World Religion Notes
Meeting #1 (Tuesday, September 12, 2o23)
The class will be divided into three main components, Abrahamic Religions, Dharmic
Religions, and Daoic Religions.
Abrahamic Religions include: Judaism, Islam and Christianity
Dharmic Religions include: Buddhism (Mahayana & Theravada), Sikhism and Hinduism
Daoic Religions include: Shintoism, Confucianism and Taoism
Politics and Religion are the worst of sins, it only depends on individual bias as to which one is
worse.
The Latin word of Religion may be Religare or to tie together, to bind fast. The other word that
might be the root word of Religion is Religio, or something done with overanxious or
scrupulous attention to detail.
Religion is one of the reasons why we have Social Issues, but is also one of the cures of Social
Issues. It is a problem and an answer by itself. Some social scientists say that if we want Social
Order, we need Cultural, Social, Political and Spiritual order.
-Cultural Order is through hierarchies, or systems in different nations. In the Philippines,
Cultural Order is through respect, the hierarchy of elders and those who have power over
someone.
-Social Order is through social cues, communication and order through harmony.
-Political Order is through observing laws, order, norms, rules and standards accepted by
society as a whole.
-Spiritual Order is through religion, to pray, to believe in a higher power to maintain clarity
in values.
In Karl Marx’s words, Religion is the “Opium of the Masses”.
Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices that relate humanity -> order of
existence. However, religion is a universal thing, and yet everyone is not religious. All cultures
have religion as well.
,Theories of Religion
Animistic Theory by Edward Burnett Tylor- His theory states that all things have souls, or
spirits. These spirits may cause mayhem or blessings to people.
Nature-Worship Theory- It is almost like Animistic Theory, however they have personified
different elements of nature that it turns into Mythology.
Magic Theory by James George Frazer- things are made through unexplainable magic. During
this time, there were a lot of magic people, and because of the dire need of alleviation of
salvation, they believed in magic.
Wish Fulfillment Theory by Ludwig Andreas Von Feuerbach- that people pray and manifest
for things because they are too miserable to work for it themselves.
Notes on the First Meeting (Nature of Religion)
World View, the way a person interprets and sees the world around them. It is a collection of
beliefs about life and the universe, as well as being the very thing that tries to explain &
interpret reality, history, and civilization. In simpler terms, it is the way that a person or a
society’s collective mindset, which differs from person to person and nation to nation.
- Worldview is an individualistic point of view that expands the Cultural, Social,
Geographical, and Political side of things and shapes your answers and practices.
A worldview is a collection of everything that is within a person’s thoughts.
Beliefs, a mental state, a disposition or attitude about things, people, places, or events.
Empirical evidence is not allowed as Beliefs serve as compasses for people in behavioral
choices, helps them find clarity in reality, form values & characteristics of a person, and also
move people to do things. We do not need physical evidence, we only need faith.
Belief Systems are systematically structured as a gauge to see things that make up reality. It
operates within a system, to integrate or make as a proper, united whole of what you see and
perceive. Note that perceiving is different from seeing, as to perceive is to think and analyze
not just what is around you physically, but also the unseen things around us. To see is to
simply view with your eyes.
Characteristics of a Belief System:
Value Laden
, -Religious belief systems are value laden in a sense that beliefs are aimed at developing values,
considered to be good and helpful towards yourself and the people around you.
Prescriptive
-Just as Doctors prescribe patients with medicine and expect the patient to follow their orders,
so too would be the same for beliefs.
Instrumental/Purposive
-The use of beliefs is seen within the context of the goal of religions. Many religions have the
belief that salvation can only be found when you believe in that religion, like Christianity or
Islam. There is always a purpose as to why you believe.
Communal
-Religion is a social phenomenon because it is a product of social interaction between people.
Through continuous social interactions, people generate like-minded ideas and grow closer
because they belong to the same religion and have the same perspective on things. Overtime,
these beliefs crystallize to create and form a coherent belief that people will follow.
Spirituality, divine reality. Spirit and Soul are different, as soul is the human mind and
personality, while spirit is more of all around us, or something divine. You can be spiritual but
not religious.
Notes: Effects of Religion (Monday, October 2, 2023)
Religion has become a very important factor in the development of societies, as it creates
cohesiveness, social stability and clear world views. However, it has also become the cause of
conflicts between societies, or even within societies. Religion has caused social solidarity, but
has also formed wars between civilizations.
Positive Effects of Religion
Promotes Social Harmony
-It provides social harmony between ethical and moral principles which also helps promote
unity together through practices and events. It lessens the feeling of helplessness with
people, granting them the belief of higher beings that are the reason as to why things are the
way they are. One of the important characteristics of Religion is the performance of various
yet common rituals and practices on a regular basis.
Meeting #1 (Tuesday, September 12, 2o23)
The class will be divided into three main components, Abrahamic Religions, Dharmic
Religions, and Daoic Religions.
Abrahamic Religions include: Judaism, Islam and Christianity
Dharmic Religions include: Buddhism (Mahayana & Theravada), Sikhism and Hinduism
Daoic Religions include: Shintoism, Confucianism and Taoism
Politics and Religion are the worst of sins, it only depends on individual bias as to which one is
worse.
The Latin word of Religion may be Religare or to tie together, to bind fast. The other word that
might be the root word of Religion is Religio, or something done with overanxious or
scrupulous attention to detail.
Religion is one of the reasons why we have Social Issues, but is also one of the cures of Social
Issues. It is a problem and an answer by itself. Some social scientists say that if we want Social
Order, we need Cultural, Social, Political and Spiritual order.
-Cultural Order is through hierarchies, or systems in different nations. In the Philippines,
Cultural Order is through respect, the hierarchy of elders and those who have power over
someone.
-Social Order is through social cues, communication and order through harmony.
-Political Order is through observing laws, order, norms, rules and standards accepted by
society as a whole.
-Spiritual Order is through religion, to pray, to believe in a higher power to maintain clarity
in values.
In Karl Marx’s words, Religion is the “Opium of the Masses”.
Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices that relate humanity -> order of
existence. However, religion is a universal thing, and yet everyone is not religious. All cultures
have religion as well.
,Theories of Religion
Animistic Theory by Edward Burnett Tylor- His theory states that all things have souls, or
spirits. These spirits may cause mayhem or blessings to people.
Nature-Worship Theory- It is almost like Animistic Theory, however they have personified
different elements of nature that it turns into Mythology.
Magic Theory by James George Frazer- things are made through unexplainable magic. During
this time, there were a lot of magic people, and because of the dire need of alleviation of
salvation, they believed in magic.
Wish Fulfillment Theory by Ludwig Andreas Von Feuerbach- that people pray and manifest
for things because they are too miserable to work for it themselves.
Notes on the First Meeting (Nature of Religion)
World View, the way a person interprets and sees the world around them. It is a collection of
beliefs about life and the universe, as well as being the very thing that tries to explain &
interpret reality, history, and civilization. In simpler terms, it is the way that a person or a
society’s collective mindset, which differs from person to person and nation to nation.
- Worldview is an individualistic point of view that expands the Cultural, Social,
Geographical, and Political side of things and shapes your answers and practices.
A worldview is a collection of everything that is within a person’s thoughts.
Beliefs, a mental state, a disposition or attitude about things, people, places, or events.
Empirical evidence is not allowed as Beliefs serve as compasses for people in behavioral
choices, helps them find clarity in reality, form values & characteristics of a person, and also
move people to do things. We do not need physical evidence, we only need faith.
Belief Systems are systematically structured as a gauge to see things that make up reality. It
operates within a system, to integrate or make as a proper, united whole of what you see and
perceive. Note that perceiving is different from seeing, as to perceive is to think and analyze
not just what is around you physically, but also the unseen things around us. To see is to
simply view with your eyes.
Characteristics of a Belief System:
Value Laden
, -Religious belief systems are value laden in a sense that beliefs are aimed at developing values,
considered to be good and helpful towards yourself and the people around you.
Prescriptive
-Just as Doctors prescribe patients with medicine and expect the patient to follow their orders,
so too would be the same for beliefs.
Instrumental/Purposive
-The use of beliefs is seen within the context of the goal of religions. Many religions have the
belief that salvation can only be found when you believe in that religion, like Christianity or
Islam. There is always a purpose as to why you believe.
Communal
-Religion is a social phenomenon because it is a product of social interaction between people.
Through continuous social interactions, people generate like-minded ideas and grow closer
because they belong to the same religion and have the same perspective on things. Overtime,
these beliefs crystallize to create and form a coherent belief that people will follow.
Spirituality, divine reality. Spirit and Soul are different, as soul is the human mind and
personality, while spirit is more of all around us, or something divine. You can be spiritual but
not religious.
Notes: Effects of Religion (Monday, October 2, 2023)
Religion has become a very important factor in the development of societies, as it creates
cohesiveness, social stability and clear world views. However, it has also become the cause of
conflicts between societies, or even within societies. Religion has caused social solidarity, but
has also formed wars between civilizations.
Positive Effects of Religion
Promotes Social Harmony
-It provides social harmony between ethical and moral principles which also helps promote
unity together through practices and events. It lessens the feeling of helplessness with
people, granting them the belief of higher beings that are the reason as to why things are the
way they are. One of the important characteristics of Religion is the performance of various
yet common rituals and practices on a regular basis.
