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.

Kinds of Belief
System Description

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

• Human relationship/Deed • Brick or Mortar Temple

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

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 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.
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.
• 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