⋆｡˚୨୧˚｡⋆ WORLD RELIGION REVIEWER ⋆｡˚୨୧˚｡⋆

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF

SYSTEM ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

RELIGION - Religion comes from the Latin verb, Religare, which means in English, to
bind.

- binding of oneself with the absolute being

- performance of practices which binds together or links human beings with the
hidden superpower
- attitudes, beliefs, symbols and a structure of activities governed by these
systems
o As a social reality:
 Substantive- which is concerned with what constitutes religion.
In this sense, religion involves beliefs and practices “which
assume the existence of supernatural beings” (Davie 2007
 Functional- more concerned with the social consequences of
religion.
NATURE OF RELIGION

- EDWARD BURNETT TAYLOR (1832-1917) - English anthropologist; founding

figure of the science of social anthropology the belief in spiritual beings. Main
thinker of substantive religion.
- JAMES GEORGE FRAZER (1854-1941) - Scottish social anthropologist; one
of the founding figures of modern anthropology a propitiation or conciliation of
powers superior to man which are believed to control and direct the course of
nature and of human life
- BRONISLAW KASPER MALINOWSKI (1884-1942) - An eminent 20th century
Polish anthropologist: a body of self-contained acts being themselves the
fulfilment of their purpose; an affair of all, in which everyone takes an active
and equivalent part.
- DAVID ËMILE DURKHEIM (1858-1917) - French sociologist; father of
sociology a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things.
Main thinker of functional religion.

UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEWS - Every individual sees and

interprets the world quite differently from one another. This overall perspective is also
termed worldview which is a collection of beliefs about life and the universe being held
by people. Beliefs generally refer to assertions, claims, or thoughts about things that
are held to be true. Religion contains a worldview. Belief in god or gods is found in
almost all religions
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BELIEF SYSTEM/WORLD VIEWS
 - MONISM - There is no real distinction between god and the universe.
o It asserts that there is no genuine distinction between God and the
universe.
o 2 Implications: Firstly, it contends that God is dwelling in the universe as
part of it. Secondly, the universe does not exist at all as a reality but only
as a manifestation of God.
- POLYTHEISM - The belief and worship of many gods.
o is a kind of religion that believes in a plurality of Gods. Some religions of
this type include Buddhism, Hinduism (some sects), Taoism, to name
some
- MONOTHEISM - The doctrine or belief in one supreme god.
o A kind of worship that recognizes and believes in one God. Examples of
religion that adhere to single God are Christianity, Judaism, Islam
- ATHEISM - Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god
- AGNOSTICISM- God cannot be known.
o It denies the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of the existence of
God.
OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS

- Belief refers to a conviction concerning particular ideas. It also shapes our ideas
regarding our reality, and is influenced by our perception, experiences and
ideas.
- Faith, is a belief that is not based on proof
- Belief system, these are ideas that we hold that define our personal sense of
reality, the signs can be objects or symbols that have a meaning to a person
because they are considered significant by society.

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ LESSON 2: HOW RELIGIONS BEGAN ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

- Religious concepts are present in different works of life, based on geographical
location of a particular country, culture and other social factors you can easily
identify what kind of religion is existing. We can easily identify what religion is
present in that place because of the temples, churches and other religious
structures. When it comes to culture, religious laws are being observed and it is
connected in all aspects of life.
- In early civilization, Mesopotamian used to worship several main gods and
thousands of minor gods having a ziggurat in which they considered it as
temple and the people in Mesopotamia can communicate with the use of
cuneiform as a form of writing in their time. In Egyptian civilization, the people
in ancient Egypt believed that there is afterlife and with that they built pyramid.
- They also have deities and it was represented in the form of an animal. Their
Pharaohs are the one who will govern the lives and wealth of the people. They
also used Pyramid text is considered as the oldest religious text in ancient
Egypt (Mark,J.J.,2016). The Priest in both religions does some activities like
offering to deities and did annual festivals. In Indus Valley, the polytheism was
 being exercised; they worshipped their father god as the forefather of the race
while their mother goddess symbolizes fertility.
- If there are special occasions the people go to the great bath of Mohenjo-Daro
and do such rituals. The early Chinese religious belief are evident in Yellow
River, they believed that there is life after death by seeing the grave goods, the
tomb was positioned in west to east to symbolize birth and rebirth, they also
believed in many gods, with the use of oracle bone and a person with mystical
power people will know their future
- West Asia has three religions, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The
area is bounded by the fertile coast of the Mediterranean Sea on the west at
deserts of Arabia on the east. It is composed of countries like Israel, Lebanon,
Jordan, Syria and Palestine. Arabian Peninsula known as the largest peninsula
consisting of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates,
Yemen and Oman are predominant Muslim religion. The topography of West
Asia is a vast of mountainous terrain like Mount Ararat, Mount Sinai, Mount
Zion, and Mount Tabor.
- Each mountain has significance like Mount Ararat as believed to be the landing
place of Noah’s Ark as narrated in the Book of Genesis. Mount Sinai, the peak
where Moses received the Ten Commandments, Mount Zion/Mount Morah,
known as the City of David and Temple of Mount, Mount Tabor, site of
transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Ong and Jose 2016).
- In South Asia, countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh depend on Indus
River, Ganga Yamuna and Bramaputra. Ganga (Ganges) is known as sacred
and holiest river in Hindus. For Buddhists, Varamasi is considered as
important religious site where Siddharta Gautama gave his first sermon about
the principles of Buddhism.
- Over at Eastern part of Asia, Huang Ho and Yangtze Rivers give life to China,
where Confucius was born. Confucius, the main person behind the emerging
social philosophy, did not actually intend to start a new religion but expound
on the nature of order and stability of the society. (Ong and Jose 2016)
- Over at Eastern part of Asia, Huang Ho and Yangtze Rivers give life to China,
where Confucius was born. Confucius, the main person behind the emerging
social philosophy, did not actually intend to start a new religion but expound
on the nature of order and stability of the society. (Ong and Jose 2016).

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ LESSON 3: THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF GEOGRAPHY,

CULTURE AND RELIGIONS ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

HOW DOES GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCE RELIGION?

- It is a common knowledge that civilizations ordinarily develop in and around
river systems where there are easy access to water, food sources, and irrigation
systems. This geographical state permits people to grow crops and thus shift
 from the hunter gatherer lifestyle to becoming agriculturist—farming and
domesticating livestock.
- The Ganges, Indus Valley, the Nile, and Amazon River are geographical regions
where various kinds of people have developed over time. Dissimilarities in
culture result in diverse religious inclinations which incorporate their
environments into their rituals, mythologies, and iconography. This partially
explains the rise of various religions in these places.
- The origin of some features within a religion can also be explained by
geography. For instance, shrines in Shintoism have been built for reasons that
include geography (e.g. mountain shrines). Every shrine typically has a “kami”
(god), which may be a natural or topographical feature. The “kami” is said to
normally reside in an object, such as a stone. (Read: What is Kami in Shintoism
(and the Importance of Worshipping these)
- Many examples also prove that the physical environment of a place or
geography elucidates many aspects of the religions in it:
- “Across many of the world’s religions, mountains have been associated with
talking to God or as the abode of a god. Mount Sinai was the place where God
talked to Moses and the Jews. The Mount of Olives was where Jesus ascended
into heaven and where he is supposed to return. Mt. Athos in Greece as an
ancient monastery where monks dedicate their lives to living in seclusion
devoted to God.’
- “Olympus was the home of the ancient Greek pantheon and Mt. Fuji was the
dwelling place of gods in Japan. Man even built artificial mountains in an
attempt to reach the divine in the form of pyramids, ziggurats, and mounds.”
(“Geography and Religion,” n.d.)
- Aside from mountains, trees and rocks also had religious significance. The
Stonehenge and Easter Island serve as examples from ethnic religions of the
past. The “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem called the ‘Kotel,’ being the last vestiges
of the Second Temple, is a modern example.
- On the other hand, tress were used to produce totems, that is, objects (such as
an animal or plant) that are believed by a particular culture to have spiritual
significance and that are adopted by it as emblems. In fact, it is said that the
Catholic and other Protestant sects’ ‘Christmas tree’ has its origin from that
paganistic treatment of trees.
- Likewise, geographical properties such as rivers, water, and desert were given
religious meaning. The Ganges Rivers is seen as sacred until today by the
Hindus while the Nile River was deemed sacred in ancient Egyptian religion.
- We can also see that water is employed as a means of purification in
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, such as in the practice of baptism. The
desert, on the other hand, is customarily regarded as a means of spiritual
refinement, such as in the practice of meditation and ascetism.
HOW DOES RELIGION AFFECT CULTURE?

- Religion significantly impacts culture as it affects and influences it in many

vital ways. It can be proved that religion can considerably define the values,
 ideas, beliefs, heritage, and lifestyle of a society; all of which are essential
constituents of culture.
- For instance, relationships, marriage, birth, death, homemaking, and farming
are usual events in cultures—and these normally have a religious significance.
- Religion can have an enormous impact on people’s culture especially when
those in a certain culture believe intensely in its religion. Their culture appears
to accept only those ways of thinking and conducts which are acceptable to
their religion.
- Before, European societies’ were zealous Catholics. This had great effects on
European culture at the time as most cultural expressions were church-related.
Most arts were religious and much of the music produced were as well religious
in genre.
- In fact, European cultures, especially in the Middle Age, valued religion to the
point that people were eager to dedicate major resources to things like building
basilicas and supporting monasteries.
- Moreover, territories that are strongly affected by Islam have developed cultures
that are dominated by men, and in which things such as socializing with
members of the opposite sex in public are frowned upon. This, too, reveals the
interplay between religion and culture.
- It can be noticed that Muslims may be Arabs, Turks, Persians, Indians,
Pakistanis, Malaysians, Indonesians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Chinese,
or other nationalities. And yet, their Islamic faith almost homogeneously
influences their view on customs, attire, diets, celebrations, places of worship,
politics, and other aspects of life. Religion remarkably influences various
cultures in various ways. Amazingly too, religion can affect the same culture in
different ways at different times.

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ LESSON 4.1: JUDAISM ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

- JEW (JEWISH)- comes from Yehudah or Judah, the Southern Kingdom of
Israel. Now it is used to refer someone who practices Judaism and takes part of
the Jewish culture.
- HEBREW - originally Habiru- “they who crossed over” referred to people who
crossed the desert and were respected- now language of the Jews
- ISRAELITE- refers to the descendants of the Hebrews, which originated from
Abraham.
- TORAH- the scroll with the stories of the ancient Jewish people.
- EXODUS- escape from slavery in Egypt
- COVENANT- is a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement: compact
ORIGIN

- Judaism began before history in the eastern Mediterranean was even written.
- It was founded by Abraham (Abram) around 1750 BCE. Although he was seen
as the founder of Judaism, his grandson Jacob, who’s name changed to Israel,
 was the father of 12 children who became known as the “children of Israel,” or
Israelites.
- Canaan, is the birthplace of Judaism.
- According to most historians, Judaism began when Abraham, made covenant
with God.
- Because of this, Abraham was known as Father of the Semitic religions
(Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

- THE PROMISED LAND

o The first part of the covenant is known as the promised land and can be
found in Genesis 12:1, where Abraham is called by God to leave Ur and
go to a place known as Canaan. The land of Canaan then became known
as Israel. Israel was named after Abraham's grandson and is often
referred to as the promised land because the belief is that God promised
to give the land to the descendants of Abraham.

- THE PROMISE OF THE DESCENDANTS

- THE PROMISE OF BLESSING AND REDEMPTION
o The third and last part of the Abrahamic covenant is known as the
promise of blessing and redemption. It can be found in Genesis 12:1-3,
where God promises to bless Abraham and all of his descendants. As
part of this last covenant, God asked Abraham to remove his foreskin
and the foreskin of all Jewish boys after him. This process is known as
circumcision and is a sign of the Abrahamic covenant.
MOSES (flourished 14th–13th century BCE)

- Prophet of Judaism. In the Judaic tradition, he is revered as the greatest

prophet and teacher. According to the book of Exodus, he was born in Egypt to
Hebrew parents, who set him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket to save him
from an edict calling for the death of all newborn Hebrew males. Found by the
pharaoh’s daughter, he was reared in the Egyptian court. After killing a brutal
Egyptian taskmaster, he fled to Midian, where Yahweh (God) revealed himself in
a burning bush and called Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.
- Yahweh made a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and delivered
the Ten Commandments to Moses, who continued to lead his people through 40
years of wandering in the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan. He
died before he could enter the Promised Land.

JUDAISM: SACRED TEXT

- TANAKH
o The Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament of the Christians) is a collection of
24 books divided into three parts: Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim
 - TORAH
o Consist of five books of the Hebrew bible that were given by God to Moses
on Mount Sinai
- TORAH: GENESIS (IN THE BEGINNING)
o Also known as Bereshit, contains stories of creation, records the
establishment of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, tells
of the lives of the patriarchs and the matriarchs
- TORAH: EXODUS
o Also known as Shemot, account of Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the
exodus from Egypt, the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai
- TORAH: LEVITICUS (HE CALLED)
o Also known as Vayiqra, Gives God’s ethical and ritual laws and specific
instructions to priests on how to perform their duties.
- TORAH: NUMBERS (IN THE DESERT)
o Also known as Bemidbard, recounts of the Israelites through the desert
and gives more of God’s ethical and ritual laws.
- NEVI’IM
o Meaning, Prophet
o Contains writings of God’s messenger, who spoke His word to the
Hebrews
o Two Sub-groups: Former Prophets and Latter Prophets
o Latter prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and
Ezekiel
o Former Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
- KETUVIM
o Meaning, Writings
o The third and final section of the Tanakh. It contains wisdom, literature,
poetry, songs, narrative, history, religious philosophy, and love hymns.
o It includes: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Songs of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
OTHER SACRED OBJECTS
- MENORAH – is the seven-branded candelabrum which originally stood in the
Temple of Jerusalem. (Corral, V. and Kupang,G.,2017)
- STAR OF DAVID- it represents the relationship of between God and people.
(Corral, V. and Kupang,G.,2017)
- SYNAGOGUE – temple of worship
- SOLOMON’S TEMPLE - is the first temple in Jerusalem.
- HOLY OF HOLLIES - the most important room in the temple where the Ark of
Covenant was kept. The ark contained the tablets of TEN COMMANDMENTS
and the PENTATEUCH. (Ong and Jose 2016).
WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS
 - SABBATH – it is the seventh day of the week, it is considered sacred as
commanded in the Ten Commandments. The Jews spent this day to rest and
worship.
- HANUKKAH or the festival of lights, celebration of Jews’ survival and
commemoration of the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after a period of
persecution. It is celebrated during midwinter.
- PASSOVER – marks the Exodus and the liberation of Jews from Egypt. It is
celebrated during spring.
- ROSH HASHANAH – Jewish New Year
- YOM KIPPUR – Day of Atonement, the High Priest enters the Holy of Hollies in
the Temple and sprinkle blood on the Ark of the Covenant and offer incense.
- TISHRI - Day of Awe wherein the first two days comprise the Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur. (Ong and Jose,2016).
- PURIM – Feast of Esther, celebrates the deliverance of the Jews during the
Persian Empire. (Ong and Jose,2016).

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ LESSON 4.2: JUDAISM ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
- It contain God’s specific codification of the main principles of the natural law.
God revealed these commandments (Ex 20:2-17; Deut 5:6-21) of the natural
law because Original Sin made it hard for human beings to discern good from
evil. The commandments also make clear rules for living out the general
principles of natural law, such as the need to set aside a specific time for God.
o I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS
BEFORE ME.
 God, as our creator, wants us to love him above all else. The
people of Israel worshipped the golden calf (Ex 32:1-20). Using
magic, occult or superstitious practices (e.g. horoscopes);
syncretism; giving priority to anything other than God.
o YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN
VAIN.
 God’s name and all things dedicated to him should not be
misused or treated lightly. The money changers in the temple
(Mark 11:15-17). Misusing holy names as swear words; breaking
oaths; disrespect for holy places, objects or persons.
o REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE LORD’S DAY.
 God wants us to dedicate specific time to him since worship is of
the greatest importance. The failure to keep the Sabbath in the
time of the prophets (Jer 17:19-27). Missing Mass on Sunday or a
holy day; doing unnecessary business or work on this day.
o HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.
 The family is the basis of society. Respect is due to parents and
other lawful authorities. The prodigal son in the parable told by
 Jesus (Lk 15:11-32). Refusing to love our parents and obey lawful
authority; neglecting elderly parents.
o YOU SHALL NOT KILL.
 To destroy or harm human life, made in God’s image, is a rejection
of God’s gift, the person and society. Cain killed his brother Abel
(Gen 4:1-12). Murder; abortion; IVF; euthanasia; unjust war;
failure to provide for those in severe poverty.
o YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
 Marriage is a sacred bond which cannot be broken. It is the only
context for sexual acts. Herod lived unlawfully with Herodias, his
brother’s wife (Mk 6:17-18). Adultery; masturbation; homosexual
acts; artificial contraception; living together before Marriage.
o YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.
 Personal property is needed for human well-being. Stealing is an
attack on personal and civic life. Pharaoh stole from the Israelites
by using them as slave labour (Ex 1:8-14). Unlawfully taking
o YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR
NEIGHBOUR.
 To attack a person’s reputation is an attack on human dignity and
leads to injustice. The false witnesses at Jesus’ trial (Mk 14:55-
59). Lying about someone in a law court; gossip; calumny or
detraction of another’s good name.
o YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOUR’S WIFE.
 This command connects to the sixth, in which among other
failings is condemned adultery. If, in fact, a sin to take the wife of
another, sin is the desire to take it, because you just want to do
something a little less action accomplished.
o YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOUR’S GOODS.
 God wants us to make full use of the gifts he has given us, not to
desire the gifts of others instead. The brothers of Joseph were
jealous of his status and his robe (Gen 37:3-11). Jealousy of
another’s talents and possessions. Being ungrateful to God for his
gifts to us.
Ideas and Past Events
- HOLOCAUST – Another term referring to this is SHOAH. The word “holocaust”
came from Ancient Greek, which means “sacrifice by fire”. This was initiated by
Nazi party. The Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, believe in superiority of their race
(Aryan race). During World War II, they implemented the “final solution”
planned by Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking SS and party official.
- In this program, ghettoes, slave-labor camps, and concentration camps are put
up, with the aim of isolating and erasing the Jewish race off Europe. Prisoners
are then brought to death camps and gas chambers in which many died due to
suffocation. Six million Jews have died from this event; there were also some
Slavs and gypsies killed, too. (Ong and Jose 2016).
- The Israeli Knesset, or parliament, set aside the 27th day of the Hebrew
month Nisan (April or May in the Gregorian calendar) as a Holocaust
Remembrance Day. (Corral, V. and Kupang,G.,2017)
- Anti-Semitism pertains to hostility towards and discrimination against the
Jewish people. The most extreme incident is the Holocaust in which its aim is
the extermination of entire Jewish race.
- Zionism - Theodor Herzl is the founder of Zionist movement, which advocated
the return of Jews to Land of Israel. The word Zion originated from the name of
the mountain where Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem was located. Persons who
support this movement are called Zionists. Zionists believe that the Jews are
the chosen people of God, which must be reunited from dispersion or exile back
to their homeland. (Ong and Jose 2016).

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