Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems LESSON-1.pptx

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1. INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

2. LESSON ONE: UNDERSTANDING RELIGION 2 1

3. What is religion? 3

4. In examining the meaning of religion, we shall look into the etymology ( the origin of the linguistic form of the said word ) of the word religion, the definitions given to religion by some scholars from different disciplines , and the key elements of religion ( the common characteristics of religions ). 4 Meaning and Key Elements

5. ETYMOLOGY There are at least three closely related accounts on the etymology of the term religion . 5

6. ETYMOLOGY 6 First Account the term comes from a Latin word that means “to tie or bind .” Some identify this Latin word as religare while some identify it as religio .

7. ETYMOLOGY 7 First Account In any case, this etymological meaning of religion, to tie or bind , indicates the two objectives of religion: first , to bind humanity and the divine together; and second, to bind humans into a community that is bound with the divine

8. ETYMOLOGY 8 Second Account the term religion consists of two Latin words, namely, re , which means “again,” and lig -, which means to “ join” or “connect ”. Religion, based on the combination of these two Latin words, therefore means “to join again” or “to reconnect.”

9. ETYMOLOGY 9 Second Account W hat is being joined again or being reconnected , in this context, is humanity and the divine, or the human world and the sacred world.

10. ETYMOLOGY 10 Second Account This meaning of religion suggests that there was originally a unity between the human world and the sacred world which was somehow lost or strained; and religion is the way for humans to recover or reestablish that unity.

11. ETYMOLOGY 11 Third Account the word religion derives from the Latin word relegare which literally means “to tread carefully” and which indicates “ respect and care for both the natural and supernatural worlds”

12. ETYMOLOGY 12 Third Account This further suggests that a primary concern of religion is to provide guidance on how humans ought to live.

13. What can be observed in these three etymological accounts of the meaning of the word “ religion ”? What do these etymological accounts suggest? 13 Questions:

14. D efinitions From Some Scholars 14 Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834 ): “ The essence of religion consists in the feeling of absolute dependence.”

15. D efinitions From Some Scholars 15 James Martineau (1805-1900 ): “ Religion is the belief in a Divine mind and will ruling the universe and holding moral relations with mankind.”

16. D efinitions From Some Scholars 16 C. P. Tiele (1830-1902 ): “ Religion is . . . that pure and reverential disposition or frame of mind which we call piety.”

17. D efinitions From Some Scholars 17 F. H. Bradley (1846-1924 ): “ Religion is the attempt to express the complete reality of goodness through every aspect of our being.”

18. D efinitions From Some Scholars 18 James Frazier (1854-1941 ): “Religion is a propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man.”

19. D efinitions From Some Scholars 19 Emile Durkheim (1858-1917 ): “Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things which unite into one single moral community.”

20. D efinitions From Some Scholars 20 Rudolf Otto (1869-1937 ): “ Religion is that which grows out of, and gives expression to, experience of the holy in its various aspects.”

21. D efinitions From Some Scholars 21 Paul Tillich (1886-1965 ): “ Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of the meaning of our life.”

22. D efinitions From Some Scholars 22 J. Milton Yinger (1916-2011 ): “ Religion is a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group of people struggle with the ultimate problem of human life.”

23. D efinitions From Some Scholars 23 John Hick (1922-2012 ): “ Religion constitutes our varied human response to transcendent reality.”

24. D efinitions From Some Scholars 24 Ninian Smart (1927-2001 ): The six characteristics or dimensions of religion are: “the ritual, the mythological, the doctrinal, the ethical, the social, and the experiential.”

25. D efinitions From Some Scholars 25 Peter Berger (1929- ): “Religion is the establishment through human activity of an all-embracing sacred order, that is, of a sacred cosmos that will be capable of maintaining itself in the ever-present face of chaos.”

26. D efinitions From Some Scholars 26 James C. Livingston (1930- ): “ Religion is that system of activities and beliefs directed toward that which is perceived to be sacred in value and transforming power.”

27. D efinitions From Some Scholars 27 Roy A. Clouser (1937- ): “ A religious belief is any belief in something or other as divine. ‘Divine’ means having the status of not depending on anything else.

28. D efinitions From Some Scholars 28 Roland Robertson (1938- ): “Religion pertains to a distinction between an empirical and a super-empirical, transcendental reality: the affairs of the empirical being subordinated in significance to the non-empirical .”

29. Worldview Spiritual World Sacredness Community Central Stories Rituals Ethical Codes Artistic Expressions 29 Key Elements of Religion

30. A worldview refers to a set of beliefs that is both coherent and comprehensive. As a coherent set of beliefs forms a belief system, another way of saying the same is that a worldview refers to a comprehensive belief system. 30 WORLDVIEW

31. First, religion consists of beliefs. Beliefs generally refer to assertions, claims, or thoughts about things that are held to be true. Beliefs are, strictly speaking, mental states that advance claims or knowledge about the world, and are expressible in the form of statements 31 WORLDVIEW

32. Second, a set of beliefs forms a system when these beliefs are coherent; and they are coherent when they are consistently interrelated. Being interrelated, the beliefs in a system influence or affect one another. 32 WORLDVIEW

33. Lastly, a belief system is comprehensive when it accounts for a wide range of phenomena or when it deals with a wide range of human concerns. Religious belief systems are comprehensive in this light for they address a wide range of human concerns . 33 WORLDVIEW

34. the spiritual world refers to what is sometimes also called the transcendental world or supernatural world. Being nonphysical, the spiritual world is known or accessed not by means of scientific methods, but by other means of knowing such as visions, revelations, and mystical experiences. 34 SPIRITUAL WORLD

35. the acceptance of its reality or truth is not a matter of having some objective evidence or method of verification; rather, it is a matter of having faith. 35 SPIRITUAL WORLD

36. Religion regards certain things as sacred. The sacred is contrasted with the ordinary, secular, or profane. While ordinary things can be used as mere instruments to satisfy human interests, sacred things are treated with respect or reverence. 36 SACREDNESS

37. Also, the value of an ordinary thing depends on human interests, while the value of a sacred thing does not. A sacred thing either has its own value or derives its value from association with a sacred thing that has value on its own . 37 SACREDNESS

38. In this consideration, we can distinguish between two kinds of sacredness, which we shall call inherent sacredness and derived sacredness. Something has inherent sacredness if it has value on its own, while something has derived sacredness if its value is derived from something that has inherent sacredness. 38 SACREDNESS

39. Religions have ethical or moral codes referring to guidelines concerning how humans ought to relate to the divine, treat one another, or behave towards one another, God, gods, and revered teachers. 39 ETHICAL CODES

40. In some cases, these codes also include rules about what types of food to refrain from eating generally, what type of clothes to wear on specific occasions, and others. Some of these ethical codes are revealed by a God to chosen messengers; while some are realized through a heightened form of spiritual activity like meditation. 40 ETHICAL CODES

41. Religions have communities. A religious belief system is shared and practiced by a community of believers. The community of believers usually involves an organization consisting of a hierarchy of authorities. 41 COMMUNITY

42. Each level in the hierarchy has designated rights and duties. How people get to occupy higher positions vary in different religions . The ways include revelations, reincarnations, blood relations, and elections by revered members of the religious community. 42 COMMUNITY

43. Religions have sacred writings, which contain their main teachings or doctrines, central stories, ethical codes, and prophecies. Sacred writings are divinely inspired. Their contents are usually revealed by a God or gods through chosen messengers. 43 SACRED WRITINGS

44. Religions have sacred writings, which contain their main teachings or doctrines, central stories, ethical codes, and prophecies. Sacred writings are divinely inspired. Their contents are usually revealed by a God or gods through chosen messengers. 44 SACRED WRITINGS

45. Religions have central stories. Some scholars refer to these stories as “ myths,” but due to a connotation of the term “myth” as being a story that is purely imaginary or that is historically untrue, we shall use the (hopefully) neutral term “story.” 45 CENTRAL STORIES

46. The central stories of religions include accounts of how the world and the human race began; how God was personified or manifested in the world; how a great teacher came to a realization of religious truths or received messages and instructions from God , the gods, or the heavens; 46 CENTRAL STORIES

47. how the important events in the life of a great teacher came about; and how some actions of faithful followers (like acts of martyrdom) became worthy of emulation or sources of religious inspiration. 47 CENTRAL STORIES

48. Religions have rituals which include ceremonies that reenact sacred stories, and various activities, such as songs and dances that express praise or thanksgiving to God, gods, or a revered teacher or prophet. 48 RITUALS

49. Religions engage in various artistic expressions for their beliefs. These artistic expressions can be in the form of music, dance, architectural design, sculpture, poetry, drama, and others. Many of the world-renowned artistic works were religiously inspired. 49 ARTIFICIAL EXPRESSIONS

50. Q uestions regarding human existence What is the ultimate cause of all things? What is our purpose in this world? To what extent are our choices and actions considered “free”? 50

51. What are some philosophical questions have you asked yourself? What lead you to ponder those questions? 51

52. Do you think that you will be able to figure out the answers to these philosophical questions? Explain. 52

53. T he most notable ancient Greek philosophers 53

54. 54 Pythagoras (570 BCE to 459 BCE) A mathematician and scientist. Credited with formulating the Pythagorean Theorem. His work earned him many followers, and he established a community of learners who were devoted to the study of religion and philosophy.

55. 55 Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE) Proposed that everything that exists is based on a higher order or plan which he called “ logos”. For him, change is a permanent aspect of the human condition.

56. 56 Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) Devoted himself to the study of the causes of natural phenomena. Among the first to propose that matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms.

57. 57 Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE) A known advocate of living a simple and virtuous life. For him, one should not talk of virtue, but should show it in words and actions.

58. 58 Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE) Believed that philosophy could enable a man to live a life of happiness.

59. 59 Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) Considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times. He was credited with formulating the Socratic method.

60. 60 Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) A student of Socrates; Known for his dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas as discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge.

61. 61 Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) A prominent student to Plato; His studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which gave rise to deductive reasoning .

62. Why is there a need to philosophize? 62

63. S ense of Wonder (PLATO) Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we always wonder how it came about. “Where did we come from?” “Why do we exist?” “For what purpose are we created?” 63

64. Doubt (RENE DESCATRES) Descartes was famous for rejecting or questioning established ideas, and he even went as far as doubting his own ideas. A critical and questioning perspective is necessary to determine if indeed these ideas or views are correct or true. 64

65. Experience (KARL JASPERS) A man is often confronted by experiences which challenges his ideas and frameworks. These challenges are called limit situations , which are often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, or dread. 65

66. Love of Wisdom (SOCRATES) To love wisdom is to have an insatiable desire for truth. A philosopher seeks to continue to question, to probe, and to discuss in order to get to the bottom of things. “An unexamined life is not worth living.” 66

67. What are some situations that compel a person to engage in philosophical thinking? How can a person benefit from philosophizing? 67

68. What are the branches of P hilosophy? 68

69. Branches of Philosophy Aesthetics Logic Epistemology Ethics Political philosophy Metaphysics Philosophy of the human person 69

70. Aesthetic The philosophy which deals with beauty and what makes things “beautiful”. 70

71. L ogic The branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning. 71

72. Epistemology Discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing. 72

73. Philosophy of the Human Person The area in philosophy which understands the human person from a philosophical perspective – integrating and synthesizing the different branches of philosophy and other fields of study to know the truth about the human person. 73

74. Review What is philosophy? Why is there a need to philosophize? What are the branches of philosophy? What is “Philosophy of the Human Person”? 74

75. Is it possible for any person to engage in philosophical discussion? Why? 75

76. THANKS! Any questions ?

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