INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
1st SEMESTER/ 1st QUARTER/12 HUMSS 1
QUIZ 1
UNDERSTANDING BELIEF, RELIGION AND
RELATED TERMS
• Each person sees social order through
the lenses of his or her own unique
identity groups.
• Lenses: Religious belief, cultural
background, education, ethnic
orientation, economic status, gender and
life experiences.
RELIGION-relationship between humans
that which they regard as holy, sacred,
absolute, spiritual, divine or worthy of
special reverence.
 the way people deal with ultimate
concerns about their lives and their
fate after death.
 set of beliefs and practices that
relates to metaphysical and
transcendental issues
 highlights on the relationship
between the individual and the
Divine.
2 WAYS OF DEFINING RELIGION AS A
SOCIAL REALITY
1. Substantive
- religion involves beliefs and
practices “which assumes the
existence of supernatural beings”.
(Davie, 2007)
2. Functional
- unified system of beliefs and
practices related to sacred things-
beliefs and practices which unite
into one single moral community.
(Durkheim, 2001
ELLEN MAE CATEDRAL 12 HUMSS 1
BELIEF- sometimes formed through a
mental process.
 not only based on perception, fact,
or empirical evidence but also on
the acceptance of the likelihood of
something to be true.
FAITH- defined as belief that is not based
on proof.
- also connotes confidence or trust in a
person or thing.
- In religion, it refers to the observance
of religious obligations, an attitude of
reverence towards entities and ideas
that are considered important in that
religion, and trust in the major beliefs.
BELIEF SYSTEMS- stories we tell
ourselves or ideas we hold that define our
personal sense of reality.
o we perceive reality through the
recognition of a system of signs-
meaningful objects or symbols
that are considered significant
by society
 Ex. the mano- a gesture of respect to
elders in Philippine society
o Language is another important set of
symbols.
o Belief systems introduce a set of
symbols that define larger
philosophical and spiritual ideas.
- influenced the way a person looks
at his/her life and the world in
general.
WORLDVIEW - similar to belief systems.
- explain and interpret reality,
history, and civilization.
- -monism, polytheism,
monotheism and atheism.
THEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
1st SEMESTER/ 1st QUARTER/12 HUMSS 1
QUIZ 1

- study of religious faith, practice - commemoration or celebration of

and experience. major religious events
- study of God and of God's relation - emphasize the distinct identity of
to the world. each religion.
SPIRITUALITY 5. SACRED OBJECTS AND SPACES
- broad set of principles that - considered representations of
transcend all religions the divine.
- integrated view on life that often - includes idols, icons and images,
transcends religious affiliation. relics, artifacts and remains,
sacred texts
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
- locations of great spiritual
PHILOSOPHY significance
- science or discipline which uses
human reason to investigate the
ultimate causes, reason and
principles that govern things.
- Philosophy looks into religious beliefs
in order to understand man's concept
and relationship with the Divine.
Philosophy of Religion
- study of the meaning and nature of
religion.
- analyze religious concepts, beliefs,
terms, arguments, and the practices
of religious adherents.

5 ELEMENTS OF RELIGION
1. BELIEFS
- combined belief systems and
worldview (e.g. the creed)
2. ORGANIZATION
- religious structure and function
- -heirarchy and symbol of authority
3. EMOTIONS AND VALUES
- evoke emotions such as hope,
- fear, reverence
- define ethical behavior among
the faithful.
MAJOR WORLDVIEWS THAT
4. RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
INFLUENCE RELIGIOUS BELIEF
ELLEN MAE CATEDRAL 12 HUMSS 1
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
1st SEMESTER/ 1st QUARTER/12 HUMSS 1
QUIZ 1

1. Monism- a philosophical worldview in - Madalyn Murray O’Hair- defines

which all of reality can be reduced to one atheism as the view that accepts
“thing” or “essence”. reason and aims to establish a
lifestyle and ethical outlook verifiable
- this view believes that “all is one”
by experience and scientific method.
- believe that there is no fundamental
- Do not have common belief systems,
divisions
sacred scriptures or recognized
- there is a unified set of laws
authority.
underlies all nature.
- their disbelief in gods and
- used in variety of contexts such as
supernatural beings bind them.
epistemology, ethics, metaphysics
and philosophy of mind. ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUALITY
- concept of “oneness”
1. A holistic or full integrated view of life
- monists deny any distinction between
2. A search for meaning and purpose in
body and soul, matter and spirit,
life
object and subject, matter and force.
3. A desire to attain knowledge regarding
- all aspects of reality are merged into
the sacred
a higher unity.
4. Self- reflective existence
2. POLYTHEISM
-belief in and adoration of several
deities
-each god or deity has specific
function, and often has human
characteristics
-true to Greeks and Romans and
Egyptians- human-animal hybrids.
3. MONOTHEISM
- faith in single, all powerful God
- true to Christianity, Judaism and
Islam

3. ATHEISM
- disbelief in gods or the supernatural

ELLEN MAE CATEDRAL 12 HUMSS 1