Religion Notes

Religion

Definition

• An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.

• It is an organized system of beliefs concerning supernatural beings.

• Like culture, religion has its own set of rules, norms, values, and rituals accepted by its groups or believers.

• Etymology:

  • Religionem (Latin) = respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods

  • Re (again) + ligare (connect) = to reconnect

Spiritual and Natural World

• Nyoro (Uganda):

  • Believe that the spiritual and natural worlds are not separate.

  • They coexist in one space.

• Christians:

  • Believe in a spiritual world (heaven/hell) that is separate from the natural world (Earth).

Sociological Perspectives

Emile Durkheim

• Religion is a vital agent of social control.

• It requires members of the religious organization to conform to its rules.

  • Conformity = rewarded

  • Nonconformity = punished

Karl Marx

• Religion reinforces and promotes social inequality and social conflict.

• It helps convince the poor to accept their lot in life.

• It leads to hostility and violence motivated by religious differences.

• Quote: “Religion is the opium of the masses.”

Functional Role of Religion

• Provides explanations for things and experiences that cannot be explained by human senses.

  • Example: Death - Why is there death? Where do we go when we die?

• Provides believers with guidelines of what is right and wrong.

  • Example: Christians - The 10 Commandments of God; Muslims - Five Pillars of Islam.

• Helps transmit cultural heritage from one generation to the next.

  • Example: Butchering of pig to offer to unseen beings.

Negative Aspects

• Religion may inspire division, especially among those with differing beliefs.

  • Example: Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Chronological Development

Animism

• Belief that spirits dwell in nature, people, or things.

• Spirits can be good or bad, influencing humans in various ways.

Polytheism

• Belief in multiple gods.

• Polytheistic deities may include variants of:

  • Sky god

  • Death deity

  • Mother goddess

  • Creator deity

  • Culture hero

Monotheism

• Belief in one God.

• This God is accountable for all things happening in the world, including its creation and existence.

Separation of Church and State

• 1987 Philippine Constitution:

  • Article III, Section 6: “The separation of Church and state shall be inviolable.”

  • Article III, Section 5: "No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights."

• Despite these provisions, the religious culture of Filipinos often empowers religious sectors to influence the political affairs of the country.

• In ancient societies, the church and state were synonymous (Theocracy).

  • Leaders of the church were also the political elite.

  • Example: Japanese society believed their emperor was a direct descendant of a god.

  • Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians regarded their pharaohs and kings as god-kings, believed to be earthly incarnations of the divine.

• As states developed into more complex political units, the church became regarded as a separate entity from the state.

Institutionalized Religions in the World

Judaism

• Yehudim (Hebrew word) = Judah

• Jews = believers of Judaism

• Origin: Abraham – the first Hebrew who received revelations from God or Yahweh.

• Hebrew Bible = holy writings

• Torah/Pentateuch/Five Books of Moses = foundational text (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Number & Deuteronomy)

• Synagogues = sacred temples

• God is both supreme and accessible.

Christianity

• Christos (Greek word) = anointed (Jesus Christ)

• Jesus Christ = founder of Christianity

• Christians = believers of Christianity

• Triune = 3 equal persons in one deity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

• Bible = sacred text

• God is the creator and sustainer of everything.

Islam

• Aslama (Arabic word) = surrender

• Allah = God

• Muhammed = prophet/messenger of God

• Koran = sacred text

• Mosques = sacred temples

• 5 Important Rituals:

  1. Shahada – profession of faith that there is only one God, Allah, and Muhammed (prophet)

  2. Salat – prayer (5 times/day)

  3. Zakat – almsgiving

  4. Sawm – fasting

  5. Hajj – pilgrimage (Holy city of Mecca)

• 2 Main Groups:

  1. Shi’a/Shi’ite – believe that Ali, Muhammed’s cousin and son-in-law, was the successor

  2. Sunni – believe that Muhammed did not appoint any successor; it was up to the elders to determine among themselves who should become the prophet’s successor

Hinduism

• World’s oldest living religion.

• Includes philosophy and culture.

• The soul is caught in a cycle of birth-death-rebirth (samsara).

• The soul can constantly improve in order to reach a higher level /social class (social caste).

• Goal: reach the level higher than the Brahmins, become united with the universe and reach a state of moksha (liberation and ultimate freedom from samsara /cycle of birth-death- rebirth).

• Different gods:

  • Brahma (creator)

  • Shiva (destroyer)

  • Vishnu (preserver)

• Sacred texts:

  • Vedas (songs and ritual instructions)

  • Upanishads (theological and philosophical reflections regarding the Vedas)

  • Brahmanas (treatises on sacrificial rites)

Buddhism

• Established by Siddharta Gautama.

• Kshatriyan prince who became Buddha after receiving enlightenment.

• 4 Noble Truths:

  1. Truth of suffering

  2. Truth of the cause of suffering

  3. Truth of the end of suffering

  4. Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering (Noble Eightfold Path: right view; right thought; right speech; right action; right livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; right concentration)

• Suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end.