Belief system
A belief system is an ideology or set of principles that
helps us in interpreting our everyday reality. This could
be in the form of philosophy, political ideology,
spirituality, or religion, among many other things.
• As explained by Prof. Jensen DG. Mañebog, belief
systems are often deemed as convictions, often in the
form of supernatural or religious beliefs, though they
may also take the form of scientific views, or any
philosophical belief relating to the sphere of daily life.
Worldview
Generally speaking, a worldview is how one sees life and the
world at large. A ‘worldview’ is a theory of the world used for
living in it, serving as a mental model of reality, a framework of
ideas and attitudes about ourselves, the world, and life.
Worldview
• Worldview refers to the cluster of beliefs an individual holds
about the most significant concepts of life such as God, the
cosmos (universe), and humanity. These beliefs, which may or
may not be true, form a general picture, a broad-spectrum
outlook, or a grand perspective on life and the world.
• Philosophy professor Jensen Mañebog metaphorically compares
worldview to eye glasses. How a person makes sense of the world
depends upon his or her ‘vision,’ so to speak.
• The interpretive ‘lens’ in eye glasses help us in making sense of
life and comprehend the world around us. Some lens bring clarity,
while others may distort reality—and this is also true with
worldviews.
Religion
‘Religion’ refers to “people’s beliefs and opinions concerning
the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and
divine involvement in the universe and human life” (“Religion,”
2009). The term ‘religion’ is sometimes used interchangeably
with ‘faith,’ ‘creed,’ ‘belief system,’ or ‘conviction.’
“Re ligare”- to bind back
• The
term “religion” is etymologically
Latin ‘re’ and ‘ligare,’ meaning “to bind back”.
a
compound
of
the
• Thus, for the religionists, there is a bond that exists between the Creator and
His human creatures. This bond involves the feeling of being morally
obligated to live up to some moral laws .
• Religion pertains to the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred belief
system. It also refers to the sacred engagement with that which is believed to
be a spiritual reality.
• Religion denotes the belief in, or the worship of, a god (or gods) and the
worship or service to God or the supernatural. The term ‘supernatural’
means “whatever transcends the powers of nature or human agency”
(“Religion,” n.d.).
• Some define religion as “an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems,
and worldviews that relate humanity to an order of existence” (“Religion,”
n.d.). Religions have holy scriptures, narratives, or sacred accounts that aim to
explain the origin and meaning of life and the universe.
The Elements of Religion
• (a) A higher dimension of existence- Religion reveals a pursuit to elevate
man’s whole self to a higher dimension of existence. Created in the image of
God, a human being is not just a corporeal but also a spiritual being, having
spirit and soul.
• Religions generally believe that bound to the external world, man also
transcends it. Besides being a bodily creature, as a spirit and a soul, a man is a
person. This concept about man is an object of many religions or faiths.
• (b) Transcendent beliefs- Religion is a framework of transcendent beliefs.
Religion’s transcendent beliefs refer to its convictions that spiritual and
supernatural beings exist.
• Religions generally believe in some powers outside of man and nature.
These supernatural powers are believed to influence human life and
conditions.
• (c) Holy scriptures or text- Holy scriptures may be used to “evoke a
deeper connection with the divine, convey spiritual truths, promote mystical
experience, foster communal identity, and to guide individual and communal
spiritual practice” (“Religious Text,” n.d.).
• Religious scriptures refer to sacred texts which religions consider to be
central to their faith.
• (d) Rituals- By definition, ‘ritual’ is a “sequence of activities involving gestures, words,
and objects, performed in a sequestered place, and performed according to set
sequence” (“Ritual,” n.d.).
• Rituals include a range of behavior such as singing of hymns, dancing, fasting, reciting
prayers, putting on of special types of cloth, taking birth in holy rivers, crawling, etc.
• They may be performed by a single individual or group of individuals. For example, a
Christian may attend a fellowship (or worship service) or sits for prayer in a chapel.
• Generally, a religious ritual, either done individually or collectively, is usually intended to
strengthened one’s faith in a deity or to mature spiritually.
• (e) Sacred spaces- Religions believe that certain places or areas as sacred or
holy. Primary among these are the places of worship. Practically all faiths
have their respective definite place of worship in which their adherents offer
their prayers to the supernatural power.
• Church, temple, mosque, and synagogue are common examples of sacred
spaces.
What Is a Cult?
• Cult is “a group of people with extreme dedication to a certain leader or set of
beliefs that are often viewed as odd by others.”
General Characteristics of Modern Cults
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•
•
•
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They rush you into joining and discourage or disallow questions.
Followers are encouraged to worship a specific group leader.
Leaders dictate in great detail all aspects of followers’ lives.
Followers are personally monitored to ensure they’re following guidelines.
Methods of control are used to keep members close.
• The word ‘spiritual’ refers to matters concerning the spirit. The term
‘spirit’ etymologically comes from the Latin word ‘spiritus’ which means soul,
courage, vigor, or breath.
• ‘Spirituality’ involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life as opposed
to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. It is one’s integrative view of life.
• Today’s definition of spirituality may thus include several notions such as a belief in “a
supernatural realm, personal growth, a quest for an ultimate/sacred meaning,
religious experience, or an encounter with one’s own ‘inner dimension”
(“Spirituality,” n.d.).
Spirituality
• The quest for the sacred (like beliefs about God) is another fundamental
element of spirituality. However, in spirituality “the cognitive factors
involved in beliefs have less to do with facts and more with feelings; they
represent a personal confidence or faith in the validity of some person,
object, or idea” (“Introduction to Spirituality,” n.d.).
• Clearly therefore, spirituality endorses having faith, which can be an
important part of a person’s beliefs and decisions in life. Faith may be
viewed as a belief in God, an almighty being, or a higher power that gives
meaning and purpose in life.
Religion and Theology
• The key difference between religion and theology is that religion is a
specific system of belief and/or worship often involving a code of
ethics and philosophy whereas Theology is the rational analysis of
religious belief. Theo- “God”, Logos- Science/ study of
Hopfe (1983) in distinguishing one religion
from the other:
1) They often deal with people’s relationship to the unseen world of spirits, gods,
goddesses, demons and deities;
2) They have developed a system of myth about the unseen world and formal rituals
designed for communing with or propitiating the spirits;
3) They have developed a cult of organized rituals, temples, priests, and scriptures;
4) They have statements, tenets, and dogmas about life after death, such as heaven,
hell, reincarnation and the like; and,
5) They have attracted large followings from the past and present.
Why Study Religions?
1) They are a virtual ingredient in the varied story of humankind’s various experiments
in living.
2) In order to have a grasp of the meanings and values of the plural cultures of
today’s world and the various worldviews which underlie them.
3) The different religions of the world provide different models of spirituality from
which we can learn or which we can eventually follow as we desire to improve our own
spiritual lives. Studying religion allow us to form our own coherent and emotionally
satisfying picture of reality.
Watch the following Videos
• Compare the two videos:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru_tC4fv6FE
“I am spiritual but not religious.”
•
•
•
•
Watch the videos in the link given and answer the reflection thru FLIP.
Explain what this statement means.
How do you “feel” about this statement.
What do you think this statement tells you about the word “spiritual” and
“religious”.
• What are the facts about religion and spirituality did you see from the videos?
• What are the erroneous understandings about religion and spirituality did you see
in the videos?
Supplementary explanations
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fugAMwto6g&t=85s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLta2b9zQ64
Reflection
Sources
• https://myinfobasket.com/the-concept-elements-and-characteristics-ofbelief-system-world-view-religion-and-spirituality/
• https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/vs/identifying-differences-between-acult-and-a-religion.html