How do you

define a
spiritual person?
 What is
your own
belief about
 Why we need to study Religion
• Promotes mutual understanding and
respect
• Appreciate your own religious tradition
• Open consciousness to respect other faith
beliefs
• Genuine acceptance and compassion
What
is
Latin origins of the word“religion”
Religare –to bind
together
Relegere –to rehearse
painstakingly
 -belief in and
worship of a
superhuman
controlling power,
especially a
 -as the relationship
between humans and
that which they regards
as holy, sacred,
absolute, spiritual,
-commonly regarded
as consisting of the
way people deal with
ultimate concerns
about their lives and
-set of beliefs and
practices that
relates to
metaphysical and
“unified system of beliefs
and practices relative to
sacred things, that is to
say, things set apart and
forbidden. – beliefs and
practices which unite into
-expects its follower
to follow a set of
practices that
relate to the notion
2 ways of
defining
Religio
 SUBSTANTIVE
-looks for the
fundamental elements
that constitute
religion such as belief
 FUNCTIONAL
-concerned with the
social consequences
of religion such as
its ability to unite a
 SUBSTANTIVE vs. FUNCTIONAL
• What the content • What religion does and
how it operates in
and essence
terms of its place in
• Belief in social system
supernatural and • Symbolic rituals,
transcendental beliefs and practices
Sacred instead of
supernatural
 SUBSTANTIVE vs. FUNCTIONAL
• God, gods, • Nationalism,
supernatural revolutionary
beings and faith, social
things symbols, or
movements.
Major World Religions
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Buddhism
• Judaism
 All Religions
• Have set of basic
beliefs
• Have scriptures
(sacred text)
• Holy Book
• Code of conduct
What
is
-an acceptance
that a statement
is true or that
something
-Conviction
concerning
particular
-Shapes our ideas
regarding our
reality, and is
influenced by our
perception,
 -Generally
requires proof or
an assurance of a
certain degree of
Through a mental
process based on
ideas and attitudes.
What
is
 -Generally defined as
belief that is not based
on proof.
-Also connotes confidence
or trust
in a person or thing.
 -In religion, it refers to the
observance of religious
obligations, an attitude of
reverence toward entities and
ideas that are considered
important in that religion, an
unwavering trust in the major
 Hebrews 11:1
“Faith shows the
reality of what we
hope for; it is the
evidence of things
What
is
-Ideas we hold
that define our
personal sense
-Ideology or set of
principles that
helps us to
interpret our
 -shaped and
influenced by a
number of
different
Worldview –is similar to belief
system.
Belief System explain larger
issues of philosophy,
fundamental beliefs, and ways
of doing things.
What
is
-The quality or state of
being concerned with
religion or religious
matters;
-the quality and state of
being spiritual
 Religion vs. Spirituality
-an institution -Is born in a
established by person and
man. develops in the
person
-has
unquestionable -invites you to
reason it all and to
assembly of
 James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is
religious and does not
bridle his tongue but
deceives his heart, this
person’s religion is
Religion vs. Spirituality
-focuses on -focuses on
what pleases what pleases
man God.

-follow man’s -follow God’s

 Matthew 6:1
“Be careful not to display
your righteousness
merely to be seen by
people. Otherwise you
have no reward with
What
is
-refers to the study of
religious faith ,
practice and
experience; especially
the study of God and
Theos – God
Logos – study
 Religion vs. Theology
-Any specific -Study of
belief,
God
worship,
conduct
-God’s way
-Human ways to humans
What
is
 -study of ideas
about
knowledge,
truth, the nature
 -is the science or
discipline which uses
human reason to
investigate the ultimate
causes, reasons, and
principles that govern
Philosophy of Religion
-refers to the
study of the
meaning and
 Religion vs. Philosophy of
Religion
-involves belief -philosophical study of
the meaning and
and practices nature of religion.
which assume -includes the analysis
the existence of of religious concepts,
terms, beliefs,
supernatural arguments and
beings practices of religious
Religion as humans way to
God,

Theology as a study of
God’s way to humans
Philosophy as a