MODULE 2

WORLD
RELIGIONS
AND
BELIEF SYSTEM
BELIEF
WHAT IS BELIEF?
A disposition or attitude toward a
particular thing , people, or event.
It doesn’t require empirical evidence
A belief is something that you believe
or accept as true. You might believe
something based on a fact, an opinion
or an assumption.
IMPORTANCE OF BELIEFS
 Beliefs serves as a compass for people in
choosing to behave the way they do
 Beliefs help people see or make sense of
reality
 Beliefs form the values and human
character of a person
 Beliefs move people to action
 Beliefs is a kind of knowledge
UNDERSTANDING
BELIEF SYSTEM
AND WORLDVIEW
How do you see the world?

What can you say about the

Philippine Politics?

Is there really life after

death?
CHARACTERISICS OF BELIEF
SYSTEM

Belief systems are value laden

Belief system are prescriptive
Belief system are
instrumental/purposive
Beliefs system are communal
 Any transcendental belief is grounded
on a certain metaphysical position.

There are at least 3 positions or

attitudes when it comes to believe in God
or Gods.
THEISM

The belief in the existence of

God or Gods
Variants:
Monotheism,Polytheism,Deism,
Pantheism and Panentheism
ATHEISM
 This view denies the existence
of a God or Gods.
This belief is founded that
there’s no sufficient basis or
evidence to the existence of God
or Gods.
AGNOSTICISM
Tellthat one cannot prove or
disprove the existence of a higher
being named God or Gods.
Agnosticism used skeptical
arguments to defend this position
SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION:
NOTION OF SPIRITUAL BUT NOT
RELIGIOUS

Includes atheist, agnostics, and

those who are affiliated from
any religious sects.
 According to Walter Principe, there
are 3 different but related levels of
spirituality:

1. The real or existential level

2. The formulation of teaching about
the lived reality
3. The study of scholars of the first
and especially of the second level of
spirituality
 Being spiritual is a inseparable part of
us-something that don’t create for
ourselves but a character inherent in our
humanity.
 Doesn’t based on religious doctrines
 According to Oxford Dictionary ;
- That which has a spiritual character
- The quality or condition of being spiritual
- Attentive to what is happening around
her/him
- Knows that world is complex yet able to
know his/her functions in it
 Sandra Schneiders gave helpful points
understanding spirituality.

 It is conscious and deliberate way living

 It is not self-enclosed but orients the subject
beyond purely private satisfaction
 The ultimate functions as a horizon luring the
person toward growth
 Lived experiences

 Involves active engagement to one’s own

experience (centre of all encounters)
 A religious person acknowledges
vertical transcendence
A spiritual person acknowledges
both vertical and horizontal
transcendence
 A person who is both spiritual and
religious

A person who is spiritual but not

religious

A person who is religious but not

spiritual
ELEMENTS
OF
RELIGION
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF
RELIGION
 It is about spiritual growth and self-
transcendence. Religion is one of the
major facet of self-formation and it
allows the person to discover the
meaning of life and existence.
 Framework of transcendent beliefs. All
religion of the world differ on their
orientation regarding their belief on God
or Gods.
 Religion is characterized in sacred texts and
writing

 Ritualsare cultural artifacts that involves

gesture,words,actions and objects performed
publicly and privately in a sacred spaces. It
plays an important role on religion.

 Scared places. Prayers, meditations and other

religious celeberation held in sacred spaces
like churches,mosques,temples or shrines.
KAMSAHAMNIDA