Understanding Belief,

eligion, and Related Terms

 What we believe to be true is relative to
who we are. Our predispositions influence
the way we perceive events, people, and
relationships; how we view engagement
with others; address conflicts and
struggles; and determine the solution and
appropriate actions to take in order to
transcend difficulties.
 Belief
 Refers to a conviction concerning particular
Refers to a conviction concerning particular
ideas.
ideas.
 Shapes our ideas regarding our reality.
Shapes our ideas regarding our reality.
 Influenced by our perception, experiences,
Influenced by our perception, experiences,
and
andideas.
ideas.
 It generally requires proof or an assurance of
It generally requires proof or an assurance of
aacertain
certaindegree
degreeofoftruthfulness.
truthfulness.
 Faith
 Faith is generally defined as belief that is not
 Faith is generally defined as belief that is not
based on proof.
based on proof.
 It also connotes confidence or trust in a person or
 It also connotes confidence or trust in a person or
thing.
thing.
 In religion, faith refers to the observance of
 In religion, faith refers to the observance of
religious obligations, an attitude of reverence
religious obligations, an attitude of reverence
toward entities and ideas that are considered
toward entities and ideas that are considered
important in that religion.
important in that religion.
 Belief
Systems
 Belief Systems are the stories we tell
ourselves or ideas we hold that define our
personal sense of reality.
 Every human being has a belief system that
he or she utilizes, and it is through this
mechanism that he or she makes sense of
the world.
A worldview is similar to a belief system.
Worldview Belief System
Tries to explain Attempt to explain
and interpret larger issues of
reality, history, and philosophy,
civilization fundamental beliefs,
and ways of doing
things.
 Major worldviews that
influence religious belief
include monism, polytheism,
monotheism, and atheism.
 Monism

Monism is philosophical worldview in which

all or 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.
 Monism
 Is used in a variety of contexts,
particularly in philosophical discussions
on epistemology, ethics, metaphysics,
and the philosophy of mind.
 The underlying concept of the monistic
worldview is always that of “oneness”.
 They believe that all aspects of reality are
merged into a higher unity.
Polytheism
 Refers to the belief in and
adoration of several deities.
Typically, each deity or god is
distinguished by a certain function,
and often as human characteristics.
 Gods and goddesses
 Hinduism is another major
polytheistic religion.
Monotheism

 Monotheism is the faith in a

single, all-powerful god.
Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam are the major monotheistic
religions.
 Atheism
 Atheism is the disbelief in gods or
the supernatural. Atheist activist
Madalyn Murray O’hair (1963)
defines atheism as the view that
accepts reason and aims to
establish a lifestyle and ethical
outlook verifiable by experience
and scientific method.
 Theology
 Theology refers to the study of religious
faith, practice, and experience;
especially, the study of God and of God’s
relation to the world. Theological studies
are done in a rational, philosophical
manner and have given a rise to specific
schools of thought such as progressive
theology, feminist theology, Black
theology, African theology, and the like.