INTRODUCTION TO WORLD
RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
WEEK 2
THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF GEOGRAPHY, CULTURE AND RELIGIONS
Various theories have been formulated to explain the
origin of religion.
The existence of humankind for so long time has
HISTORICAL resulted in the formation of religion and belief system.
BACKGROUND
It is certain that many religions may have been
unrecorded in the past. Others may have gradually
died down.
Significant dates on the origin of world religion
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND PATRIARCH
ABRAHAM
• The prophet and patriarch Abraham played a major role in the establishment of the three
monotheistic religions: namely, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which account for more
than half of the world’s total population at present. ABRAHAMIC RELIGION
JUDAISM-JEWS- Abraham as the ancestor of The ancient Hebrews call their God Elohim,
Israelites through his descendants Isaac and Jacob Adonai, or Yahweh. Present-day Judaism uses the
names “Lord” and “God.
ISLAM- MUSLIMS consider Abraham’s son Ishmael For the Muslims, they call their God as Allah.
as the ancestor of the Arabs.
CHRISTIANITY- CHRISTIANS view Abraham as Christians believe that there is only one God, whom they
‘Father of Faith” call Father as Jesus Christ taught them.
The importance of Abraham in these three religions lies in the fact that the
patriarch appears as an elemental figure for a monotheistic belief system and a
paragon/model of extreme devotion.
INDIAN MOSAIC
• With its history dating back to at least 6500 B.C.E., India is one of the world’s
oldest surviving civilizations.
• Religion is an essential part of the Indian tradition. Four great religions originated in India –
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism – and a myriad/numerous of minor cults and local
sects.
• Even Muslims and Christians have found their way into the Indian heartland along with the Jews
and Zoroastrians
Hinduism perfectly reflects Indian heterogeneity/assortment with its eclectic, diversified, and
assorted ways of religious expressions that are quite confusing to outsiders.
Buddhism centers its attention on the figure of the Buddha. He was not a god but a human
being who came to discover how to terminate sufferings in order to escape the painful and
continuous cycle of rebirth (Coogan 2005). Buddhist followers revere/worship Buddha in the
same way that members of other world religions worship their gods.
The religion was transported to China and gained much headway as it reached Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Across the Himalayas, it reached the Tibetan lands. Presently, Buddhism has become more popular outside its
place of origin while Hinduism has remained entrenched in India throughout many centuries.
THE WAY OF DAO
The basic idea of the Daoists was to enable people to realize that, since
human life is really only a small part of a larger process of nature, the
only human actions which ultimately make sense are those which are in
accord with the flow of Nature — the Dao or the Way
• Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest, dating back almost 4,000 years ago. Even during the
olden days, the Chinese had already endeavored to establish and attain good governance (Perry 1988).
China adopted Kung Fu-Tzu's (Confucius) ideals and ethics as the nation developed meritocracy as a basis for
government officials. Meritocracy is a social system in which success and status in life depend primarily on
individual talents, abilities, and effort. It is a social system in which people advance on the basis of
Confucius is regarded as China’s greatest philosopher and teacher who lived at the same time as Siddhartha Gautama
in India (Perry 1988).
Confucian ideals aspire to harmonize human relations and serve as guide to social behavior. Providing a backdrop for
traditional Chinese values, Chinese dynasties used Confucian morals and political ideals that became influential
among the Chinese people. The Confucian principles can be applied at the levels of individual, community, and state.
GEOGRAPHY OF FAITH
WESTERN AND EASTERN BELIEFS
FAR EAST
FAR EAST
THE CULTURAL MILIEU (SETTING)
• World religions can be regarded along the lines of their exclusivity or non-exclusivity.
EXCLUSIVE NON-EXCLUSIVE
POLYTHEISTIC IN
MONOTHEISTIC
NATURE
HINDUISM
CHRISTIANITY BUDDHISM
JUDAISM CONFUCIANISM
ISLAM TAOISM
SHINTOISM
UNIVERSALIZIN
G AND ETHNIC
RELIGION
Both Christianity and Islam are
considered universalizing
religions because they attempt
to operate on a global scale and
are not inextricably linked to
any nation, ethnicity, or place as
opposed to ethnic religions that
attract one group of people
residing in one locality.
On the other hand, Judaism can
be considered an ethnic religion
because it draws members from a
specific group of people from a
definite locality with most of its
practices and rituals performed
continuously throughout
generations.
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD BELIEFS AND
RELIGIONS
ACTIVITIES TO BE ANSWERED
Yellow or Pad paper
Copy and Answer
I. Activity 1- Matching type 1-10)
II. Activity 2- Creating
