DR. FILEMON C.

AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS

Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

Course Code: GE 110

COURSE TITLE: Religions, Religious Experiences, and Spirituality
Module 1 – What is Religion? Religious Experiences? Spirituality? How will we study It? And Why do
we have study it?
Professors:
Prof. Esther J. Villar
Prof. Soledad S. Escritor J.D.
Prof. Senen V. Villanueva

Introduction:

CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20 s. 2013 CHED General Education (GE) Curriculum in page 2,
Article 1, Curriculum Overview states that:

“General Education is the portion of the curriculum common to all undergraduate students regardless of
their major. It exposes them to various domain of knowledge and ways of comprehending social and natural
realities, developing in the process:
1. Intellectual competencies such as critical, analytical and creative thinking, and multiple forms of
expression; and
2. Civic capacities demanded of membership in the community, country and the world.”

Thus, the subject Religions, Religious Experience and Spirituality (RRES) is an enabling subject in pursuing
the “ways of comprehending social and natural realities” as prescribed in the CMO. Under Section 4 –
General Education Electives paragraph 6 “GE electives are categorized by knowledge domain, primarily to
ensure a balanced and well-rounded course design, the content and perspectives of the GE electives traverse
disciplinal borders”.

The subject GE110 RRES is under the discipline of Social Sciences & Philosophy with the course content
stated as “Role and impact of religions and spirituality on human history and personal life”. Accordingly,
discussions will be done objectively following the CHED guideline in discoursing the basis of religions in the
existence or non-existence of the supernatural; the role of religion in history, education, society, world and
personal life; the intricate reasoning of each beliefs locally and in the world; the experiences and spirituality
involved in such religions.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Determine the meaning of religion, religious experience and spirituality.
2. Understand people’s different problems and point out how to solve them.
3. Grasp the significance of the Bible’s viewpoints.

Pre-Assessment:

1. What modern problems show that mankind needs guidance?

2. How do many today view the Bible?
3. Why is it vital to know whether the Bible is inspired by God or not?
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

Lesson Presentation:

Definition of Terms
Religion
Oxford Dictionary
- the belief in and worship of a superhuman power
or powers, especially a God or gods. Ex. ”ideas
about the relationship between science and
religion"

- a particular system of faith and worship

Ex. "the world's great religions"

- a pursuit or interest to which

someone ascribes supreme importance
Ex. "consumerism is the new religion"

 - a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

(1) the service and worship of God or the supernatural.
(2) commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

Religion is a form of worship. It includes a system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; these may be
personal, or they may be advocated by an organization. Usually, religion involves belief in God or a number
of gods; or it treats human objects, desires, or forces as objects of worship. Much religion is based on a
human study of nature; there is also revealed religion. There is a true religion and false. (Mankind’s Search
for God)

Religious Experience

1. Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Religious experiences can be characterized generally as experiences that seem to the person having them to
be of some objective reality and to have some religious import. That reality can be an individual, a state of
affairs, a fact, or even an absence, depending on the religious tradition the experience is a part of. A wide
variety of kinds of experience fall under the general rubric of religious experience. (Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy)

2. Source: Queensborough Community College

For many religious people there is in the center of their religious nature the feeling that there is something
more than their individual consciousness could contact. There is a sense of something "more" or bigger than
anything in the known universe. This issues into a hypothesis or idea of a supernatural reality or dimension of
reality beyond that which normal sensation can encounter. There is in many people a longing to have their
conjectures of a higher realm or a supreme being confirmed.  When such people hear reports of individuals
who report encountering spirits or the deity there is a sense of confirmation.  But what does a rational human
being make of such reports?
 
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

A Religious experience is an encounter of a human being with a supernatural being, be it a deity or an

emissary or intermediary for the deity, nevertheless a spiritual entity. It is a numinal (divine)
experience. Religious experiences are for the most part, individual and esoteric (intended for and understood
by the group). (Queensborough Community College

 A religious experience is a subjective experience which is interpreted within a religious framework.

The concept originated in the 19th century, as a defense against the growing rationalism of Western
society. William James popularised the concept. Wikipedia
 Examples include experiencing God in nature, in the starry sky, or a flower, or the like. A second
person standing nearby would see exactly the same sky or flower, but would not necessarily have the
further religious content to his or her experience.

3. Source: Britannica
The structure of religious experience
The self and the other
All religious experience can be described in terms of three basic elements:
- first, the personal concerns, attitudes, feelings, and ideas of the individual who has the experience;
- second, the religious object disclosed in the experience or the reality to which it is said to refer;
- third, the social forms that arise from the fact that the experience in question can be shared.
Although the first two elements can be distinguished for purposes of analysis, they are not separated within
the integral experience itself. Religious experience is always found in connection with a personal concern and
quest for the real self, oriented toward the power that makes life holy or a ground and a goal of all existence.
A wide variety of individual experiences are thus involved, among which are attitudes of seriousness and
solemnity in the face of the mystery of human destiny; feelings of awe and of being unclean evoked by the
encounter with the holy; the sense of a power or a person who both loves and judges humanity; the
experience of being converted or of having the course of life directed toward the divine; the feeling of relief
stemming from the sense of divine forgiveness; the sense that there is an unseen order or power upon which
the value of all life depends; the sense of being at one with the divine and of abandoning the egocentric self.

In all these situations, the experience is realized in the life of an individual who at the same time has his
attention focused on an “other,” or divine reality that is present or encountered. The determination of the
nature of this other poses a problem of interpretation that requires the use of symbols, analogies, images, and
concepts for expressing the reality that evokes religious experience in an understandable way. Four
basic conceptions of the divine may be distinguished: the divine as an impersonal sacred order
(logos, Dao, rita, Asha) governing the universe and human destiny; the divine as power that is holy and must
be approached with awe, proper preparation, or ritual cleansing; the divine as all-embracing One, the
ultimate Unity and harmony of all finite realities and the goal of the mystical quest; and the divine as an
individual or self transcending the world and humanity and yet standing in relation to both at the same time.
(Religious experience-Britannica)

Spirituality

Introduction (chopra.com):

You may have heard—or even used—the terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. But while they
aren’t diametric opposites, neither are they the same. Learn how to tell the difference between religion and
spirituality.
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers
to life and the universe. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the soul
questions:

Who am I?
What do I want?
What is my purpose?
What is the meaning of life?

Historically, from the perspective of the soul, there have been two foundational routes to discover these
truths: religion and spirituality. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the
two, there are differences between religion and spirituality.

Religion: By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and
practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

Spirituality: Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than
you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Or as Christina Puchalski, MD (leader in trying to
incorporate spirituality into healthcare), puts it, “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way
individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the
moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred."

A. Source: Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

1. The state or quality of being dedicated to God, religion, or spiritual things or values, esp. as contrasted with
material or temporal ones
2. The condition or quality of being spiritual
3. A distinctive approach to religion or prayer. Ex. the spirituality of the desert Fathers
4. (often plural) Church property or revenue or a Church benefice

B. Source: Very Well Mind

Spirituality is the broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. It strives to answer questions about
the meaning of life, how people are connected to each other, truths about the universe, and other mysteries of
human existence.

Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people experience on a
sensory and physical level. Instead, it suggests that there is something greater that connects all beings to each
other and to the universe itself.

It may involve religious traditions centering on the belief in a higher power. It can also involve a holistic
belief in an individual connection to others and the world as a whole.

Spirituality has been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. While people use
many different paths to find God or a higher power, research has shown that those who are more religious or
spiritual and use their spirituality to cope with challenges in life experience many benefits to their health and
well-being.

C. Source: IDEAS Disability Information

Spirituality and religion can be hard to tell apart but there are some pretty defined differences between the
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

two. Religion is a specific set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group.
Spirituality is more of an individual practice and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose.

Spirituality
 Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of
connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in
life. As such, it is a universal human experience—something that touches us all.
 Healthy spirituality gives a sense of peace, wholeness and balance among the physical, emotional,
social and spiritual aspects of our lives. However, for most people the path to such spirituality
passes through struggles and suffering, and often includes experiences that are frightening and
painful.
 To restore hope and optimism: Spirituality can help people develop a more hopeful outlook on life.
To find a sense of community and support: Because spiritual traditions often involve organized
religions or groups, becoming a part of such a group can serve as an important source of social
support.

How do I find my true spiritual self?

How to Know You Found Your True Self
1. A sense of mental and physical lightness.
2. Feeling more centered in yourself.
3. Feeling safe.
4. Knowing that your life has meaning.
5. A sense of bliss in everyday activity.
6. Lessening of negative emotions like fear, anger, guilt, or shame.
7. An increase in “aha” moments of insight.

Characteristics of Spirituality
Source: National Library of Medicine

The word “spirit” is derived from the Latin words “spiritus” (meaning breath, courage, vigor, or soul) and the
word “spirare” (meaning to breathe).

Five characteristics of spirituality include:

1. meaning,
2. value,
3. transcendence,
4. connecting (with oneself, others, God/supreme power and the environment), and
5. becoming (the growth and progress in life).

Existence of God

Does God Exist?

1. The Return of the God Hypothesis
https://www.discovery.org/v/uk-rogh/?gclid=CjwKCAiAoL6eBhA3EiwAXDom5o_IrLcWQGuBER-
Wp8YgyUwrw2FC4SeEaNK4i7OtZWfn_83TMj26HBoCBXYQAvD_BwE

2. Does God really exist?

 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

https://baysidechurch.com.au/blog/does-god-really-exist/?
gclid=CjwKCAiAoL6eBhA3EiwAXDom5mgkhApdB4SRw6yxOXqNCDT_s5bC-
cgwKqO8OIXN8gnkoh3_j3fuKxoCLiAQAvD_BwE

3. Does God exist?

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/existence-nature-of-god/does-god-exist

Definition of Faith

1. Source: Oxford Dictionary

- complete trust or confidence in someone or something
- strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension
rather than proof
2. Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)
3. Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
4. Matthew 11:28-29  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. (KJV)
5. Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

The Bible

1. The Bible is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism,
Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthology – a compilation of texts of a variety of
forms – originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. Wikipedia
2. Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary
a: the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the New Testament
b: the sacred scriptures of some other religion (such as Judaism)
3. Importance of Reading the Bible (Source: Grand Canyon University)
Reading the Bible on a regular and consistent basis has several benefits.
First, the Bible shows us God’s character and provides us God’s revelation of himself to his people. In each
section of the Bible, we see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character.
Second, 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when discussing the topic of Scripture says that it is “profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” The next verse goes on to say that this leads to the
completeness and equipping “for every good work” (ESV).
Third, regularly reading God’s word reorients our thinking so that we can grow in maturity, which is part of
the Christian calling (Ephesians 4:14–16; Romans 12:1–2). Have you ever met a mature Christian who did
not regularly read the Bible? These three things are really just the beginning, this list could include dozens of
reasons why you should read the Bible on a regular basis.

4. Origin of the Bible (Source: The Bible Project)

The Bible’s origin is both human and divine—not just from God and not just from humans. The Bible’s
narratives, poems, histories, letters, prophecies, and other writings come from a profound collaboration
between humanity and God.
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

a. God is Working Through Humans except in the Creation

b. Divine Word Through Human Words. The Scriptures show God speaking through human beings not
sometimes but constantly. Ex. Joseph in interpreting dreams (Genesis 41:38); Bezalel’s design of the
Tabernacle (Exodus 28:3, 31:3); Moses leadership of Israel (Numers11:17, 25-26); victories accomplished
by the judges and David (Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 14:6); visions of the prophets (Isaiah 59:21, Micah 4:8);
empowerment of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-9, 42:1, 61:1); The Beatitudes of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:1-12)
and the apostles writings in the New Testament.

c. The Bible is God-breathed or God-spirited (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

d. Source: Frontline: White, Michael – What are the Gospels?

The gospels are not biographies in the modern sense of the word. Rather, they are stories told in such a way
as to evoke a certain image of Jesus for a particular audience. They're trying to convey a message about Jesus,
about his significance to the audience and thus we we have to think of them as a kind of preaching, as well as
story telling. That's what the gospel, The Good News, is really all about.

The four gospels that we find in the New Testament, are of course, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The first
three of these are usually referred to as the "synoptic gospels," because they look at things in a similar way, or
they are similar in the way that they tell the story. Of these then, Mark is the earliest, probably written
between 70 and 75. Matthew is next - written somewhere between 75 and about 85, maybe even a little later
than that. Luke is a little later still, being written between 80 and maybe 90 or 95. And, John's gospel is the
latest, usually dated around 95, although it may have been completed slightly later than that, as well.

Characteristics of God
God is (defined by the Bible):
1. Infinite (no beginning and no end) – Psalms 90:1-2; Revelation 1:8
2. Omnipotent (all powerful) – Luke 1:37
3. Omniscient (knows everything) – Psalms 39:1-6
4. Everywhere – Jeremiah 23:24; Psalms 139:7-10
5. King of Kings – Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 11:36; Revelations 17:14
6. Love (compassionate and gracious) – 1 John 4:8-10; Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16
7. Honest and Truthful (unchanging) – Lamentations 3:21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-20
8. Holy – (but will not let sins left missed out) 1 Peter 1:15-16; Isaias 6:3
9. Just – (give suitable and unbiased judgement to the sinful) Romans 2:5-11; 1 Peter 1:17
10. A Spirit – God is a Spirit: no flesh and bones, cannot be seen or touch. John 4:24

Why do we study RRES?

We are living in a world with too many problems and far too few answers. Many millions regularly go
hungry. Increasing numbers are addicted to drugs. More and more families are breaking up. Incest and family
violence are constantly in the news. The air we breathe and the water we drink are slowly being poisoned.
Meanwhile, more and more of us are victimized by crime. Do you think problems like these will ever be
solved?

Why Read the Bible? In addition, we live in an age of hard choices. Many, for example, are implacably
opposed to abortion, calling it murder of the unborn. Others feel just as strongly that women have authority
over their own bodies and should decide such a matter for themselves. Many views homosexuality, adultery,
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

and premarital sex as rank immorality. Others believe these practices are a matter of personal choice.

Who is to say who is right and who is wrong? 1 Thessalonians 5:15 The Bible offers guidance in matters of
morality, and it describes effective solutions to the problems of crime, hunger, and pollution. The trouble is
most people no longer view the Bible as an authority in such matters. At one time, it was listened to with
respect — at least in the West. Although the Bible was written down by humans, in the past the majority in
Christendom accepted it as the Words of God and believed that God himself has inspired its contents. 2
Tim.3:16-17; 1 Thess. 2:13.

Today, however, it is fashionable to be skeptical about everything: customs, ideas, morals even the existence
of God. Especially, people doubt the value of the Bible. Most seem to consider it out of date and irrelevant.
Few modern intellectuals view it as the Word of God. Most people would rather agree with scholar James
Barr, who wrote, “My account of the formation of the biblical tradition is an account of human work. It is
man’s statement of his beliefs.” Is this your opinion? Do you think the Bible is God’s word or man’s?
However, you answer that question, consider this point: If the Bible is merely man’s word, then, logically
there is no clear answer to mankind’s problems. Humans will just have to muddle through as best they can,
hoping somehow to avoid poisoning themselves out of existence or blowing themselves up in a nuclear war.
But, if the Bible is the Word of God, it is the very thing we need to get us through this difficult time.

Reinforcement/Assignment:
Direction: How much do you know about God? The Bible reveals who He is. Read the following Bible verses
below and find out what they say about Him or His character. On the numbered spaces provided below,
enumerate what you found out about God.

Bible Verses:

1. John 4:24 6. Psalm 86:15 11. Psalm 90:2 16. Psalm 147:5
2. Revelation 4:11 7. 1 Chronicles 29: 11-12 12. Matthew 19:26 17. Psalm 89:14
3. Psalm 34:8 8. 1 Timothy 1:11 13. Malachi 3:6 18. Proverbs 15:
4. Psalm 83:18 9. Ephesians 1:6 14. Jeremiah 32:27 19. Psalm 86:15
5. Leviticus 19:2 10. Jeremiah 23:23-24 15. 1 John 4:8 20. Isaiah 40:28

GOD IS…

1. ________ 11. _______

2. ________ 12. _______
3. ________ 13. _______
4. ________ 14. _______
5. ________ 15. _______
6. ________ 16. _______
7. ________ 17. _______
8. ________ 18. _______
9. ________ 19. _______
10. ________ 20. _______
 DR. FILEMON C. AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PIÑAS
Golden Gate Subd., Talon III, Las Piñas City
Tel No. 403-1985, 478-8671, 519-1960

References:
Bible, any translation

Reasoning from the Scriptures, Religion p. 322 Copyright (c) 1985 by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society,
International Bible Students Association, Brooklyn, New York, USA

The Bible God’s Word or Man’s, 1989, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., Brooklyn,
New York, USA

Mankinds Search for God, 1990, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, All rights reserved

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religious-experience/

Philosophy of Religion
National Library of Medicine (NIH)

Religious Experience-Queensborough Community College

Structure of Religious Experience

https://www.britannica.com/topic/religious-experience/The-structure-of-religious-experience

Very Well Mind

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-spirituality-can-benefit-mental-and-physical-health-3144807

Grand Canyon University

https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/importance-reading-bible

The Bible Project

https://bibleproject.com/blog/did-god-or-people-write-bible/

White, Michael L., What are the Gospels?, Frontline: From Jesus to Christ
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/gospels.html