Portfolio in world religious beliefs systems

To have a holistic appreciation of the subject World Religions and Belief Systems requires a firm
grasp of the concepts of faith and belief. Understanding concepts related to spirituality,
religion, and belief systems will allow people to engage in meaningful discussions about world
religions, and gain valuable insights from various belief systems.2

Belief – refers to a conviction concerning particular ideas. It shapes a person’s ideas regarding
reality and is influenced by that person’s perception, experiences, and ideas. Moreover, beliefs
are not formed solely on the basis of perception and actual experience but through a mental
process based on ideas and attitudes. A person’s belief in the supernatural, for instance, is a
type of belief that goes beyond what that person perceives or knows. Lastly, belief is not only
based on perception, fact, or empirical evidence but also on the acceptance of the likelihood of
something being true.2

Faith – is generally defined as a belief that is not based on proof. It also implies confidence or
trust in a person or a thing. In religion, faith refers to the observance of religious obligations, an
attitude of reverence toward entities and ideas that are considered important in that religion,
and an unwavering trust in the major beliefs of that particular religion.

Belief Systems – are the stories a person tells oneself or ideas that people hold that define their
personal sense of reality. All human beings have their belief system that they utilize, and it is
through this mechanism that they make sense of the world. Individuals perceive reality through
the recognition of system of signs. These signs are objects or symbols that have meaning to a
person because they are considered significant by society. Belief systems introduce a set of
symbols that define larger philosophical and spiritual ideas, which also influence the way
people look at their life, the society, and the world in general (e.g., religious belief system –
deals with morality [what is considered right or wrong, good and evil – stealing is evil] and the
existence of a god, or many gods, and the afterlife).

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Worldview is similar to a belief system. While belief systems attempt to explain larger issues of
philosophy, fundamental beliefs, and ways of doing things, a worldview tries to explain and
interpret reality, history, and civilization. Major worldviews that influence religious beliefs
include: Monism, Polytheism, Monotheism, and Atheism.

• Monism – is from the Greek word “monos” which means “single”. It is a philosophical
worldview in which all of reality can be reduced to one “thing” or “essence.” This view believes
that “all is one,” that there are no fundamental divisions, and that a unified set of laws
underlies all of nature.

• Polytheism – refers to the belief in and adoration of several deities. Typically, each deity or
god is distinguished by a certain function and often has human characteristics. This is true for
ancient Greek and Roman gods and goddesses who were both human in appearance and
behavior. Hinduism is another major polytheistic religion.

• Monotheism – is the faith in a single, all-powerful god. Examples of monotheistic religions are
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Atheism – is the disbelief in gods or the supernatural entity. It is a view that accepts reason
and aims to establish a lifestyle and ethical outlook verifiable by experience and scientific
method.

Theology – refers to the study of religious faith, practice, and experience, especially the study of
God and His relation to the world and His creation. Theological studies are done in a rational
and philosophical manner and have given rise to specific theological schools of thought. In the
Roman Catholic Tradition, there are four major departments of Theology, namely: Exegetical
theology (Biblical or Scriptural), Historical theology, Systematic or Dogmatic(Doctrines)
theology, and Practical (Pastoral) theology.

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SPIRITUALITY

- “sensitivity or attachment to religious values”

- “the quality or state of being spiritual”

Spirituality is a broad set of principles which emphasizes the experience and expression of the
sacred, the search for transcendent meaning, the attainment of harmony with the universe,
and the achievement of a sense of purpose and balance in the face of life’s challenges.
Philosophers and religious scholars define spirituality as an integrated view on life that often
transcends all religions.

Spirituality is essential to religion - it has become one of the important goals a religion targets
to develop in a believer’s life. If a believer has developed his/her spirituality well and has been
deeply rooted to the morality, then it is no longer difficult for him/her to understand and grasp
more the ideals and teachings of his/her religion.
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 Trends

Fads and trends emerge anytime everywhere. They can occur in any given time and context.
It is thus important for us to understand the definition of these terms so that we can
intelligently recognize, follow or reject any emerging fad or trend that is not beneficial for us
and our society at large.

Trend is defined as a dominant and widespread idea that influences the orientation, mindset
and social practices of people for an extended period of time which could be over a year. A
trend could also be a widespread demand among consumers for a particular product or
service.

Fad is an increased interest in a product or fashion that holds the attention of people and
becomes very popular but for a limited period of time. Another term for fad that is commonly
used is craze. Fads are mostly in clothes, music and food.8

There are two (2) ways for spotting a trend:

1. Recognizing what people WANT ± In knowing what people want, you will be able to quickly
identify trends in their social and economic milieu. Moreover, if the identified want is
significant enough, then it is highly probable that the idea or product will be popular for a
long period of time.

2. Identifying what to expect ± If people start to expect something, innovators and industries
will do their best to address the needs and wants of the people.

For example:

What people want ± Communication that is handy, accessible and reliable

Trend made to answer what people want - Cellular Phones

How do we describe a Trend?

1. Duration of Time ± Compared to fad, trend has a long lifespan. It stays

popular for a long period of time.

2. Acceptability ± Trends are popular with people and companies/businesses.

3. Cultural Basis ± Trends are mostly based on our cultural values, beliefs and traditions.
Trends continue to be popular because people see them as part of

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4. Transitory Increase or Decrease ± A trend may show a rise and fall of

popularity of some of its features over time.

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