RELIGION AND BELIEFS

RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM

 Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and
worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes,
to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols,
traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give
meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe.
 What is the main purpose of religion or belief system? -The
Purpose of Religion Religion can be a source of comfort and
guidance. It can provide a basis for moral beliefs and
behaviors. It can also provide a sense of community and
connection to tradition. Some research even suggests that it
may affect health.
ANIMISM
ANIMISM

 Animism (from Latin: anima meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that
objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence.
Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers,
weather systems, human handiwork, and perhaps even words—as animated
and alive. Animism is used in anthropology of religion as a term for the belief
system of many Indigenous peoples, especially in contrast to the relatively
more recent development of organized religions. Animism focuses on the
metaphysical universe, with a specific focus on the concept of the immaterial
soul.
EXAMPLE:
-Examples include water sprites, vegetation deities, and tree
spirits among others. Animism may further attribute a life
force to abstract concepts such as words, true names, or
metaphors in mythology.
POLYTHEISM
What is Polytheism?

• Polytheism means believing in many gods. A person that believes in polytheism

is called a polytheist. A religion with polytheism can be called a polytheistic
religion.
• Polytheism is well documented in historical religions of classical antiquity,
especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Other ancient people who were
polytheists include Germanic paganism, Ancient Egypt., the Celts and the Norse.
• There are various polytheistic religions practiced today, for example;
Hinduism, Shintoism, thelema, Wicca, druidism, Taoism, Asatru and Candomble.
• Usually, a polytheistic religion has a set of stories about the gods.
• This is called mythology.
EXAMPLE

• Hinduism,
• Shintoism,
• Thelema,
• Wicca,
• Druidism,
• Taoism,
• Asatru and Candomble.
MONOTHEISM
MONOTHEISM

 Monotheism is a term for a belief system based on

the belief in a single deity. Religions that are
considered examples of monotheism include
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Polytheism is a
term for a belief system based on the belief in
multiple deities. A prominent example is
Hinduism.
EXAMPLE

CHRISTIANITY ISLAM JUDAISM

INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION
INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION

 Organized religion, also known as

institutional religion, is religion in which
belief systems and rituals are
systematically arranged and formally
established.
EXAMPLE
 The Abrahamic religions are all largely considered
organized (including Mainstream Christianity,
Islam, Judaism, and the Baháʼí Faith), as well as
some schools of thought within Indian religions
(for example, Sikhism and Buddhism).
SEPERATION CHURCH AND STATE
SEPERATION CHURCH AND STATE

 The separation of church and state is a philosophical and jurisprudential

concept for defining political distance in the relationship between religious
organizations and the state. Conceptually, the term refers to the creation of
a secular state (with or without legally explicit church-state separation) and
to disestablishment, the changing of an existing, formal relationship between
the church and the state.[1] Although the concept is older, the exact phrase
"separation of church and state" is derived from "wall of separation between
church and state", a term coined by Thomas Jefferson. The concept was
promoted by Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke.