Religion • In its original sense, the word refers to expressions of proper piety, that is, binding to god (Grassie 2010). • Quite later, religion was eventually applied to what we now call as religion because of the manner in which people performed rituals during those days. • While religion may be universal in all stages of human history, it does not follow that all individuals are religious or even religious to some degree. (Parrinder 1971). Religion • is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, world views, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements Religion • may be defined as “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods” (Merriam Dictionary 2014). • The Latin word religio refers to “something done with overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail” (Browker 1997). This term may have probably been derived from Latin verb religare which means “to tie together, to bind fast.” What distinguishes religion from simple beliefs/ folklore? What are common among religions? 7 BASIC ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS 7 BASIC ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS Elements Beliefs. Description Religious Organization. Religion is an organization of beliefs, rituals and emotions. No religion without organization can survive. Every religion has its own structure and function and every individual performing his role is that organization. It is the sensation of brain we have beliefs in one God, Dooms day, Angels, Sacred books, good and bad Luck, while Hindus believe in more than one God. Elements Emotions. Description Ritual & Ceremonies. All religions have their own ritual and ceremonies. These are the emotional and ceremonial practices. Emotions of hope, fear, reverence and humility are the products of religious rituals. The individual performs religious rituals and attached with emotions. These emotions have close contact with rituals and an individual avoid sins and bows before Almighty Allah. Emotions are the feelings to show the reality of God. Elements Sacred Objects. Description Symbols. Symbols are the signs used for sacred objects or situation. Symbols give meaning to human behavior. Sects. There are small groups within a religion called sects. Sects have their own religious followers. It has its own sacred objects. Essay: In ½ CW, answer the question below. • Do you agree that the universe is designed and created by a single divine being or God? Explain your answer. ORIGINS OF RELIGIONS Theories on the Origin of Religion Animistic Theories Edwards Burnet Tylor Robert Henry Codrington (1832-1917) (1830-1922) English Anthropologist Anglican Priest & Anthropologist Primitive people believed in souls or anima found in people (seen in dreams) and in all of natures. Since spirits could be helpful or harmful to human beings, early people had to pray to these spirits, offer sacrifices, and appease or avoid them. In his investigation, he found out that the Melanesian people believed in mana, a mysterious force that inhabited all of nature. All early people began their religion in cognizance of force; the destructiveness of the mana can be avoided by establishing taboos. Theories on the Origin of Religion Nature Worship Theory Human beings first developed their religions from their observations of the forces of nature. Early people became aware of the regularity of the seasons, the tides and the phases of the moon, and began personalizing them by giving them names, describing their activities with tales that transformed into mythology. Primitive people identified the forces in nature, personified them, created myths, and developed religions around them. Theories on the Origin of Religion Theory of Original Monotheism Wilhelm Schmidt (1868-1954) Austrian anthropologist and ethnologist In Australia and Africa, basic cultures held a common belief in a distant high god, that originally there had been one great god above all others, and that he may have been the creator of the world or the father of the many lesser deities. This high god went away and little contact with the world that resulted in majority of attention and worship to local deities. Primitive societies were originally monotheistic, but because it was difficult to worship just one god, religion was corrupted to polytheism. Theories on the Origin of Religion Magic Theory James George Frazer (1854-1941) Scottish social anthropologist People had gone three phases of development concerning the spirit world: (1) primitive magic (wherein people attempted to control nature in the hope that nature will cooperate if rituals are done properly; (2) religion (wherein people implored nature to cooperate since they have realized that nature can not be coerced); and (3) science (wherein a rational understanding of nature is cooperative) Theories on the Origin of Religion Wish Fulfillment Theories Karl Heinnch Marx (1818-1883) German Philosopher and & Sociologist There were no gods and that belief in gods was simply wish fulfillment. Troubled people who could not cope with the difficulties in life projected their wishes and developed gods and religions Theories on the Origin of Religion Wish Fulfillment Theories Ludwig Andreas von Feuerbach (1804-1872) German Philosopher and Anthropologist Religion were developed by the few as a means to control the masses and suppress revolution as a result of the continuing struggle between classes. Rulers and allied priests wished to control all wealth so they had to create a scheme of gods, heavens and hell. Masses were persuaded to accept poverty and be obedient to inherit bliss in another life. Theories on the Origin of Religion Wish Fulfillment Theories Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939)) Austrian neurologist and founder father of psychoanalysis Religion originated from the guilt that individuals supposedly feel in hating their fathers. All males possess a similar tendency to desire our mothers and hate our fathers. As a result of this subconscious hatred and ensuing guilt, a great father image was projected in the sky called God. A healthy mature person can face problems without the need for gods or religions. Religion VS Spirituality Religion VS Spirituality Religion Spirituality • is a specific set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. • is more of an individual practice and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose. It also relates to the process of developing beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others. Religion VS Spirituality Religion • believing in someone else’s experience Spirituality • having your own experience VS • based on fear • Separates • God is outside you • worship God • based on freedom • Unites • God is with you • become one with God HISTORICAL EVENT CAUSED BY RELIGIONS SATI
