INTRODUCTION TO WORLD

RELIGIONS AND BELIEF

SYSTEM
LESSON 1
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• BELIEF – CONVICTION CONCERNING PARTICULAR
IDEAS.
• FAITH – BELIEF THAT IS NOT BASED ON PROOF.
• BELIEF SYSTEM – ARE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES
OR IDEAS WE HOLD THAT DEFINE OUR PERSONAL
SENSE OF REALITY.
• WORLDVIEW – EXPLAINS AND INTERPRET REALITY,
HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• MONISM - METAPHYSICAL AND THEOLOGICAL VIEW THAT ALL
IS ONE, THAT THERE ARE NO FUNDAMENTAL DIVISIONS, AND
THAT A UNIFIED SET OF LAWS UNDERLIE ALL OF NATURE.
• POLYTHEISM – BELIEF IN SEVERAL DEITIES
• MONOTHEISM – BELIEF IN SINGLE, ALL POWERFUL GOD.
• ATHEISM – DISBELIEF IN GODS OR THE SUPERNATURAL
• THEOLOGY – STUDY OF RELIGIOUS FAITH, PRACTICES AND
EXPERIENCES ESPECIALLY THE STUDY OF GODS AND GODS
RELATION TO THE WORLD.
RELIGION

• Derived from religare [latin] re [again] legare [bind

together] (Tom Harpur & Joseph Campbell)
• Relationship between human and that which they
regard as holy, sacred, absolute spiritual, divine, or
worthy of reverence
• Set of belief and practices.
THE 5 ELEMENTS OF RELIGION
BELIEF
• Def. trust, faith, or confidence in
someone or something.
• Combine element of belief system and
world views, based on sacred histories
or narratives preserved in their
scripture.
ORGANIZATION

• It’s an organized set of belief,

rituals and emotions.
• Existence of hierarchal and
symbols of authority.
EMOTIONS AND VALUES

• It evokes emotion and influences

values.
• These in turn define ethical behavior
among the faithful.
SACRED OBJECTS AND SPACES

• These are the considered

representation of the divine.
• Location of great spiritual
significance.
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES

• It commemorate events significant to

the faithful
• It fosters a sense of community among
believers and emphasizes distinct
identity of their religion.