Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences

Verse of the day:
“The smallest family will become a
thousand people,and the tiniest
group will become a mighty
nation.
At the right time, I, the Lord, will
make it happen.”
Isaias 60:22
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
 The Positive and
Negative Effects
of Religion

Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
 Positive
Effects
of Religion

Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
The relationship
between religion and
society is like a two-
way street. Both are
influencing each
other.

5
Throughout centuries, the
positive influences of religion on
society can be witnessed in
critical aspects of people’s day-
to-day activities.

6
Essenti
al What positive effects has
Questio
n
religion brought to
societies around the
world?

7
Religion and Society

Throughout
centuries, religions
impact the cultural,
economic, political,
educational, and
other social realities
of world societies. 8
 Religion and Society
Areas of Society
Influenced by
Religion
●Culture and
Lifestyle
●Science and
Scholarship
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 Religion and Society
Areas of Society
Influenced by
Religion
●Economics
●Politics and
Governance

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 Culture and Lifestyle

Religion’s impact on the culture and lifestyle of

people can be seen in many aspects of society such
as diet, fashion, morality, holidays, and many other11
Culture and Lifestyle

Holidays and Festivals

These are
important days in
the year that the
followers of a
particular religion
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 Culture and Lifestyle

Morality
Religions
differentiate good
action from bad
action, hence
influencing the
conduct of people 13
Culture and Lifestyle

Arts and Architecture

●Classical music was
usually inspired by world
religions.
●Worship places
(churches, mosques, and
temples) became venues 14
 Culture and Lifestyle
Judeo-Christian
Tradition
●Influenced the
western societies
●entered the
cultural fiber and
lifestyle of people 15
 Science and Scholarship

History indicates
that religion has
numerous
contributions to
science and
education through
the many diligent
16
Science and Scholarship

Language
●Religion and
language
complement the
existence of each
other.
17
Science and Scholarship

Language
●Many world religions
ordained a standard
language for the
proliferation of their
faith.
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 Science and Scholarship

Islam and Arabic

●The relationship
exists for many
years since the
time of
Muhammed.
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 Science and Scholarship

Islam and Arabic

●Many African, West
Asian, and
Southeast Asian
countries use Arabic
as their official or
co-official language.
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Science and Scholarship
Confucianism and
East Asian Society
Positive influence of
Confucianism to East
Asian society is very
evident through the
high regards of people
to education. 21
 Science and Scholarship

Formation of the University

●Education in
Europe was done
in cathedral
schools under the
Catholic Church's
supervision. 22
 Science and Scholarship

Formation of the University

●In 1088, the
University of
Bologna (Italy), the
world’s oldest
university was
established. 23
 How did religion
Check
Your
Progress

influence some societies'

culture and lifestyle and
science and scholarship?

24
Economics

World religions
are the driving
force for the
movement of
wealth among
societies and
states. 25
 Economics
Tourism
The pilgrims pump
prime the local
economies to create
jobs, businesses, and
other economic
activities by visiting 26
Economics
Social and Civic Work
World religions have
respective doctrines
about assisting the poor
and the needy hence it
leads to the creation of
many religious, civic
organizations and27
Politics and Governance

The connection of politics,

governance, and religion shaped
many societies and defined the 28
Politics and Governance
Confucian Code of Conduct
East Asian societies can
trace their way of
public administration
and governance to the
ancient code of conduct
of Confucius. 29
 Politics and Governance

Civil Service
Examination
Taking an exam
before joining the
government service
started in China in
the 3rd century BCE. 30
Politics and Governance

Shari’a
Islamic law
influences the
civil law of many
Islamic states; in
fact, some
adapted it in 31
 Politics and Governance
International Politics
Catholic popes
have been very
active in
maintaining the
international peace
process in the 32
 Negative Effects
of Religion

Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
Religion can
be a force for
evil as much
as it is for
good.

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Throughout
history, religion
has been used to
control and
influence people’s
lives.
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Essenti
al
Questio
n

How harmful is religion

to society?

36
 Negative Effects of Religion

● “Religion
inculcates fear
and fear breeds
cruelty.”
(Bertrand Russell,
British
philosopher) 37
 Negative Effects of Religion

● “Religion has
negative effects
on culture and
lifestyle, science,
economy, and
politics.
38
 Culture and Lifestyle

●Religious teachings guide

people’s way of life (clothes,
manners, morals).

●Religious teachings are used to

judge, discriminate, and justify
inequality among people 39
 Culture and Lifestyle

●fewer rights
and lower
status of
women

●discrimination
of LGBT 40
 Check
Your
Progress

Why is religion a source

of inequality?

41
 Science and Reason
● science versus
religion
● natural versus
supernatural
● new knowledge
versus absolute truth
● religion’s obstruction
of scientific
advancements 42
 Science and Reason

●creationism
versus evolution
●Catholic Church
versus RH Law
43
 Check
Your

What other scientific

Progress

theories are not

recognized by religion?

44
Economic Development

●the Protestant
work ethic theory
by Max Weber
●capitalism and
greed for wealth 45
 Economic Development

●religion and poverty

●“God is closer to the poor.”
●The true reward is in the afterlife.

46
 Economic Development
●fatalism
●“Religion is the opium of the
people.”
●The poorer the country, the more
religious its people are.
47
 Economic Development
Table 1. A worldwide survey of how important religion is for people (Gallup in
Crabtree, 2010)

Is religion an important part of your life?

Country Yes No Country Yes No

Bangladesh 99%+ 0% Hong Kong 27% 73%

Niger 99%+ 0% UK 24% 74%

Afghanistan 97% 3% Japan 24% 75%

Cambodia 96% 4% Denmark 19% 80%

Philippines 96% 4% Sweden 17% 82%

48
 Check
Your
Do you believe in the
idea that man cannot
Progress

serve both God and

wealth at the same time?
Explain your answer.

49
 Politics and Governance

●Religion is used for political

goals.
●theocracy
●restrictions and oppressions
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 Politics and Governance

●limited human rights and

personal choice
●modern theocracies (Iran and
Saudi Arabia)

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 Politics and Governance

●Religion contradicts
democracy.
●secularism
●democracy (open to change,
independent thought, and 52
 Politics and Governance

●religion (tradition,
conservatism, and conformity)
●Catholic Church versus divorce
in the Philippines
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 Politics and Governance

●Religion causes
war and conflict.
●violence and
terrorism

54
 Politics and Governance

●The Crusades
●religious
fundamentalism

55
 Check
Your
Progress What other conflicts in
history caused by
religion are not
mentioned?

56
Wrap- ●Religion poses many
Up
negative effects on society.
Critics see it as a tool used
by a select few to
manipulate people for their
benefit.
57
 ●Religion harms people’s
Wrap-
Up
culture and lifestyle because
it justifies control, inequality,
discrimination, and
limitations to freedom.
Women and members of the
LGBT community are
commonly prejudiced because 58
Wrap-
●Religion denies the
Up
advancement of scientific
ideas that run contrary to
religious doctrines. The
teaching of creationism as
a valid alternative to
evolution is one example.
59
 ● Religion has an effect on
Wrap-
Up people’s view of wealth and
poverty. Some religions
teach that wealth is God’s
blessing; others present it
as an evil to be avoided.
Some religions idealize
poverty, which makes poor 60
Wrap-
Up ●Religion has been used
throughout history to
advance political goals. It is
used to limit choice and
freedom and justify war,
terrorism, and other
atrocities. 61