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 • • • • • 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
