Reflection Paper

in
Introduction to World Religion
and Belief System

Submitted by:

Ma. Allyza Jean B. Zorrilla

Year/Section:

AB-1B

Submitted to:

Ms. Sharon Jacinto

JUDAISM

Based on what I’ve learned from the first religion in our discussion, in which all
about the Judaism. I already knew that, it is very known as one of the oldest religion,
and originating for around 3,500 years. It is characterized by a belief in one
transcendent God, who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets
and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions. The people
who are belonging on this religion are called Jewish people or a Jew. The Jew refers
someone who practices Judaism and takes part in Jewish culture. The Judaism have
branches which is Conservative and Reform Judaism, the conservative Judaism
recognizes that change has always been part of a religion, while the Reform Judaism is
aim to modernize Judaism or both of the parents is Jewish to called it reform. Calvin
Goldsheider said that Jews form a distinctive group, in which in my opinion, maybe they
choose the people to be as their member, once they belong in the middle or a high
class.

When I watched the movie entitled “The boy in the striped pajamas” where in
they gather all the Jewish people in the place, where they belong or in a prison,
because the status of them is indigent not like them that have a position or wealthy. For
me the religion of Judaism is bias, I feel pity to those Jewish people who are not
wealthy, because they don’t deserve that kind of treatment; we are created by God to
find our purpose in life and not to be prison or just to follow the orders of people that has
a position.

They believe in God through the words of prophets. In my own perspective why
they believe in prophets when the prophets that they believing is just a human and not a
God. Did they realize of this kind of mindset? It makes nonsense because they didn’t
think wisely though we don’t really know our religion in the first place but we need to find
it by our own way. The religion of Judaism is prejudiced against their fellow men, just
because some of them are poor and lowly in life; they are underestimating it and
trampling on it as a human beings. They saw it as a threat to their religion, Is it right to
kill people that both of you are same on religion? For me, I don’t think so, because for
me killing is a sin so I’m trying to say that what sense of their religion if they doing this
kind of things.

After all, they have same beliefs and practices even though they don’t have the
same status in life but that’s not the right way to belittle or underestimate their fellow
men just because they are low status life. The servant of God has a good heart and
willing to help to others who are helpless. If you are a disciple of God, you will not do
something harm that can hurt to person. I learned from this religion that we shouldn’t
belittle someone, because God never taught us that and especially when you have the
same faith and religion.

CHRISTIANITY

As I learned from the discussion in subject of Introduction to Religion, We

generally think of religion as something that pertains to transcendence beyond the
current material existence. The reality however is that the day-today practice of religion
in involves societies whose cultural norms must be compatible with the tenents of the
religion, then the most likely the religion would be changed rather than the culture.
Some Christianity followers were Jews during the early Christian Church. Christian
continued to accept and read the Hebrew Scriptures.

A lot of people, their religion is Christian it’s like also a Catholic, they
believe in the symbolism of Cross. The Cross symbolized of Jesus Christ, the Cross
reminds the sacrifices of Jesus Christ that he paid for our sins. Many people believe in
the Cross, they have also practices which is “sign of the cross”. It is the first thing that
they do before and after of praying. At that time I was not doing the sign of cross
because I didn’t believe it. I am also a Christian or rather a Catholic, before I attended in
Church of God which is MCGI religion, I do some of the practices of being a Catholic but
I realized that why people do such things, like praising a statue or they the image that
called them God. Those days I didn’t praise or believe in statue because for me the
statue or the image that they say is God does not exist.

Many religions that I attended and I must say that they called it different name of
their God. Some of them have different fundamentals of divine teaching and have their
own doctrines but not in the bible. Their beliefs or reason is not accurate for me but
somehow it gains knowledge and gives me an idea about their religion, beliefs and
practices. I gather all the information and compared it that’s why I realized that one of
the religion remarks to my mind and heart.

I found the religion of MCGI through my father, he invites me to their church and
for every worships that I attending, I’ve realized something and also I learned a lot from
their church. What they say is true for me also because they have a proof when they
explaining and they elaborate it, for us to understand what they say. As a hearer of the
words of God, there are things that change me in a good way because of that I can no
longer do what I have done before. The religion of MCGI has given me a good lesson
and I am grateful to know that this religion has changed my perspective on life and
belief. Through listening and opening our minds, we will know the true religion and true
teaching of God. We are the only ones who can find for ourselves what true religion is,
because other religions will deceive us and become weary of listening so that we do not
fall into the wrong religion.

ISLAM

In the previous religion, they have own God, who is not really supposed to be
worshiped because they are just humans too who are also created by our God. The
Islam is the second most widespread religion next to Christianity. The Arabic term of
Islam, literally “surrender” illuminates the fundamental religious idea of Islam that the
believer called Muslim, that accept surrender to the will of Allah. Allah is viewed as the
sole of God, creator sustainer and restore of the world. They have two prophet of Islam
which is Muhammad the seal of prophets and the Adam, father of human kind. In the
Islam there’s no God but Allah and Muhammad is their messenger. This religion have
called Qur’an where punish is equivalent to the sin as you did to them. Is that what God
teaches that when someone’s doing badly to you, you will do the same? That’s not the
bible says.

In the religion of Islam, Muslims don’t believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross
and thus rejected the teaching of Christians. They also said that Jesus was only a
prophet and not son of god. I can say that their beliefs are very different and everything
they believe is inconceivable for me. I don’t know where they derive such beliefs. We
don’t know where it came from or what it’s their basis because the bible has many
languages translation. Base on my research, the religion of Islam, they reject the
translation of the Koran in another languages; they just accept is the Arabic translation.

On my second thought, how other non- Arabic can understand it? What if some
other Muslim doesn’t know the Arabic language. They should also considerate their
other fellow men who are lack of knowledge in languages. The word of God must be
spread and understood by the world because the bible is for everyone to understand. It
is the will of our God for us to understand his words/commandments to get us on the
right path or way. It makes you think that their religion is not that accurate and the
thought of their practices is incompatible with other people. Moreover, the other Muslim
commits crime like killing people, riot and other evil things that they do. It is not
acceptable in the sight of the God because he didn’t teach us to be a bad person and
do that such things.

With these beliefs you will never believe on it, that their practices and beliefs are
came from the bible. Base on my observation to this religion their practices are not so
appropriate because they are things that make them not a better person. For all I know,
God wants to be us a good person and do good to fellow men. Because it is for our
benefit as well, if you treat your fellow men well, they treat you as well. Also they are
just worshiping human , they do not know the true religion because they focus on what
they do in their religion as their practices.

HINDUISM

We tackled about Hinduism, it is one of the oldest religions in the world today. It
has own beliefs, traditions, advanced system, meaningful rituals, ethics, philosophy and
theology. Each of the religions has many followers depending on the presence.
Hinduism promotes four different goals, like other aspects of Hinduism, the goals are
split between those emphasized by the “life is good” perspective and those “life is bad”
perspective. The religion of Hinduism is commonly known as Sanatana Dharma
meaning “Eternal Religion” and also referred to as Varnasrmdharma which emphasizes
the fulfillment of duties and responsibilities. Hinduism is characterized and comprised of
diverse of beliefs and scriptures and practice system. The religion of Hindu practice
distinguishes itself from other religions by encouraging its followers to be tolerant to
other people with different beliefs.

Hinduism has many gods and they also worshiping statues of their called Gods,
the statue image is very different from the statue of the Catholic religion because their
Gods has many hand, feet or eye unlike in Catholic it’s more likely a human. Hindu
believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have
been resolved and moksha , liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Hindus
distance themselves from the westerns view of the Hindus religion. They disagree and
insist that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. It seems more that over so many
years for the Hindus their religion is a way of life for them.

In the movie of the PK which describe the religion of Hinduism, we saw that he
did not know his religious beliefs because he knew nothing of the world and the beliefs
of people but one thing is he has a faith in God even though he did not know where he
would join or participate in religion. PK doesn’t question God and his existence, even
supporting the belief in some manner, he does strongly condemns the farce marketed
by the God me. For him it is difficult to understand what the basis of their religions
classification. After all it is by the clothes and appearance that those around determine if
a certain person is a Hindu or Muslim.

On the other hand, even though many religions are deceiving him, in the end he
found the true religion that he belong. In the churches he visited in each religion, he
learned about their practices and beliefs but they are both the same worshiping God.
Through the ideas that he gathered from all religions, he came to know who the true
ones. They have many practices and beliefs that Hinduism do, but come to think of it, if
all of their practices are in the bible. Base in my research there’s so many things that
they don’t need to do it because the bible doesn’t say any of those practices and beliefs.
Our beliefs determine our thoughts and attitudes about life, which in turn direct our
actions, we create our destiny. Beliefs about sacred matters God, soul and essential to
one’s approach to life.

BUDDHISM

The Buddhism is a human- centered religion. It is led by Siddharta

Gautamas who is considered the greatest child of India. This religion focuses more on
the aspects of meditation and seeking enlightenment, rather than deliberately submitting
oneself to a God or gods. Buddhism, as well as multiple other religions, has a central
place for worship and the prayer that is most holy to the followers of the faith. They have
the five precepts in their religion which is not killing or causing harm to others, not taking
the not-given, avoiding sexual misconduct, avoiding false speech, and abstaining from
drink and drugs that cloud the mind.

Their precepts helps from people to be a better person, our actions can have
either harmful or beneficial consequences for oneself and others. The ethics of the
Buddhist is concerned with the practices that help one to act in ways that help rather
than harm. For me this religion is helpful to other people because their practices can
benefit to a person. Unlike to other religions, they didn’t think about the welfare of a
person, some of them are selfish and they don’t bother others if the status of their fellow
men is well. But they are still worshiped on the statue of Buddha which is just an image
of a human. You think the religion is right because of the good practices but there are
things we need to find out if their belief is concrete and have a basis.

On the other hand, they have principle called Four Noble truths contain the
essence of the Buddha’s teachings. These are the meditation of the Buddhism which is
too important for Buddhists. They have also eight division of Noble path which the
Buddha described the Eightfold path means to enlightenment, like a raft for crossing a
river. Buddha explained it in different ways and in different words to different people,
according to the stage of their development and their capacity to understand and follow
him. These are to protect from astray and to guide in living a proper life, a life that leads
to human perfection through the Middle way. It is guideline to discover what is right and
what is wrong; what is real and what is false; what is good and what is evil.
 In my own perspective, we don’t need to follow or obey just like in the religion of
Buddha they have called it Eightfold path in order to be a good human. For me it is up to
the person whether he/she will do right or wrong, that’s why we are given a freedom so
that we can discover the truth by ourselves. We are in the right place so we can know
what we doing, we have also a bible for us to guide in everyday lives and to be a good
people in society also in the sight of God. Religions are different but we have the same
basis which is the bible. The destiny is upon us whether is to deceive from the religions
or to find out what religion is and that can save to us from our sins.

CONFUCIANISM

The next religion that we tackled is Confucianism, it is origin in China. Their

influence extends beyond China to East Asia and through migration and cultural
diffusion, other parts of the world. Confucianism have their own way or concept of
doing. The world in the Confucianism is seen through the ideal of humanism. They are
concern learning to be human. First, I thought that are they not human? Why they
learning to be a human anyway? They are learning the self cultivation and self
realization. So here the four dimensions of humanity which is self, community, nature
and heaven. The Confucianism beliefs and practices has the same in the previous
religion they are both focus in how to be a good person or be a human. Maybe for them
humanity is a good person that doing good while doing things that are not pleasant or
bad is not human for them.

In the previous religion, I observe that the Buddhist practices were open and
similar enough to Confucian ideology that religious assimilation also occurred.
Confucianism is diversity understood and plays positive role in contemporary society. It
seems more like a way of life than a religion because it lacks the typical features of what
one expects to find in a religion traditions. Confucianism is more likely in modal teaching
unlike to other religions they are more likely in worshiped.

However, they seem that there is a religious dimension to Confucianism but not
in the sense of an institutionalized religion and it may be better understood in the sense
of a deep religiousness or spirituality. Endowing everyday action such as relating to a
family with spiritual significance, Confucianism does not carry any religious membership
or identity but religion is not an easy word to define in a brought sense. Confucian
philosophy is underpinned by a strong sense of spirituality. At the very least there is
inherent faith in the ability of human being to achieve sincerity and righteousness in
becoming a fully human in an ethical and not just a biological sense and realizing the
ideal of society by harmony.
 In the second thought, never compare and contrast the ideals of one tradition
because all of their beliefs and practices have their own ideals. It is up to them to
believe that the religion they have embraced is telling the truth. Many religious are
spreading today, so we must be wise in choosing our membership so that we will not
lose our path. There is a chance that we thought that the religion that we belong is right
but the truth is we are just missing our path. Because many religion is deceiving us, like
what I said in the previous religion we should choose the religion that can do us a good
person and will preach the gospel well. We’re the only one can discover what is right
and not religion. It is depending on the person and not in the practices of the religions
that will save for us in evil doings.

DAOISM

The discussion is all about the religion which is Daoism also spelled
Taoism, indigenous religion-philosophical tradition that has shaped life more than 2,000
years. Daoism made me think and reflect on their philosophies. The concept of Daoism
as a theme or group did not exist at the time of the classical Daoism. They focus on
observing and learning about Dao which means the way. The Dao talks about the
necessity of simplicity and the harmony in life. It’s more likely to other religions that
tackled, they want a simple life and to be a good person. In my own understanding Dao
is just the way you perceive the world to be, and it is different for every individual. Base
on my research Dao is particularly liked was that ‘language limits, and Dao is limitless.
Daoism is concerned with the ideas o nature of virtue, cultivation of the heart-mind, and
attainment of good governance. They promote holistic well-being and ritual mastery of
the spirit world.

The religion of Daoism is widely associated with colorful rituals, belief in

deities, ghosts, spirits, meditation in search of mystical union of Dao. Daoism is also
characterized by a positive, active attitude toward the occult and the metaphysical which
is theories on the nature of reality. In my own perspective this religion is something
interesting because they all want is to be simple in life. This one could be considered a
good religion but for me there something inadequate and I’m not satisfied to their beliefs
what I mean is they are all the same religion of Buddhism, Hindu etc. there are things
that I’m agree about the practices that they do but there are more things that I disagree
with. Their belief is about nature and it’s really fascinating for me. Dao believe that
there is a unified force behind all of nature, but they don’t worship.

Honestly, it gives me confusion to this religion that they don’t have gods but they
are all had practices. Come to think of it, what are the basis of their beliefs and
practices, where it came from? Maybe there god is only a human too like in other
religions. Several religions are based on teachings from their own book or scriptures. All
of the religions that I tackled on this reflection paper they have the similarities of
practices and some of it can be a good example as the religion. But some of their
beliefs and practices are not in the bible. We need to seek the truth and that will help us
to be a better person. We should think about the fact that religion is just facts but
accepting a tradition and a potentially important is the set of beliefs. Be aware us to the
religious group that often control their members mentally, physically, or sexually. We
should also learn about the good and bad aspects of certain religions. It is important to
know about the negative and positive actions done by people who claim a particular
religion.