HMS101: Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems Study Guide

Institutional Vision, Mission, and Identity

• Vision of Society and Community: The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) aims to chart courses of transformative education, hope, and peace, navigating as a learning community inspired by the Spirit of Magis to sail with Christ towards a reconciled world.

• Mission Statement: AdZU is guided by Filipino, Catholic, and Jesuit values/heritage to seek truth through engagement with God, others, and creation.

  • Faith: Advancing Ignatian Spirituality by forming communities for and with others.

  • Service: Dedicated to Holistic Growth and Human Flourishing; forming leaders who care for the environment and serve the excluded.

  • Excellence: Zealous in Charting Global Paths through instruction, research, and innovation for a sustainable future.

  • Companionship: United in Purpose and Action; collaborating for institutional excellence to the greater glory of God.

• Motto: Pro Deo et Patria (For God and Country).

• Ignatian Values and Principles:

  • Magis: Spirit of generosity and commitment to excellence.

  • Cura Personalis: Care and respect for the individual person.

  • Companionship: Desire for community and social involvement.

  • Men and Women for and with Others: Commitment to the poor.

  • Discernment: Sensitivity to God, spirituality, and change.

  • Animo: Passion to work, love, and joy.

• Vision for AdZU: Leading university in Mindanao committed to peace, sustainable development, knowledge generation, responsive education, and community empowerment for the poor, indigenous, and displaced peoples.

• Institutional Theme: FAITH: Advancing Ignatian Spirituality - Transforming Hearts, Minds, and Lives.

• Unit Theme: Inspiring Excellence, Deepening Faith, and Forming Persons for and with others.

Course Introduction: Foundation and Values

• Educational Approach: The study of world religions at AdZU integrates the Social Science approach (analytical and empirical methods) with the Jesuit educational tradition (reflective and holistic perspective).

• Objectives:

  • Cultivate learners as agents of change in inter-religious dialogue.

  • Understand historical contexts of religions.

  • Appreciate uniqueness and similarities among faiths.

  • Promote mutual understanding and respect.

  • Recognize religious significance to various cultures, specifically in the Philippines.

  • Exemplify AdZU values like cura personalis.

• Core Subject Areas:

  • Religion and Spirituality.

  • Inter-religious Dialogue.

  • Abrahamic Religions.

  • Oriental Religions.

  • Non-theistic Religions.

Unit I: Fundamentals in Understanding Religion

• Etymology of Religion: There are three distinct Latin accounts for the origin of the word:

  • Religare: To ‘tie’ or ‘bound.’

  • Re + lig-: To ‘join’ or ‘connect’ again.

  • Relegare: To ‘tread carefully.’

  • Implications: Religion serves as a bridge between the human world and the sacred; human purpose is unity with the divine.

• Definitions Across Disciplines:

  • Dictionary (Oxford): Action or conduct indicating belief in, obedience to, or reverence for a god or superhuman power; performance of religious rites.

  • Social Group View: A response to the highest Power that controls significant events, determines destiny, and sustains consciousness after death.

  • Sociology (Emile Durkheim): A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things which unite into one single moral community.

  • Theology/Philosophy (Rudolf Otto): Expression of the experience of the holy in its various aspects.

  • Philosophy (Paul Tillich): A state of being grasped by an ultimate concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary.

  • Anthropology (James Frazier): A propitiation or conciliation to power superior to man.

• Elements of Religion:

  • Quest for spiritual growth and self-transcendence.

  • Framework of transcendent beliefs.

  • Sacred text or writing.

  • Ritual.

  • Sacred space.

Spirituality, Theology, and Philosophy of Religion

• Spirituality: An integrative view of life involving a quest for meaning and ultimate value. Traditionally, a religious process of reformation aiming to recover the original shape of man, oriented toward the image of God (e.g., Christ, Buddha, Muhammad).

  • Elements: Holistic nature, quest for meaning, quest for the sacred, and self-reflective existence.

• Theology: Derived from theo (God) and logos (discourse/study). It focuses on the systematic study of the nature of God and main doctrines of a particular religion (common in monotheistic faiths like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

• Philosophy of Religion: Settles religious issues (e.g., God’s existence, omniscience vs. human freedom, miracles) solely through human reasoning, emphasizing the strength and coherence of arguments.

• Belief System and Worldview:

  • Belief System: An ideology or set of principles (philosophy, politics, religion) for interpreting everyday reality.

  • Worldview: A mental frame organizing ultimate beliefs regarding what is real, true, rational, and beautiful. Elements are value-laden, prescriptive, instrumental/purposive, and communal.

Positions on the Belief in God

• Theism: The belief that a deity or deities exist. Variants include:

  • Monotheism: Belief in one God.

  • Polytheism: Belief in many gods.

  • Deism: A being created the world but does not interfere in human affairs.

  • Pantheism: Everything is God.

  • Panentheism: Everything is in God.

• Atheism: The disbelief or lack of belief in God. Rooted in the Greek a- (without) and theos (god).

• Agnosticism: The belief that humans cannot know the existence of anything beyond the phenomena of experience. Rooted in the Greek agnŁstos (unknowable).

Inter-religious Dialogue and Peace

• Culture of Dialogue: A holistic approach emphasizing dimensions of life-in-dialogue with God, self, others, and creation. Guided by values and ethics to move toward harmony and solidarity.

• Purpose: Historically connected to overcoming divisions and conflicts. Dialogue is not just for peace but is a dimension of the spirituality of life-in-dialogue.

Unit II: Abrahamic Religions - Judaism

• Founders:

  • Abraham ($1812$ to $1652$ BCE): Known as ‘Avraham’; the first Jew and one of the three Patriarchs (Avot). Command by God to leave Ur for Canaan.

  • Moses ($1392$ BCE): Known as ‘Moshe Rabbenu’; intermediary who received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Traditionally the author of the first five books of the Bible.

• Origin and History: Approximately $3,500$ years old. Significant events include the destruction of the Temple in $586$ BCE and the Babylonian Exile.

• Terminology:

  • Hebrews: Those who accepted Yahweh.

  • Israelites: Descendants of Jacob.

  • Jews: Derived from Yehudah (Judah).

• Sacred Text (Tanakh): Consists of $24$ books divided into:

  • Torah: The ‘Teaching’ or ‘Law’ (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

  • Nevi’im: The ‘Prophets’; historical narrative of fidelity to the covenant.

  • Ketuvim: The ‘Writings’ (Psalms, Proverbs, Job).

• Core Teachings: The covenant of one God with a chosen people.

  • The Tetragrammaton: $YHWH$ (Yahweh). Replaced by Adonai (My Lord) or Elohim (God) due to sanctity.

• Groups:

  • Orthodox Judaism: Traditional worship in Hebrew; separate seating for men and women.

  • Reform Judaism: Modernized; uses vernacular language; provides equal roles for women; addresses LGBT issues.

• Cultural Influences: The Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday three stars). Includes preparation, festive meals, Torah readings, and the Havdalah ceremony.

Unit II: Abrahamic Religions - Christianity

• Founder: Jesus of Nazareth ($6$ BCE – $30$ AD), the promised Messiah and Son of God born through immaculate conception.

• Sacred Text: The Holy Bible, divided into the Old Testament (modified Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament (life and teachings of Jesus).

• Core Teachings: A loving God sent His Son to redeem humankind through death on the Cross (representing Good Friday and Easter).

• Denominations:

  • Catholic Church: Led by the Pope; belief in seven sacraments, purgatory, and transubstantiation.

  • Eastern Orthodox: Shared authority among Patriarchs; rejects purgatory and priest celibacy.

  • Protestantism: Rejects Papal authority; emphasizes salvation by faith alone. Sub-groups include Lutherans, Calvinists, Baptists, and Evangelicals.

• Significant Geography: Jordan River (site of Jesus' baptism).

• Culture: Easter (resurrection) and Christmas (birth of Jesus on December $25$).

Unit II: Abrahamic Religions - Islam

• Founder: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ($570$ – $632$ AD). Born in Mecca; received revelation in the cave of Mount Hira.

• Term Meaning: Islam means ‘surrender’ or ‘submission’; Muslim means ‘one who surrenders to God.’

• Sacred Text: The Qur’an (Koran), consisting of $114$ chapters called suras.

• Core Teachings: Oneness of God (Allah) and Muhammad as the final messenger.

• Five Pillars of Islam:

  1. Shahadah (Creed).

  2. Salat (Prayer).

  3. Zakat (Charity).

  4. Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan).

  5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca).

• Jihad: Literally meaning ‘struggle.’ Major jihad is spiritual self-perfection; Lesser jihad is warfare to defend the faith.

• Groups:

  • Sunni: Largest group; believe the Caliph should be an elected righteous leader.

  • Shiite: Believe the successor must be a blood relative of Muhammad (starting with Ali).

• Culture: Ramadan (month of fasting and revelation).

Unit III: Oriental Religions - Hinduism

• Origin: Rooted in the Aryan conquest of the Indian subcontinent ($1500$ BC).

• Sacred Texts:

  • Shruti (‘that which is heard’): Fundamental truths.

  • Four Vedas:

    • Rig Veda: Hymns and prayers.

    • Sama Veda: Musical chants.

    • Yajur Veda: Ritual instructions.

    • Atharva Veda: Spells and practical concerns.

• Concepts:

  • Atman: The inmost spiritual self.

  • Brahman: The unity of all; creative source of the cosmos.

  • Moksha: Blissful union of Atman and Brahman.

• The Four Yogas:

  • Karma-yoga: Selfless action.

  • Bhakti-yoga: Devotion and love.

  • Raja-yoga: Psychological exercises/meditation.

  • Jnana-yoga: Path of knowledge.

• Sects: Vaishnavas (worship Vishnu, wear U-shaped tilaka) and Shaivism (worship Shiva, emphasis on asceticism).

• Culture: The Caste System (varnas) and dharma (duties based on birth).

Unit III: Oriental Religions - Buddhism

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha or Shakyamuni). Renounced luxury after seeing the ‘Four Sights’ (sick man, old man, corpse, monk).

• Sacred Text: Tripitaka (‘Three Baskets’):

  • Vinaya Pitaka: Discipline.

  • Sutra Pitaka: Discourse.

  • Abhidharma Pitaka: Higher knowledge.

• Core Teachings (Four Noble Truths):

  1. Life is suffering (Dukkha).

  2. Suffering is caused by desire.

  3. Suffering has an end.

  4. The way to end suffering is the Eightfold Path.

• The Eightfold Path: Right View, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration.

• Branches:

  • Theravada: Focused on individual monastic discipline and wisdom; ideal is the arhat.

  • Mahayana: Focused on compassion; ideal is the Bodhisattva who postpones Nirvana to help others.

• Symbols: The Bodhi Tree (ficus religiosa), center of awakening.

Unit IV: Non-Theistic Religions - Confucianism

• Founder: Confucius (Kong Qui/K’ung Fu-Tzu, $551$ – $479$ BCE). Teacher and political figure focused on social harmony.

• Sacred Text (Five Classics):

  • Shijing: Book of Poetry.

  • Shujing: Book of History.

  • Chun Qiu: Spring and Autumn Annals.

  • Yi Jing: Book of Changes (divination).

  • Liji: Book of Rites.

• Core Teaching: Promoting social harmony by becoming a ‘gentleman’ (Junzi) through virtues.

• Cardinal Virtues: Filial Piety (respect for parents/ancestors), Mandate of Heaven, Proper Basic Relationships, and Rectification of Names.

• Schools:

  • Mencius: Taught that human nature is fundamentally good.

  • Xunzi: Taught that human nature is naturally selfish and requires education/rectification.

• Geography: Mount Taishan.

Unit IV: Non-Theistic Religions - Taoism

• Founder: Lao Tzu (‘Old Master,’ $604$ BCE). Author of the foundation text.

• Sacred Text: Tao Te Ching (Instruction regarding the Way of Virtue). $81$ short poetic sections.

• Core Teaching: Becoming one with the ‘Tao’ (the life force of the universe).

• Concepts:

  • Yin and Yang: Duality forming a whole (e.g., night/day, female/male).

  • Wu Wei: Non-action or effortless action.

• Culture: Embryonic breathing meditation; Four Sacred Mountains (e.g., Mount Wudang for Taichi).

Unit IV: Non-Theistic Religions - Shintoism

• Origin: Rooted in prehistoric Japanese animism. Shinto means ‘the way of the gods’ (kami-no-michi).

• Founders: Prehistoric animists; no singular formal founder.

• Sacred Text: Kojiki (Collection of myths on the origin of Japan and the Kami).

• Core Teachings: Worshipping ancestors and forces of nature (kami) to achieve harmony.

• Sacred Space: Mount Fuji (Fujisan), associated with Princess Konohanasakuya-hime.

• Practice: Shinto Pilgrimage; Shrine Shinto (Jinja) overseen by the Association of Shinto Shrines.

Major Performance Tasks and Requirements

• Performance Task 1: My Rel-Identity Autobiography:

  • Includes two comparative character sketches:

    • Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR): Seeks inner peace outside institutional doctrine.

    • Religious But Not Spiritual (RBNS): Finds purpose through organized tradition and laws without mystical focus.

  • Format: $8" \times 13"$ Folio, Times New Roman, $12$ pt, $1.5$ spacing, Justified.

• Performance Task 2: Comparative Analysis:

  • Group research comparing religions across five dimensions: Origin, Morality, Purpose, Destiny, and Views on Women/Social Norms.

• Midterm/Final PBA: The Symposium and Forum:

  • Role-play including religious leaders, devotees, and social scientists.

  • Focus on "Faith that Does Justice.’

  • Requires a research-based presentation and a written resolution promoting social justice and inter-religious respect.