You are on page 1of 18

RELIGION AND

BELIEF SYSTEMS
Session 4, 2nd Grading
Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics
RELIGION
From the Latin word
“religare” which means “to
tie” or “to bind fast”
TWO MAIN DEFINITIONS OF
RELIGION

1.SUBSTANTIVE DEFINITION
2. FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION
Substantive Definition
• "Religion is any system of belief and practices which
connects this world with the beyond. It is the bridge
that allows humans to approach the divine, the
universal life force that encompass the world."
• Limits religion to the belief in a supernatural being
• There are religions that does not believe in
supernatural beings
Functional Definition
• Religion is anything that provides a person with the
ultimate meaning that organizes his entire life and
view of the world.
• “Religion doesn’t exist to understand ourselves or to
explain the world (substantive) but rather to help us
survive in the world, whether by binding us together
socially or by supporting us psychologically and
emotionally.”
RELIGION IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION
SECULARIZATION
• “Modernization necessarily leads to a decline of
religion, both in the society and in the minds of
individuals.”
• Replaces tradition with science-based
knowledge
Religion promotes social cohesion – it unites
various types of people even though they may
have different cultural orientations

Religion enhances social control – it is


used as a tool by the society to exact
obedience from the people

Religion can provide what science cannot, which is


meaning and purpose - religion is relevant in a
world characterized by too much rationality and
emphasis on science
CHURCH
CULT
Major Religions of the World

1. CHRISTIANITY
2. ISLAM
3. JUDAISM
4. HINDUISM
5. BUDDHISM
6. CONFUCIANISM
1. Christianity
 One of the oldest religions in
the world inspired by Jesus
Christ who lived during the
time of the New Testament in
bible history
 2.4 billion followers (33% of
world population) – PEWS
Research Center, 2015
2. Islam
Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam

 Centers on the message of


Allah to Muhammad, a
prophet of God who wrote
the message of God in a
sacred book for Muslims
called the Koran
 1.8 billion followers (24.1 %
of world population) –
PEWS Research Center,
2015
3. Judaism
 Predates Christianity for a
millennia
 Jews started in Mesopotamia
as herding nomads before
they made a covenant with
the one true god
 14 million followers (0.20 %
of world population) – PEWS
Torah, the Sacred book for Jewish people Research Center, 2015
4. Hinduism
 Oldest of all world religions
 Originated in the Indus river some 4500
years ago
 Hindus believe that gods resides in the
entirety of the cosmos
 Hindu Trimurti : Brahma (the creator),
Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the
destroyer)
 1.15 billion followers (15 % of world
population) – PEWS Research Center, 2015

Maa Kali, Hindu goddess of


time, death and doomsday
5. Buddhism
 Originated in India
 Siddharta Gautama Buddha
believed that problems will be
solved by withdrawing oneself
from the world through
meditation
 521 million followers (7% of
world population) – PEWS
Research Center, 2015
6. Confucianism
 Also known as “Ruism”
 Chinese philosopher Confucius
(551-479 BC)
 Emphasis on the importance of
family and social harmony rather
than otherworldly source of spiritual
values
 6 million followers (0.09 % of world
population) – PEWS research center,
2015
Philippines is a democratic state which guarantees freedom of religion for its citizens

Stems out from the principle of separation of the church and the state as enshrined in the 1987
Constitution

1937 Aglipay vs. Ruiz Case as an example


• Director of Posts Juan Ruiz ordered the issue of postage stamps commemorating the celebration of the 33rd
International Eucharistic Congress organized by the Roman Catholic Church
• Mons. Gregorio Aglipay, Supreme Head of the Philippine Independent Church, sought a writ of prohibition to prevent
the Director of Posts from issuing and selling postage stamps commemorative of the 33rd International Eucharistic
Congress.
• Violation of Article 6, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines:
”No public money or property shall ever be used for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church,
denomination, institution, or system of religion...”

You might also like