lecture

1. LESSON 1. WORLDVIEW, BELIEF SYSTEMS AND RELIGIONS
World View and Belief Systems
Since childbirth there are rules or traditions that are imposed to you by your parents and society
where you belong. “Do this because this is right.” “Be good to others!” “Huwag kang gumawa ng
masama kung ayaw mong ma-karma“. These are simple reminders of our parents. When you are
brought to the school for your education, same values or beliefs are being strengthened. In some period
in your life you became a member of a religious organization or perhaps by tradition. The beliefs and
values that you learned from your parents and school are reinforced by the teachings of that
specific religion. All that you have learned from your parents, school, religious affiliation and
other influences became your belief system and your worldview.
Often times you are not conscious of your own worldview unless it is challenged or dared by
other belief system. A very simple definition of a “worldview” is given by Matt Slick. According to him a
worldview is a set of beliefs used to understand the world. Everyone has a set of principles
by which to judge right and wrong and which guides them in everyday living. The basic way
of interpreting things and events that pervades a culture so thoroughly that it becomes a culture’s
concept of reality-what is good, what is important, what is sacred, Belief systems are the stories
we tell ourselves to define our personal sense of ‘reality’ (the way things actually exist). Every human
being has a belief system that he/she utilizes and it is through this mechanism that we individually
“make sense” of the world around us.” It could be a set of beliefs or a philosophy of life.
Belief system shapes your worldview about the world, your existence, and relationships
with your fellowmen. In other words, “ a worldview whether religious or nonreligious, is a personal
insight about reality and meaning, often termed a “life understanding” which I may call a product
of belief systems. Most often worldviews are shaped by religions. Inside the box are worldviews
about man’s perspective of God. (Serapio,2016).
1. Naturalism (e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism). It denies the existence of God. The material
universe is all that exist.
2. Pantheism (e.g. Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness. They believe
that only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion. Man is spiritual and eternal.
3. Theism (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam). It means that God or gods reated the Universe
and continued to actively participate of the world’s activities and in human history.
4. Spiritism: The world is inhabited by spirit beings who govern earthly activities. Man is created by
gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Material things are real but they have spirits associated
with them.
5. Polytheism: This is the belief in many gods or deities. The culture of Ancient Greeks and Romans
depict this kind of beliefs.
Worldviews are not all about God, but these are also about our views about reality, man, truth
and values. There are also economic, political and social worldviews. Worldviews and belief systems
are necessary for religions in order to protect and spread their own particular belief as a
way of “keeping the faith” through generations.
 Catholic Christians keep in their hearts the “Apostles’ Creed”
 The Muslims practice “the five pillars of Islam”,
 The Shinto reveres the dead ancestors or “Kami”,
 the Confucians hold dearly the necessity of past traditions, and
 The Taoists embrace the importance of being close to nature.
Your beliefs shape your worldviews but your beliefs and worldviews are oftentimes shaped by
religion. There is a complex interplay between religion, belief and worldview. Religions have different
elements and characteristics which are non-negotiable. Members should follow or undergo the process
to become genuine believers.

2. The Characteristics of Elements Religions
1. Belief in supernatural powers
 The power which is beyond human powers. The human sufferings enable human being to
seek God’s help for their problems.
2. Belief in the holy or sacred
 This is the heart of every religion. Every religion has sacred books or texts. For example,
Scriptures and the Bible are sacred for the Jews and so with the Christians, Qur’an for Muslims and
Tripitaka for Buddhists and Vedas for Hindus. But something sacred is not just books but also places,
symbols, animals, rocks and many more. Hindus for example believes that cows are sacred because
of their beliefs in reincarnation.
3. Systems of rituals
 These are the different ways each religions expresses their faith. Catholic Christians have the
seven sacraments which include ceremonies and rituals. For example, Baptism. A child must be
baptized at an early age in the church with the presence of parents, God parents, priest as celebrator
and the community that supports the child. The most important symbol of baptism is water. It symbolizes
cleansing from sin. The child also has to wear white dress to symbolize purity.
4. Sinful acts
 Usually a violation of the laws established by God which each member has to follow. For example
the Ten Commandments for Judaism and Christians and the Five Pillars of Islam which when violated
the believer commit a grievous sin.
5. The Method of salvation
 The belief in the afterlife or the idea of heaven and hell. If you are a good believer you will go to
heaven but if not, you will go to hell. Islam went further by believing that if one’s life is sacrificed against
the enemies of Islam, their soul goes straight to heaven.
6. Mode of worship
 Each religion has different expressions of worship which include praying, kneeling, dancing, singing
to name a few.
7. Liturgy and Ideology
 Liturgy is described as public worship. It is a gathering of believers with ceremonies such as
wedding ceremonies, worship services or bible studies.
8. Place of worship
 Each religion has holy places which they believe God is present such as churches, temples, mosques
and other sacred places. The elements or characteristics of religions mentioned above are necessary
for a particular religion to perpetuate their worldviews and belief systems.
ACTIVITY:
AKO! A STRANGER FROM OUTER SPACE Directions: Think of what these factors (worldview, belief
systems, religion, and values) would help you in your direction towards life. You can present their
influence through a semantic web as shown below; For example you can start by writing, “Religion
makes me a better person. Write your answers in a yellow sheet of paper.

3. “ME” AS A
HUMAN BEING