RELIGION and

SUPERNATURAL
 Religion
Recognition of belief in some source or power
that transcends humans and is capable of
assessing or harming them.

A kind of human behavior which can be classified

as belief and ritual concerned with supernatural
beings,powers and forces.
Control of the universe; means by which man
maintains himself in the scheme of things.
Response to mans needs for an organized
conception of the universe,for mechanism that
will allay his anxieties concerning his inability
to predict and understand events that do not
conform to natural law.
 Characteristics of Religion
Belief in the supernatural, which is powerful

An influence on human behavior.

An explanation for what is unexpected.

 Folk Primitive Religion
It is not clear to where or how religion
started but even the primitive tribes had
some kind of religion. American Indians
worshipped supernatural beings as did the
ancient Filipinos.

The Aztecs of Mexico worshipped a god.

City states of Athens worshiped
Athena.

Japanese emperor was considered as

descendant of the sun-god before WWII.
 Varieties of Religion
Religions of different kinds abound in the world
today.
Christian religions composed of;
Roman Catholics
Protestants
Orthodox
Judea Christianity
Non-Christian Religions consist of;
Islam
Buddhism
Confucianism
Hinduism
Animism
Shintoism
Jewish
 Beliefs in most societies regarding
Religion
Religion does things for people
It has to do with the power of the universe,the range
and intensity of these powers ,and the manner in
which they influence the lives of people.
There are methods by which these power enlisted in
behalf of man that may help man achieve certain
ends.
 Uses and functions of
Religion
Explain events or situation that defy
comprehension.
Provide comfort in times of stress and anxiety.
Set guidelines for conduct of human affairs and
furnish a sense of common purpose for members of
a social group.
Reinforce and maintain cultural values.
Reduce fears and anxiety and give man not only
a feeling of security in the uncertain present, but
the hope as well as tolerable future.
Reflect close and intimate relations with the
world of the supernatural and also with animals,
plants and other aspects of nature.
Support particular culturally defined standards of
behavior.
 Supernatural
The spiritual realm beyond human existence that
is thought to control the natural world.

The unusual experiences that lack of scientific

explanation or phenomena alleged to the outside
of sciences current ability to explain or measure.
 Supernatural Beliefs
Animatism
A belief that supernatural is all around you and could
be anything.
A potential unseen force that can be found all around
us
Animism, anima (breath or soul)
Belief that natural objects, natural phenomena and
the universe all possess individual souls.
 Euhemerism, Euhemerus
Idea that a real person can become deity or
supernatural immortal being through the constant
telling of their stories that leads to the distortion of the
actual story.
A belief an ancestor or historical being who is thought
to have supernatural power but in actual they are a
real person who is deified through the stories of his life
and after some time the story became the accepted
story.
 Zoomorphism
The attribution of animal qualities or characteristics to
a God.
The act of attributing animal qualities to things that
are not animals.
Many times is was mistaken for anthropomorphism,
which attributing human characteristics or qualities to
things that are not human.
 Educational Implications
It is important for every one to have a religion in
view of the role that religion plays in ones life.

Since religion influences behavior, one should

choose ones religion wisely.
Since the nature and function of all religions are
the same, there should be tolerance of all
religions.

One should study ones religion well and live it.

Apply the teaching of religion to self, family

community and the world.