Lesson 1: What is Religion & Belief System?

Topic/Lesson Name: What is Religion & Belief System?

Content Standard: The learner communicates his/her understanding of religion

Performance Standard: The learner discusses the nature and value of religion and its importance in
relation to one’s self, society and nature or environment.

Learning Competencies: Critical & Reflective Thinking

Specific Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the learner:

1. defines religion & belief system;

2. identifies differences of different religious practices and belief
systems;
3. describes his/her commitment to his/her religion; and
4. develop a tentative claim or argument about one’s view of religion
and belief system.
I. Motivation (3 hours)
Each of the student will reflect on these questions:
1. How do you describe your commitment to your religion?
2. How do you and your friends observe your religious practices/rituals?
3. List down at least two beliefs you hold each in every category:
a. The world
b. Family
c. Government
d. Poverty
4. How do people with different religious backgrounds practice their religion?
II. Delivery/Instruction (6 hours)
Most people belong to a religion. Perhaps you belong in a religious group that deeply
observes religious practices, rituals and submits to its teachings of doctrines and beliefs.
There are many religions in the world. Is it valid to think that a particular religion is the only
true religion in the world? Do all religions say the same thing, or do they contradict each
other? If they are not saying the same thing, do they share something in common?
While there is no formal or official definition of religion, it is still practical to define
religion in order to understand it better. Oxford English Dictionary defines religion as an
action or conduct indicating beliefs in, obedience to, and reverence for a god, gods, or
similar superhuman power; the performance of religious rites or observances. The definition
emphasizes the two important/essential components of religion: 1.) The belief in a
supernatural being and 2.) The effort or commitment involved.
Etymologically, religion comes from three Latin variants: Relegere, Religari and Re-
eligere. Relegere means “constantly return to” which speaks about religious observance
regularly observed such as Holy Week for Christianity, Ramadan for Islam, and Passover for
Judaism. Religari means “to be tied into”. This refers to the commitment to one’s religion.
Re-eligere means “to choose again”. This refers to going back to one’s roots or goals,
conversion for example.

1
 Here are some definitions by some respected experts from various disciplines whose
views of religion, though limited, are helpful in understanding the concept of religion.

FRIEDRICH SCHLEIERMACHER(1778-1834) – Religion is “the feeling of absolute

dependence”.

RUDOLF OTTO(1869-1937) – Religion is that which grows out of and gives expression to,
experience of the holy in its various aspects. We are dealing with something for which there
is only one appropriate expression: mysterium tremendum. The feeling of it may at times
come sweeping like a gentle tide, pervading the mind with a tranquil mood and deepest
worship.
PAUL TILLICH(1886-1965) – Religion is the “ultimate concern for the ground of Being”.

WILLIAM JAMES(1842-1910) – Religion is the “feeling, acts and experiences of individuals in

their solitude as they stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine”.

VICTOR FRANKL(1905-1997) – Religion is a “function of the spiritual unconscious, which is

the source of the will to meaning”.

EMILE DURHEM(1858-1917) – Religion is a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative

to sacred things which unite into one single moral community all those who adhere to
them”.

These definitions can be categorized into three:

1. SUBSTANTIVE DEFINITION – This category limits the definition of religion to simply
about beliefs, institutions, and practices. This is content-oriented definition. It looks
into the essential characteristics of religion.
2. FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION – This category includes ideas such as creeds, principles,
and rules which are common in religions. This focus on how the religion functions in
the lives of the adherents.
3. FAMILY RESEMBLANCE DEFINITION – This refers to the network of similarities
overlapping each other or crisscrossing of similar features and resemblances among
the members of the particular religion.
Having defined Religion, let us now consider Belief. Belief is a mental state, a disposition
or attitude toward a particular thing, people, place or event. It does not necessarily require
empirical evidence, that is, evidence gathered and verified through observation.
Religions have their set of beliefs. These beliefs serve as a compass for people in
choosing to behave; they help people see and make sense of reality or worldview; they form the
values and human character of a person; they move people to action and beliefs are kinds of
knowledge/perspective.
Any belief system has the following elements or characteristics:
1. Belief systems are value-laden. They aim at developing values. These values
are good and considered basic to human life. Examples are love, faith, and
obedience.

2
 2. Belief systems are prescriptive. They prescribe action/s for adherence to
follow.
3. Belief systems are instrumental/purposive. The purpose of the belief is seen
in the context of the religion. An example of this is salvation by faith in
Christianity while other religions have salvation by works.
4. Belief systems are communal. They are products of the social interaction
within the same cultural, historical, and geographical contexts.

World Religions have different worldviews or belief systems that help them make up
one’s own sense of reality. The following table presents major world religions and their belief
systems (taken from Atim, Ben Carlo: Intro to World Religions & Belief System, Diwa Textbook,
2016, p.13-14)

Religion Founder Sacred Text(s) Doctrine(s) Transcendental

Belief(s)
JUDAISM Abraham/Moses Torah, Poetry, Ten Monotheistic
Prophets, Talmud, Commandments Yahweh/Jehovah
Mishnah 618 Rules
CHRISTIANITY Jesus Christ Bible (OT & NT) Trinity, Trinitarian:
Resurrection, Last Father, Son, Holy
Judgment Spirit
ISLAM Prophet Qur’an and Hadith Five Pillars of Monotheistic
Muhammad Faith Allah
HINDUISM Aryans Vedas, Dharma, Kama, Polytheistic
Upanishads, Artha, Brahman, 33 million gods
Bhagavad-Gita Atman, Yoga and goddesses
THERAVADA Siddharta Tripitaka Four Noble Truths Non-theistic
BUDDHISM Gautama Eight Fold Paths (no god)

MAHAYANA Siddharta Sutras Four Noble Truths Non-theistic

BUDDHISM Gautama Eight Fold Paths (no god)
Six Perfections
CONFUCIANISM Confucius Confucian Classics Nirvana, Human Nirvana
(Analects) nature, Five
Cardinal Virtues
TAOISM Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching Wu-wei and Law Tao
Book of Chuang of Reversion
Tze
SHINTOISM Pre-historic Kojiki and Nihongi Kami and divinity Kami (animists
Animists of Japan of Emperors and nature spirits)

3
There are at least three main positions or temperaments when it comes to the belief in God:

1. THEISM – is the belief in the existence of God or gods. It has multiple variants;
a. Monotheism – belief in one God/god
b. Polytheism – belief in many gods
c. Deism – beliefs in powerful God but does not intervene in human affairs
d. Pantheism – belief that everything is god.
e. Panentheism – belief that everything is in god.
2. ATHEISM – denies the existence of a God/gods.
3. AGNOSTICISM – it tells that one cannot prove nor disprove the existence of
God/gods. This is also called SKEPTICISM. Skeptics doubt on the existence of
God/gods and suspend judgement.

Among these three temperaments, Agnosticism is absent in major religions of the world.
Western Religions (Judaism, Christianity, & Islam) are all theistic while majority of East
Asian religions are non-theistic.

In an effort to define and understand the concept of Religion, you may ask, “what is the
relationship of Religion to Philosophy of Religion, to Theology and Spirituality?”
1. Relationship between Religion and Philosophy of Religion. Philosophy of Religion is a
branch of Philosophy that deals with religious themes, beliefs, and practices. It
examines the nature and other intricate issues of Religion. Religion provides the
content or object of study to Philosophy.
2. Relationship between Religion and Theology. Theology functions as a method in
forming a reasoned expression of faith.
3. Relationship between Religion & Spirituality. Some considered Religion and
Spirituality to be either the same or strongly linked because both centers on one’s
quest for meaning and purpose. However, many argue that they are distinct. One
can pursue spirituality without any influence from religion. Hence, there is what
they call Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). On the other hand, others are referred
to as Religious But Not Spiritual (RBNS).

III. Practice (2 hours)

Based from the discussion (Delivery & Instructions) make a short personal reflection guided
by the following:
1. Why should you know what it means by “religion” and “belief”? Does it make a
difference? Please explain.
2. How can religions be understood in a way that they will advocate peaceful dialogue
and responsibility among members of different religions?
3. How does religion help people become spiritual?
4. How can you improve yourself to becoming not just a religious person but a spiritual
person as well?

4
 Please write your reflection on a whole sheet of yellow-pad paper. Submit it when you
get the next module.

IV. Enrichment (3 hours)

Please work on the following tasks:
1. What is the image/face of your religion? Draw in a whole sheet of short-sized bond
paper an image that describes your religion.
2. On another sheet of short bond paper, make a sketch of a person who is spiritual but
not religious and a person who is religious but not spiritual.

Your drawing/sketch will be graded based on the following:

Originality of the sketch/drawing – 10pts

Ideas conveyed by the sketch/drawing – 20pts
Over-all presentation – 20pts
50pts
V. Evaluation (2 hours)
After accomplishing all the required tasks. Answer the following questions. Be brief and
direct to the point in your answers. This is a one hour quiz. Write your answer in a whole
sheet of yellow-pad paper.
1. Explain the two important/essential components of religion.
2. Discuss the four elements/characteristics of a belief system.
3. Define in your own words Theism, Atheism, and Agnosticism.
4. Why is spirituality important in one’s life? What does it contribute?

Thank you very much and God bless you. You have completed Lesson 1. Make sure you have done the
following when you get your Module 2.

1. Your reflection on the four questions of the Motivation Part.

2. Your reflection on the four questions on the Practice Part.
3. Drawing of an image that describes your religion.
4. Drawing/sketch a person who is SBNR and a person who is RBNS.
5. Your answers to the four questions of the Evaluation Part.

Again, Thank you very much and please be guided accordingly.