SPX 006 (CULMINATING ACTIVITY HUMSS)

3rd Achievement Test Reviewer

Day 01 Expanding the Differences Among Religion, Spirituality, Theology, Worldview and Philosophy
of Religion

RELIGION SPIRITUALITY
 What practices, rites, or rituals should I follow?  Where do I find meaning?
 What is right and wrong?  How do I feel connected?
 What is true or false?  How should I live?
 belief system  growing within
 instructions, processes/steps  experiences the Divine
 educate the mind  touching the soul
 evidences are tangible  personal belief
 man is by nature evil  evidences are intangible
 focuses on flaws  man is by nature good
often about who’s in and who’s out rejects this dualism and speaks of us and them
often about loyalty to institutions, clergy, and rules about loyalty to justice and compassion
talks about God helps us to make godly

Day 02 Understanding the Origin of World Religions and their Positive and Negative Effect
 ISLAM is the predominant religion in India.
 HINDUISM is the oldest religion of the five major world religions.
HINDUISM (4000 BC)
- teaches the concept of reincarnation
- acknowledge the existence of both male and female gods
- collective name for the beliefs of more than a billion people in and outside the subcontinent of India
- a religion and a way of life, found most notably in India and Nepal
- has been called the oldest religion
- believes in one being of ultimate oneness, known as the Brahman through infinite representations of
gods and goddesses
- their position in this present life was determined by their actions in preview life
- provides an explanation for suffering and evil in this life
- goal: to become free from the law of karma and continuous reincarnation
 - 3 ways to achieve the goal:
a. to be lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu gods and goddesses
b. to grow in knowledge through meditation of Brahman to realize that circumstances in ife are not
real, that selfhood is an illusion and only Brahman is real
c. to be dedicated to various religions ceremonies and rites
ISLAM (3000 BC)
- there is one almighty God, Allah, who is infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind
- Allah is the creator of the universe and source of all good and evil
- 5 religious duties:
a. repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad
b. recite certain Arabic prayers 5 times a day
c. give to the needy
d. one month from each year, fast from food, drink, sex, and smoking from sunrise to sunset
e. pilgrimage once in one’s lifetime to worship at a shrine in Mecca
BUDDHISM (2500 BC)
- Indian religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices
largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha
- do not worship any gods or God
- believe that a person has countless rebirths, which inevitably include suffering
- seeks to end these rebirths (cravings, aversion and delusion cause these rebirths)
- goal: to purify one’s heart and to let go of all yearnings toward sensual series and the attachment to
oneself
- through practiced meditation (self-discipline), a person may reach NIRVANA – “the blowing out” of the
flame of desire
CHRISTIANITY (2000 BC)
- believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be known in a personal way
- focus is not on religious rituals or good work but on enjoying a relationship with God and growing to
know him better
- faith is how the Christian experiences joy and meaningful life
- Jesus claimed to be God in human form
- regard the Bible as God’s written message to humankind; the Bible reveals God’s personality, his love
and truth, and how one cn have a relationship with him
JUDAISM (1000 BC)
- Jewish identity rises primarily from belonging to an ancient people and upholding its traditions
- believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can
have an individual and personal relationship
- believe that God continues to work in the world, affecting everything that people do

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGIONS

POSITIVE EFFECTS
 provides inner strength
 promote ethics in political life
 brings people together in a community
 charitable giving
 teaches the value of sharing in order to
receive plentiful of blessings
 emphasizes the need for serving our fellow
man
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
 turning people against each other
 seek power and wealth
 filling people with fear of hell
 leads to hatred, racism, and all kinds of
violence
Day 03 Comparing Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and
Shintoism

CONFUCIANISM
- system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by CONFUCIUS and developed by MENCIUS
- sometimes known as RUISM – a tradition, philosophy, religion, humanistic or rationalistic religion, a
way of governing, or simply a way of life
- combination of social and ethical philosophy rather than religion
- 3 major requirements:
1. FILIAL PIETY – respect is the most fundamental attitude
2. HUMANENESS – care and concern for other people
3. RITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS – awareness of different rituals;
- goal: to preserve cosmic order
- Confucianism and Buddhism are the 2 dominant religion
TAOISM/DAOISM
- combination of philosophy and religion
- Tao means “way”
- Taoism means “gods’ way”
- “KAMI” – supernatural spirits reside in natural world
- “get things done by letting them happen”
SHINTOISM
- originated in Japan
- god AMATERASU (sun goddess) founded this religion
- was formed because of Confucianism and Buddhism
Day 04 Understanding the Discipline of Counseling, The Roles, Functions, and Competencies of
Counselors, the Areas of Specialization where Counselors Work; Career Opportunities of Counselors;
and the Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountability of Counselors
COUNSELING
- process that occurs when a client and counselor set aside time in order to explore difficulties which may
include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client
- act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possible from a different view-point
- less likely to be concerned with the past experiences of the client and are generally trained in a
humanistic approach, using techniques from client-centered therapy
Counseling IS:
 listening
 understanding
 changing
 responsible
 confidential
 non-judgmental
Counseling is NOT:
 giving advice
 judgmental
 attempting to sort out the problems of the client
The Role of the Counselor:
 to be aware that no two people are alike
 to enable the client to explore many aspects of their life and feelings, by talking openly and freely
 to allow client to make effective decisions leading to positive changes in their attitude
 to give the client an opportunity to express difficult things such as anger, resentment, guilt, and fear in a
confidential environment
 to encourage the client to examine parts of their lives that they may have found difficult or impossible to
face before
Counseling Skills:
1. Communication
2. Empathy
3. Active Listening
4. Clarification
5. Reflection
6. Effective Questioning Skills
PSYCHOTHERAPY
- based on psychodynamic approach to counseling
- it encourages the client to go back to their earlier experiences and explore how these experiences
affect their current problem
Day 05 Understanding the Discipline of Social Work; and the Roles, Functions, and Competencies of
Social Workers
SOCIAL WORK
- an academic and practiced-based professional discipline that seeks to facilitate the welfare of
communities, individuals, families and groups
- engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well being
- tries to provide social change and grass root empowerment of people and aids in socioeconomic
development, social cohesion, and liberation from abuse and oppression
SOCIAL WORKER
- a practicing professional with a degree in social work
- trained personnel who alleviate the status of people in needs behavior
The Core Competencies of a Social Worker:
1. Practice with professionalism
2. Practice in an ethical manner
3. Use critical thinking and professional judgment
4. Embrace diversity
5. Advance human rights and socio-economic justice