R E L I G I O N

NAYA CALALANG
FELICITY RIVAS

& B E L I E F
S Y S T E M S
UCSP CLASS
U
P
TABLE OF CONTENTS

C
01
RELIGION

GREEK RELIGION & MYTHOLOGY 02

FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION 03

S
INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION 04

TYPES OF RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS 05

TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES 06

RELIGION
"A SET OF ATTITUDES, BELIEFS, AND PRACTICES PERTAINING
TO SUPERNATURAL BEINGS AND FORCES. SOME BELIEFS MAY
VARY WITHIN A CULTURE AS WELL AS AMONG SOCIETIES AND
THEY MAY CHANGE OVER TIME."

First, there's an issue on how to

delineate between the religious
and nonreligious phenomena.
EXAMPLE:
Kikuyu of Kenya believe that vomiting is a
religious practice as it eliminates all evil in
a person's body. While in most societies,
vomiting isn't considered religious as it is
understood as a typical biological event.
EARLIEST RELIGION

The earliest record on the existence of

religion dates back to 60,000 years ago as
evidenced by cave wall carvings in France.
(Ferraro & Andreatta, 2010)
 GREEK RELIGION & MYTHOLOGY

one of the best example of wide practice of religion during ancient period.
have had a religion or varieties of religions due to their countless religious beliefs
RELIGION
AFFECTS YOUR WAY OF THINKING IN THE EXISTING WORLD. IT SERVES AS A
PATTERN FOR THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE IN A DAY-TO-DAY EXISTENCE.

Thus sociologists have been

Religion is seen not only as a
studying religion while
social belief but also as a social
considering diverse societal
institution that continues to
factors such as gender, age,
develop over time.
race, & education
 FUNCTIONS OF RELIGIONS

religion serves several functions for society: religion reinforces & promotes social focuses on the ways in which individuals
giving meaning & purpose to life inequality & social conflict. It helps interpret their religious experiences. It
reinforcing social unity & stability convince the poor to accept their lot in emphasizes that beliefs & practices are
serving as an agent of social control life, & it leads to hostility & violence not sacred unless people regard them as
of behavior motivated by religious differences. such. Once they are regarded, they take
promoting physical & psychological on special significance & give meaning
well-being to people’s lives.
motivating people to work for
positive social change

FUNCTIONALISM CONFLICT THEORY SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

FUNCTIONALISM

giving meaning & purpose to life

reinforcing social unity & stability
serving as an agent of social control of behavior
promoting physical & psychological well-being
motivating people to work for positive social change
Mahatma Gandhi Martin Luther
CONFLICT THEORY

religion reinforces & promotes social inequality & social

conflict. It helps convince the poor to accept their lot in
life, & it leads to hostility & violence motivated by
religious differences.
KARL MARX:
"RELIGION IS THE OPIATE OF THE MASSES."

Marx implied that the use of religion by the governing

elite is to pacify the discontent of the masses. He further
argued that instead of seeing poverty as the direct result
of unequal access to resources, the masses perceive it as a
manifestation of the will of the divine, which promote
the belief that enduring suffering would be rewarding
the end.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

focuses on the ways in which individuals interpret their

religious experiences. It emphasizes that beliefs &
practices are not sacred unless people regard them as
such. Once they are regarded, they take on special
significance & give meaning to people’s lives.
EXAMPLE:
the practice of wearing a veil among
Muslims can be either religious or
nonreligious rituals as the wearer could
associate varying meanings to it
depending on her belief
 RELIGIOUS PATTERNS

Animism ​Polytheism Monotheism

ANIMISM
EVERYTHING IS SAID TO HAVE
SOUL AND SPIRIT

In ancient times, smaller societies have this belief of

spirits, which are apparitions believed to be dwelling
on Earth with the human race
(1871), Tylor supposed animism means “spirit” and
Animistic beliefs of indigenous settlers: referred to a given form of religion wherein humans
These beliefs are based on the spiritual concept are aware of every spirit that can be found in the
of the universe and that everything that can be environment.
found inside it is said to have soul and spirit, In animism, spirits can be in either good/bad form.
including plant, trees, animals, and rocks. Bad spirits may cause negative energies, possessions,
Natural phenomena and environmental demonic disturbances, and cases of insanity.
destructions are also understood as Benevolent spirits, on the country, may have
repercussions of the interaction between attributes that aid humans in acquiring their needs
humans and spirits. & addressing their issues.
POLYTHEISM
WORSHIP OF MANY DEITIES

Poly, which means “many” and theism, which

means “god” polytheism is characterized by the
worship of many deities, which illustrate ways of
life including beliefs, practices, and traditions
(Kowalcyzk, 2012)

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the

world and one of the classic examples of
polytheism
MONOTHEISM
BELIEVES IN ONE GOD

If you are Christian or Muslim, you can consider

yourself a monotheist. Monotheist strongly
believes in one god who is accountable for all the
things happening in the world including the
world’s creation and existence

Hume (1755) believed that the differences between

polytheism and monotheism is...
polytheism- tolerance
monotheism- rationality
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PATTERNS
ACROSS SOCIETIES REFLECT THE SOCIOPOLITICAL
DYNAMICS EXPERIENCED BY ITS FOLLOWERS.
RELIGION ACTS AS A MIRROR OF ONE’S SOCIETY.

Animistic societies Polytheistic societies

Equality of access to power and have a set of leaders who are
resources governed by hierarchy.
All are equal stature.

Monotheistic societies
One chief god and many lesser counterparts.
have one supreme political leader, such as a
president or a king.
INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION
a.k.a. ORGANIZED RELIGION

is religion in which belief systems

and rituals are systematically
arranged and formally established.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION:

1.Wide-scale religious clout

- The number of individuals affiliated with this religious institution is immense that it
crosses political and international borders and cuts across social status.
2. Hierarchical leadership and membership
- Followers of this type of faith system are relegated to socio-political posts within the
system, which provides ranking & status. This implies that access to the divine may not
be given to every member but is a privilege of a select few. The decisions for the welfare
of the religious group are also made by those who hold power while members are
expected to follow them.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION:

3. Codified Rituals
- Processes of interacting with the divine and with fellow members are guided
by written rules and regulations that have the power of the law, such that a
member’s inability to comply results in the imposition of sanctions.
 INSTITUTIONALIZED RELIGION:

The rise of institutionalized religions can be traced back to the

growth of neolithic societies.
As the societies grow more complex, the systems of worshipping the
divine became more structured.
The declaration of a country’s official religion is a premier example of
how a religion is institutionalized.
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE

In ancient Societies, the church and state are synonymous as the leaders of the
church are also the political elite which, also referred to as Theocracy or the rule of
divine.
Ex: Japanese society believed that their emperor was the direct descendant of a god.
Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians regarded their pharaohs and kings as god-kings,
as they were believed to be earthly incarnations of the divine. As states developed
into more complex political units, the church is regarded as a separate entity from
the state.
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution Article III Section 6 states that “The separation of
Church and state shall be inviolable”
Article III Section 5:
No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession & worship, without discrimination
or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or
political rights.
However, despite such provisions, the religious culture of the Filipinos have often
times empower the religious sectors to influence the political affairs of the country.
 TYPES OF RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS

Religious practices are performed by the individuals in varying capacities. Four main types of
religious practitioners:

Shaman Sorcerer & Witch Medium Priest

SHAMAN

a.k.a. a community healer position

usually occupied by a male who has
fairly high status in his community.
Is also involved in other nonreligious
activities in his community, making his
religious function an occasional
preoccupation.
SORCERER &
WITCH

poorly regarded in their societies due to the

perceived malevolence that they inflict on
individuals
have very low social and economic status and
often ostracized by members of the society.
sorcerer- uses “materials, objects & medicines
to invoke supernatural malevolence”
witch- can accomplish malevolence by means
of “thoughts and emotions alone”
MEDIUM

well favored by the members of his/her

community as he/she is involved in healing
rituals while in a possessed trance.
capable of performing divination to predict
future courses of action.
most mediums tend to be females who
perform other roles when not in religious
practice.
PRIEST

tends to be a male whose sole

preoccupation is to officiate religious
ceremonies & rituals.
due to his status in religious hierarchy,
he is highly regarded by community
members.
 TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Humans interact with the divine in various forms.

Major forms of religious activities:

1. Magic
2. Divination
3. Sorcery and Witchcraft
4. Prayers, Feasts, and Sacrifices
MAGIC
constitutes the “manipulation of supernatural forces for the
purpose of intervening in a wide range of human activities and
natural events”
deals with solving a current problem by seeking the intervention of
the divine through the performance and offering of gifts
Ex: the Native American practice of rain dance to invoke deities to
release rain
DIVINATION
intends to gain from the divine practical answers for any
concern that may range from war plans to marriage
choices.
Ex: I-ching > a Chinese numerical system that is believed to
predict future occurences.
SORCERY AND
WITCHCRAFT

popularized by modern literature (Harry Potter novels), it

have been depicted by media as a socially accepted
activity.
usually marginalized and ostracized as they perceived to be
bringers of malevolence and misfortune.
SORCERY AND
WITCHCRAFT
Sorcerer– inflicts harm on individuals by the use of materials such as dolls,
wands and medicines.
Ex: Voodoo – use materials related to the victim (hair, pieces of clothing) to cast
sickness and pain to them.
Witchcraft– promotes the same effect as the sorcerer with a mere difference
in method as the witch craft only uses emotions and words of the
practitioner to impact its victim.
Ex: Kulam sa hangin – a Filipino belief which inflicts harm on the victim
through curses uttered by a practitioner.
PRAYERS,
FEASTS, AND
SACRIFICES

promote a direct interaction with the divine, as

individuals or groups communicate their thoughts and
desires to the supernatural through uttered requests
(prayers), celebrations (feasts), and gifts (sacrifices).
 T
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO THIS
SESSION.
N
presentation made by Felicity Rivas