Religion

• Etymologically speaking, it comes from

the Latin word “religare” meaning “to
bring together” and “religere” meaning
“to rehearse painstankingly”, as in the
case of collective rituals.
• It can be defined in two ways:
substantive and functional
•In substantive definition; people use
religion to understand their inexplicable
individual experiences and to seek
explanation to the existence of supernatural
beings
•In functional definition; a unified system of
beliefs and practices relative to sacred
things which unites into one single moral
community.
• Thus, religion is a collection of cultural
systems, belief systems, and worldviews
that relate humanity to spirituality and,
sometimes, to moral values. Many
religions have narratives, symbols,
traditions, and sacred histories that are
intended to give meaning to life or to
explain the origin of life or the universe.
 Elements of Religion
1. Belief in Supernatural Powers
Every religion believes in the existence of some
supernatural powers or forces. Some consider
this supernatural power as formless. They
believe that this unseen power influences every
aspect of human life. Belief in the supernatural
powers varies from one religion to another.
2. Belief in the holy or sacred text
In every religion there are certain things which
are regarded as holy and sacred. They constitute
the heart of religion. The concept of holy and
sacred is a mental construct. It is a belief based
on faith rather than evidence.
3. System of Rituals
Rituals are the practical side of religion. They are
the behavior performed by the individual or a
group of individuals with reference to
supernatural power. It includes varieties of
behavior such as wearing of special types of
cloth, reciting prayers, hymns, taking birth in
holy rivers, singing, dancing, crawling, fasting
etc. It may be performed by a single individual
or group of individuals.
4. Material expression
Religions use things to perform rituals or to
express or represent beliefs, such as: statues,
paintings, music, flowers, incense, clothes,
architecture, and specific sacred locations.
5. Characteristic emotional experiences
Most religions share emotions such as awe,
mystery, guilt, joy, devotion, conversion, inner
peace, etc.
6. Place of worship
Each religion has a definite place of worship. The
Hindu worship in a Temple, Muslims in a
Mosque, Christians in Church etc.
7. Sinful acts/ ethics
Every religion defines certain acts as sacred or
righteous and other acts as profane and sinful.
The follower of the religion encourages sacred
acts and insists to avoid indulging in sinful
activities. Acting in accordance with the religious
principles is believed to reap good results while
sinful acts result suffering or disaster. Most of
the religions conceptualize heaven and hell due
to this belief.
8. The method of salvation
All most all the religion considers salvation as
the ultimate goal of life. They have their own
explanation regarding the method of salvation.
The Buddhists called salvation as Nirvana or
mingle with the God. For the Hindus it is 'Mukti'
i.e. free from the chain of life cycle etc.
9. Symbols
Symbols are the signs used for sacred objects or
situation. Symbols give meaning to human
behavior.
10. Religious organization
Religion is an organization of beliefs, rituals and
emotions. Every religion has its own structure
and function and every individual performing his
role.
11. Central stories/myths
Central stories/myths help to explain the beliefs
of a group; these are told over and over again
and sometimes performed by members of the
group. They may or may not be factual.
Theology
• It comes from the word theos which is
Greek for “God,” and -ology which is
from the Greek word logos meaning
“word.” Most literally then the word
theology means “words about God” or
“the study of God.”
• “The science of God or of religion; the
science which treats of the existence,
character, and attributes of God, his laws
and government, the doctrines we are to
believe, and the duties we are to
practice. . . the science of Christian faith
and life.”
• is a set of intellectual and emotional
commitments, justified or not, about God
and man which dictate ones beliefs and
actions.
• It was understood to be the first among
pursuits of knowledge, since it was
believed that all other pursuits were
vitally linked to its dictates. theology
itself provides a foundation for your
philosophy and worldview, which in turn
sets inclinations for your heart, actions,
and decisions in all situations.
Spirituality
• is one’s integrative view of life. It
involves a quest for the meaning and
ultimate value of life as opposed to an
instrumentalist or materialistic attitude
of life.
 Elements of Spirituality
1. Holistic view of life
2. Quest for meaning or purpose of life
3. Quest for the sacred/ beliefs in God.
4. self-reflective existence
Philosophy of Religion
• Philosophy of Religion is the branch of
philosophy that is concerned with the
philosophical study of religion,
including arguments over the nature
and existence of God,
religious language, miracles, prayer,
the problem of evil, and the
relationship between religion and
other value-systems such as science
and ethics.
Form of Religious Beliefs
 A. Theism
The belief in the existence of one
or more divinities or deities, which
exist within the universe and
yet transcend it. These gods also in
some way interact with the
universe, and are often considered
to be omniscient, omnipotent
and omnipresent.
 B. Monotheism
The view that only one God exists.
– Exclusive Monotheism: The belief that there is
only one deity, and that all other claimed deities
are distinct from it.
– Inclusive monotheism: The belief that there is
only one deity, and that all other claimed deities
are just different names for it.
– Substance Monotheism: The belief (found in
some indigenous African religions) that the many
gods are just different forms of a single
underlying substance.
 C. Pantheism

The belief that God

is equivalent to Nature or the physical
universe, or that everything is of an
all-encompassing immanent abstract
God.
 D. Panentheism

The belief (also known as Monistic

Monotheism), similar to Pantheism, that
the physical universe is joined to God, but
stressing that God is greater than (rather
than equivalent to) the universe. Thus,
the one God interpenetrates every part
of nature, and timelessly extends
beyond as well. The universe is part of
God, but not all of God.
 E. Deism
A form of monotheism in which it is
believed that one God exists, but that this
God does not intervene in the world, or
interfere with human life and the laws of
the universe. It posits a non-
interventionist creator who permits the
universe to run itself according to natural
laws.
F. Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the
universe and created it, but is now equivalent to
it - a composite of Deism and Pantheism.
G. Panendeism is a composite of Deism
and Panentheism. It holds that, while the
universe is part of God, it operates according
to natural mechanisms without the need for the
intervention of a traditional God, somewhat
similar to the Native American concept of the
all- pervading Great Spirit.
H. Polydeism: The belief that multiple
gods exist, but do not intervene with the
universe - a composite of Deism and Polytheism.
I. Misotheism
The belief that a God or gods exist, but that they are
actually evil.
J. Dystheism
The belief that a God or gods exist, but that they
are not wholly good, or possibly even evil (as opposed
to eutheism, the belief that God exists and is wholly
good).
K. Ditheism (or Duotheism)
The belief in two equally powerful gods, often, but not
always, with complementary properties and in
constant opposition.
L. Gnosticism
Is another example of a ditheistic belief of
sorts, due to their claim that the thing
worshipped as God in this world is actually
an evil impostor, but that a
true benevolent deity worthy of being called
"God" exists beyond this world.
M. Animism:
The belief that souls inhabit all or most
objects (whether they be animals, vegetables
or minerals).
 N. Polytheism

The belief in, or worship of, multiple

gods (usually assembled in a pantheon).
These gods are often seen as similar to
humans (anthropomorphic) in their
personality traits, but with additional
individual powers, abilities, knowledge or
perceptions. Hard Polytheism views the
gods as being distinct and separate beings,
such as in Ancient Greek Mythology.
– Henotheism: The devotion to a single god while
accepting the existence of other gods, and without
denying that others can with equal truth worship
different gods. It has been called "monotheism in
principle and polytheism in fact".
– Monolatrism (or Monolatry): The belief in
the existence of many gods, but with the consistent
worship of only one deity. Unlike Henotheism,
Monolatrism asserts that there is only one god who
is worthy of worship, though other gods are known
to exist.
– Kathenotheism: The belief that there is more than
one deity, but only one deity at a time should be
worshipped, each being supreme in turn.
O. Atheism (or Nontheism)
The belief that gods do not exist, or a complete
rejection of Theism in any form. Some atheists
argue a lack of empirical evidence for the
existence of deities, while others argue
for Atheism on philosophical, social or historical
grounds. Atheism may be implicit (someone who
has never thought about belief in gods)
or explicit (someone who has made an assertion,
either weak or strong, regarding their lack of
belief in gods).
P. Agnosticism
The belief that the nature and existence of
gods is unknown and cannot ever be known
or proven.
Q. Humanism
Humanism is more an ethical process, not
a dogma about the existence or otherwise
of gods. But in general terms, it rejects the
validity of transcendental justifications, such
as a dependence on belief without reason,
the supernatural, or texts of allegedly divine
origin.