RELIGION

- Religion is a system of beliefs and practices related to spirituality and

often involving a code of ethics. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs
and practices, from worshiping a god or gods to following a particular
philosophy or set of moral principles. Religions typically involve beliefs
about the meaning of life, the nature of reality, and the existence of a
higher power or powers. They often include rituals, ceremonies, and
sacred texts that are believed to have spiritual significance.
- the etymology of the word “religion”, and this topic has been debated
since. One such perspective was presented by the philosopher Cicero
who proposed the Latin relegere, which roughly means “to read or go
through again in speech or thought”. On the other hand, the most
commonly accepted etymology is the Latin religare, which means “to
bind”. However, Cicero and other early etymologists all share in the
idea that religion is a system which binds a human person to a social,
moral, and legal duty or contract and compels that same person to
follow or avoid particular courses of actions.
- the German idealist Immanuel Kant said that “religion is the
recognition of all our duties as divine commands.” For Kant, religion is
never separated from ethics as a way of life. Also, Emile Durkheim, a
French sociologist, described religion from a sociological perspective.
He defined religion as, “a set of ceremonial actions, assembling the
group, heightening its emotion, and focusing its member on symbols of
their common belongingness.” Further, Karl Marx would say that
religion is the “opium of the masses”.

INTRODUCTION

From the beginning of human civilization, religion has always been a vital
component of the human condition. It gave us a system of orientation on
what we should live for or die for. Our constant pursuit of religion is a search
for an answer to our existential and spiritual burdens. Thus, religion functions
as an anchor at the core of humanity’s existence. Most of the time, it is
religion that provides meaning and sense to our daily existence. Humans, as
journeying beings – homo viator – always seeks to find something – or
Someone – greater than themselves. Hence, we give in to a specific religion
that fulfills our search for certainty that determines the course of our lives.
God made us, and we made religion in order to help us in our quest for
answers.

 Religion's Importance: Religion is fundamental to human existence,

providing meaning, purpose, and answers to existential questions.
Religion plays a crucial role in human life, offering answers to
fundamental questions about existence and providing a framework for
understanding the world.

 Human Need: Humans inherently seek something greater than

themselves, leading to the creation of diverse religions.

 Religion's Impact: Religion has significantly shaped human history,

both positively and negatively.

 Misconceptions: Common misconceptions include:

o Religion as a barrier to progress.

o Superiority of one religion over another.

 Focus on Religious Experience: The course emphasizes the

importance of personal and daily religious experiences.

 Spirituality: Spirituality is explored as a path to personal growth and

connection with the divine.

 Understanding Definitions: The text cautions against relying solely

on single definitions of religion, emphasizing the need for personal
exploration and understanding.

 Open-Minded Approach: The course encourages an open-minded

approach to studying religion, recognizing the diverse and multifaceted
nature of religious beliefs and practices.

This subject aims to provide a foundational understanding of religion,

encouraging students to critically examine their own beliefs and explore the
diverse religious landscape with an open and respectful perspective.
Fundamental Features of Religion

Some of the basic fundamental features of religion are the following:

a) Cosmological Dimension

Religion is an avenue to answer big questions about our existence. It

provides explanations about our faith, the universe, creation, nature,
meaning, and form of the universe and the place of humanity in it. Religion
tries to put meaning into the world. Religion achieves this through myths,
theories and visions of the creation, nature, meaning and forms of the
universe, and our place in it.

e.g. The Seven Days of Creation (Christianity)

b) Soteriological Dimension

Religion provides a scheme for salvation. Most religions, if not all, have their
soteriological or salvific dimension. It tries to give an answer to the question
“what happens after death?” and how do we make sure we have a good
destination when we die, e.g. heaven and earth for Christians, samsara and
moksha for Hindus, and nirvana for Buddhists.

e.g. Christianity, particularly in its various denominations, offers a distinct

soteriological framework centered around the figure of Jesus Christ.

 Salvation through Faith and Grace: Christians believe that

salvation from sin and eternal damnation is achieved primarily through
faith in Jesus Christ. This faith, coupled with God's grace, is considered
sufficient for redemption.

 The Afterlife: Christian soteriology posits a clear afterlife with two

primary destinations:

o Heaven: A state of eternal bliss and communion with God for

those who have accepted Christ as their savior.
 o Hell: A state of eternal punishment for those who reject Christ or
live in defiance of God's will.

 Means of Salvation: Christians believe that salvation is attained

through various means, including:

o Faith: Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accepting

his sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

o Repentance: Acknowledging one's sins and turning away from

them.

o Baptism: A symbolic act of cleansing and initiation into the

Christian faith.

o Living a virtuous life: Striving to live according to Christian

teachings and principles.

c) Anthropological Dimension

While religion teaches us to live together properly, it also teaches us that

there is more than this mundane world. It encourages us to seek beyond the
finite human experience and aspire for what is greater which our mind could
not comprehend.

e.g. Buddhism, through its core teachings offers a profound anthropological

perspective on human existence.

d) Symbolic Dimension

Religions have symbols and rituals. Symbols are signs used for sacred
objects or ideas and are used to give meaning to human behavior. Religious
rituals and practices are prescribed, repeated behaviors with desired and
intended outcomes for the enrichment of the religion and the person.
Symbols and rituals help in creating a sound tradition and transform through
religious tradition, e.g. cross for Christians, “om” for Hindus, and male
circumcision of Jews.
 e) Moral Dimension

Every religion provides a moral compass. All religions have a sense that
there is a right way to live and act – morality. To live a moral life is to live out
the precepts of the religion. The idea of good and evil has been an effective
doctrine in providing us with moral guidance. It must be noted, however, that
the major religions vary in their definitions of what constitutes a good life,
and the line between moral philosophy and religion is far from clear.

f) Organizational Dimension

All religions recognize an authority. Religious matters are often settled by

religious authorities. Most religions today are headed by priests or pastors
who undergo years of training and education to fulfill their religious role as
leaders. In other religions, the emphasis is placed on an internal authority
and personal understanding of how to live in the world.

g) Theological Dimension

Religions introduce the existence and nature of a supreme being. This is the
defining feature of religion. A god is the primary object of all religious
practice and devotion. The understanding of a particular religion mainly
involves the necessary knowledge and appreciation of the supreme being or
beings. All forms of religious devotional systems are considered expressions
of the divine.

e.g. The Christian Concept of God:

Christianity centers its theology around the belief in one God, yet this God is
understood within the doctrine of the Trinity.

 One God: Christians believe in one God, the creator and sustainer of
the universe, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

 The Trinity: This core doctrine posits that God exists as three distinct
persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These
three persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and share the same divine
essence. This concept is a central mystery of Christian faith, explored
and debated by theologians throughout history.

Key Theological Concepts:

 Creation: Christians believe that God created the universe ex nihilo

(from nothing) and continues to sustain and uphold it.

 Incarnation: A cornerstone of Christian theology, the Incarnation

refers to the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus
Christ.

 Salvation: Christians believe that salvation from sin and eternal

separation from God is offered through faith in Jesus Christ and his
atoning sacrifice on the cross.

 The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is believed to be the active presence
of God in the world, guiding and empowering believers.

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

- A religious experience refers to a subjective encounter or connection

with the divine, the sacred, or a transcendent reality. These
experiences are deeply personal and often involve feelings of awe,
wonder, peace, or unity. They can manifest in various forms, such as
visions, mystical states, profound feelings of connection to nature or
other beings, or encounters with the supernatural. Religious
experiences play a significant role in shaping individual beliefs and
practices within religious traditions.
Maybe most of you, if not all, have encountered the term “religious
experience”. These two words may sound so simple but if we pay more
attention and reflect on them, we may realize that these two words are not
as easy as they appear. What is a religious experience? Which experience is
to be considered as religious? Do you strictly need to witness a miracle or
see God face to face so that you can say that you have had a religious
experience? These are only some of the questions surrounding the concept.

To understand religious experience, let us first define the two words,

separately. The term “religious” may refer to divinity and to something holy
or sacred; hence, it does not refer to the profane. It may also refer to a set of
beliefs. On the other hand, the word “experience” may be defined as
something that occurs in life, an event, often something personal or
subjective in nature. Hence, when put together, religious experience may
mean as a personal experience that pertains to an encounter of the Sacred
which is understood within a religious framework. It is an experience of
God.

Perhaps, in our modern society where science and technology have greatly
advanced, saying that you have encountered something religious is more
challenging than it was hundreds of years ago. Imagine telling your friends
that you encountered God, or you’ve witnessed a miracle happen, like water
turning into wine. Your friends might only think that you are delusional or
that you are just having a schizophrenic episode. Ultimately, they may judge
that you need psychiatric treatment and are meant for a sanatorium.

This should not be considered a problem because religious experiences are

really difficult to understand and even sometimes impossible to be grasped
by our limited minds. In fact, according to Rudolf Otto, religious
experience is not something readily given to everyone because it is
not something that is obvious. It takes effort and a great deal of
remembering in order to be conscious of it. Religious experiences are not
obvious when they happen. Most of the time they occur when we are
unaware. To give you a concrete example, even just the simple event of
meeting your crush can be also considered as a religious experience if it
leads you to transcendence, or when it takes you out of yourself.
It is not the recognition we get from our religious experience that is of
importance here. Also, to find out the reason or the cause of the religious
experience is not what we should exhaust our energy into. What we should
pay attention to are the consequences of our religious experience. As the
saying goes “it is not about the roots, but all about the fruits”. These
religious experiences are important because of their transformative power. It
is about how they affect our lives that lead us to devote ourselves to religion
more fully. A popular example would be the story of St. Paul on his way to
Damascus. If his religious experience did not take place, then Christianity
might not be the way it is today. Another would be that of Siddhartha
Gautama, or more popularly known as the Buddha. If he had not experienced
Nirvana, Buddhism might never have existed. For basketball fanatics, the
story of Jayjay Helterbrand may even qualify as a religious experience.
Helterbrand got addicted to drugs and women, but changed and started to
become a faithful believer because of a miracle that happened with his sick
daughter. Even the story of Pacquiao can also be a good example.

SPIRITUALITY

- The word spirituality is impossible to define precisely, since it points to

moments that can’t fully be captured in words. Some people have said
these moments are like an “oceanic feeling” because the experience
feels as big as an ocean. Others call it a “peak experience” or a
“religious experience.”
- A quick answer to the question is that spirituality is
concerned with the problems connected with the spirit or soul.
This definition presupposes that we are embodied spirits. What this
means is that we are composed of a body and a spirit. In addition,
according to Sawan Ashram, “Spirituality…is the science of
developing higher consciousness in Man on the level of the
soul, and making one transcend from mere bodily
consciousness into cosmic consciousness, so as to enable one
to understand the working of the divine plan.” Simply put,
spirituality pertains to “self-realization” and “God-realization”.
Man has the innate ability to transcend from the physical world to a
higher dimension of life which is the spiritual world. It is a personal
quest to seek something beyond the physical world. Thus, self-
transcendence is very essential in understanding one’s own spirituality.
While related, religious experience and spirituality are distinct concepts.

 Religious Experience:

o Focus: Specific encounters with the divine, often within a

particular religious framework.

o Examples: Visions, miracles, profound feelings of connection

during prayer or ritual.

o Context: Typically occurs within the context of an established

religion, often involving specific beliefs and practices.

 Spirituality:

o Focus: A broader search for meaning, purpose, and connection

to something greater than oneself.

o Examples: Meditation, mindfulness, contemplation of nature, a

sense of interconnectedness with all beings.

o Context: Can exist independently of organized religion.

Key Differences:

 Scope: Religious experience is a specific type of spiritual experience.

Spirituality encompasses a wider range of experiences and beliefs.

 Context: Religious experience is often tied to specific religious

doctrines and practices, while spirituality can be explored
independently of any organized religion.

 Focus: Religious experience often centers on encounters with the

divine within a specific religious framework, while spirituality may
focus on inner peace, self-discovery, and a sense of
interconnectedness with the universe.

In essence: Religious experience can be considered a subset of spirituality.

It's possible to have religious experiences within a spiritual framework, but
spirituality can exist without necessarily involving religious beliefs or
practices.

To put things into context, this example might help. Imagine that you have
every material thing that you would want and need. You have a nice house
and a car. Your bank accounts are loaded with money. You can afford to go to
different places. You get to eat whatever you want whenever you want it.
However, all of these nice things do not guarantee you a happy and
contented life. There is something that goes beyond the material realm
because we are embodied spirits. This is perhaps a manifestation of our
spirituality. We always seek something beyond what we can see, touch, hear,
smell, and feel. We have an inner dimension where we experience reality.

Spirituality can exist without religion. A person does not have to believe in
any religion in order to pursue spiritual growth. However, we may say that
both religiosity and spirituality would grow more if they are practiced
together. The terms “religious but not spiritual” and “spiritual but not
religious” are becoming a trend today. The problem with the former is that
there is a practice of religion but lacks an internalization. An example of
which is a person who attends worships regularly but does not embody the
teachings of their religion. On the other hand, the danger with the latter is
that everything is possible if spirituality is not guided by religion. However, if
spirituality and religiosity will be practiced together, it would produce a
better outcome. Spirituality can give better meaning to religiosity while
religiosity can guide our spirituality.

Summary and Conclusion

In this module, we have tried to elucidate different concepts such as religion,

religious experience and spirituality. We have learned that there are many
ways to define each concept that is why it is necessary for us to keep an
open mind in order to understand them properly. The study of religion is
harder and more technical than we think it is. However, as we move along
our discussions and start studying a particular religion, these concepts will
hopefully make more sense to us.