Name: _________________________ Grade/Track: _________________ Score: _______

School: ________________________ Teacher: ____________________

Subject: INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS – WEEK 1 LAS 2

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 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 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.

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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 on the designated space.

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?

_____________________________________________________________.

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?
_____________________________________________________________.

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