UNIT 6

CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTION

LESSON 6: RELIGION AND BELIEFS SYSTEM
 RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM

• RELIGION. It is a set of belief concerning the cause,

nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when
considered as the creation of a superhuman agency
or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual
observances, and often ontaining a moral code
governing the conduct of human affairs. Religion is a
specific fundamental set of belief and practices
generally agree upon by a number of persons or sects.
 RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM

• INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION. It is a social intitution

in which belief sytems and rituals are systematically
arranged and formally established. Organized Religion
is typically characterized by an officially doctrine (Or
dogma), a hierarchical r bureaucratic leadership
structure, and a codification of rules and practices.
 FEATURES OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION

1. BELIEFS. Religious beliefs are expressed in the form

of doctrines, articles of faith and the like.
• Examples:
a. Christian believes in the authority of the Holy Bible
b. Mormons based their beliefs in the Book of Mormon
c. Muslims adheres to the teachings of the Koran

2. SYMBOLS. The principal function of religious

symbols is to emphasize the character and meaning
of supernatural forces and mysteries.
 FEATURES OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION

• Examples
a. Cross is to the Christian
b. Crescent Moon to the Muslims

3. RITUALS. Ritualistic beliefs are prescribed for

believers. These included the offering of human
and non- human sacrifices, feasts, dances,
processionals, chanting, and birth of death rites.
Also include prayer, song and meditation.
 FEATURES OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION

4. MAGIC AND SUPERNATURAL EVENTS. The

employment of magic is performed and the
supernatural occurrences employed in certain
aspects or circumstances. To apply it, rituals are
performed. This is a form of contact to the forces
beyond human understanding to draw favourable
responses from followers.
5. HIERARCHY. Many religions are characterized by
hierarchical arrangement of personnel.
 FEATURES OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION

6. PROPITIATION. The ritual is intimately connected

with the idea of propitiation which refers to the
behaviour deemed pleasing to the deity or gods. It is
both positive and negative.
 WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

1. ANIMISM
 It is the belief that all things have a spirit or soul (living
and non-living things). Each being is considered a spirit
that can offer help or harm to humans. Animists offer
sacrifices, prayers, dances or other forms of devotions to
these spirits in hopes of blessing upon areas of life such as
crops, health, fertility, etc.
 WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

2. Hinduism
 Most Hindus worship one Being of ultimate oneness
(Brahman) through infinite representations of gods and
goddesses. The other deities in its godhead are Vishnu
(the Preserver) and Siva (the Destroyer).
 Hindus believe their position in the present life was
determined by their actions in their previous life. If a
person’s behaviour before was evil, they might justifiably
experience tremendous hardships in the present life.
 WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

3. BUDDHISM
 Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People
outside the Buddhism often think that Buddhists
worship the Buddha. However, the Buddha (Siddhartha
Gautama) never claimed to be divine, but rather he is
viewed by Buddhists as having attained what they are
also striving to attain, which is spiritual enlightenment
and, with it, freedom from the continuous cycle of life
and death.
 WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

4. Islam
• Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah. He is viewed as the
creator of the universe and the source of all good and all evil by the Muslims. A
follower’s relationship with Allah is as a servant to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad
is the Messenger of God.

• The Five Pillars of Islam

a) Shahadah - repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad
b) Salah - recites certain prayers in Arabic five times a day
c) Zakat - gives alms to the needy
d) Ramadan - one month each year, fast from food, drink, sex, and
smoking from sunrise to sunset
e) Hajj - pilgrimage once in one’s lifetime to worship at a
shrine in Mecca

At death, based on one’s faithfulness to these duties, a Muslim hopes to enter

Paradise. If not, they will be eternally punished in hell.
 WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

5. CHRISTIANITY
• Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed
himself and can be known in a personal way, in this life.
Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is
how the Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life.
The two most significant events in the life of Christ are
the sacrifice of his crucifixion and his resurrection, which
is the core of the Christian faith.
 MONOTHEISM VS. POLYTHEISM

Criteria Monotheism Polytheism

Belief of multiple
Belief in a singular
Definition deities gods and
God
goddesses

Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism,

Religions Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Shinto,
Islam, Hinduism Taoism

The One True God There are numerous

Commandment
Alone is to be deities, each worthy
Concerning Worship
worshiped of worship
 PRINCIPLE OF SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

• The principle simply means that the church the Church is not
to interfere in purely political matters or temporal aspects of
man's life and the state.
• The state shall have no official religion
• The state cannot set up a church, whether or not supported
with funds.
• Every person is free to profess belief or disbelief in any religion
• Meaning of " establishment of religion clause" Every religious
minister is free to practice his calling
• State cannot punish a person for entertaining or professing
religious beliefs or disbeliefs.
• Church and state be separate is not to be interpreted to mean
hostility to religion.