive Judaism

Selected Issue in Judaism

JUDAISM ZIONIST MOVEMENT
- oldest monotheistic religion - advocate the return of Jews to Eretz
- Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic Yisrael
religion in the world - promote the development and protection
- The Jewish people consider themselves as the of Israel
chosen people of God HOLOCAUST
-Focuses on the worship of one God, the - means “sacrifice by fire”
practice of good deeds, and the love of - persecution and execution of around 60
learning million Jews
TORAH ANTI-SEMITISM
- is the most important text - pertains to the hostility towards and
- contains the “Five Books of Moses” discrimination against the Jewish people
- foundational text
- kept in the Ark inside a synagogue CHRISTIANITY
Abraham - centers on the life, teachings, death, and
- Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to resurrection of Jesus Christ
Abraham - founded by Jesus Christ
Jacob -Symbol (CROSS- symbol of Jesus Christ’s
- name was changed to “Israel” which means “the victory over sins, FISH - symbol by persecuted
one who wrestled with God” Christians as a secret sign)
Book of Exodus SUBDIVISION OF CHRISTIANITY
- How the Jews struggled in Egypt, were saved by - ROMAN CATHOLICISM
Yahweh, and were led out of Egypt
- GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Moses
- PROTESTANTISM
-release the Israelites in slavery
To have an eternal life, Christians should strictly
-received the 10 Commandments
follow the teachings of God.
-allegedly written the Torah- 5 books (Genesis,
GOD Creator and maintainer of the universe.
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
GOD is omnipotent (all-powerful)
GOD is omniscient (all-knowing)
GOD is omnipresence (all present)
Rabbi
GOD is omnibenevolent (all-good)
TEN COMMANDMENTS HAFIZ
guide of Christians on how to behave within the - Muslim man who has completely memorized
family, society and God Quran
SACRAMENTS HAFIZA
Baptism remove the original sin - Muslim woman who has completely memorized
Confirmation give the Baptized the gift of Quran
the Holy Spirit HADITH
Holy entails the reception of Christ - collection of the deeds and sayings of
Communion body and blood Muhammad and his followers and the second
Confession reconcile Christians with God source of shari’a law
by confessing their sins
Matrimony union of man and woman ISLAM BELIEF
with the blessing of the Lord GOD compassionate, everlasting and omnipotent
Holy Order continuation of Christ AFTERLIFE sent to either paradise or hell for
priesthood perpetuity
Anointing of for physical and moral
the Sick strength

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Advent Season of waiting for the
birth of the Messiah
Lent celebration of the
resurrection of Christ
Pentecost Celebrate the coming of the
Holy Spirit to the Early
Christians

ISLAM
- Youngest Major Religion in the World
- one of the youngest and fastest growing
religions in the world founded by Muhamad
- Symbol (crescent moon and the star)
“KAABA”
- enclosure around the meteoric stone
Muhammad ibn Abdullah
- He used to retreat at Mt. Hira in search of truth
about God
- began hearing the voice of God, he began to
experience divine revelations delivered by angel
Gabriel. COMPARISON
- He preached a new order build upon God’s will JUDAISM CHRISTIANITY ISLAM
and human submission to his belief Founder Jesus Christ Muhammad
- messenger and the last prophet Place Canaan Palestine Arabia
- the seal of the prophecy (Israel)
Islam - “submit” Believers Jews Christians Muslim
Temple Synagogue Church Mosque
Muslim - “a person who surrenders or
Text Torah Bible Quran
submit himself to obey God”
Food Kosher Halal
Allah - “the one who is God”
Hijra - journey of Muhammad from Mecca to
Medina
Q’URAN
“recitation” / “reading”
- considered the perfect word of God
- has almost the same length as the New
Testament. - Chapters are called surahs while
verses are called ayahs which mean “evidence”
or “sign
- Quran is arranged based on the length of the
surah in descending order