2. OBJECTIVES
● Give an example of a belief system or a worldview.
● Differentiate religion from:
a. Spirituality
b. Theology
c. Philosophy of Religion
● Prepare character sketches of a person who is spiritual
but not religious and a person who is religious but not
spiritual
4. ● worldview is a set of beliefs used to understand the
world. (Matt Slick)
● Everyone has a set of principles by which to judge right
and wrong and which guides them in everyday living. The
basic way of interpreting things and events that
pervades a culture so thoroughly that it becomes a
culture’s concept of reality-what is good, what is
important, what is sacred, what is real.
WORLDVIEWS
5. ● Belief systems are the stories we tell ourselves to define our personal
sense of ‘reality’ (the way things actually exist). Every human being
has a belief system that he/she utilizes and it is through this
mechanism that we individually “make sense” of the world around us.”
It could be a set of beliefs or a philosophy of life.
● Belief system shapes your worldview about the world, your existence,
and relationships with your fellowmen. In other words, “ a worldview
whether religious or nonreligious, is a personal insight about reality
and meaning, often termed a “life understanding” which I may call a
product of belief systems. Most often worldviews are shaped by
religions.
BELIEFSYSTEMS
6. 1. Naturalism (e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism). It denies the existence
of God. The material universe is all that exist.
2. Pantheism (e.g. Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness.
They believe that only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion. Man is
spiritual and eternal.
3. Theism (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam). It means that God or gods created
the Universe and continued to actively participate of the world’s activities and in
human history.
4. Spiritism: The world is inhabited by spirit beings who govern earthly activities.
Man is created by gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Material things
are real but they have spirits associated with them.
5. Polytheism: This is the belief in many gods or deities. The culture of Ancient
Greeks and Romans depict this kind of beliefs.
worldviews aboutman’s
perspectiveofGod.
7. Worldviews are not all about God, but these are also about our
views about reality, man, truth and values. There are
also economic, political and social worldviews.
Worldviews and belief systems are necessary for religions in
order to protect and spread their own particular belief as a
way of “keeping the faith” through generations.
❖ Catholic Christians keep in their hearts the “Apostles’ Creed”
❖ The Muslims practice “the five pillars of Islam”,
❖ The Shinto reveres the dead ancestors or “Kami”,
❖ Confucians hold dearly the necessity of past traditions, and
❖ The Taoists embrace the importance of being close to
nature.
8. Your beliefs shape your worldviews but your beliefs and
worldviews are oftentimes shaped by religion. There is a
complex interplay between religion, belief and worldview.
Religions have different elements and characteristics which
are non-negotiable. Members should follow or undergo the
process to become genuine believers.
10. 1. Belief in supernatural powers
The power which is beyond human powers. The human sufferings enable human being to
seek God’s help for their problems.
2. Belief in the holy or sacred
This is the heart of every religion. Every religion has sacred books or texts. For example,
Scriptures and the Bible are sacred for the Jews and so with the Christians, Qur’an for Muslims
and Tripitaka for Buddhists and Vedas for Hindus. But something sacred is not just books but also
places, symbols, animals, rocks and many more. Hindus for example believes that cows are sacred
because of their beliefs in reincarnation.
THECHARACTERISTICOFELEMENTSOFRELIGIONS
3. Systems of rituals
These are the different ways each religions expresses their faith. Catholic Christians have the
seven sacraments which include ceremonies and rituals. For example, Baptism. A child must be
baptized at an early age in the church with the presence of parents, God parents, priest as
celebrator and the community that supports the child. The most important symbol of baptism is
water. It symbolizes cleansing from sin. The child also has to wear white dress to symbolize purity.
11. 4. Sinful acts
Usually a violation of the laws established by God which each member has to follow. For
example the Ten Commandments for Judaism and Christians and the Five Pillars of Islam
which when violated the believer commit a grievous sin.
5. The Method of salvation
The belief in the afterlife or the idea of heaven and hell. If you are a good believer you will go to
heaven but if not, you will go to hell. Islam went further by believing that if one’s life is sacrificed
against the enemies of Islam, their soul goes straight to heaven.
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6. Mode of worship
Each religion has different expressions of worship which include praying, kneeling, dancing, singing
to name a few.
12. 7. Liturgy and Ideology
Liturgy is described as public worship. It is a gathering of believers with ceremonies such as
wedding ceremonies, worship services or bible studies.
Each religion has holy places which they believe God is present such as churches,
temples, mosques and other sacred places.
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8. Place of Worship
The elements or characteristics of religions mentioned above are
necessary for a particular religion to perpetuate their worldviews and
belief systems.
