Learning Area:INTRODUCTION OF WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEM

Grade Level: 11
Quarter Number: 1st
Module Number: 04

LESSON TITLE
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION

Learning Competency

Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, and related issues of
Judaism

Message to the Learner and Facilitator

Learner:

In this module, you will do activities that demonstrates your understanding of historical and
geographical contexts of the different religions. Answer each activity as best as you can.
Ask help from your parent or guardian only if you find it very hard to answer.
As much as possible, try to answer the activities in less than an hour.

Facilitator:
Most of the activities in this module is self-explanatory.
Give further explanation if needed, but make sure that the child himself/
herself answers the activities. We intend to train the child for independent learning. It is very
appreciated if the child can finish this independently, correctly and within the allotted time.

Introduction
How does awareness on the positive and negative effects of religion promote tolerance and
understanding among believers.?

Learning Objectives

Knowledge: Know the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, and related issues
of Judaism

Skills: Analyze the realted issues of Juadiasm.

Attitude: Appreciate the

Values: Respect other religion.

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 What I Know

DIRECTION: Answer the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of your name?
2. Does the meaning of your name affect you? How?
3. Why is it important that names have meaning?

What’s In

In our previous lesson, we already know how the positive and negative effects of religion to
culture and society.

What’s New

Choose an artist, a poet, or a composer whose works suggest the influence of Jewish thought
and practice.

What Is It
In this section, let us discuss the positive and negative effects of religion.

LESSON PROPER:
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions, originating around 3,500 years ago.
Despite its relatively small population (with respect to other religions) aorund the globe and
in the country, it has influenced Western civilization. (Morrison and Brown 1991,6). The two
biggest monostheistic religions, Christianity and Islam, affirm the Torah of Judaism as God’s
revelation, and therefore as good news for everybody. “Hebrews” refer to those who accepted
Yhweh as their God, and much of their history is written in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old
Testament of the Christian Bible. “Israelites” refer to the descendants of the Hebrews, which
originated from Abraham. His grandson, Jacob, had 12 sons, and their descendants became
known as the 12 tribes of Israel. Later, Israel was established as a nation-state, and
“Israelites” or “Israeli Jews” could also refer to citizens of the land. “Jew” comes from
Yehudah or Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel. Now, it is used to refer to someone who
practices Judaism and takes part in Jewish culture (morrison and Brown 1991,8).

Conservative Judaism defines the Jew as being born of a Jewish mother, while
Reform Judaism traces it to either a Jewish father or mother. Judaism seems to speak of
“Israel” in the same way that Christians speak of the “church”. This means that religious
criteria work, too. So drawing the distinction between Israel, called and chosen by God, and
this social group with common background and culture is difficult. On the other hand,
Judaism is a by-product of the conflict between the religious and ethnic definitions of
Judaism.

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 The Torah comes “in the beginning”, and explains “where it all began.” This is
important because it forms the critical component of the holy writings of Judaism; obviously,
the Torah plys an important role in Jewish religious life.

The Hebrew Bible, also called the Tanakh, is a collection of 24 books, divided into 3
parts” the Torah (“teaching” or “law”), the Nevi’im (“prophets”), and the Ketuvim
(“writings”) (Molly 2005,287). Much of the origin of the practices of the Jews can be found
in the first five books (also called the Torah).

The Torah contains the early history of Judaism, as well as the law and teaching
“handed down” to Moses by yahweh or God himself. We begin with Genesis, the first book
of the Torah- and of the Hebrew Bible-which tells us the mythic origin of the entire world.

Next, “The Fall of the Man” where Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were
tempted by the serpent to disobey God, and as punishment for their disoberdience, God
banished the human beings from the Garden of Eden. The last great mythic story is the Great
Flood, where God only saved Noah and his family, as well as two of each living animal,
because of the infidelity of the people (Molly 2005, 289-291).

They believe that since human beings were created in the image and likeness of God,
they have a special responsibility to the rest of creation. They were made stewards of the
earth. There is no agrreement about the specificaties of this special role that the human being
plays, but Jews agree that they have a unique place in the world (Molloy 2005, 320). Another
would be the veneration for the Sabbath Day-the seventh day- because this is the day when
God rested after creating the world.

The focus on the last part of the Genesis is Joseph (the Dreamer), one of the sons of
Jacob who was sold by his brothers to Egypt as a slave. His gift of interpreting dreams (which
is why he is called Joseph the Dreamer) gained him the trust of the Pharaoh. His brothes in
Israel came to Egypt during a famine to get food, where he treated them with compassion. He
told his brothers to settle in Egypt permanently, that is how the Jews started to popualte
Egypt (Molloy 2005, 292-295).

The second book, Exoduds, begins with the Egyptians being threatened by the
growing population of the Hebrews in their land. They began treating them as slaves, and the
Pharaoh also decreed that Jewish boys must be killed at birth. The baby Moses survived
because her mother left him in a basket along the Nile River. He was found by the Pharaoh’s
daughter, and there in Egypt he was called by God through the burning bush. God introduced
Himself to Moses as YHWH (I am who am), which is often translated as Yahweh or as
Jehovah. God commanded Moses to liberate the Hebrews from the Egyptians, and send them
in the lnd He promised to Abraham---Canaan, the promised land flowing with milk and
honey.

Because of Pharaoh’s refusal to send the Israelites free, despite Moses’ bidding, God
sent ten plagues to the Egyptians, but He spared the Jews since they offered the blood of a

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 sacrifical lamb in their doors. This signifies one of the greates feasts of the Jews- the
Passover, which they celebrate annually. The Passover is a week-long festival of the Jews,
whose highlight is a memorial meal, wehre they eat symbolic foods, such as unleavened
bread, lamb, and a salad of nuts and fruits (Molloy 2005, 324).

The specific laws about the Passover and rituals were given throughout the last three
books of Torah (Leviticucs, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). But the most important passing of
the law happened in Mt. Sinai, where Moses met God at the top of the mountain and God
gave him two tablets conatining the Ten Commandments, the rules of Jewish life (Molloy
2005, 296-297). There, God made a convenant with His people, He will care for them, but the
Jews must obey the law that He gave. This shows why the Jews are diligent in observing their
traditional laws, even until tody.

After the return of the Israelites to Canaan, Israel slowly developed into a nation.
They were led by a judge, “whose charisma persuaded people to follow him.” . Here the
“Period of the Judges” began. The most famous judges were Othniel, Ehud, Gideon,
Deborah, Jepthah, and Samson. This period in their histroy was mostly recorded in the book
of Judges (Morrison and Brown, 1991:28).

The period of the Judges precedes the period of the Kings. The first king was Saul,
who eventually disobeyed Yahweh in some situations. Yahweh asked Samuel to anoint David
as the next King, and Saul died in battle with the Philistines (morrison and Brown 1991, 28-
9). David is one of the most legendary figures in the Jewish history; he rules during what
might be clled the Golden Age of their development as a monarchy and as a nation.

Together with the period of the Kings was the emergence of prophets. A prophet is
one who was called by God to communicate His word to the King and to the people. That is
why the Judges and the Kings belong to the Nev’im, or the Prophets, the secind main section
of the Tanakh.

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 By providing moral values, one is able to distinguish right from wrong, good from
evil. It also provides a system of reward and punishment that administers and standardizes
people’s behavior in society. 1

A. Provides Social Change

Since religion is a source of moral values, it provides social change. It can be very
effective in lobbying and campaigning for certain social issues using its own moral teachings
as the basis for argument.

Religion has the potential to institute social change, especially in the issues
concerning poverty, reproductive health, gender equality and religious discrimination.2

B. Reduces Fear of the Unknown

Religion was developed from man’s need to have a sense of origin and destination; to
discover where they came from and where they are bound to go when they die. Religion
provides answers for phenomena and questions that science or reason cannot explain.3

C. Gives Positive Outlook in Life

People were inspired by the stories of different prophets from their own religious
affiliations like that of Moses, Buddha and Muhammad.

 These people showed how ordinary people like them were given important missions
in life, and how they struggled to carry out their respective missions. Their narratives (known
to us because of religion) may give people a sense of meaning in life; that they are not placed
in this world without a purpose, that each has a mission to fulfill and it is up to them to
fathom what their missions in life are.4

D. Gives a Sense of Belonging

1
https://www.slideshare.net/jomarienel/lesson-3-positive-and-negative-effects-of-religion?
from_action=save
2
https://www.slideshare.net/jomarienel/lesson-3-positive-and-negative-effects-of-religion?from_action=save
3
Ibid
4
Ibid

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 Belonging to a particular religion – whose members share the same beliefs, practices
the same rituals and worship the same god – gives individuals a sense of being in the right
place with the right people.

It also provides them a sense of security because other people who belong to the same
group tend to support and help each other in times of crisis. People can also rejoice with them
in times of success.5

NEGATIVE EEFECTS
A. Affirms Social Heirarchy
Some religions often favor men and as a result, perpetuate the notions of class or
gender discrimination or oppression.

Example:

The traditional caste system in India reflects how religion shows political and social
structures since it propagated the idea that people had to be subdivided into certain social
classes with particular social roles and that the attainment of moksha (union of the universal
and individual soul) would depend on how they performed their duties based on their
designated class.

B. Causes of Discrimination
Religion can be a source of discrimination or the prejudicial treatment of different
categories of people or things. Many instances in the history, religion has been used by
colonizers to justify their forcible occupation of territories.

 There are some religions which discriminate other religions by saying that theirs is the
“right religion” and that only their followers will be saved in the afterlife.

C. Triggers Conflicts and Fights

Wars have been fought in the name of religion. Numerous lives were sacrificed and
lost and this phenomenon continues up to the present time.

For example:

In Palestine, Jews are in conflict with the Muslims;

5
Ibid

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
  In Kashmir, Muslims are against Hindus;

 In Sudan, Muslims vs Christians and animists

D. Economic Tool for Exploiting the Masses

With ‘the social-conflict approach,’ Karl Marx argues that religion plays a significant
role in maintaining the status quo. Marx argues that religion accomplishes this by promising
rewards in the after-life rather than in this life. By focusing attention on otherworldly
rewards, religion pacifies members by providing a worldview that deflects attention that
would otherwise be directed at the inequalities of this world. 6Karl Marx said “Religion is the
opium of the masses.” he believes that religion maintains social inequality by propagating a
worldview that justifies oppression.

According to Marx, in a capitalist society, religion plays a critical role in maintaining

an unequal status quo, in which certain groups of people have radically more resources and
power than other groups of people.7

People will not complain of being poor or being in the lower ranks because “the
kingdom of Heaven is waiting for them”.

E. Impedes Scientific Success and Development

Catholic church claimed that the earth was flat and that it is the center of the solar
system and so when Copernicus stated his theory that the sun is the center of the solar system,
he was banned from the church and his book was banned for more than 200 years.8

F. Obstructs the Use of Reason

Many question the sustainability of religious doctrines to the needs of the present and
future generations. Ancient religious beliefs and practices which have proven to be inhuman
should be replaced with sensible ones.

 For example:

6
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/the-conflict-perspective-on-religion/
7
Ibid
8
https://www.slideshare.net/jomarienel/lesson-3-positive-and-negative-effects-of-religion?from_action=save

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 iti
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P
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e
ff
E
tv Trepanning or boring of holes in the skull, a surgical procedure performed on
epileptics and the mentally ill, with the belie that through the hole, the evil spirit will leave
the person.

What’s More

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER. Complete the graphic organizer by adding some more positive and
negative effects of religion.

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson

1.How are 2. How are they

 What I Have Learned

What I have learned is that ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.

What I Have Valued

What I have valued is that ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.

What I Can Do

ESSAY:

1. Among the positive effects of religion, which can you relate with and why?

2. Do you think it’s ironic that wars have been fought in the name of religion when it is
supposed to promote peace and compassion? Explain your answer.

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 Post-Assessment

TRUE OR FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE if the statement is
false.

____________ 1. Marx believed that religion lulled people into a sense of class
consciousness.
____________ 2. Conflict theory focuses on the fact that religion is a source of cohesion in
society.
____________ 3. Most religions exhibit some aspects of fundamentalism.
____________ 4. The caste system in India promotes the inequality of political and social
status of a person.
____________ 5. Religion is a product of culture. Therefore it is a social phenomenon that
can be easily defined and understood by religious people.
____________ 6. Ancient religious beliefs and practices which have proven to be inhuman
should be maintained.
____________ 7. Marx believes that a religion is an opium to the society.
____________ 8. Religion has the potential to institute social change.
____________ 9. Religion provides divine authority to ethical and moral principles which
help promote conflict among people.
____________ 10. Belonging to the same religion gives people a sense of security.

Additional Activities

NONE

Answer Key

What I Know
ANSWER VARIES

What’s New
ANSWER VARIES

What’s More and What Can I Do

ANSWER VARIES
Post Assessment

1. False 6. False
2. False 7. True
3. True 8. True
4. True 9. False
5. False 10. True

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson
 REFERENCES

https://study.com/academy/lesson/how-religion-contributes-to-cultural-
change.html#:~:text=Religion%20can%20influence%20the%20culture,and%20scientific
%20advances%20are%20made.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/15671604/Religion-has-been-used-in-society-both-
to-promote-social-harmony-and-to-advance-social-conflict/

https://www.slideshare.net/jomarienel/lesson-3-positive-and-negative-
effects-of-religion?from_action=save

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/the-
conflict-perspective-on-religion/

Writers: Dan Davy P. Azarcon

Ritchie Descartin
Amy Faith Suson