Chapter 11 Lesson 3

SUPERNATURALS: Believe
it or not!
 Lesson 3 Supernatural: Believe It or
Not!
Introduction
Spiritual self is one of the four
constituents of the “self” according to
William James in his book The
Principles of Psychology in 1890. The
spiritual self is the most intimate,
inner subjective part of self.
 Introduction
It is the most intimate version of the
self because of the satisfaction
experienced when thinking of one’s
ability to argue and discriminate, of
one’s moral sensibility and conscience
and purer than all other sentiments
of satisfaction.
 Introduction
The ability to use moral sensibility and
conscience may be seen through the
expressions of religion, its beliefs and
practices. In the same manner, cultural
rituals and ceremonies are some
manifestations what people believe in.
Seeking the meaning of life is a journey
that the spiritual and self is on.
 ACTIVITY
Art Recall
Recall:
When was the first time you
realized that there is a higher being
than yourself? How old were you
then? What made you believe that
there is a higher being?
 Activity

Draw:
Make poster about the instance or
situation that made you believe in
the existence of higher being.
 Activity
Show:
Have a classroom Gallery Walk
showcasing the posters you and your
classmates have made. Observe
similarities and differences in each other’s
experiences, expressed in the art work.
Initiate discussions about beliefs on
higher being based on the posters.
 Analysis

Buzz Group Sharing

In groups answer the following
questions:
1. From the posters you see, what
commonalities and differences did
you observe?
 Analysis

2. How these experiences affect

your belief on higher being?
Big Group Sharing
1. Share the summary of your
discussion from buzz group.
2. Discuss the following questions:
 Activity

a. How is the belief on higher

being related to your self?
b. Do you consider having a
spiritual self? Why or Why not?
 Abstraction

Religion
Rebecca Stein(Stein 2011)
works on the definition ‘as a set of
cultural beliefs and practices that
usually includes some or all of
basic characteristics:
 Religion
1. A belief in anthropomorphic
supernatural being, such as
spirit and Gods.
2. A focus on the sacred
supernatural, where the sacred
refers to a feeling of reverence and
awe.
 Religion
3. The presence of supernatural
power or energy that is found on
supernatural beings as well as
physical beings and objects
4. Performance of ritual activities
involve manipulation of sacred to
communicate and control events.
 Religion
5. The articulation of worldview and
moral codes through narratives and
other means.
6. Provide the creation and of social
bonds mechanism of social control
within the community, provide and
explain sense of control to individuals
 Rituals

Rituals are performance of

ceremonials acts prescribed by a
tradition or sacred law(Britannica
2017). Rituals is a specific
observable mode of behaviour
exhibited by all known societies.
 Rituals

Three characteristics of ritual:

1. Feeling of respect, fascination
in relation to sacred
2. Dependence upon belief
expressed in language of myth
3. Symbolic relation to reference
 Ritual
The self can be described as ritual
being who exhibits a striking
parallel between their verbal
behaviour. Just as languages a
symbols based upon rules, ritual
may be viewed as a system of
symbol.
 Some World Religious Beliefs and
Practices
There are different religions with
different beliefs and practices. Some
of the major religions are Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and
Judaism. Excerpt of practices and
beliefs from University of London’s
Religion and Belief Guide 2017.
 Buddhism
Beliefs
Buddhism believes that life is not
bed of roses. Instead, there are sufferings,
pain and frustration. When people suffer,
they want to experience the goodness of
life and avoid disappointments. Practice
of meditation, acquiring more wisdom
accepting things as they are.
 Buddhism

Custom and Practices

There are two types of
meditation practices: smatha an
vipassana. Samatha is a practiced
as mindfulness of breathing and
development of loving kindness.
 Buddhism
Vipassana practices aim to develop
insights into reality. Acquiring wisdom
is by studying Buddha’s teachings, the
Dharma. Through the reflection of
Dharma, Buddhist can achieve deeper
understanding of life. Buddhists
believe in non violence principle.
 Buddhism

Some of the major Buddhist

celebrations are Parinirvana Day in
February, Buddha Day(Wesak) in
May, Dharma Day in July;
Padmasambhava Day in October,
and Sangha day in November.
 Christianity
Beliefs
Christians believes in Trinitarian
God. One God in three personas: God
the Father(Creator) God the Son
(Saviour) and the Holy Spirit
(Sustainer) Eternal life after death will
be achieve through faith in Jesus
Christ.
 Christianity
Jesus Christ, is God the Son who came
into flesh, to spread the Good News of
salvation. He died on the Cross for the sin
of humanity but resurrected from death,
so that anyone who believe will be saved
and have eternal life. The Holy Bible is
selection of books divided into two Old
Testament and New Testament.
 Christianity
Customs and Practices
Sacraments of Baptism and
Sacraments of Communion are
practiced by Christian churches. The
Sacraments of Baptism symbolizes
the birth of Christian World, while
Sacraments of Communion act of
remembering Jesus sacrificial love.
 Christianity
Christmas and Resurrection
(Easter) are two major celebrations in
Christianity. Christmas usually
December 25 commemorates the
birth of Jesus Christ while
Resurrection Sunday depends on
lunar calendar celebrates resurrection
of Jesus Christ from death.
 Hinduism
Beliefs
Hinduism covers a wide range of
traditional beliefs and religious group;
thus there is no single founder or
leader. Hindus believe in the
existence is cycle birth, death and
rebirth, governed by Karma.
 Hinduism
Karma is a concept where the
reincarnated life will depend on how
the past life is spent. Hindus believe
that the soul passes through the cycle
of successive lives and its next
incarnation is always dependent on
how previous life was lived.
 Hinduism

Mahabharata and Ramayana are

two important text of the Hindus.
Vedas are the sacred scriptures of
Hindus.
 Hinduism
Customs and Practices
Diwali and Navrati are most
celebrated festivals, Diwali is
festival of Lights while Navrati is
festival of nine nights, which
celebrate the triumph of good over
evil.
 ISLAM
Beliefs
Muslims believe in Allah, who is
their “One God.” they believe in unity
and universality of God . Muslims
have a strong sense of community or
“ummah” and awareness of solidarity
with all Muslim worldwide. Islam
means “willing submission to God.”
 Islam
Muslim believe that Mohammed is
the last and final prophet sent by
God. Mohammed was born in
Mecca 570 CE and received
revelation from god through Angel
Gabriel over period of 23 years.
The book of Islam is called Quran.
 Islam
Custom and Practices
Muslim believe in the five pillars of
Islam which are the foundation of life:
1. Shahadah-Statement of faith
“There is no God but one true God
and Mohammed is his messenger.”
 Islam
2.Salat-the prayer that is practiced
five times a day.
3. Zakat-monetary offering for the
benefit of the poor. It comprises the
2.5% of Muslim’s assets.
4.Hajj-the yearly pilgrimage of Mecca.
Muslims who can afford are asked to
do once in a lifetime.
 Islam

5. Sawm-the fasting. Muslims do

fasting, from food, drinks and
sexual act, during celebration of
Ramadan. Ramadan is ninth month
of the Islamic lunar calendar. The
fast is from dawn to sunset.
 Islam

Two of the major festivals in Islam

are Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha.
Eidul-Fitr is the celebration at the
end of Ramadan, while Eidul-Adha
is celebrated with in the
completion of pilgrimage, the Hajj.
 Judaism
Beliefs
the Jews believe in the God of
Abraham, the same God that
liberated the Hebrew slaves from
Egypt to Canaan, the Promised
Land through the leadership of
Moses and later Joshua.
 Judaism
The Jews believe in the coming
of Messiah, the Saviour. The sacred
scriptures of Jews called Torah or
the Law. The Torah or law is the
guide to the Jewish living. The
study and interpretation of Torah
is part of Jewish culture.
 Judaism
Custom and Practices
There are five major festivals:
1. Rosh Hashanah- the New Year
2. Yom Kippur- the day of
atonement
3. Pesach- Passover
 Judaism

5. Sukkot-Tabernacles. The Jewish

Sabbath begins on Friday evening
at sunset and is important time
when families gather for Sabbath
meal.
 Finding and Creating Meaning of life
Another extensive study of self
can be found in work of Dr. Victor
Frankl, Pyschiatrist at his young age
wrote a book about Logotherapy.
The logotherapy is the man’s
primary motivational force is search
for meaning of life whatever the
situation.
 Logotherapy
In logotherapy, meaning can be
discovered by creating a work or
doing a deed, experiencing
someone attitude toward
unavoidable suffering. According to
Victor Frankl it uses philosophy of
optimism in face of tragedy, where
 Logotheraphy
Where people are capable of
“turning suffering into human
achievement and accomplishment;
deriving from guilt the opportunity
to change oneself for the better
derived from life of incentive to
take responsible action.”
Basic Concept of Franklian Psychology

Franklian Psychology basic concept

- Life has meaning under all
circumstances.
- Main motivation for living is our
will to find meaning of life.
- Freedom to find meaning.
 Franklian Psychology aims
• 1. become aware of spiritual
resources,
• 2.make conscious spiritual resources
• 3. use “defiant power of human
spirit” and stand up against
adversity.
 Logotherapy Assumption
Philosophical assumption about
human person:
1.The human being is an entity
consisting of body , mind and spirit.
2.Life has meaning under certain
circumstances even most miserable.
 Logotheraphy Assumption
3. People have will to meaning.
4. People have freedom under all
circumstances to activate the will to
find meaning.
5. Life has a demand quality to which
people must respond if decision are
to be meaningful.
The individual is unique.
 Frankl Purposive Sources of Meaning

• 1. Purposive work. To find the

meaning of life starts with holding a
future goal.
• 2. Courage in the face of difficulty
• 3. Love is only way to grasp another
human being in the innermost core
of his personality.
 Group Project
Video clip. Make a video clip with
reflection on the following :
1. Filipino rituals and ceremonies
covering all regions of the
Philippines.
2. Filipino indigenous religious
practices featuring five tribes from
Luzon Visaya and Mindanao
 Group Project

3. Modern day expression of

spiritual being
Make sure the showcase the origin,
meaning of each ritual and
ceremony and your personal
reflection
 Group Project
4. Life history during war, how
he/she survive the war.
Description of his/her
meaningful life.
5. Logotheraphy Assumptions,
Frankl sources of the meaning of
life and sources of meaning.