UCSP Religion

RELIGION Religion can be explained as a set of beliefs 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 containing a moral code governing the conduct of human aairs!

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Other +enitions is any set of coherent answers to the dilemmas of human existence that ma-es the world meaningful how human beings express their feelings about such ultimate concerns as sic-ness or death is the socially dened patterns of beliefs concerning the ultimate meaning of life .)tar-/ 

'nderstanding (ulture, (ulture, )ociety and

Other +enitions is any set of coherent answers to the dilemmas of human existence that ma-es the world meaningful how human beings express their feelings about such ultimate concerns as sic-ness or death is the socially dened patterns of beliefs concerning the ultimate meaning of life .)tar-/ 

'nderstanding (ulture, (ulture, )ociety and

0elief in God %! 1heistic God2 the concept of a being which is .%/ purely spiritual, .$/ all good, .3/ all -nowing, and .4/ all powerful! $! 1heism2 a/ Narrow2 belief in the existence of the theistic God! b/ 0road2 0elief in the existence of some divine being other than the theistic God! 'nderstanding (ulture, (ulture, )ociety and

3! 5theism2 a/ Narrow2 disbelief in theistic God! b/ 0road2 disbelief the existence of any divine being whatever!  5gnosticism a/ Narrow2 neither belief nor disbelief in the existence of the theistic God! b/ 0road2 neither belief nor disbelief in the existence of any divine being whatever 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

 1ypes of theism %! 5nimism2 belief that inanimate ob7ects .such as statues or mountains/ have souls! $! *olytheism2 belief in a multiplicity of gods! 3! 8enotheism2 polytheistic belief that each nation or country has its own god! 4! +ualism2 polytheistic belief in two con9icting deities, one good

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:! ;onotheism2 belief in one god, but not necessarily the theistic God! &! +eism2 monotheistic belief in a god who set the universe in motion and thereafter left it alone! ideism2 theistic belief solely on the grounds of faith

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(haracteristics of Religion 0elief in a deity or in power beyond the individual 5 doctrine .accepted teaching/ of salvation 5 code of conduct   1he use of sacred stories Religious rituals 

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>unctions of Religion Religion serves as a means of social control It exerts a great in9uence upon personality development Religion allays fear of the un-nown Religion explains events or situations which are beyond the comprehension of man It gives man comfort, strength and hope in times of crisis and despair It preserves and transmits -nowledge, s-ills, spiritual and cultural values and practices 

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>unctions of Religion It serves as an instrument of change It promotes closeness, love, cooperation, friendliness and helpfulness Religion alleviates suerings from ma7or calamities It provides hope for a blissful life after death 

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GROUPS OF THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION

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%! >aithA0ased  1here are about %" ma7or religions which are subdivided into a total of $ew arguments exist among the worldHs religions about religious beliefs, sacred ritual, organiational structure, optimum family structure, personal sexual behavior, etc!

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ReligionHs traditional teachings in the area of science dier greatly from each other and from the ndings of scientists!

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TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANI%ATION

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a! SECT It is a small, exclusive, uncompromising fellowship of individuals see-ing spiritual perfection! ;embers are voluntary converts, and the sect largely control their lives! 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

b! CHURCH OR ECCLESIA

It is a large, conservative universal religious institution! Its growth increasingly comes from those born into the group, not from conversions! Its demands on church members diminish, and the church becomes more tolerant of other religious groups! 0ecause it is large, it tends to acBuire a certain amount of social and political power, and more often than not it retains that power by becoming associated with the government of ruling class and it tends to support the status Buo! 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

c! CULTS (ults are religious movements that are at odds and which have no prior ties with an established religious body in a given society! &. Au'ience cu(ts have practically no formal organiation! 2. C(ient cu(ts  have religious leaders who oer specic services to those who follow them! 3. Cu(t $o)e$ents are client cults which become larger and more tightly organdied! 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

MODERNI%ATION AND RELIGIOUS CHOICE ;oderniation has been ma7or source of social change! 5nd throughout the world, people have moved from the traditional societies where there is usually but one way to do things, to modern societies full of choices! 1his social change has had a profound eect on religious experience as people nd themselves confronted with doens of denominations, each claiming to be the one true way! 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

%!  1hey

can arm traditional religious authority in the face of modern challenges to it! $!  1hey can change their religious beliefs by reformulating them in modern times!  1he evangelical preachers on television who eBuate worship of God with being successful ta-e this approach! 3!  1hey can try to tap the wellsprings that gave birth and vitality to the original faith and apply them to the modern world! 'nderstanding (ulture, )ociety and

*erformance 1as%!  1he $!

3! a! b! c!

class will be divided into nine ."/ groups! Each will assigned to prepare a group presentation about the seven .