 Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

 Why is there Religion?

Speculation on the sources of religion:

1. Having to deal with our mortality.

- death, experience of pain, idea of soul, afterlife, and rebirth

2. We desire good health.

- A regular supply of food and a suitable weather.

3. It offers companionship.

- The fulfillment from belonging to a group.

 4. It stimulates art, music, and dance.

-As an inspirational source of some of the most imaginative buildings in the world.
5. As to respond to our natural wonder about ourselves and the cosmos.
- relate unknown universe around us by answering the questions of who we are, where we
come from, and where are we going.

 Key Characteristics of Religion

A) Belief system

Several beliefs fit together into fairly complete and systematic interpretation of the universe and the
human being’s place in it; this is also called a worldview.

 Key Characteristics of Religion

B) Community

The belief system is shared, and its ideals are practiced by a group.

C) Ethics

Rules about human behaviour are established, often having been revealed from supernatural realm, but
they can also be viewed as socially generated guidelines.

 Key Characteristics of Religion

D) Characteristic emotions

Among the emotions typically associated with religions are dread, guilt, awe, mystery, devotion,
liberation, ecstasy, inner peace, and bliss.
E)Rituals

Beliefs are enacted and made real through ceremonies, ritual objects, and specialized locations or
buildings.

 Key Characteristics of Religion

F) Sacredness

A distinction is made between the sacred and the ordinary; ceremonies often emphasize the
differentiation between the sacred and the ordinary through the deliberate use of different languages,
clothing, and architecture. Certain objects, actions, people, and places may share in the sacredness or
express it.

 The Sacred

All religions are concerned with the deepest level of reality, and most say that the core or origin of
everything is sacred and mysterious.

One familiar term for the sacred reality, particularly in the Western world, is God.

 The Sacred

Monotheism

-The term that means a belief in one God.

-The reality of God is beyond all categories: God is said to be pure spirit, not fully definable in words.

 The Sacred

Polytheism

-The belief in many Gods.

-The sacred reality in the form of many coexisting gods.

-The multiple gods may be fairly separate entities, each in charge of an aspect of reality (nature of gods),
or they may be multiple manifestation of the same basic sacred reality.

 The Sacred

Agnosticism

-Literally meaning “not know”; the position that holds that the existence of God cannot be proven.

 The Sacred

Pantheism
-The belief that everything in the universe is divine.

Atheism

Literally meaning “not God”; the position that holds that there is no God or gods.

 The Sacred

Animism

From the Latin anima, meaning “spirit,” “soul,” “life force”; a worldview common among oral religions
(religions with no written scriptures) that sees all elements of nature as being filled with spirit or spirits.

 The Sacred

Nontheistic

Not asserting or denying the existence of any deity; unconcerned with the supernatural.

Dualism

The belief that reality is made of two different principles (spirit and matter); the belief in two gods (good
and evil) in conflict.

 The Sacred (other key terms)

Immanent

Existing and operating within nature.

Transcendent

Not limited by the physical world.

 Religious symbolism

Religions express truth symbolically.

Symbolism helps human beings intensely experience- something of greater complexity.

Ex.

water- represent spiritual cleansing

sun- health

mountain- strength
 circle- eternity

Serves as the language of symbols.

 Patterns Among Religions

We study religions in a comparative and historical sense, but we are not looking to validate then or to
disprove them or to enhance our own belief or practice. Part of the process of understanding leads us to
see patterns of similarities and difference among religions.

 Patterns Among Religions

Religions are not permanent theoretical construct but are constantly in a process of change.

- Influenced by governments

- Thinkers

- Historical events

- Changing technology, and,

- The shifting values of the cultures in which they exist.

 1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices

Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred:

Sacramental orientation

The sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and –
importantly- correctly as the path to salvation.

Ex. Making the Catholic sign of the cross, is done in a certain way.

 1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices

Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred:

Prophetic orientation

The prophetic orientation stresses that contact with the sacred is ensured by proper belief and
by adherence to moral rules.

This implies that a human being may be an important intermediary between the believer and
the sacred.

Ex. Prophets being mentioned in the bible.

  1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices

Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred:

Mystical orientation

The mystical orientation seeks union with a reality greater than oneself, such as with God, the
process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole.

Ex.

seated meditation to attain enlightenment experience.

 2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life

The Nature of Sacred Reality

- Talks on the reality of the sacred as immanent or transcendent in nature, or having a personal
attributes or as impersonal entity.

The Nature of the Universe

- This is the positions of every religions on how they view the creation of the universe.

 2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life

The Human Attitude Toward Nature

Religion’s view of the nature of man and his surroundings, concerning the idea of good and evil.

Time

This talks about the concept of time between religions. The concept of time whether it is linear
(for Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or cyclical such as Buddhism, and whether the universe moves through
endless changes or not moving at all.

 2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life

Human Purpose

An idea in every religions on the concept of the importance of man in the divine plan.

Word and Scriptures

In some religions, the sacred is to be found in written and spoken words, such as the use of the
Bible.

But other religions show a certain mistrust of words and value silence and wordless meditation.
  2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life

Exclusiveness and Inclusiveness

Some religions view the idea of sacred which is distinct from the world and that order must be
imposed by separating good from bad– for example, withdrawal from certain foods, places, practices, or
beliefs.

There are such religions also that emphasized social harmony the relativity of truth and have
accepted beliefs in many deities. This will lead the individual to belong to several religions. This is an
idea of inclusiveness.

 3rd
Pattern: Religious Views of Male and Female

Because gender is such an intrinsic and important part of being human, religions have had much to say
about the roles of men and women, both on earth and in the divine spheres. Thus, views of what is male
and what is female provide another basis for comparing religions.

 Why Study the Major Religions of the World?

1. Insight into what religious traditions- ex. The complex system of values, relationships,
personalities, and human creativity.

2. Insight into what religion share- brings a special insight that an outsider cannot have, or an outsider
will appreciate the uniqueness of their systems.

3.Tolerance- helps one develop a certain objectivity and tolerance.

 Why Study the Major Religions of the World?

4. Appreciation of differences- enjoying the differences is valuable and even better.

5. Insight into everyday life- ones practices in a certain religion can be seen also in the daily activities of
man.

6.Appreciation for the arts- The study of religions is a gateway to different forms of arts and many
others.

 Why Study the Major Religions of the World?

7. Enjoyment of travel- because there is really a big difference between walking at the Vatican City and
by just reading about it.

8. Insight into family traditions- Religions have influenced most earlier cultures so strongly that their
effects are readily identifiable in the values of our parents and grandparents.

9. Help in one’s own religious quest.