Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Why is there Religion?
Speculation on the sources of religion: religion: 1.
Having to deal with our mortality.
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death, experience of pain, idea of soul, afte rlife, and rebirth
2. We desire good health.
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A regular supply of food and a suitable weather.
3. It offers companionship.
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The fulfillment from belonging to a group.
4. It stimulates art, music, and dance. -As an inspirational source of some of the most imaginative buildings in the world. 5. As to respond to our natural wonder about ourselves and the cosmos. - relate unknown universe around us by answering the questions of who we are, where we come from, and where are we going.
Key Characteristics of Religion
A) Belief system Several beliefs fit together into fairly complete and systematic interpretation of the universe and the human being’s place in it; this is also called a worldview. worldview.
Key Characteristics of Religion
B) Community The belief system is shared, and its ideals are practiced by a group. C) Ethics Rules about human behaviour are established, often having been revealed from supernatural realm, but they can also be viewed as socially ge nerated guidelines.
Key Characteristics of Religion
D) Characteristic emotions Among the emotions typically associated with religions are dread, g uilt, awe, mystery, devotion, liberation, ecstasy, inner peace, and bliss.
E)Rituals Beliefs are enacted and made real through ceremonies, ritual objects, and specialized locations or buildings.
Key Characteristics of Religion
F) Sacredness A distinction is made between the sacre d and the ordinary; ceremonies often emphasize the differentiation between the sacred and the ordinary through the deliberate use of different languages, clothing, and architecture. Certain objects, actions, people, and places may share in the sacredness or express it.
The Sacred
All religions are concerned with the deepest level of reality, and most say that the core or origin of everything is sacred and mysterious. One familiar term for the sacre d reality, particularly in the Western world, is God.
The Sacred
Monotheism -The term that means a belief in one God. -The reality of God is beyond all cate gories: God is said to be pure spirit, not fully definable in words.
The Sacred
Polytheism -The belief in many Gods. -The sacred reality in the form of many coexisting gods. -The multiple gods may be fairly separate entities, each in charge of an aspect of reality (nature of gods), or they may be multiple manifestation of the same basic sacred reality.
The Sacred
Agnosticism -Literally meaning “not know”; the position that holds that the existence of God cannot be proven.
The Sacred
Pantheism
-The belief that everything in the universe is divine. Atheism Literally meaning “not God”; the position that holds that there is no God or gods.
The Sacred
Animism From the Latin anima, meaning “spirit,” “soul,” “life force”; a worldview common among oral religions (religions with no written scriptures) that sees all elements of nature as being filled with spirit or spirits.
The Sacred
Nontheistic Not asserting or denying the existence of any deity; unconcerned with the supernatural. Dualism The belief that reality is made of two different principles (spirit and matter); the belief in two gods (good and evil) in conflict.
The Sacred (other key terms)
Immanent Existing and operating within nature. Transcendent Not limited by the physical world.
Religious symbolism
Religions express truth symbolically. Symbolism helps human beings intensely experience- something of greater complexity. Ex. water- represent spiritual cleansing sun- health mountain- strength
circle- eternity Serves as the language of symbols.
Patterns Among Religions
We study religions in a comparative and historical sense, but we are not looking to validate then or to disprove them or to enhance our own belief or practice. Part of the process of understanding leads us to see patterns of similarities and difference among r eligions.
Patterns Among Religions
Religions are not permanent theoretical construct but are constantly in a process of change.
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Influenced by governments
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Thinkers
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Historical events
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Changing technology, and,
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The shifting values of the cultures in which they e xist.
1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices
Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred: Sacramental orientation The sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and – importantly- correctly as the path to salvation. Ex. Making the Catholic sign of the cross, is done in a certain way.
1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices
Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred: Prophetic orientation The prophetic orientation stresses that contact with the sacred is ensured by proper belief and by adherence to moral rules. This implies that a human being may be an important intermediary between t he believer and the sacred. Ex. Prophets being mentioned in the bible.
1st Pattern: Focus of Beliefs and Practices
Three Basic Orientations in their conception and location of the Sacred: Mystical orientation The mystical orientation seeks union with a reality greater than oneself, such as with God, the process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole. Ex. seated meditation to attain enlightenment experience.
2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life
The Nature of Sacred Reality
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Talks on the reality of the sacred as immanent or transcendent in nature, or having a personal attributes or as impersonal entity.
The Nature of the Universe
This is the positions of every religions on how they view the creation of the universe. 2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life
The Human Attitude Toward Nature Religion’s view of the nature of man and his surroun dings, concerning the idea of good and evil. Time This talks about the concept of time between religions. The concept of time whether it is linear (for Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or cyclical such as Buddhism, and whether the universe moves t hrough endless changes or not moving at all.
2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life
Human Purpose An idea in every religions on the conce pt of the importance of man in the divine plan. Word and Scriptures In some religions, the sacred is to be found in written and spoken words, such as the use of the Bible. But other religions show a certain mistrust of words and value silence and wordless meditation.
2nd
Pattern: Religious Views of the World and Life
Exclusiveness and Inclusiveness Some religions view the idea of sacre d which is distinct from the world and that order must be imposed by separating good from bad – for example, withdrawal from certain foods, places, practices, or beliefs. There are such religions also that emphasized social harmony the relativity of truth and have accepted beliefs in many deities. This will lead the individual to belong to several religions. This is an idea of inclusiveness.
3rd
Pattern: Religious Views of Male and Female
Because gender is such an intrinsic and important part of being human, religions have had much to say about the roles of men and women, both on earth and in the divine spheres. Thus, views of what is male and what is female provide another basis for comparing religions.
Why Study the Major Religions of the Wor ld?
1.
Insight into what religious traditions- ex. The complex system of values, re lationships, personalities, and human creativity.
2. Insight into what religion share- brings a special insight that an outsider cannot have, or an outsider will appreciate the uniqueness of their systems. 3.Tolerance- helps one develop a certain objectivity and toler ance.
Why Study the Major Religions of the World?
4. Appreciation of differences- enjoying the differences is valuable and even better. 5. Insight into everyday life- ones practices in a certain religion can be seen also in the daily activities of man. 6.Appreciation for the arts- The study of religions is a gateway to different forms of arts and many others.
Why Study the Major Religions of the World?
7. Enjoyment of travel- because there is really a big difference between w alking at the Vatican City and by just reading about it. 8. Insight into family traditions- Religions have influenced most earlier cultures so strongly that the ir effects are readily identifiable in the values of our parents and grandparents. 9. Help in one’s own religious quest.
