SUPERNATURALS: BELIEVE IT OR

NOT!
The supernatural is
something that cannot be
explained by scientific
understanding or the laws
of nature. Examples often
include characteristics of or
relating to ghosts, angels,
gods, souls and spirits, non-
material beings, or
anything else
considered beyond nature
like magic, miracles, etc.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• Identify various religious
practices and beliefs;
• Understand the self in
relation with religious beliefs;
and
• Explain ways of finding the
meaning of life.
 ACTIVITY: ART RECALL
When was the first time you
realized that there is a higher
being than yourself? How old
were you then? What made you
believe that there is a higher
being?
 DRAW:
Make a poster about the instance
or situation that made you believe
in the existence of higher being.
 SHOW
Have a classroom Gallery Walk showcasing
the posters you and your classmates have
made. Observe similarities and differences
in each other’s experiences, expressed in
the artworks. Initiate discussions about
beliefs on higher being based on the
showcased posters.
 ABSTRACTION
• RELIGION
REBECCA STEIN (Stein
2011) works on the definition
of religion “as a set of cultural
beliefs and practices that
usually includes some or all of
the basic characteristics. These
are:
1. A belief in anthropomorphic
supernatural being, such as
spirit and gods
2. A focus on the sacred supernatural, where
sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and
awe.
3. The presence of supernatural power or
energy that is found on supernatural being
as well as physical beings and objects.
4. The performance of ritual activities that
involves the manipulation of sacred object
to communicate to supernatural beings
and/or to influence or control events.
5. The articulation of
worldview and moral codes
through narratives and
other means
6. Provide the creation and
maintenance of social
bonds and mechanism of
social control within a
community; provide
explanation for unknown
and a sense of control for
individuals.
RITUAL
It is the performance of
ceremonial acts prescribed
by a tradition or sacred
law. Ritual is a specific,
observable mode of
behavior exhibited by all
known societies. It is thus
possible to view ritual as a
way of defining or
describing humans.
 3 Fundamental
Characteristics of Rituals
acc. to Hans Penner

1. A feeling or emotion of
respect, awe, fascination, or
dread in relation to the
sacred
2. Dependence upon a belief
system that is usually
expressed in the language of
myth
3. Is symbolic in relation to its
reference
Magic- (Illusions) oldest
performing arts in the world
which audiences are entertained
by staged tricks of seemingly
impossible using natural means.

(Paranormal) among the most

fascinating of ritual practices is
application of the belief that
supernatural power can be
compelled to act in certain ways
for good or evil purposes by
recourse to certain specified
formulas.
Functions-
(Paranormal)
- avoidance or healing of
illness in humans
- seeking some “luck”
where the outcome is in
doubt or beyond factual
influence
(Illusions)
-captivates the audience
with expert showmanship
-promotes and advances
the art of staged magic
Witchcraft-An explanation of
events based on the belief that
certain individuals possess an
innate psychic power capable
of causing harm, including
sickness and death.

Functions - Effective way for

people to explain a personal
misfortune without having to
shoulder any blame to
themselves. Provides an outlet
for feelings of hostility and
frustration without disturbing
the norms of the larger group.
SOME WORLD RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS & PRACTICES

BUDDHISM
Buddhism…

16
BUDDHIST MONKS
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
 BELIEFS
• Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on
personal spiritual development. Buddhists
strive for a deep insight into the true nature
of life and do not worship gods or deities.
• Buddhists believe in rebirth and
reincarnation, and that if a person releases
their attachment to desire and the self, they
can attain Nirvana, a state of liberation and
freedom from suffering.
 CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES

2 types of meditation practices: Samatha &

Vipassana

Samatha is practiced as mindfulness of

breathing and development of loving
kindness. (Metta Bhavana)
Vipassana – aim at developing insight into
reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying
Buddha’s teaching, the Dharma.
Through the reflection of Dharma,
Buddhists can achieve a deeper
understanding of life. Buddhists
believe in non-violence principle.
DHARMA
WHEEL
Right view (know the
truth)
Right intentions
Right mindfulness
(free your mind of
(control your thoughts)
evil)

Right speech (say

Right concentration
nothing that hurts
(practice meditation)
other)

Right effort Right action (work

(resist evil) for the good of
others)

Right livelihood (respect

life)
Some of the major Buddhist celebrations are
Parinirvana Day in February; Buddha Day
(Wesak) in May; Dharma day in July;
Padmasambhava Day in October; and
Sanga Day in November.
NIRVANA DAY
• The day is about death and rebirth, and
marks the day the Buddha died. Before
that he spent 40 years teaching after his
enlightenment. This enlightenment is what
is now known as Nirvana, which literally
means to extinguish – a state reached
when all suffering and desire is gone.
Wesak Day
Wesak Day marks the three major events in Buddha’s life, namely his birth,
his enlightenment and his achievement of Nirvana. The commemoration of
these events on Wesak Day usually begins at dawn at Buddhist temples
throughout the country. Devotees gather to meditate on the Eight Precepts.
Monks in saffron colored robes chant the sutras in unison. A candle
procession is the highlight of the celebration, and at the same time, offerings
of prayers, joss sticks, and incense, giving food to the needy and donations
are also made. Much to the delight of all devout Buddhists (and those non-
celebrating as well) in Malaysia, Wesak Day is considered one of the
national public holidays.
 CHRISTIANITY
• Christianity is the
world's biggest religion,
with about 2.1 billion
followers worldwide. It
is based on the
teachings of Jesus Christ
who lived in the Holy
Land 2,000 years ago.
 CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES

• Holy Baptism

Holy Communion
Symbols
 Christmas Celebration

Easter Sunday
Easter egg
hunting
 HINDUISM
• Portrait of Vishu

Portrait of Shri Radha-Krishna

Mariamman Hindu
 Beliefs
Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose
qualities and forms are represented by deities
which emanate from him; that existence is a
cycle of birth, death and rebirth governed by
Karma and that the soul passes through a
cycle of successive lives (reincarnation)
Vedas are sacred scriptures of Hindus.
Mahabharata and Ramayana are two other
important texts of the Hindus.
Vedas
 Customs and Practices
Diwali and Navrati or Navarathri are the most
celebrated festivals of the Hindus.

Festival of Lights
Navrati: The Nine Nights of the
Goddesses
Worship of the
Goddesses Durga, Laksh
mi and Saraswati occur
for three nights each.
Prayers are performed,
offerings are made and
mantras are recited to
honor and invoke the
blessings of the Divine
Mother.
 ISLAM
MUSLIMS believe in Allah,
who is their “One God”.
They believe in the unity
and universality of God.
Muslims have strong
sense of community or
“ummah” and an
awareness of their
solidarity with all
Muslims worldwide.

MOSQUE
• ISLAM means “willing submission to God”.

Muslims believe that Mohammed is the

last and final prophet sent by God.
Mohammed was born in Mecca in 570
CE and received revelations from God
through the Angel Gabriel over a period
of 23 years.

Quran – the Holy book of Islam, which

was taught to be recited in Arabic
because any translation is seen as
inadequate.
HAJJ, the
pilgrimage
to Mecca
 CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES
Muslims believe in the 5 pillars of Islam, which
are the foundation of Muslim life:
1. Shahadah – statement of faith: “There is no
God but the one true God and Mohammed
is his messenger.”
2. Salat – the prayer that is practiced five times
a day.
3. Zakat – the monetary offering for the benefit
of the poor. It comprises the 2.5% of a
Muslim’s assets.
4. Hajj – The yearly pilgrimage to Mecca.
Muslims who can afford are asked to do
the pilgrimage at least once in their
lifetime.
5. Sawm – the fasting. Muslims do fasting
from food, drink, and sexual act, during
the celebration of Ramadan. Ramadan is
the ninth month of the Islamic lunar
calendar. The fast is dawn to sunset.
 Major festivals
• EID AL-FITR (end of Ramadan)
• EID AL-ADHA (Feast of Sacrifice) It is an Islamic festival
to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to follow
Allah's (God's) command to sacrifice his son. Muslims
around the world observe this event.
• Eid Mubarak or (Arabic: ‫) عيد مبارك‬is
a Muslim greeting reserved for use on the
festivals of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-
Fitr. Eid means "celebration",
and Mubarak means "blessings".
JUDAISM
JEWISH TEMPLE
 BELIEFS
The Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the
same God that liberated the Hebrews slaves
from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land
through the leadership of Moses and later,
Joshua.
The Jews believe in the coming of Messiah, the
Savior. The sacred scripture of the Jews is
called the Torah or the Law. The Torah is the
guide of the Jewish living. The study and
interpretation of Torah is part of the Jewish
culture.
 CUSTOMS & PRACTICES
• 5 MAJOR FESTIVALS OBSERVED BY THE JEWS
1. Rosh Hashanah – the New Year
2. Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement
3. Pesach – Passover
4. Shavuot – Pentecost
5. Sukkot – Tabernacles. The Jewish Sabbath
begins on Friday evening at sunset and is an
important time when families gather for the
Shabbat meal.
 Shabbat meal (rest
or cessation)

Pesach
Passover
Rosh Hashanah(New
Year)
• Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and
customs are all part of the expression of
spiritual self. What to believe and how to
manifest the belief is entirely dependent on
the individual, to the self.
 FINDING & CREATING MEANING OF
LIFE
Dr. Viktor E. Frankl – a famous psychiatrist, a
survivor of the Holocaust published a book
about logotherapy in 1959. He was named the
Father of Logotheraphy.
Logotherapy is a psychotheraphy .
“Man’s primary motivational force is a search for
meaning.”
It uses the philosophy of optimism in the face of
tragedy.
Basic Concepts of Franklian psychology
• Life has meaning under all circumstances.
• Main motivation for living is our will to find
meaning in life.
• Freedom to find meaning.
* Become aware of spiritual resources; make
conscious spiritual resources; and use “defiant
power of the human spirit” andcstand up
against adversity.
 Logotherapy Assumptions
1. The human being is an entity consisting of body,
mind and spirit.
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even
the most miserable.
3. People have a will to meaning.
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to
activate the will to find meaning.
5. Life has demand quality to which people must
respond if decisions are to be meaningful.
6. The individual is unique.
What would change in you aside from your
citizenship and origin?
4. How extensive are the effects of being a
Filipino in your selfhood?