SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PAVIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
LESSON 1:
UNDERSTANDING THE
NATURE OF RELIGION
OBJECTIVES
• To understand the concepts and characteristics of
belief systems, worldview, religion and spirituality
• To define and describe the Nature of Religion
• To differentiate being religious from being spiritual
• To draw a character sketch of a person who is
religious but not spiritual, and spiritual but not
religious
MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITY
Motivational Activity
In the context of religion, express
what you believe in by completing the
given statement. What have you
observed in your own belief system?
I believe in/that
__________________________________.
UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEWS
Each individual sees and interprets
the world quite differently from one
another.
*For a certain individual, social
environment and upbringing are
critical in the development of a
religious life.
• All these factors have an effect on how people organize
their beliefs and ideas while eventually creating a
comprehensive narrative through which they look at the
world and interrelate with it.
UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEW
Belief in god or gods is found in almost
all religions.
• Religion had existed during prehistoric
times and has continued to the modern
day.
• Human life may have produced hundreds of religions and
belief systems.
Worldview
How do we call
this perspective? - is a collection of
beliefs about life and
the universe being held
by people (The Free
Dictionary 2014).
- often used as a synonym to monotheism
- is defined as “a belief in the existence of one god
viewed as the creative source of the human race and
the world, who transcends, yet is immanent, in the
world” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2014)
Theism
KINDS OF WORLDVIEWS OR BELIEF SYSTEMS
Monism
There is no real
distinction between
god and the universe.
Two implications arise from Monism
this belief.
* It contends that God is
dwelling in the universe as
part of it.
* The universe does not exist
at all as a reality but only as a
manifestation of God.
Monotheism
- The doctrine or belief in
one supreme god
• Ex: Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam
Polytheism
- The belief and worship
of many gods
• Ex. Ancient religion of
Egypt, Greece, and
Rome
Atheism
- Disbelief in or denial
of the existence of a
personal god
Agnosticism
•God cannot be
known
What is religion?
DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION
Religion - by etymology, the word religion comes from
three Latin variants: relegere, religari, and re-eligere
- relegere, literally means “constantly return to,”
speaks about religious observances such as Holy
Week (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), or Passover
(Judaism)
DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION
- religari, which means “to be tied into”, refers to the
commitment to one’s own religion
- re-eligere, which means “to choose again,” refers to
conversion or going back to one’s roots or goals
- refers to any set of
What is religion? attitudes, beliefs, and
practices concerning a
supernatural power
- an organized system of
beliefs, ceremonies, and
rules used to worship a
god or a group of gods
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).
Who are the Social
Scientists on the
Nature of Religion ?
SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ON THE NATURE OF RELIGION
• Edward Burnett Tylor
(1832-1917)
• English anthropologist, founding
figure of the science of Social
Anthropology
viewed religion as the belief in
spiritual beings
James George Frazer
(1854-1941)
- Scottish social anthropologist;
one of the founding figures of
Modern Anthropology
- viewed religion as a propitiation
or conciliation of powers
superior to man which are
believed to control and direct the
course of nature and human life
Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski
(1884-1942)
• an eminent 20th-century British
Anthropologist
• viewed religion as a body of self-
contained acts being themselves the
fulfillment of their purpose; an
affair of all, in which everyone
takes an active and equivalent part
•David Emile Durkheim
(1858-1917)
• French sociologist; father of
sociology
• viewed religion as a unified
system of beliefs and practices
relative to sacred things
ORIGINS OF
RELIGION
DIFFERENT THEORIES ON THE
ORIGIN OF RELIGION AND
THEIR PROPONENT
1. Animistic Theories
• Edward Burnett Tylor (1832-1917),
English anthropologist
• Primitive people believed in
souls or anima found in people
(seen in dreams) and in all of
nature.
Animistic Theories
• Since spirits could be
helpful or harmful to
human beings, early
people had to pray to
these spirits, offer
sacrifices, and appease
or avoid them.
Animistic theories
• Robert Henry Codrington
(1830-1922),
• Anglican priest and
anthropologist
• In his investigation, he
found out that the Melanesian
people believed in mana, a
mysterious force that
inhabited all of nature. dance of spirit impersonationDance of
spirit impersonation, Ambrym Island, Vanuatu
Animistic theories
• All early people began their religion in cognizance
of such force; the destructiveness of the mana can be
avoided by establishing taboos.
2. Nature-Worship Theory
• Human beings first developed
their religions from their
observations of the forces of nature.
• Early people became aware of the
regularity of the seasons, the tides
and the phases of the moon, and
began personalizing them by giving
them names, describing their
activities and tales that transformed
into mythology.
•
• Primitive people identified
the force in nature, personified
them, created myths, and
developed religions around
them.
3. Theory of Original Monotheism
• Wilhelm Schmidt (1868-1954),
Austrian anthropologist and ethnologist
• In Australia and Africa, basic
cultures held a common belief in a
distant high god, that originally
there had been one great god above
all others, and that he may have
been the creator of the world or the
father of the many lesser deities.
• This god went away and
had little contact with the
world that resulted in
majority of attention and
worship to local deities.
Primitive societies were
originally monotheistic; but
because it was difficult to
worship just one god,
religion was corrupted to
polytheism.
4. Magic Theory
James George Frazer (1854-1941)
a Scottish Social Anthropologist
People had gone three phases
of development concerning
the spirit world:
(1) primitive magic (wherein
people attempted to control
nature in the hope that nature
will cooperate if rituals are
done properly;
(2) religion (wherein people
implored nature to cooperate
since they have realized that
nature cannot be coerced); and
(3) science (wherein a rational
understanding of nature is
operative).
5. Wish Fulfillment Theory
• Ludwig Andrea von Feuerbach
(1804-1872)
• German philosopher and anthropologist
• There were no gods and that
belief in gods was simply wish
fulfillment.
• Troubled people who could
not cope with the difficulties in
life projected their wishes and
developed gods and religions.
5. Wish Fulfillment
Theory
• Karl Heinrich Marx (1818-1883),
a German philosopher and sociologist
• Religions were developed by
the few as a means to control the
masses and suppress revolution
as a result of the continuing
struggle between classes.
• Rulers and allied priests
wished to control all wealth so
they had to create a scheme of
gods, heavens, and hell.
Masses were persuaded to accept
poverty and be obedient to inherit
bliss in another life.
5. Wish Fulfilment
Theory
• Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Austrian neurologist and founder father of
psychoanalysis
• Religion originated from the guilt
that individuals supposedly feel in
hating their fathers.
• All males possess a similar
tendency to desire our mothers
and hate our fathers.
• As a result of this subconscious hatred and ensuing
guilt, a great father image was projected in the sky
called God.
• A healthy mature person can face problems without
the need for gods or religions.
EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY
For thousand of years,
people have been searching
and yearning to understand
the mystery of life and the
universe.
There may a come point in
time when an individual
realizes that life is not entirely
accidental and meaningless
(Parrinder 1971).
This is where the concept of spirituality comes in
with the term “spiritual” being defined as “relating
or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to
material or physical things” (Oxford Dictionary).
What is
spirituality?
Spirituality
• - is derived from the Latin word
spiritus, its verb root is spirare
which means “to breathe”
literally
• - it can be described as “one’s
integrative view of life and
involves a quest for the meaning
and ultimate value of life as
opposed to an instrumentalist or
materialistic attitude”.
How to embrace
spirituality?
To fully embrace spirituality,
there are various practices and
actions you can incorporate into
your daily life.
Cultivating empathy and
compassion is a fundamental
aspect of living a spiritual life. It
involves putting yourself in
others’ shoes, understanding their
experiences, and offering support
and kindness. By practicing
empathy and compassion, you can
create deeper connections with
others and foster a sense of unity.
Living by your beliefs and values is another essential
part of embracing spirituality. This means aligning
your actions with your core principles and staying
true to what you hold dear. By living in accordance
with your beliefs and values, you can maintain
integrity, find inner peace, and navigate life’s
challenges with authenticity.
Joining spiritual communities can be immensely
beneficial on your spiritual journey. Being part of a
supportive community allows you to connect with
like-minded individuals who share similar beliefs and
aspirations. Through shared experiences, discussions,
and collective practices, you can deepen your
understanding, find guidance, and gain a sense of
belonging.
Practicing forgiveness is pivotal for spiritual growth.
Forgiving others and yourself enables emotional healing
and releases negative energy. It fosters empathy,
compassion, and reconciliation, allowing you to let go of
past hurts and embrace peace and positivity in your life.
By practicing forgiveness, you free yourself from the
burdens of resentment and open up space for personal
growth.
Why is spirituality
important?
Spirituality is important because it helps deepen
your relationship with God and leads to spiritual
growth. It allows you to find meaning and purpose in
life, cope with stress and grief, and experience a sense
of peace and forgiveness. It also helps you connect
with others and build a supportive community.
What is the difference
between spirituality and
religion ?
Spirituality is the belief in something greater than
oneself and the search for meaning and connection. It is
not necessarily tied to a specific religion but focuses on
finding value and purpose in life.
Religion, on the other hand, is concerned with what
is true and right. While religion often involves
organized practices and beliefs, spirituality is more
about personal growth and finding meaning in
everyday experiences.
One can be spiritual without being religious or
religious without being spiritual.
What is Theology?
What is Philosophy of
Religion?
• Theology - involves the
systematic study of the
existence and nature of the
divine.
• Philosophy of
Religion – deals primarily
with issues concerning
religion, which includes
analysis on the existence of
a divine being or on sacred
texts.
