INTRODUCTION TO THE

WORLD RELIGION AND

BELIEF SYSTEMS
QUARTER 1 – Module 1:
Nature of Religion
 LESSON 1:
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF RELIGION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After going through this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Give an example of a belief system or a worldview
2. Differentiate religion from spirituality, theology, and philosophy of religion.
3. Infer that:
a. A belief system or worldview is a particular way or ordering realities of one’s world
b. Religion is the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred belief system
c. Spirituality is one’s integrative view of life.
4. Prepare character sketches of a person who is spiritual but not religious and a person who is religious but not spiritual.
 DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION

• Religion comes from the Latin verb, Religare, which means in English, to bind.
• Etymologically, religion means binding of oneself with the absolute being.
• Religion is a belief in a supernatural power, or it refers to the performance of practices which binds
together or links human beings with the hidden superpower.

TWO WAYS OF DEFINING RELIGION AS A SOCIAL REALITY

1. Substantive – concerned with what constitutes religion. In this sense, religion involves beliefs and
practices “which assume the existence of supernatural beings”
2. Functional – concerned with the social consequences of religion.
 T A B L E 1 .1 .V A R IO U S D E F IN IT IO N F O R W A R D E D B Y S E V E R A L S O C IA L S C IE N T IS T S O N T H E N A T U R E O F R E L IG IO N

Name of Social Scientist Background View on Religion

Edward Burnett Taylor (1832-1917) English anthropologists; founding figure of the science
of social anthropology the belief in spiritual beings.
Main thinker of substantive religion.
James George Frazer (1854-1941) Scottish social anthropologist; one of the founding
figures of modern anthropology a propitiation or
conciliation of powers superior to man which are
believed to control and direct the course of nature and
of human life.
Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski (1884-1942) An eminent 20th century Polish anthropologist a body
of self-contained acts being themselves the fulfilment
of their purpose; an affair of all, in which everyone
takes an active and equivalent part.
David Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) French sociologist; father of sociology a unified system
of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things. Main
thinker of functional religion.
 UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLD VIEWS
Beliefs generally refer to assertions, claims, or thoughts about things that are held to
be true. Religion contains a worldview. Belief in god or gods is found in almost all
religions.
Table 1.2. Different Kinds of Belief
System/Worldviews
KINDS DESCRIPTION
Monism There is no real distinction between god and the
universe.
Polytheism The belief and worship of many gods.
Monotheism The doctrine or belief in one supreme god.
Atheism Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god.
Agnosticism God cannot be known.
 ELEMENTS OF RELIGION

• The etymological meaning of religion, that is, to bind oneself with God, is not enough to make
up what religion holistically means. Several elements constitute a religion.

THE FF. ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE COMMON AMONG RELIGIONS.
1. Sacred texts. – (e.g. Holy Bible, Holy Qur’an)
2. Rituals – express praise to God, gods, or a revered teacher or prophet.
3. God of Supreme being – (e.g. Jesus Christ, Buddhist God)
4. Place to Worship – (e.g. Church, Mosque, Temple, Synagogue)
 FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION
1. Do you think it is possible to believe in God, without
religion?
2. Do you think it is possible to belong to a religion without
God?
3. Why do you think people embrace a religion?
 THE FF. ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION:

1. Religion provides mental peace and tranquility.

2. It inculcates virtues both personal and social.
3. Religion promotes social solidarity.
4. Religion is an agent of socialization and social control.
5. Religion and morality.
 DIFFERENCES OF RELIGION FROM SPIRITUALITY,
THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

• Religion vs. Spirituality

- a believer may be religious but nit necessarily spiritual.
- Religiosity refers to acts of worship a believer follows or practices like sacraments, praying in the church, joining the
religious procession among others. While on the contrary, spirituality speaks more of how a believer internalizes his faith in
God.
ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUALITY
a. Holistic – fully integrated view to life.
b. Quest for meaning – including the purpose of life
c. Quest for sacred – beliefs about God.
d. Suggest a self- reflective existence.
 DIFFERENCES OF RELIGION FROM SPIRITUALITY,
THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

• Religion vs. Theology

- while religion refers to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning a supernatural power
– theology involves the systematic study of the existence and nature of the divine.
• Religion vs. Philosophy of Religion
- Since religion is a belief in a supreme power and worship of it as the creator and controller of the
universe without reasoning. On the other hand, philosophy is a pursuit of wisdom by intellectual
search and logical reasoning.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED?
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE CLASS.