Relationship not Religion
Hosea 6:6
Hosea 6 : 6
This lesson will help you:
• Tell the difference between being religious and
maintaining good relationship with God.
• Explain the importance of having a relationship
with God
• Create steps in order to correct your view of and
approach to god and other people around you.
Religion:
- the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling
power, especially a personal God or gods.
- a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes
supreme importance.
- a particular system of faith and worship.
- a personal set or institutionalized system of religious
attitudes, beliefs, and practices
Relationship
- the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or
people are connected, or the state of being connected.
- the state of being connected by blood or marriage.
- the way in which two or more people or groups regard
and behave toward each other.
- the way in which two or more people feel and behave
toward each other:
Religion around the World:
Below is each religion's total estimated population for
2020:
Christianity - 2.38 billion
Islam - 1.91 billion
Hinduism - 1.16 billion
Buddhism - 507 million
Folk Religions - 430 million
Other Religions - 61 million
Judaism - 14.6 million
Unaffiliated - 1.19 billion
Christianity
The world's largest religion is Christianity, which is practiced by almost 2.4 billion people.
Christianity is divided into Eastern and Western theology, and within those divisions, many
branches, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Those branches further
divide into the thousands of various denominations known today, including Baptists, Methodists,
Lutherans, Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons, Amish, and more.
In Vatican City and the Pitcairn Islands, 100% of the population is Christian. In several other
nations, at least 93% of the population is Christian. Countries whose populations are at least
93% Christian: Vatican City, Pitcairn Islands, American Samoa, Armenia, Barbados, East Timor, El
Salvador, Greece, Kiribati, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Paraguya,
Peru, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Tonga, and Venezuela.
Islam
Islam is the world's second-largest religion. People that
practice Islam are known as Muslims. In the Maldives,
Mauritania, and Saudi Arabia, 100% of inhabitants
practice Islam. In many nations, at least 95% of
inhabitants identify as either Sunni or Shi'a Muslim.
Countries whose populations are at least 95% Muslim:
Maldices, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Algeria,
Comoros, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan,
Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen. There are 50
Muslim-majority countries worldwide.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the third-largest religion globally. Hinduism is
considered dharma, or way of life. It originated on the
Indian subcontinent and is widely practiced throughout
Southeast Asia. The four main denominations are
Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.
Unsurprisingly, India has the largest Hindu population but
not the highest percentage of Hindus. There are an
estimated 1.093 billion Hindus in India, about 79.8% of
the population. Nepal has the second-highest Hindu
population at 28.6, an estimated 81.3% of the
population. Countries with a large number of Hindus:
India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
United States, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Mauritius.
Buddhism
Buddhism also originated in India and is based on the
teachings of Buddha. Buddhists have unique traditions,
values, and beliefs, such as reincarnation. About 507
million people practice Buddhism worldwide. China has
the largest Buddhist population with 254.7 million,
followed by Thailand at 66.1 million, Burma (Myanmar)
with 41.44 million, and Japan with 41.38 million.
Cambodia has the highest percentage of Buddhists at
97.9%, followed by Thailand at 94.6% and Burma
(Myanmar) with 87.9%. Countries with the highest
percentage of Buddhists: Cambodia, Thailand,
Burma/Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia, and Bhutan.
Other Religions
In some nations, traditional Chinese religions, including
Confucianism and Taoism, are practiced. This is most
frequently seen in the following nations: China, Hong
Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Ethic and indigenous religions
are practiced in many countries. In Guinea-Bissau and
Haiti, an estimated 50% of the population follows one of
these religions. Other nations where ethnic and
indigenous religions are practiced include Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan,
and Togo.
Unaffiliated or Atheist
Finally, as mentioned, many people are non-religious or atheist. This is mostly seen in
nations including Estonia, the Czech Republic, China, and Japan, where over threequarters of the population declines to practice a religion. Countries with a high percentage
of unaffiliated/atheist citizens: China, Estonia, Czech Republic, Japan, Denmark, France,
Hong Kong, Macau, Norway, Sweden, and Vietnam.
Religion in the Philippines
The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of
the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and
another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian
majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of
Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. Scattered in isolated mountainous regions, the remaining 2
percent follow non-Western, indigenous beliefs and practices. The Chinese minority, although
statistically insignificant, has been culturally influential in coloring Filipino Catholicism with
many of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
[Text]
[Text]
01
02
04
[Text]
What was your process?
03
[Text]
Christianity
Islam
Other
Religion
What is the first religion in the Philippines?
It is said that Islam first came to our shores in Mindanao
in the 13th century, making it the oldest recorded
monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Islam was
reportedly brought by Muslim traders from the Persian
Gulf, Southern India, and from several sultanate
governments in the Malay Archipelago.
Muslim traders were followed by Muslim missionaries in
the late 14th and early 15th. Sultanates began to form in
Mindanao and Sulu, as well as Manila. Thus, names like
Sultan Kudarat and Rajah Lakandula and Rajah Suleyman
and Rajah Matanda became part of Philippine history and
its quest for independence.
When does Christianity came in the
Philippines?
Catholicism didn’t arrive until the Spaniards first came in
1521, and the first Spanish settlement didn’t start until
1565 in Cebu.
The first mass in the Philippines
The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday. It was conducted
by Father Pedro de Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition along the shores of what was referred to in the
journals of Antonio Pigafetta as "Mazaua".
Today, this site is widely believed by many historians and the government to be Limasawa off the tip of Southern
Leyte,[1][2] However, until at least the 19th century, the prevailing belief was that the first mass was held in
Butuan.[3] This belief is maintained by some, who assert that the first mass was instead held at Masao, Butuan.[4]
To end the conflict for the issue about the first mass, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
panel adapted the recommendation[5] and unanimously agreed that the evidence and arguments presented by the
pro-Butuan advocates are not sufficient and convincing enough to warrant the repeal or reversal of the ruling on the
case by the National Historical Institute (the NHCP's forerunner). It is further strengthen by the evidence that it was
only after 22 years, in 1543—when a Spanish expedition led by Ruy López de Villalobos landed in Mindanao.[6]
The Chinese religion in the Philippines
On the other hand, the Chinese first arrived on our shores sometime
in the 9th century. But the first Chinese settlement came in 1594 in
Binondo, which is known as the world’s first Chinatown overseas. The
Chinese pirate Limahong’s attack on Manila was in 1574.
Is religion important?
Religion helps in creating an ethical framework and also a regulator
for values in day to day life. This particular approach helps in
character building of a person. In other words, Religion acts as an
agency of socialization. Thus, religion helps in building values like
love, empathy, respect, and harmony.
Religion helps in building the following:
4
• love
3
• empathy
2
• respect
• harmony
1
Spiritual Connect
People are always on the quest of fulfilling the economic
and material pursuits in today’s world. It is the religion
which plays a crucial role in establishing our connection
to the divine and developing the belief that there is a
supreme energy that acts as a regulator in our day to day
lives. Thus, the components of prayer, chants, hymns,
etc. creates the spiritual bond.
The Idea of Welfare
Each and every religion promotes its philosophy and the
crux of it has always been the welfare and wellness of
the people. For example, in the Sanatana Dharma, there
are ideas like Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is
a family), Sarve Sukhina Bhavantu (let everyone be
happy) which nurture and cultivate love and compassion
in the society.
What do we need to know about God?
God loves us and wants us to have a personal relationship with Him.
God loves us even if we haven’t loved him.
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.” (1 John 4:10)
God wants us to know him.
The Bible says God is at work in everyone’s life. “So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might
grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
2
What is wrong with us?
Our relationship with God has been broken by sin.
We have all made choices showing we are inclined to be passively indifferent to God
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the
LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
Or actively opposed to God
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John
3:19-20)
The result of our choices to resist or ignore God results in spiritual death (separation from
God).
“We are dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1)
“And thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Jesus Christ came to do what we could not do for ourselves.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
He came into the world to bring us to his Father.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except
through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)
He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring
us to God,
being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)
He rose from the dead to show that his claims were true.
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our
sins according
to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the
Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was
seen by over five
hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but
some have fallen asleep.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
and Savior.
We must each personally trust Jesus Christ as our Lord
and Savior.
Our own efforts to earn God’s acceptance are
inadequate.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the
Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
We must admit our need for forgiveness.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so
much as lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ” (Luke 18:13)
We must receive Christ and his offer of salvation as a
gift.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
to become children of God, to those who believe in His
name.” (John 1:12)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Where do we begin?
A personal relationship with God begins today.
You can begin your personal relationship with God by
putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
You may find it helpful to express your new faith in words
similar to these:
Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from You.
Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place. I now
trust Jesus to forgive my sins. I invite Him into my life as
my Savior and Lord. Thank You for receiving me into Your
eternal family. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Customize this Template
Template Editing
Instructions and
Feedback