CHRI

STI
ANRELI
GIOUSEDUCATI
ON

STRAND:I
NTRODUCTI
ONTORELI
GION.

Sub-st
rand:Concept
sofRel
igi
on

SPECI
FICLEARNI
NGOUTCOMES.
Byt
heendoft
hesubst
rand,
thet
eachert
rai
neeshoul
dbeabl
eto:
a)Expl
oret
hemeani
ngofr
eli
gionaccor
dingt
odi
ff
erentschol
ars.
b)Ev
aluat
edi
ff
erentper
spect
ivesofr
eli
giont
oenhanceanal
yti
cal
ski
l
ls(
theol
ogi
cal
,
psy
chol
ogi
cal
,ant
hropol
ogi
cal
,andsoci
ologi
cal
).
c)Recogni
zet
hei
mpor
tanceofdi
ff
erentmeani
ngsofr
eli
gionaccor
dingt
odi
ff
erent
schol
ars.

I
NTRODUCTI
ON

Thewor
dRel
i
gioni
sder
ivedf
rom t
heLat
i dr
nwor el
i
giowhi
chmeanspayi
nghomageorpay
ing
heedt
[Link]
i
gioni
spar
tandpar
cel
ofhumanexi
stencebecausei
toccupi
esani
mpor
tant
posi
ti
oni
nthel
i
vesoft
hepeopl
e.

Rel
i
giont
her
efor
emeansasy
stem ofbel
i
efsandpr
act
icesdi
rect
edt
oul
ti
mat
econcer
n,or
super
nat
ural
bei
ngwi
thsuper
nat
ural
powerwhi
chst
andst
hosev
[Link]
i
gioni
scr
uci
ali
na
soci
etyi
nter
msofacqui
sit
ionofgoodv
alues.

Meani
ngofRel
igi
onaccor
dingt
odi
ff
erentschol
ars.

[Link]
azer

Rel
i
gioni
sapr
opi
ti
ati
onorconci
l
iat
ionofpower
ssuper
iort
omanwhi
char
ebel
i
evedt
odi
rect
andcont
rol
thecour
seofNat
ureandofhumanl
i
fe.

Al
fr
edNor
thWhi
tehead

Rel
i
gioni
swhatani
ndi
vi
dual
doeswi
thhi
ssol
i
tar
iness.

Rudol
phOt
to

Rel
i
gioni
sthatwhi
chgr
owsoutof
,andgi
vesexpr
essi
ont
o,exper
ienceoft
hehol
yini
tsv
ari
ous
aspect
s.
Edwar
dBTy
lor

Rel
i
gioni
sthebel
i
efi
nspi
ri
tual
inspi
ri
tual
bei
ngs.

Cl
if
for
dGeer
tz.

Rel
i
gioni
sasy
stem ofsy
mbol
swhi
chact
stoest
abl
i
shpower
ful
,per
suasi
veandl
ong-
last
ing
moodsandmot
ivat
[Link]
ormul
ati
ngconcept
ionsofagener
alor
derofexi
stenceand
cl
othi
ngt
heseconcept
ionswi
thsuchaur
aoff
act
ual
i
tyt
hatt
hemoodsandmot
ivat
ionsseem
uni
quel
yreal
i
sti
[Link]
i
ffor
dvi
esr
eli
gionasacul
tur
alsy
stem.

Fr
edr
ickst
reng

I
nhi
sbook“
Under
standi
ngr
eli
giousl
i
fe“
Rel
i
gioni
sameanst
oul
ti
mat
etr
ansf
ormat
ion.

JosephAdl
er

Rel
i
gioni
sameansoful
ti
mat
etr
ansf
ormat
ionoror
ient
ati
[Link]
iet
iesofspi
ri
tual
exper
iences.

[Link]

I
nhi
sbookoft
hesoci
ologyofr
eli
gion,
hesay
s,r
eli
gioni
sli
kecul
tur
eandi
sasy
mbol
i
c
t
ransf
ormat
ionofexper
ience.

Cat
her
[Link]
banese

Rel
i
gioni
sasy
stem ofsy
mbol
s(cr
eed,
code)bymeansofwhi
chpeopl
eofacommuni
tyor
ient
t
hemsel
vesi
nthewor
ldwi
thr
efer
encet
obot
hor
dinar
yandext
raor
dinar
ypower
s,meani
ngsand
v
alues.

[Link]
rest
erChur
ch

Rel
i
gioni
sourhumanr
esponset
obei
ngal
i
veandhav
ingt
odi
e
Emi
leDur
khei
m

I
t’
sauni
fi
edsy
stem ofbel
i
efsandpr
act
icesr
elat
ivet
osacr
edt
hings,
(thi
ngssetapar
tand
f
orbi
dden)
,bel
i
efsandpr
act
iceswhi
chuni
tei
ntoonesi
ngl
emor
alcommuni
tycal
l
edaChur
cht
o
al
lthosewhoadher
et hem.“
ot Émi
l
eDur
khei
m andFunct
ional
i
[Link]
unct
ional
i
st,
Émi
l
e
Dur
khei
m(1858–1917)per
spect
iveonsoci
etyst
ressedt
henecessar
yint
erconnect
ivi
tyofal
lof
i
tsel
ement
[Link]
khei
m,soci
etywasgr
eat
ert
hant
hesum ofi
tspar
ts.

Recogni
zi
ngt
hesoci
alor
igi
nofr
eli
gion,
Dur
khei
m ar
guedt
hatr
eli
gionact
edasasour
ceof
sol
i
dar
it
yandi
dent
if
icat
ionf
ort
hei
ndi
vi
dual
swi
thi
nasoci
ety
,especi
all
yasapar
tof
mechani
cal
sol
i
dar
it
ysy
stems,
andt
oal
esser
,butst
il
li
mpor
tantext
enti
nthecont
extof
or
gani
csol
i
dar
it
y.

Rel
i
gioni
sthesel
f-v
ali
dat
ionofasoci
etybymeansofmy
thandr
it
ual
.

MaxWeber

Bel
i
evedr
eli
gioncoul
dbeaf
orcef
orsoci
[Link]
i
gioni
sasoci
ali
nst
it
uti
on,
becausei
t
i
ncl
udesbel
i
efsandpr
act
icest
hatser
vet
heneedsofsoci
ety
.Rel
i
gioni
sal
soanexampl
eofa
cul
tur
aluni
ver
sal
,becausei
tisf
oundi
nal
lsoci
eti
esi
nonef
orm oranot
her
.Weber
’smai
n
concer
nedwast
owhatext
entr
eli
giousconcept
ionoft
hewor
ldofexi
stencehav
einf
luenced
t
heeconomi
cbehav
iorofv
ari
oussoci
eti
es.

[Link]
azer

Rel
i
gioni
sapr
opi
ti
ati
onorconci
l
iat
ionofpower
ssuper
iort
omanwhi
char
ebel
i
evedt
odi
rect
andcont
rol
thecour
seofNat
ureandofhumanl
i
fe

Kar
lMar
x

Rel
i
gioni
sthesi
ghoft
heoppr
essedcr
eat
[Link]
otestagai
nstr
eal
suf
fer
ing,
iti
stheopi
um of
t
hepeopl
e,t
hei
l
lusor
ysunwhi
chr
evol
vesar
oundmanf
orasl
ongashedoesnotev
olv
ear
ound
hi
msel
[Link]
xist
hef
ounderandpr
imar
ytheor
istofMar
xism,
viewedr
eli
gionas"
thesoul
of
soul
l
esscondi
ti
ons"ort
he"
opi
um oft
hepeopl
e"..
..Att
hesamet
ime,
Mar
xsawr
eli
gionasa
f
orm ofpr
otestbyt
hewor
kingcl
assesagai
nstt
hei
rpooreconomi
ccondi
ti
onsandt
hei
r
al
i
enat
ion.

Kar
lMar
xar
guest
hatr
eli
gionwor
kst
ocal
m uncer
tai
ntyov
erourr
olei
ntheuni
ver
seandi
n
soci
ety
,andt
omai
ntai
nthest
[Link]
ningObj
ect
ives.

PaulTi
ll
ich

Rel
i
gioni
sthest
ateofbei
nggr
aspedbyanul
ti
mat
econcer
n,aconcer
nwhi
chqual
i
fiesal
lot
her
concer
nsaspr
eli
minar
yandwhi
chi
tsel
fcont
ainst
heanswert
othequest
ionoft
hemeani
ngof
l
i
fe.

PERSPECTI
VESOFRELI
GION.

Theol
ogi
cal

Rel
i
gioni
sregar
dedasav
irt
uewhi
chl
eadsonet
orendert
oGodt
he homaget
hati
sduet
o
hi
[Link]
stsofbel
i
evi
ngi
noneGodwhoi
sper
sonal
.Godhasi
nfi
nit
eat
tr
ibut
es.
Humanbei
ngsdev
elopanat
ti
tudeofabsol
uter
espectf
orGodandsubmi
tthemsel
vest
oHi
m.
Bel
i
efi
nGodi
sexpr
essedt
hroughwor
shi
[Link]
ist
iani
tyasar
eli
gioni
sthepr
ogr
essi
ve
r
evel
ati
onofGodt
ohumanki
ndcul
minat
ingi
nJesusChr
istandhumanki
nd'
sresponset
othi
s
cr
eat
ion.

Psy
chol
ogi
cal

Thewor
d“psy
chol
ogy
”isacombi
nat
ionoft
woGr
eekwor
dspsy
chemeani
ng“
soul
”,“
spi
ri
t”
,or
“
mind”andl
ogosmeani
ng“
sci
ence”or“
studyof
”.Psy
chol
ogyofr
eli
giont
ri
est
ounder
standt
he
causeandef
fectr
elat
ionshi
psofr
eli
giousexper
iencesandr
eli
giousconsci
ousnesssoast
obe
abl
etopr
edi
ctbehav
ior
s.I
tai
mst
ost
udyt
her
eli
giousconsci
ousnesswi
thi
nvest
igat
ionsi
n
r
eli
giousbehav
iorsy
[Link]
i
gioni
sgr
eat
erpsy
chol
ogi
cal
andphy
sical
wel
l
-bei
[Link]
i
gious
f
ait
handpr
act
icecanenhancepsy
chol
ogi
cal
wel
l
-bei
ngbybei
ngasour
ceofcomf
ortt
opeopl
e
i
nti
mesofdi
str
essandbyenhanci
ngt
hei
rsoci
ali
nter
act
ionwi
thot
her
sinpl
acesofwor
shi
p.
Manyst
udi
esf
indt
hatpeopl
eofal
lages,
notj
ustt
heel
der
ly,
arehappi
erandmor
esat
isf
ied
wi
tht
hei
rli
vesi
ftheyar
erel
i
[Link]
i
giosi
tyal
soappar
ent
lypr
omot
esbet
terphy
sical
heal
th,
andsomest
udi
esev
enf
indt
hatr
eli
giouspeopl
etendt
oli
vel
ongert
hant
hosewhoar
enot
r
eli
gious(
Mober
g,2008)
.

Ant
hropol
ogi
cal

Rel
i
gionr
epr
esent
sani
deal
subj
ectf
orant
hropol
ogi
sts.I
tis,
ont
heonehand,
ahuman
uni
ver
sal
—al
lgr
oupsofpeopl
edev
elopcompl
exesofsy
mbol
s,r
it
ual
s,andbel
i
efst
hatconnect
t
hei
rownexper
iencet
otheessent
ial
nat
ureoft
heuni
ver
[Link]
his,
howev
er,
ina
bewi
l
der
ingv
ari
etyofway
[Link]
i
gionsmayi
nvol
veonegod,
ornogods,
ort
housandsofgods;
t
heymayf
avorsi
mpl
efami
l
yri
tual
sorel
abor
atest
atef
est
ival
s;t
heymayv
aluei
ndi
vi
dual
t
ranscendence,
communi
tycer
emoni
ali
sm,
oranynumberofot
herconcept
ionsoful
ti
mat
e
[Link]
hropol
ogyofr
eli
gionexpl
oreshowt
hesedi
ff
erentf
ormsofr
eli
gioncomet
obe,
howt
heychange,
andwhatt
heymeanf
ort
henat
ureofhumanexper
[Link]
i
gionhasst
oodat
t
hecent
erofant
hropol
ogi
cal
resear
chsi
ncet
hedi
sci
pli
nebegani
nthemi
d-19t
hcent
ury
,andi
ts
dev
elopmenthasr
efl
ect
edt
rendsi
nthedi
sci
pli
negener
all
[Link]
lyst
udi
esofJamesFr
azer
,
[Link]
lor
,Émi
l
eDur
khei
m,andot
her
stendedt
ofocusoncl
assi
fyi
ngr
eli
gionsanddev
elopi
ng
model
sofr
eli
giousev
olut
ion.

Soci
ologi
cal

Rel
i
giondescr
ibest
hebel
i
efs,
val
ues,
andpr
act
icesr
elat
edt
osacr
edorspi
ri
tual
concer
ns.
Soci
alt
heor
istÉmi
l
eDur
khei
m def
inedr
eli
gionasa“
uni
fi
edsy
stem ofbel
i
efsandpr
act
ices
r
elat
ivet
osacr
edt
hings”(
1915)
.MaxWeberbel
i
evedr
eli
gioncoul
dbeaf
orcef
orsoci
alchange.
Kar
lMar
xvi
ewedr
eli
gionasat
ool
usedbycapi
tal
i
stsoci
eti
est
oper
pet
uat
einequal
i
[Link]
i
gion
i
sasoci
ali
nst
it
uti
on,
becausei
tincl
udesbel
i
efsandpr
act
icest
hatser
vet
heneedsofsoci
ety
.
Rel
i
gioni
sal
soanexampl
eofacul
tur
aluni
ver
sal
,becausei
tisf
oundi
nal
lsoci
eti
esi
nonef
orm
oranot
her
.Funct
ional
i
sm,
conf
li
ctt
heor
y,andi
nter
act
ioni
sm al
lpr
ovi
dev
aluabl
eway
sfor
soci
ologi
stst
ounder
standr
eli
gion.

Sub–St
rand:Di
mensi
onofRel
igi
on.

Speci
fi
clear
ningout
comes.

Byt
heendoft
hesub-
str
andt
het
eachert
rai
neeshoul
dbeabl
eto:

a)Assesst
hedi
mensi
onsofr
eli
gionaccor
dingt
odi
ff
erentschol
arst
opr
omot
eposi
ti
ve
r
efl
ect
ivepr
act
ice.

b)Ev
aluat
ethei
mpor
tanceoft
hedi
ff
erentdi
mensi
onsofr
eli
gioni
npr
omot
ing
cohesi
venessi
nthesoci
ety
.

c)Appl
ythedi
mensi
onsofr
eli
giont
oAf
ri
canr
eli
gionandChr
ist
iani
tyf
orspi
ri
tual
dev
elopment
.

d)Exami
net
her
oleofanessencest
atementasacomponentoft
hecur
ri
cul
um.

e)Recogni
zet
her
oleoft
hedi
mensi
onsofr
eli
gioni
npr
omot
ingsoci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
ty.
 a)Exper
ient
ialdi
mensi
on

Thi
sist
hedi
mensi
onofr
eli
gionwher
ethei
ndi
vi
dual
hascont
actwi
tht
hei
nvi
sibl
eort
he
spi
ri
tual
wor
[Link]
sonexper
iencest
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ldt
hroughencount
erswi
thGod,
Angel
s,
spi
ri
ts(
goodandbad)andancest
[Link]
shappensi
ndi
ff
erentway
ssuchast
hroughpr
ayer
s,
dr
eams,
visi
ons,
clai
rvoy
ance(
powert
oper
cei
vet
hingst
hatar
enotpr
esentt
othesenses)
,the
hol
yspi
ri
tsandper
sonal
exper
[Link]
iencesar
est
rongandr
eal
andl
eav
ean
i
mpactont
hosewhounder
got
hem.

Per
sonal
rel
i
gioni
nvol
vesbel
i
efi
nthei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ld,
whi
chi
sappr
opr
iat
edoraccessedei
ther
t
hroughpr
ayer
.Rel
i
giouspeopl
ebel
i
evet
hatGodspeakst
othem i
nani
nti
mat
ewayandt
hat
t
heyhav
eani
nnerexper
ienceoft
heuni
ver
se.

Theexper
ient
ial
dimensi
oni
sani
mpor
tantonei
nar
eli
gion.I
tist
hef
oundat
ionoft
heot
her
di
mensi
[Link]
hercomponent
sofr
eli
giononl
yshapeanencount
erwi
tht
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ld.

b)My
thol
ogi
caldi
mensi
on

Thet
erm my
thol
ogi
cal
isder
ivedf
rom t
hewor
d“my
th”
,whi
chmeansast
ory
.Amy
thmaybe
t
rueorf
alsebuthasahi
ddenmeani
ngt
obei
nter
pret
[Link]
thol
ogi
cal
dimensi
oni
s
char
act
eri
zedbymy
ths,
fol
ktal
esorst
ori
[Link]
ptoexpl
aini
mpor
tantr
eli
giousev
ent
sand
deept
rut
hsabouthumanl
i
[Link]
thscov
ershi
stor
ical
event
sofr
eli
gioussi
gni
fi
cancei
na
t
radi
ti
onorcommuni
[Link]
ori
esandev
ent
sexpl
aint
heor
igi
nofcer
tai
nbel
i
efsand
pr
act
icesandpr
ovi
demeani
ngandpur
posei
nli
[Link]
thol
ogi
cal
dimensi
onhel
pst
opr
eser
ve
andt
ransmi
trel
i
giousbel
i
efsandpr
act
ices.

c)Doct
ri
naldi
mensi
on

Adoct
ri
nei
sasetofbel
i
efs/pr
inci
pleshel
dandt
aughti
nar
eli
gionorapol
i
tical
par
[Link]
sis
t
hedi
mensi
onofr
eli
giont
hatgi
vesexpl
anat
ionandcl
ari
tyt
orel
i
giousbel
i
efsandpr
act
ices.

I
tfor
mst
hepi
l
larofr
eli
giousdoct
ri
nesanduni
fi
esr
eli
giousf
ait
hsot
hatal
lmember
soft
he
samer
eli
gionbel
i
eveandpr
act
icet
hesamet
hing.i
tfor
mst
hef
oundat
ionofr
eli
giousbel
i
efs
andpr
act
ices.t
hisdi
mensi
oni
sexpr
essedt
hrough:
 Cr
eedssuchast
heapost
le’
scr
eed.t
hisexpr
essest
hebel
i
efi
nGodt
hef
athert
heson
andt
hehol
yspi
ri
t.
 Pr
over
bs.t
hiscont
ainsi
mpor
tantgui
dingpr
inci
plesofl
i
ving.
 Thet
encommandment
s.t
heyof
fergui
del
i
nesonhowt
orel
atet
ogodandot
herpeopl
e.
d)Ri
tualdi
mensi
on

Ar
it
ual
isar
eli
gious/
sol
emncer
emonyi
nvol
vi
ngaser
iesofact
ionsper
for
medaccor
dingt
oa
pr
escr
ibedor
der
.Ther
it
ual
dimensi
oni
sani
mpor
tantcomponentofr
eli
gionbecausei
t
pr
ovi
desanoppor
tuni
tyf
ort
hei
ndi
vi
dual
toexpr
esst
hei
nnerexper
ienceofr
eli
gion.I
tist
he
cer
emoni
alsi
deofar
eli
gionwi
thi
nnerandout
eraspect
[Link]
esofi
nneraspect
sincl
ude;
f
eel
i
ngsofgui
l
t,medi
tat
ionandsi
l
entpr
ayer
[Link]
eraspect
sincl
ude;
ver
bal
pray
ers,
singi
ng,
danci
ng,
li
bat
ions,
off
eri
ngsandsacr
if
ices.
Ri
tual
giv
esaki
ndofcommuni
cat
iont
hroughsy
mbol
i
sm andi
nper
for
mingt
hem outgi
vest
he
bel
i
ever
sasol
emni
tyandi
mpor
tance.
e)Et
hicaldi
mensi
on

Thewor
d“et
hical
”isder
ivedf
rom t
hewor
d“et
hics”whi
chr
efert
omor
alpr
inci
plesgov
erni
ng
conduct
.Theet
hical
dimensi
onset
sthemor
alsst
andar
dsf
oracommuni
ty.I
tincl
udes
t
eachi
ngsonmor
albehav
ior
,val
ues,
nor
ms,
taboos,
lawsandcust
[Link]
sdi
mensi
onhas
cl
eargui
del
i
nesonhowt
odeal
wit
hdev
iantbehav
ior
.
Ev
eryr
eli
gionhascodeofet
hics,
ethi
csconcer
nst
hebehav
ioroft
hei
ndi
vi
dual
andt
osome
ext
entt
hecodeofet
hicsoft
hedomi
nantr
eli
gioncont
rol
sthecommuni
[Link]
ngsdonot
al
way
sli
veupt
othest
andar
dst
heypr
[Link]
i
gioni
ssoi
nfl
uent
ial
inmol
dinget
hical
at
ti
tudesoft
hesoci
eti
est
heyar
epar
tof
.Rel
i
gioni
snotj
ustaper
sonal
mat
ter
,iti
spar
toft
he
l
i
feofacommuni
ty.

f
) Soci
aldi
mensi
on

Thesoci
aldi
mensi
oni
stheor
gani
zat
ional
par
tofr
eli
gion.I
tdeal
swi
thr
elat
ionshi
psamong
peopl
eint
hecommuni
ty,
fami
l
y,ageset
sandwi
thi
nthewhol
eki
nshi
psy
[Link]
sdi
mensi
on
i
simpor
tantbecausei
t:
 Enhancesuni
tyandpeaceamongpeopl
e.
 I
dent
if
iespeopl
eofapar
ti
cul
argr
oup.
 Hel
pspr
ovi
desecur
it
yoft
hosecl
osel
ykni
ttoget
her
.
  Faci
l
itat
esgui
dingandcounsel
l
ing.
 Hel
psi
nthef
ormat
ionofcul
tur
e.
 Enhancesasenseoft
oget
her
nesst
hroughshar
ingandf
ell
owshi
p.
 Pr
eser
vescul
tur
ali
dent
it
y.
g)Mat
eri
aldi
mensi
on

Ref
erst
orepr
esent
ati
onofr
eli
gioni
ntangi
blef
ormt
hroughwor
ksofar
tli
ker
ockpai
nti
ngs,
pi
ctur
es,
shr
ines,
bui
l
dingsl
i
kechur
ch,
mosqueet
[Link]
mbol
i
zer
eli
giousbel
i
efsofa
communi
[Link]
eri
alexpr
essi
onsar
eimpor
tantf
orbel
i
ever
sint
hei
rappr
oacht
odi
vi
nee.
g.,
Meccaf
orMusl
i
ms,
Vat
icanCi
tyf
orcat
hol
i
c.

I
mpor
tanceoft
hedi
mensi
onofr
eli
giont
otheSoci
ety

 Thedi
mensi
onsar
eimpor
tantbecauset
hroughpr
ayeranddi
vi
nei
nter
act
ion,
indi
vi
dual
s
gai
nahei
ght
enedsenseofsel
f-
wor
thandcont
rol
,asi
tst
rengt
henst
hef
eel
i
ngt
hatt
hey
ar
eval
uedandhel
pedbyadi
vi
nef
orce.

 Thesoci
aldi
mensi
onf
ormsaf
undament
alpar
tofev
eryRel
i
giont
hushel
psi
nbr
ingi
nga
gr
ouporasoci
etywhosedut
yist
owat
chov
ert
her
eli
giousv
iewsoft
hef
oll
ower
s,t
o
car
ryoutcer
tai
ntaskst
oget
her
,andal
sot
ocont
rol
thecul
ti
candet
hical
behav
iour
sof
t
hebel
i
ever
[Link]
ri
age.

 Thepr
act
ical
andr
it
ual
dimensi
oncanbeseeni
nal
lthr
eer
eli
gionst
hroughwor
shi
pand
r
it
ual
sandpat
ter
nsofbehav
iort
hel
att
erar
ethoseact
sthathel
pthebel
i
everdev
elop
spi
ri
tual
awar
enessoret
hical
insi
ght
,suchasy
ogaormedi
tat
ioni
nBuddhi
sm and
Hi
ndui
sm.

 Ther
it
ual
dimensi
oncanbeseent
hroughwor
shi
pandr
it
ual
sandpat
ter
nsofbehav
ior
,
t
hisdi
mensi
onhel
pst
hebel
i
everdev
elopspi
ri
tual
awar
enessoret
hical
insi
ght
,suchas
y
ogaormedi
tat
ioni
nBuddhi
sm andHi
ndui
sm.

 Exper
ient
ial
andemot
ional
dimensi
onofr
eli
gionexpl
ainst
hatr
eli
gionf
eedsonhuman
emot
ionsandkeyev
ent
sfr
om hi
stor
ytoi
l
lust
rat
ethi
sis,
theenl
i
ght
enmentoft
he
Buddha,
ort
hev
isi
[Link]
sonwi
l
lnotf
oll
owsomet
hingwi
thout
meani
ngoremot
iondr
ivi
ngi
t.

 Themy
thi
cdi
mensi
onofr
eli
gioni
nvol
vesuseofst
ory
tel
l
ingi
nrel
i
gion,
all
fai
thsuses
 st
ori
est
oil
l
ust
rat
ethei
rbel
i
efsorev
ent
sinhi
stor
y,whet
hert
heymi
ghtbeoft
hingst
o
come,
stor
iesar
eof
tenaccount
sofhi
stor
y my
thscanenhancet
hebel
i
ever
’sf
ait
hand
ar
eof
teni
ntegr
atedi
ntor
it
ual
s.

 Thedoct
ri
nal
dimensi
onofr
eli
giont
alksaboutt
hei
mpor
tanceoft
hehol
ybooks/
doct
ri
[Link]
ncet
hedoct
ri
nest
ypi
cal
l
yhav
eanaccountoft
hespi
ri
tual
figur
es,
and
bel
i
ever
sreadt
hedoct
ri
nest
ogai
nani
nsi
ghti
ntot
hel
eader
’sl
i
fe;
andt
hus,
str
ivet
o
becomemor
eli
ket
hem orabi
debyt
hei
rteachi
ngs.
egMoses.

DI
MENSI
ONSOFRELI
GIONASAPPLI
EDTOTRADI
TIONALAFRI
CANCOMMUNI
TIES.

a)Exper
ient
ialDi
mensi
on

Peopl
eint
het
radi
ti
onal
Afr
icancommuni
ti
esexper
iencet
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ldt
hrough
v
ari
ousway
ssuchasdr
eamsandv
isi
[Link]
e,ancest
orsmayt
alkt
othel
i
ving
t
hroughdr
eamswher
ebyt
heyexpr
esst
hei
rdi
ssat
isf
act
ionswi
thhowt
hingsar
ebei
ng
doneandgi
veappr
opr
iat
eadv
iceonhowt
hingsshoul
dbedone.

Ther
eli
giousspeci
ali
stsl
i
keseer
s/pr
ophet
s,di
vi
ner
s,r
ain-
maker
s,medi
cinepeopl
eand
el
der
sal
soexper
iencet
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ld.T heydot
hist
hroughdr
eams,
visi
ons,
maj
orev
ent
s,i
ntui
ti
on,
fal
l
ingi
ninat
ranceanduset
heuseofmedi
ums.

Ot
hergr
oupsoft
hepeopl
ewhoex
per
iencest
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ldar
emagi
ciansand
sor
cer
ers.t
heyconsul
tthebadspi
ri
tst
ocauseev
ili
nthecommuni
ty.

Exampl
esofseer
sandpr
ophet
swhoexper
iencedt
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ldi
ncl
udet
he
f
oll
owi
ng;

 Sakawaf
rom ki
si
iwhopr
ophesi
edaboutt
hecomi
ngoft
hewhi
tepeopl
[Link]
ophesi
ed
t
hatt
heywoul
dcomewi
thacockwhi
chwoul
dmakenoi
seunderacer
tai
ntr
ee.t
his
pr
ophecywasf
ulf
il
ledwhent
hewhi
tepeopl
ear
ri
vedi
ngusi
il
andandbl
ewat
rumpeton
ar
ri
val
.

 Koi
tal
elSamoei
from t
heNandi
communi
typr
ophesi
edaboutt
hel
ongi
ronsnaket
hat
woul
dmov
eov
ert
hei
rlandpuf
fi
[Link]
spr
ophecywasr
eal
i
zedi
nthebui
l
dingof
t
heKeny
a-Ugandar
ail
wayandt
rai
nsmov
ingl
eav
ingbehi
ndt
rai
l
sofsmoke.

 MugowaKabi
rof
rom t
heGi
kuy
ucommuni
tyal
sopr
ophesi
edaboutt
hel
ongsnaket
hat
 woul
dcomepuf
fi
ngf
ir
[Link]
sopr
ophesi
edaboutt
hecomi
ngoft
hewhi
te
peopl
ewhowoul
dbecl
othedl
i
kebut
ter
fl
iesandf
lyov
ert
hel
[Link]
ophecyr
efer
red
t
othewhi
tepeopl
ewhowor
ecol
oredcl
othesandal
sousedaer
opl
anest
ofl
yov
ert
he
l
and.

b)My
thol
ogi
caldi
mensi
on.

Amy
thi
sast
orywi
thahi
ddenmeani
[Link]
thol
ogi
cal
dimensi
onsi
ntheAf
ri
can
t
radi
ti
onal
communi
tyi
sappl
i
edt
hrought
hef
oll
owi
ngway
s:

a)St
ori
esofor
igi
n.

Ev
eryAf
ri
cancommuni
tyhasmy
thst
hatexpl
ainsi
tsor
igi
nandhowt
hewor
ldcamei
nto
exi
[Link]
lmy
thsexpl
ainhowGodcr
eat
edt
hef
ir
stpar
ent
[Link]
e,amongt
heAgi
kuy
u,
gi
kuy
uandmumbi
wer
ethef
ir
stpar
ent
swhi
l
eamongt
heAbabukusut
hef
ir
stpar
ent
swer
e
MwambuandSel
[Link]
thsshowhowGodwascl
oset
opeopl
eandpr
ovi
dedf
ort
hei
r
needs.

b)My
thsofhowhumanbei
ngswer
esepar
atedf
rom God.

TheHausapeopl
eofNi
ger
iahav
eamy
thwhi
chexpl
ainswhyGodmov
edt
otheski
[Link]
war
nedt
heHausanott
omakenoi
sebypoundi
ngy
[Link]
rr
it
atedbyt
hei
rconst
antnoi
se
ofpoundi
ngy
amst
her
eforbecauseoft
hei
rdi
sobedi
encegodsepar
atedhi
msel
ffr
om t
hem.

c)My
thsaboutt
hedeat
h.

Ther
ear
emy
thst
hatexpl
aindi
ff
erentaspect
sofhumanl
i
fesuchaspower
sint
heancest
ral
wor
ldandhowsuf
fer
inganddeat
hcamei
ntot
hewor
[Link]
hesemy
thsexpl
ainhowa
chamel
eonwassentbyGodt
ohumanbei
ngst
otel
lthem t
hatt
heywoul
dli
vef
orev
[Link]
weav
erbi
rdov
erheadt
hemessage,
flewandov
ert
ookt
hechamel
eonanddel
i
ver
edt
hewr
ong
[Link]
smessagewast
hatpeopl
ewoul
dbegi
ndy
[Link]
het
imet
hechamel
eonar
ri
ved
wi
tht
hecor
rectmessagepeopl
ehadal
readyr
ecei
vedt
hewr
ongmessage.f
rom t
henondeat
h
camei
ntot
hewor
ld.

c)Doct
ri
naldi
mensi
ons

TheAf
ri
cansetofbel
i
efsandpr
inci
plesar
enotwr
it
tendownbuti
nter
nal
i
zedandpassedon
f
rom onegener
ati
ont
oanot
her
.thedoct
ri
nal
dimensi
oni
sexpr
essedi
npr
over
bs,
riddl
es,
maxi
ms(
shor
tsay
ings)andt
heobser
vanceofr
it
esofpassageandpr
inci
plessetbyel
der
s.

(
i)Pr
over
bs

Thesear
eshor
tsay
ingswi
thhi
ddenmeani
[Link]
ainsal
i
entt
eachi
ngsonat
ti
tudes,
char
act
erandmor
als.f
orexampl
e,i
nthel
uhy
acommuni
ty,
thepr
over
b“at
reeoncebenti
shar
d
t
ost
rai
ght
en“
meanst
hati
fay
oungper
soni
snotcor
rect
edear
lyi
nli
fe,
itmaybedi
ff
icul
tto
changehi
s/herchar
act
erl
ateroni
nli
fe.

(
ii
)Ri
ddl
es

Ar
epuzzl
eswhosemeani
ngshav
etobei
nter
pret
ed.r
iddl
esar
eusedt
otr
ainpeopl
etot
hinkf
or
t
hemsel
ves.f
orexampl
e,“
myhousehasnodoor“
Whatdoy
out
hinki
sthemeani
ngoft
his
r
iddl
e?

(
ii
i)
Maxi
ms

Ar
eshor
tsay
ingscont
aini
ngt
rut
hsandpr
inci
plesofl
i
fe?Theyhav
emor
alt
eachi
ngs

(
iv)
Pri
nci
plessetbyt
hecounci
lofel
der
s.

Theypr
ovi
degui
danceonal
laspect
soft
hecommuni
ty.f
orexampl
es,
oni
nter
-per
sonal
r
elat
ionshi
psandonhowt
orel
atewi
tht
hei
nvi
sibl
ewor
ldt
hati
[Link]
orsandspi
ri
ts.

d)Ri
tualdi
mensi
on

Thet
radi
ti
onal
Afr
icanr
eli
gioni
sexpr
essedt
hroughsomeoft
hef
oll
owi
ngr
it
ual
s:

 Pr
ayi
ngasawayofcommuni
cat
ingwi
thGod

 Of
fer
ingsacr
if
icest
oGod

 Pour
ingl
i
bat
iont
oappeaset
heancest
ors

 Si
ngi
ng,
danci
nganddr
um beat
ingt
oexpr
essf
eel
i
ngs

 I
nvoki
ngacur
seasadi
sci
pli
nar
yact
ion

 Kneel
i
ngandbowi
ngdown,
asassi
gnofr
espectf
orGodandancest
ors

 Cl
osi
ngey
eswhenpr
ayi
ngt
oincr
easeconcent
rat
ionandt
ost
opanydi
srupt
ion.
  Shar
ingf
ooddur
ingcer
emoni
esasasi
gnofuni
ty

 Mi
mingasassi
gnofsi
l
entpr
ayer
.

 Respect
ingsacr
edpl
acessuchasshr
ines.

e)Et
hicaldi
mensi
on

Ev
eryAf
ri
cancommuni
tyhassomer
ulesandacodeofet
hicswhi
chgov
ernt
he
behav
ior
sofev
erymemberoft
hatcommuni
[Link]
eryper
soni
sexpect
edt
oabi
debyt
he
samesoci
alst
andar
ds,
taboos,
nor
ms,
cust
omsandl
aws.

Ther
ear
ecl
earpr
inci
plest
hatgov
erndi
ff
erentr
elat
ionssuchasofpar
ent
-chi
l
d,wi
fe-
husband,
age-
mat
esandot
hermember
soft
hecommuni
ty.

Respectandobedi
encewer
ethekeypr
inci
plest
hatgov
ernedal
ltheser
elat
ionshi
ps.

Thosewhogoagai
nstt
hesetpr
inci
plesorbr
eakt
het
aboosar
epuni
shedi
nvar
iousway
s
t
hrough;

 Ex-
communi
cat
ionf
ormur
der
ers.

 Fi
nesf
orexampl
e,f
ort
hosewhocommi
tadul
ter
y

 Cur
sesf
ort
hosewhobr
eakt
aboos

 Thosewhogoagai
nstsoci
etal
nor
mshav
etounder
gor
it
ual
cleansi
ngi
nor
dert
obe
r
est
oredt
othecommuni
ty.

f
) Soci
aldi
mensi
ons

Soci
aldi
mensi
onsofr
eli
giondeal
swi
thr
elat
ionshi
psamongpeopl
[Link]
ngsar
esoci
al
bei
ngsbecauset
heyr
elat
ewi
thoneanot
heri
ncer
tai
nway
s.t
her
efort
heyar
eint
er-
dependenti
n
nat
ure.

Thecommuni
tygi
vesaper
sonessenceofhi
s/herbei
ngt
her
eforev
ery
oneseeshi
msel
f/her
sel
f
co-
exi
sti
ngwi
thot
her
[Link]
ery
thi
ngdonei
nthecommuni
tyi
sacommunal
aff
air
.

Theki
nshi
pti
esar
ever
yst
rong.f
orexampl
e,dur
ingsoci
alf
unct
ionssuchasi
nit
iat
ions,
mar
ri
ageanddeat
hcer
emoni
esal
lmember
soft
hef
ami
l
yandcommuni
typar
ti
cipat
eand
member
sshar
eresponsi
bil
i
ties,
eatt
oget
heranddi
scussi
ssuesaf
fect
ingt
hecommuni
ty.
DI
MENSI
ONSOFRELI
GIONASAPPLI
EDTOBI
BLI
CALEXPERI
ENCES.

Bi
bli
cal
exper
iencesr
efert
othei
nci
dencest
hatar
erecor
dedi
nthebi
blet
hatexpl
ain
di
mensi
onsofr
eli
gion.

a)Exper
ient
ialdi
mensi
ons.

(
Genesi
s18:
2-23;
Exodus3:
4-22;
Isai
ah6:
1-13;
Luke1:
11-
20)

I
sexpr
essedi
nthebi
blei
n:

 Al
lbi
bli
cal
stor
iesi
nwhi
chGodspeakst
opeopl
eei
ther
,di
rect
lyori
nvi
sions.

 Al
lthei
nci
dent
sint
heBi
blei
nwhi
changel
svi
sitorappeart
opeopl
e

 Al
lthebi
bli
cal
exper
iencesofi
nnerconv
ersi
ons.

Thef
oll
owi
ngpeopl
eexper
iencedt
hepr
esenceofGodi
nthebi
ble.

 Abr
ahamsencount
erwi
tht
hemen(
Genesi
s18:
2-33)

I
tisast
oryi
nwhi
chAbr
aham hadadi
rectexper
iencewi
thGodwher
etheyengagedi
na
conv
ersi
onanddi
scussedanumberofi
ssues;
thatSar
ahwoul
dhav
easoni
nherol
dage
becausenot
hingi
simpossi
blewi
thGod,
Godr
eassur
edAbr
aham ofHi
sear
li
erpr
omi
sest
ohi
m
andal
soGodwoul
dnotdest
royt
heci
ti
esofSodom andGomor
rahi
fther
ewer
eatl
eastt
en
r
ight
eouspeopl
edwel
l
ingi
nthem .
Abr
aham pl
eadedpassi
onat
elywi
thGodnott
odest
royt
hese
ci
ti
es.

 Mosesencount
erwi
thGod.(
Exodus3:
4-22)

Moseshadadi
rectexper
iencewi
thGoddur
inghi
scal
l

 I
sai
ahencount
erwi
thGod(
Isai
ah6:
1-13)

I
sai
ahexper
iencedt
hepr
esenceofGodt
hroughav
isi
oni
nthet
empl
eofJer
usal
[Link]
isi
on
i
sdescr
ibedi
nasy
mbol
i
[Link]
ought
hisv
isi
on,
Isai
ahexper
iencedGodi
nthef
oll
owi
ng
way
s:Hesawt
hel
ordseat
edonhi
sthr
one,
li
ft
edhi
ghup.t
hisl
edt
oIsai
aht
ounder
standGods
maj
est
[Link]
roundedbyf
lami
ngcr
eat
ures,
whi
chhadsi
xwi
[Link]
exper
iencedt
heshaki
ngoft
hef
oundat
ionsoft
het
empl
easar
esul
toft
hecr
eat
ures’
voi
[Link]
al
soexper
iencedt
hesmokef
il
ledwi
tht
empl
e.

 Zachar
iah’
sencount
erwi
tht
heangel
ofGod(
Luke11:
11-
20)

Zachar
iahhadanexper
iencewi
tht
heangel
Gabr
iel
int
het
empl
ewheni
twashi
stur
nto
admi
nist
eri
ncenseont
heal
tar
.

[Link]
thol
ogi
caldi
mensi
on

I
tdeal
swi
thmy
thsorst
ori
est
hatexpl
aini
mpor
tantr
eli
gioust
eachi
[Link]
thol
ogi
cal
dimensi
on
i
sappl
i
edi
nthef
oll
owi
ngbi
bli
cal
account
s:

 Fi
rstcr
eat
ionaccount(
Gen1-
2:1-
4)

Themy
thexpl
ainshowGodcr
eat
edt
heuni
ver
seandev
ery
thi
ngi
nitf
rom not
[Link]
s
por
tray
edashav
ingbr
oughtev
ery
thi
ngi
ntoexi
stencebyt
hepowerofhi
swor
[Link]
ery
thi
ngGod
cr
eat
[Link]
izesGodast
hecr
eat
orandt
hesour
ceofl
i
fe.

 Secondcr
eat
ionaccount(
Gen2:
5-25)t
hemy
thexpl
ains

 t
hei
mpor
tanceofmar
ri
agewhi
chi
sforcompani
onshi
p.

 whypeopl
ewor
kasco-
creat
orswi
thGod

 Howev
ery
thi
ngt
hatGodcr
eat
edwast
oful
fi
ll
theneedst
heneedsof
humanbei
ngs.

 Whyhumanbei
ngsshoul
dobeyGodf
ail
uret
owhi
cht
heywoul
dsuf
fer
sev
ereconsequencesl
eadi
ngt
odeat
h

 Thef
allofhumanbei
ngs(
Gen3:
1-24)

Themy
thexpl
ainshowt
hef
ir
sthumanbei
ngsdi
sobey
edGodbyeat
ingt
hef
rui
tfr
om t
he
f
orbi
ddent
[Link]
rdi
sobedi
encemadeGodangr
y,andhencet
heywer
epuni
[Link]
esul
t,
t
heywer
esepar
atedf
rom Godandchasedawayf
rom t
heGar
denofEden.

 Thef
lood(
Gen7)
Themy
thexpl
ainshowGodpuni
shedhumanbei
ngst
hrought
hef
loodbecauseoft
hei
r
wi
ckedness.I
tal
soexpl
ainshowGodsav
edNoahandhi
sfami
l
y.t
hest
oryt
ell
sushowGod
i
nst
ruct
edNoaht
obui
l
daboatt
osav
ehi
mfr
om t
hef
[Link]
smy
thal
soexpl
ainst
hat
di
sobedi
encel
eadst
oGodswr
athandpuni
shment
.Ital
soshowst
hatGodwi
l
lal
way
sbest
ow
Hi
sfav
ouront
her
ight
eous.

 Thet
owerofBaby
lon(
Genesi
s11:
3-8)

Themy
tht
ell
sushowhumanbei
ngshadacommonl
anguageuni
fi
edt
hem.t
heyagr
eedt
o
makebr
icksandbui
l
daci
tywi
that
owert
hatr
eachedt
hesky
.theywant
edt
omakeanamef
or
t
hemsel
ves,
Duet
othi
spr
ideGodpuni
shedt
hem bymi
xi
ngt
hei
rlanguagesot
hatt
heycoul
d
notunder
standeachot
her
.

Thest
oryexpl
ainst
heemer
genceofmanyl
anguagesi
nthewor
ld,
peopl
ear
ecaut
ionedonhow
uni
tycanbeabusedt
oandev
ent
ual
l
yleadt
osuf
fer
ing.I
tal
soexpl
ainst
hatGodhat
epr
ideand
puni
shest
hepr
oud

 Theendoft
ime(
Dani
el12:
1-3)

Themy
thexpl
ainshowt
heendoft
imewi
l
ltakepl
ace:

 Angel
Michael
,guar
dianoft
heJews,
wil
lappearbef
oret
heendt
akespl
ace

 Ther
ewi
l
lbeat
imeoft
roubl
esandsuf
fer
ingt
hatt
hewor
ldhasnev
erknown

 Thosewhosenamesar
ewr
it
teni
nGodsbookwi
l
lbesav
edf
rom t
hoset
roubl
es

 Thosewhodi
edwi
l
lresur
rectei
thert
oenj
oyet
ernal
li
feort
osuf
feret
ernal
disgr
ace

 Ther
ewi
l
lber
ewar
dsf
ort
hef
ait
hful

Themy
thexpl
ainst
hatt
hispr
esentwor
ldor
derwi
l
lcomet
oanendatonet
imet
her
efor
peopl
eshoul
dbepr
epar
edf
ori
tbydoi
[Link]
emai
nfai
thf
ulwi
l
lbe
r
ewar
ded.

 Thef
inalj
udgement(
Rev
elat
ion20:
11-
15)
 I
nthebookofr
evel
ati
on,
John,
theApost
le,
sawav
isi
onofGodseat
edont
hegr
eatwhi
te
t
[Link]
lthedeadst
oodbef
oreHi
mfort
hef
inal
judgment
.Thedeadwer
ejudged
accor
dingt
owhatt
[Link]
erdi
dnothav
ethei
rnamewr
it
teni
nthebookof
l
i
fewast
hronei
ntot
hel
akeoff
ir
e.

Doct
ri
nalDi
mensi
on

Doct
ri
nesr
efer
stoasetofpr
inci
pleshel
dandt
aughti
nar
eli
gion.I
nJudai
sm Godgav
ethe
I
srael
i
test
hepr
inci
plest
ogov
ernt
hei
rwayofl
i
[Link]
ist
ianswer
egi
venmor
alpr
inci
plesby
Jesust
ogui
deev
eryaspectoft
hei
rli
[Link]
inci
plesar
eexpr
essedi
nthef
oll
owi
ngway
s:

 Theor
igi
noft
het
encommandment
s(Exodus20:
1-17)

Theywer
egi
vent
otheI
srael
i
tesbyGodt
hroughMosesatMountSi
nai
.Theygui
dedt
he
I
srael
i
tesi
nthei
rrel
ati
onshi
pwi
thGodandt
hei
rfel
l
owhumanbei
ngs.

 Theser
monont
heMount(
Mat
thew5-
7)

Jesusi
dent
if
iedspeci
fi
cpr
inci
plest
hatshoul
dgui
det
heChr
ist
iansi
nthei
rdai
l
yli
ves.
Forexampl
e:

 Bepeacemaker
s

 Acceptsuf
fer
ingsaspar
tofdi
sci
pleshi
p

 Ber
eadyt
ofor
giv
e

 Lov
ethei
renemi
es

 Notj
udgeot
her
s

Ri
tualdi
mensi
ons

(
ReadGenesi
s4:
4-7,
17:
4-10;
Exodus12:
1-14;
Luke3:
21-
22)

I
nthef
oll
owi
ngbi
bli
cal
account
s,t
her
it
ual
dimensi
oni
sexpr
essedi
ndi
ff
erentway
si.
e

1)Sacr
if
icesandof
fer
ings(
Gen4:
4-7)
 Abl
esacr
if
icedt
hef
ir
stl
ambbor
ntooneofhi
ssheepasasacr
if
icet
oGodwhowas
pl
easedwi
thhi
sof
fer
ings.

Cai
nmadeanof
fer
ingoff
arm pr
oducet
oGodbutwasr
eject
ed

2)Ci
rcumci
sion(
Gen17:
4-10)

Godent
eredi
ntoacov
enantwi
thAbr
[Link]
eitanext
ernal
signofci
rcumci
sion.
Abr
aham andhi
smal
edescendant
swer
etobeci
rcumci
sedont
heei
ghtday
.Ci
rcumci
sion
wast
her
it
ual
thatboundAbr
aham andhi
sdescendant
stoGod.I
twasusedasasi
gnof
i
dent
it
yamongt
heJews.

3)ThePassov
ercer
emony(
Exodus12:
1-14)

I
tinv
olv
edmanyr
it
ual
si.
e.

 Sl
aught
eri
ngofaone-
yearol
dmal
elamborgoatwi
thoutanydef
ect
sandofone
col
our
.theageandcol
oursi
gni
fi
edi
nnocenceandpur
it
yoft
hesacr
if
ici
alani
mal
.

 Smear
ingbl
oodondoor
postoft
heI
srael
i
teswast
oident
if
ythehousesoft
he
I
srael
i
tesandspar
ethem f
rom t
heangel
ofdeat
h.

 Roast
ingoft
hesacr
if
ici
almeat
.Thi
swast
hequi
ckestmet
hodofcooki
ng.

 Eat
ingofbi
tt
erher
bst
oremi
ndt
heI
srael
i
tesoft
hebi
tt
ernessofsl
aver
y.

 Eat
ingofunl
eav
enedbr
eadt
osi
gni
fyt
hel
ackofpr
epar
ati
onoft
ime.

 Bur
ningal
lthel
eft
over
sasassi
gnofl
eav
ingnomar
kbehi
ndi
nEgy
ptbyt
he
I
srael
i
tes.

4)Bapt
isms(
Luke3:
21-
22)

Jesusunder
wentbapt
ism byJohnt
heBapt
ist
.Hewasbapt
izedbybei
ngi
mmer
sedi
nwat
er.
I
mmer
sionsy
mbol
i
zedt
hewashi
ngawayofsi
[Link]
ingbapt
ism Jesusper
for
medanot
her
r
it
ual
ofpr
ayi
ngt
[Link]
oughbapt
ism Jesusi
dent
if
iedHi
msel
fwi
thsi
nful
humanki
ndwhom
hecamet
osav
e.

Et
hicaldi
mensi
on
(
ReadExodus20:
1-17;
Amos5:
21-
24;
Mar
k12:
28-
37)

Set
soutt
hemor
alst
andar
dst
hatshoul
dgov
ernpeopl
e’
sbehav
ior
.thef
oll
owi
ngbi
bli
cal
passagesgi
veexampl
esofwher
ethemor
alst
andar
dsar
eder
ivedf
rom:

 Thet
encommandment
s(Exodus20:
1-17)

Theygi
vegui
del
i
nesonmor
albehav
ior
.forexampl
e:“
Donotst
eal
“.Thel
awi
sgi
ven
becausest
eal
i
ngshowsl
ackofr
espectf
orot
herpeopl
e’
spr
oper
tyandal
soencour
ages
l
azi
ness

 Soci
alj
ust
ice(
Amos5:
21-
24)

Dur
ingt
het
imeofAmos,
Godwasangr
ywi
thI
srael
i
tesbecauset
heywer
ehy
pocr
it
ical
i
nthei
rrel
i
gioni
.e.t
heyst
ressedt
heext
ernal
obser
vanceofr
eli
gionsuchasof
fer
ing
sacr
if
icesandpr
ayi
ngatt
heexpenseofi
nnerpi
ety
.Amosadv
isedt
heI
srael
i
test
hatGod
pr
efer
redj
ust
iceandr
ight
eousnesst
oext
ernal
rel
i
giouscer
emoni
est
hatwer
enott
rue
r
efl
ect
ionoft
hei
rinnerhear
ts.

 Thegr
eatcommandment
s(Mar
k12:
28-
31)

Jesust
aughtt
hatt
hemosti
mpor
tantcommandmenti
s“Lov
ethel
ordy
ourGodwi
thal
l
y
ourhear
t,wi
thal
lyourhear
t,wi
thal
lyoursoul
,wi
thal
lyourmi
ndandwi
thal
lyour
st
rengt
[Link]
eyournei
ghborasy
oul
ovey
our
sel
f…….
””(
ver
ses30-
31)t
hismeanst
hat
l
ovei
sthekeymor
alpr
inci
plet
hatshoul
dgov
ernpeopl
e’
sbehav
iort
owar
dsot
her
s.

Soci
aldi
mensi
on

(
ReadGenesi
s47:
1-6;
Mar
k6:
30-
34;
John2:
1-3;
act
s2:
1-4,
42-
47,
13:
1-4)

Deal
swi
tht
her
elat
ionshi
pamongpeopl
eint
hebi
blesasexpr
essedbel
ow;

 Josephsr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thhi
sfami
l
yinEgy
pt(
Genesi
s47:
1-6)

Josephwasat
tachedt
ohi
sbr
other
sev
ent
hought
heyhadmi
str
eat
edhi
m bysel
l
inghi
m
asasl
avet
otheEgy
pti
ant
rader
[Link]
ntr
oducedhi
sbr
other
sandf
ather
,Jacob,
to
Phar
aohashi
sfami
l
ymember
[Link]
ntai
nedagoodr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thhi
sbr
other
s.
 Jesusandhi
sdi
sci
plespar
ti
cipat
edi
nvar
iousact
ivi
ti
es.(
Mar
k6:
30-
34)

Jesushadcl
oset
ieswi
thHi
sdi
sci
plesi
.[Link]
aughtt
hem,
trai
nedt
hem,
trai
nedt
hem i
n
mi
nist
ry,
wasconcer
nedaboutt
hei
rneedsandspentt
imewi
tht
[Link]
s
di
sci
pleswor
kedasat
eam,
hesentt
hem onmi
ssi
onst
opr
eachGoodnewsandt
hey
r
epor
tedt
oHi
m

 Jesusr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thhi
smot
her
.(John2:
1-3)

Jesushadbeeni
nvi
tedt
oaweddi
ngatCanai
nGal
i
leet
hisshowedt
hather
elat
edwel
l
wi
thmember
sofHi
scommuni
[Link]
smot
heraskshi
mforassi
stancewhent
hewi
ner
an
outandt
hisshowst
hathehadcl
oser
elat
ionshi
pwi
thHi
smot
her
.Ital
soexpr
essest
he
soci
alconcer
nHi
smot
herhadf
ort
hosepr
esentatt
hecer
emony
.

 Soci
alr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thi
ntheear
lyChr
ist
iancommuni
ty.(
Act
s2:
1-4,
42-
47)

Amongt
heear
lyChr
ist
ianscommuni
ti
es,
thesoci
aldi
mensi
onsar
eexpr
essedt
hrough
t
heact
ivi
ti
est
heycar
ri
edoutt
oget
hersuchas:

 Dev
oti
ont
othet
eachi
ngsoft
heApost
les

 Shar
ingf
ood

 Shar
ingt
hei
rbel
ongi
ngswi
thoneanot
her

 Pr
ayi
ngt
oget
her

 Shar
ingt
hei
rpr
oper
tyanddi
str
ibut
ingt
hemoneyamongal
l
accor
dingt
oindi
vi
dual
needs.

 Met
ingi
ntheTempl
easagr
oupt
opr
ayandwor
shi
pGod

 Soci
alr
elat
ionshi
psi
nthechur
chatAnt
ioch(
Act
s13:
1-4)

I
nthechur
chatAnt
iocht
hesoci
aldi
mensi
oni
sexpr
essedt
hroughdi
ff
erentpeopl
e
 hol
dingdi
ff
erentr
esponsi
bil
i
[Link]
esponsi
bil
i
tieswer
ehel
dfort
hecommongoodof
t
hechur
[Link]
epr
ophet
swhi
l
eot
her
swer
eteacher
si.
[Link]
nabas,
Simon(
cal
l
ed
t
hebl
ack),
Li
ci
us(
from Cy
prene)
,Menaen(whohadbeenbr
oughtupwi
thHer
odt
he
gov
ernor)andSaul
.Theypr
ayedt
oget
herandf
ast
ed.

DI
MENSI
ONOFRELI
GIONASAPPLI
EDTOCHRI
STI
ANI
TYTODAY

Exper
ient
ialdi
mensi
on

I
ntheChr
ist
iancommuni
tyt
heexper
ient
ial
dimensi
oni
sseeni
nthewor
kingofGodi
npeopl
e’
s
hear
[Link]
ngsexper
ienceGodspr
esencet
hrought
hef
oll
owi
ngmeans:

 Repent
anceofsi
ns

 Conf
essi
onofsi
ns(
renunci
ati
onofsi
ns)

 Conv
ersi
onf
rom asi
nful
li
fet
oanewl
i
fei
nChr
istJesus

 Bapt
ism i
nthehol
yspi
ri
t

 Rev
ival
ofabacksl
i
dingChr
ist
iant
oChr
ist

 Mani
fest
ati
onoft
hegi
ft
soft
hehol
yspi
ri
tinpeopl
e’
sli
vessuchaspr
eachi
ng,
speaki
ng
i
ntongues,
prophesy
ingandheal
i
ng.

Exampl
eofpeopl
ewhohadper
sonalexper
iencewi
thGod

 Theconv
ersi
onofSaul
(Act
s9;
1-19)

 Thev
isi
onofCor
nel
i
usandpet
er(
Act10-
1-55)

My
thol
ogi
caldi
mensi
on

Thesear
evar
iousst
ori
est
hatt
oday
’sChr
ist
ianhav
etoexpl
aint
hei
rbel
i
efofol
dand
newt
est
amentf
orexampl
e;

 Thenat
ureoft
her
isenbody(
1Cor
int
hians15:
40-
58)
 Sai
ntPaul
expl
ainst
henat
ureoft
her
esur
rect
edbody
.Hear
guest
hatj
ustasChr
istRose
f
rom t
hedead,
sowi
l
lChr
ist
[Link]
l
lbet
ransf
ormedi
ntoheav
enl
ybodi
esHeav
enl
y
bodi
esar
ebeaut
if
ul,
spi
ri
tual
,st
rongandi
mmor
tal
whi
l
eear
thl
ybodi
esar
ephy
sical
,
weakandmor
tal
StPaul
expl
ainst
hatt
het
rumpetwi
l
lbesoundedonJesussecond
comi
ngandt
hedeadwi
l
lbechangedasqui
ckl
yast
hebl
i
nki
ngofaney
[Link]
l
l
ber
aisednev
ert
odi
eagai
[Link]
tal
bodi
eswi
l
lbechangedt
oimmor
tal
.

 Thesecondcomi
ngofChr
ist(
1thessal
oni
ans4:
13-
17)

Paul
teachest
hatChr
istwi
l
lcomebackagai
[Link]
ewi
l
lbet
heshoutofcommand,
the
soundofGodst
rumpetandJesusHi
msel
fwi
l
lcomedownf
rom heav
[Link]
l
l
f
ir
stdi
ebel
i
evi
ngi
nChr
istwi
l
lri
[Link]
l
lbel
i
vingwi
l
lbei
nthecl
oudst
omeet
t
hel
ordJesusChr
ist
.Theywi
l
lthenl
i
vei
net
ernal
peacewi
thGod.

 Thenewheav
enandt
henewear
th(
rev21:
1-4)

StJohnhadav
isi
oni
nwhi
chhesawanewEar
th,
thef
ir
stheav
enandt
hef
ir
stear
th
di
sappear
[Link]
sosawt
heHol
yCi
ty,
thenewJer
usal
em,
comi
ngdownf
rom heav
en.
Godwoul
ddwel
li
nthenewear
[Link]
msel
fwi
l
lbewi
thHi
speopl
eonceagai
nasi
t
hadbeenatt
hebegi
nni
ngofcr
eat
[Link]
ewi
l
lbenosuf
fer
ingordeat
[Link]
ory
assur
esChr
ist
iansofet
ernal
li
fe

Doct
ri
naldi
mensi
on

Chr
ist
ianst
odayhav
eanumberofdoct
ri
nest
hatar
eusedt
oteachandt
ogui
det
hem on
howt
orel
atet
oGodandeachot
her
.Ther
ear
eal
sodoct
ri
nest
hatt
eachaboutJesus
Chr
ist
,Godsnat
ure,
thechur
chandpr
ayer
s

Exampl
esofdoct
ri
nesi
ncl
ude;

 Thel
ord’
spr
ayer(
Luke11:
1-6)

I
nHi
steachi
ngsonhowt
opr
ay,
Jesusout
li
nedt
hemai
npr
inci
plest
hatshoul
dgov
ern
Chr
ist
iansdur
ingpr
ayer
si.
e.

 Addr
essGodas,
“Ourf
ather“

 AskGodt
opr
ovi
deourdai
l
yneeds
  AskGodt
opr
otectt
hem f
rom t
rai
l
sandt
empt
ati
ons

 AskGodf
orf
orgi
venessofsi
ns

 Ber
eadyt
ofor
giv
ethosewhowr
ongt
hem

Thesedoct
ri
nal
gui
del
i
neshel
pChr
ist
ianst
ounder
standwhoGodi
sandwhyweshoul
dpr
ayt
o
Hi
m,hei
sreadyt
ofor
giv
eusandpr
ovi
def
orus.

 Conf
essi
on(
Roman10:
9-10)

Chr
ist
ianbel
i
evet
hati
tisonl
ythr
oughconf
essi
ngt
hatJesusi
sLor
dandGodr
aisedHi
m
f
rom t
hedead,
thatt
heyr
ecei
vesal
vat
[Link]
essi
onofJesusChr
istast
heRi
sen
Lor
diswhatdi
sti
ngui
shesChr
ist
iani
tyf
rom ot
herr
eli
gionst
her
efor
,Chr
ist
iansshoul
d
conf
esst
hatJesusi
slor
dandsav
iori
nor
dert
oent
ert
heki
ngdom ofGod.

 Theapost
lecr
eed

Theent
ir
eChr
ist
iandoct
ri
nei
sexpr
essedi
ntheApost
lescr
[Link]
d“Cr
eed“
comesf
rom
t
heLat
inwor
dcr
edowhi
chmeans“
Ibel
i
eve“
.ThekeyChr
ist
ianbel
i
efsbr
oughtouti
nthe
Apost
lescr
eedar
e:

 Bel
i
efi
nGod

 Bel
i
efi
ntheSon,
JesusChr
ist

 Bel
i
efi
ntheHol
yspi
ri
t

 Bel
i
efi
nthef
orgi
venessofsi
ns

 Bel
i
efi
nthedeat
handr
esur
rect
ion

 Bel
i
efi
nthej
udgement

 Bel
i
efi
net
ernal
li
fe

Ri
tualdi
mensi
on

 Chr
ist
ianst
odayper
for
m anumberofr
it
ual
saspar
toft
hei
rrel
i
giouspr
act
ice.

 Theannunci
ati
onoft
hebi
rt
hofJesusChr
ist(
Mat
hew1;
18-
25)
 Theangel
bri
ngsupt
wor
it
ual
sthatwasengagementandnami
ngwhi
char
ebei
ng
pr
act
icedbychr
ist
enst
oday
.Int
heJewi
shcommuni
ty,
engagementwasar
it
ual
of
ser
iouscommi
tmentf
ort
hosei
ntendi
ngt
ogetmar
ri
[Link]
ywasengagedt
oJoseph.I
n
t
heJewi
shcommuni
ty,
thenami
ngcer
emonyt
ookpl
aceont
heei
ght
hdayaf
tert
hebi
rt
h
ofachi
l
d,i
nthecaseofJesust
henamewasgi
venbyt
heangel
bef
oreHewasbor
n.
Engagementi
sinmoder
nti
mespr
act
icedbyt
hosei
ntendi
ngt
ogetmar
ri
ed.I
tisasi
gnof
ser
iouscommi
tment

 Dur
ingt
hel
astsupper(
Mat
thew26:
26-
30)anumberofr
it
ual
swer
eper
for
medandeach
sy
mbol
i
zedsomet
hing,
theser
it
ual
sar
e;

 Eat
ingt
oget
herwhi
chemphasi
zedshar
ing

 Pr
ayi
ngt
ogi
vet
hankst
oGod

 Br
eaki
ngoft
hebr
eadwhi
chsy
mbol
i
zedt
hebodyofChr
istt
hatwoul
dbe
br
okenont
hecr
ossf
ort
hef
orgi
venessofsi
ns.

 Dr
inki
ngoft
hewi
newhi
chsy
mbol
i
zedt
hebl
oodt
hatwoul
dbeshedon
t
hecr
ossf
ort
heest
abl
i
shmentofanewcov
enant

 Si
ngi
ngt
oexpr
esst
hei
rfai
tht
oGod.

 Ri
tual
sfoundi
nthepassi
on,
deat
handResur
rect
ion(
Mar
k15-
16)

 Passov
erf
est
ival

i
twasanannual
rel
i
giousf
est
ival
cel
ebr
atedi
nJer
usal
em byt
heJewst
ocommemor
ate
t
hei
rdel
i
ver
ancef
rom Egy
pt,
Howev
er,
itt
ookanewmeani
ngwher
etheJews
r
emember
edt
hepassi
ons,
deat
handr
esur
rect
ionofJesus.

 Dr
essi
ngJesusi
npur
ple

Pur
plei
sar
oyal
col
ourt
hatsy
mbol
i
zedki
ngshi
[Link]
owni
sasy
mbol
ofpowerf
ort
he
ki
[Link]
essi
ngJesusi
npur
pleandcr
owni
ngHi
m wi
tht
hor
nsbyt
heRomansol
dier
swas
ai
medatmocki
nghi
m ast
he“
Kingoft
heJews“
.Itwast
oindi
cat
eapol
i
tical
char
geof
t
reason;
howev
er,
Jesuswasaspi
ri
tual
Kingwhocamet
odel
i
verpeopl
efr
om t
hesl
aver
y
 ofsi
nsandnotapol
i
tical
kingt
odel
i
verI
srael
from t
heRomanr
ule.

 Bowi
ngt
oJesus

Ther
omansol
dier
sknel
tdown,
bowedbef
[Link]
ebowdownasasi
gnof
r
espectf
ort
hosei
naut
hor
it
y.t
heyal
sobowbef
oreGoddur
ingwor
shi
[Link]
er,
int
he
caseoft
her
omansol
dier
s,t
heybowedbef
oreJesusasasi
gnofmocki
ngHi
m as“
King
oft
heJewsandy
etJesusdeser
vest
obewor
shi
ppedasKi
ngofKi
ngs.

 Gi
vi
ngwi
net
oJesusont
hecr
oss

Jesuswasgi
venwi
newhi
l
eHehungont
hecr
[Link]
newasbel
i
evedt
oeaset
hepai
nof
t
hedy
ingper
son

 Pr
ayi
ng

Jesusper
for
medt
her
it
ual
ofpr
ayi
ngt
oGodwhi
l
eont
hecr
[Link]
abandonedHi
m

Et
hicaldi
mensi
on

Chr
ist
ianst
odayhav
erul
esandr
egul
ati
onst
hatgov
ernt
heconductofpeopl
eint
heChr
ist
ian
f
ami
l
iesandt
hechur
chast
aughtbyStPaul
.

 Mor
alconductexpect
edofhusbandsandwi
fe(
Ephesi
ans5:
22-
23)i
ncl
udes
submi
ssi
on,
lov
e,r
espect

 Themor
alconductofchi
l
drenandpar
ent
s(Ephesi
ans6:
1-5)

 Themor
alconductexpect
edofchur
chl
eader
s(Ti
mot
hy3:
1-16)

Soci
aldi
mensi
on

Wear
etol
dthepr
iestandot
herpeopl
ehel
pedt
orebui
l
tthewal
lofJer
usal
[Link]
swast
he
soci
alcont
ri
but
ionbyachur
chl
eader
.(Nehemi
ah3:
1-6)
I
nAct
s11:
19-
30)wel
ear
ntabouthowt
heear
lyChr
ist
ianswor
ktoget
herf
ort
hebet
termeantof
eachot
herandt
hecommuni
ti
eswhi
cht
heyl
i
[Link]
ist
ianst
odayar
eencour
agedt
oli
veasone
f
ami
l
y,l
ovi
ngandcar
ingeachot
her
.

FUNDAMENTALBELI
EFSANDPRACTI
CESOFWORLDRELI
GIONS

Byt
heendoft
hesub-
str
andt
het
eachert
rai
neeshoul
dbeabl
eto:

a)Di
sti
ngui
shwor
ldr
eli
gionsf
orr
eli
giousdi
ver
sit
yandf
orpeacef
ulco-
exi
stence.

b)Compar
ethebel
i
efsandpr
act
icesofwor
ldr
eli
gionsf
orr
elev
ancyi
nappl
i
cat
ion.

c)Anal
yzeessencest
atement
sofHREandI
REf
orr
efl
ect
ivepr
act
ice.

d)Dev
elopempat
hyandr
espectf
ordi
ver
sit
ytopr
omot
epeacef
ulcoexi
stence.

AFRI
CANRELI
GION

Af
ri
canr
eli
gionr
efer
stot
hei
ndi
genousr
eli
gionsoft
heAf
ri
canpeopl
e,i
tdeal
swi
th
cosmol
ogi
cal
,ri
tual
pract
icesandsy
mbol
s,ar
tsandSoci
ety
.

Becauser
eli
gioni
sawayofl
i
fe,
itr
elat
est
ocul
tur
eandSoci
etyast
heyaf
fectwor
ldv
iewoft
he
Af
ri
canpeopl
[Link]
edi
ff
erentunder
standi
ngaboutt
hingst
hatexi
sti
ntheuni
ver
se.

Bel
ief
sinAf
ri
canRel
igi
on

 Bel
i
evedt
her
eisl
i
feaf
terdeat
h

 Bel
i
evedt
her
ear
esuper
iorandi
nfer
iorgods

 Bel
i
evedi
ndemoni
cpower
sofancest
ors.

 Bel
i
evedi
nani
mal
sacr
if
icese.
[Link]
.

 Bel
i
evedi
npol
ythei
sm

 Bel
i
evedi
nther
eissupr
emehi
ghGodwhocr
eat
edt
heuni
ver
se.

 Bel
i
evedi
nmaki
ngsacr
edsacr
if
icest
oancest
orsorspi
ri
tcanpr
otectt
hem f
rom har
m.
 Exampl
esofAf
ri
canbel
iefsy
stems

Shamani
sm

Thi
sist
hebel
i
efi
ndemonsandancest
ral
spi
ri
tsamongt
heKhoi
san.

Ani
mism

Thi
sist
hebel
i
efi
nwor
shi
pofani
mal
s,pl
ant
sandr
ocksamongt
heZul
us

Ol
ympi
anr
eli
gion

I
tsr
eli
gionwhi
chi
nvol
vesgodsandgoddessese.
[Link]
ubaandanci
entEgy
pt.

Pol
ythei
sti
csy
stem

Wor
shi
pingv
ari
ousgods,
spi
ri
tsandot
hersuper
nat
ural
bei
ngs.

Pl
acesofwor
shi
pinAf
ri
canRel
igi
on

 Undersacr
edt
rees

 Onr
ocks

 Onshr
ines

 Atgr
avey
ards

 Onmount
ain/
Hil
l
s

 Att
her
iverbanks

 I
ncav
es

 I
nhomesofr
eli
giouspeopl
e.

Pr
act
icesofAf
ri
canRel
igi
on

 Of
fer
ingandsacr
if
ici
alpr
act
ices:

 Pour
ingl
i
bat
ions

 Sacr
eddances.
  I
nit
iat
ion.

 Mat
ri
moni
alser
vices.

 Feastandf
est
ival
s.

 Vener
ati
onorcommemor
ati
onoft
hei
rgodsandgoddesses.

CHRI
STI
ANI
TY

Chr
ist
iani
ty,
maj
orr
eli
gionst
emmi
ngf
rom t
hel
i
fe,
teachi
ngs,
anddeat
hofJesusofNazar
eth
(
theChr
ist
,ort
heAnoi
ntedOneofGod)i
nthe1stcent
uryCE.

I
thasbecomet
hel
argestoft
hewor
ld’
srel
i
gionsand,
geogr
aphi
cal
l
y,t
hemostwi
del
ydi
ff
used
ofal
lfai
[Link]
ist
iani
tyi
sanAbr
ahami
cmonot
hei
sti
crel
i
gionbasedont
hel
i
feandt
eachi
ngs
ofJesusofNazar
eth

Asat
radi
ti
on,
Chr
ist
iani
tyi
smor
ethanasy
stem ofr
eli
giousbel
i
ef.I
tal
sohasgener
ateda
cul
tur
e,asetofi
deasandway
sofl
i
fe,
pract
ices,
andar
ti
fact
sthathav
ebeenhandeddown
f
rom gener
ati
ont
ogener
ati
onsi
nceJesusf
ir
stbecamet
heobj
ectoff
ait
h.

Chr
ist
iani
tyi
sabel
i
efsy
stem t
hatwasf
oundedbyt
hef
oll
ower
sofJesusofNazar
ethi
nJudea,
aRomanpr
ovi
ncei
ntheMi
ddl
eEasti
nthe1stcent
uryCE.

Chr
ist
iani
ty’
ssacr
edt
exti
scal
l
edt
heHol
yBi
bleandi
smadeupoft
wopar
[Link]
ir
stsect
ioni
s
cal
l
edt
he;

 Ol
dTest
ament
,whi
chi
sbasedonJudai
sm’
ssacr
edt
ext
,theTor
ah.

 t
heNewTest
amentwhi
chi
smadeupofst
ori
esaboutt
hel
i
feofJesusaswr
it
ten
byhi
sfol
l
ower
s,l
ett
ersbet
weenhi
sfol
l
ower
s,andot
herwr
it
ingsbyear
ly
Chr
ist
iansi
nther
eli
gion.

Bel
ief
sinChr
ist
iani
ty
  God

TheBi
blei
sthebasi
sofChr
ist
ianbel
i
[Link]
ist
iansbel
i
evet
hatt
her
eisonl
yoneGod,
whom
t
heycal
lFat
herasJesusChr
istt
aughtt
hem.