Synthesis Paper

In
Introduction to
World Religion and Belief Systems

To

Aldrin Ramiso, LPT

By

Melvin A. Daynata

2022
 Religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a
group of gods (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2014). It refers to the pursuit of transformation guided by a
sacred belief system. It is defined as “people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature,
and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life” (“Religion,”
2009). Since the nineteenth century, people began to show great interest in explaining the origins of
religion. In fact, numerous theories have been postulated to explain the origin of religion while looking
at primitive societies for ideas concerning the development of belief systems (Hendry 1999)

There are four religions that I've learned in this semester: Judaism is an Abrahamic,
monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and
civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the Middle East during the
Bronze Age. This religion believed that Christians are monotheistic, i.e., they believe there's only one
God, and he created the heavens and the earth. The life purpose of Judaism is also based on the
covenant between God and the people since they believed to be the chosen people of God. The
followers of this religion realize the full potential and the one who is meant to be. Another religion that
I’ve learned is Christianity. Christianity revolves around the life, death and Christian beliefs on the
resurrection of Jesus. Christians believe God sent his son Jesus, the messiah, to save the world. The
purpose of life according to this religion is to love and serve god who created the universe. Believers of
this religion advocates the belief that human being were created in God’s image. Another religion to
discuss is Islam. Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion teaching that Muhammad is a messenger
of God. It is the world's second-largest religion behind Christianity, with 1.9 billion followers or 24.9% of
the world's population, known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 49
countries. Islam means surrender with Allah or God. Submission to them is shown in their worship with
their forehead touching the ground in worshipping Allah. Hinduism is the world's oldest religion,
according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with
about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly
95 percent of the world's Hindus live in India.

There are more than thousands of religions exist around the world and most of it fulfills to
address morality, in which it instills values in every individuals and that’s what makes it similar. It
adheres to hone individuals with attributes by doing certain dispositions and behavioral practices.
Despite the differences in practices and beliefs, religions are united in composing culture in every places.
Like for instance, practices from these religions, influence how individuals perceived marriage, rituals in
worship and attributes in dealing different adversities. But the real question above all this is that if
religion still exist nowadays? Assuming that everything evolved in this generation.

Religion doesn’t require to be compelled with the concept of “divine God or Supreme One”
rather it pertains to the institutionalized beliefs and set of behavioral practices of a certain group. To
answer this, I would stand to disagree that religion is dying. It’s not dead and it will never die. As you can
have observed from medieval period until present there are evidences that religion evolved and even
categorized in such that creates different subsets of practices influenced by culture in the society. For
instance, in Christianity, perhaps we are very much aware that though it pertains to a single religion, as
years passed, different dispositions were already practiced by group of sectors who claimed to be in this
religion. What I’m trying to say is that religion will never grow out dated and it will never extinct. It will
always be part of individual’s dispositions and culture as well. As long as people will and can still
rationalize, religion will always exist.