Introduction to belief systems in higher education

Abstract

Belief systems, spirituality, and religion are all integral components of culture. In any society, culture permeates institutions in ways that are both visible and unseen. Furthermore, belief systems are important to understand in cultures where higher education plays a prominent role in educating students, producing knowledge, and serving the purpose of creating good citizens. However, because of commitments to objectivity, positivism, and formal science, the role of belief and knowledge that are outside the canons of science is not often considered within the core functions of a university. This volume seeks to engage these questions directly and explore the various ways in which belief systems are part of the fabric of higher education—whether implicitly or explicitly. Throughout the Asia Pacific region, there are predominant philosophies, belief systems, and religions in societies, including Buddhist, Muslim, Shinto, Christianity, Marxism, and derivatives of Confucianism. In this chapter, we pursue a deeper understanding of the role of belief practices as it is played out in both private and public higher education and provide an overview of each section and chapter throughout the volume.