Understanding the Self

1. Instructional Course Module No. 8
Instructor : Michell D. Melgo
Subject Code : GE 1
Descriptive Title : Understanding the Self
III. Objectives:
At the end of the course module, the students will be able to:
1. Identify various religious practices and beliefs;
2. Understand the self in relation with religious beliefs; and
3. Explain ways of finding the meaning of life.
IV. General Instructional Guidelines
Please answer PRETEST, EVALUATION AND ESSAY. Use
yellow pad in all activities.
Submit all activities on or before October 20, 2023
V. Learning Outcome:
Evaluate the truthfulness of one’s belief
Construct proofs on one’s belief
Defend one’s stand to attain peace amidst diverse religions
VI. Pre-Test: Use your own words. Avoid copy and paste method.
Do you believe in supernatural beings? Why and why not?
Provide example
VII. Discussion
SUPERNATURALS: BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
A. Religion and Ritual
Religion
- -Rebecca Stein (Stein 2011)
defined religion as a set of
cultural beliefs and practices
that usually includes some or
all basic characteristics.

2. Characteristics:
a. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being e.g. spirits, gods,
fairies
b. A focus on the sacred supernatural
c. The presence of supernatural power or energy
d. The performance of ritual activities with the manipulation of sacred
object to communicate to supernatural beings or to control events.
e. The articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and
other means.
f. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and of social
control within a community; provide explanation for unknown and a
sense of control for individuals.
There are factors to consider when an individual pursue that religion.
Could it be the choice of religious belief within the spiritual self, society
and cultures.
RITUAL
- It is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or
sacred law. (Britannica 2017).
- It is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known
societies.
- Thus, possible to view as a way of defining or describing humans.
Characteristics:
a. A feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination
b. Dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the
language of myth
c. Is symbolic in relation to its reference
Rituals may be viewed as a system of symbolic acts that is based upon
arbitrary rules. Participation to rituals is expressions of religious beliefs.

3. B. World Religious Beliefs and Practices
The following religions are the common beliefs and practices in the
world:
1. Buddhism
Beliefs:
-Buddhism believes that life is not easy that there are sufferings, pain
and frustrations. When people suffer, they want to experience the good
and avoid disappointments. Through meditation, acquiring more
wisdom, deeper understanding and acceptance, things will be resolved.
Customs and practices:
2 types of Meditation practices:
a. Samantha
- Mindfulness of breathing and development of loving-kindness
b. Vipassana
- Insight into reality
Celebrations:
-Parinirvana Day (February)
-Buddha Day (May)
-Dharma Day (July)
-Padmasambhava Day (October)
-Sangha Day (November)
2. Christianity
Belief:
-A belief in Trinitarian God. One God in 3 personas: God the Father
(Creator), God the Son, (Savior), and God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer), by
believing in Jesus Christ as he died on the cross and resurrected after
3 days to save us. The Holy Bible is used as the selection of truth.

4. Customs and Practices:
- Sacrament of Baptism (symbolizes the birth in the Christian World)
- Sacrament of Communion (remembering Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love)
Celebrations:
-Christmas (December 25)
-Resurrection Sunday (sometime March or April)
3. Hinduism
Belief:
- Hindus belief that existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth,
governed by Karma. Karma is a concept of reincarnation where your
reincarnated life depends on how you live your past life. Vedas are the
sacred scriptures of Hindus. Mahabharata and Ramayana are the
important texts of the Hindus
Customs and Practices:
-Diwali (Festival of lights)
-Navrati (Festival of nine lights)
4. Islam
Belief:
- Muslims believe in Allah, who is their “One God”. They believe in the
unity and universality of God. Muslims have a strong sense of
community or “ummah” worldwide. Islam means “willing submission to

5. God”. Muslim believes that Mohammed is the only prophet sent by God.
Qur’an is the Holy book used by the Muslims, which is recited in Arabic.
Customs and Practices:
Muslims belief in the 5 pillars of Islam, which are the foundation of
Muslim life:
1. Shahadah- Statement of faith “There is no God but the one true God
and Mohammed is his messenger”.
2. Salat- Prayer that is practiced 5 times a day
3. Zakat- Monetary offering to the poor (2.5% of Muslim assets)
4. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca
5. Sawm- Fasting
Celebrations:
-Eidul-Fitr (end of Ramadan)
-Eidul-Adha (Completion of Pilgrimage)
5. Judaism
Beliefs:
- The Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated
the Hebrew slaves from Egypt to Canaan. They believe in the coming of
Messiah, the Savior. The sacred book that they are using is called the
Torah or the Law. The interpretation of Torah is part of the Jewish
culture.
Customs and Practices:
1. Rosh Hashanah- the New Year
2. Yom Kippur- the Day of Atonement
3. Pesach- Passover
4. Shavuot- Pentecost
5. Sukkot- Tabernacles
Religious beliefs and, rituals, practices, and customs are all part of the
expression of the spiritual self. A person might belief that there is a
higher being, a supernatural being, termed as God but not necessarily

6. be identified in a religious group. Religious beliefs and practices are
formed relative to its context and culture.
C. Viktor Frankl
 Born on March 26, 1905 in Vienna, Austria
 Graduated with a medical degree from the University of Vienna in 1930
 He was assigned in Vienna Hospital suicide ward and headed the
Rothchild Hospital
 The Father of Logotherapy
 He died in 1997.
LOGOTHERAPY
- Is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl
- A main belief that “man’s primary motivational force is search for
meaning”.
- Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal meaning of life, whatever
life offers.
Basic Concepts:
o Life has meaning under all circumstances.
o Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.
o Freedom to find meaning.
Logotherapy Assumptions:
1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind and spirit.
2. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable.
3. People have freedom under all circumstances.
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find
meaning.
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions
are to be meaningful.

7. 6. The individual is unique.
Frankl’s Sources of Meaning:
1. Purposeful Work
2. Courage in the Face of Difficulty
3. Love
VIII. Evaluation:
Identification: ANSWER DIRECTLY.
1. Considered as the Father of Logotherapy.
2. It is a belief that “man’s primary motivational force is search for
meaning”.
3. Means “willing submission to God”.
4. They believe the practices of Karma.
5. They are considered as the important text of the Hindus.
6. They practice meditation as a way of breaking suffering and experience
the goodness of life.
7. This practice is celebrated as the completion of pilgrimage to Mecca.
8. They used Torah as their sacred book.
9. They believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected
after 3 days.
10. These are the sacred scripture of the Hindus.
Essay: Use your own words. Avoid copy and paste method of answering.
Why is it necessary to study the World’s religious beliefs and
practices when we already have our beloved one? Explain
What would be the best thing to do to have unity in religions
amidst diversity? Explain
IX. Rubrics/Criteria for the Assessments Conducted in post-test (essay)
and summary
Originality Grammar Explanation/content Total
5 5 10 20
XI. Summary
Write the summary of the discussion in not more than
10 lines. (JOURNAL NOTEBOOK)
(to be submitted on October 31, 2023 )