Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula

11
Zest for Progress
Z eal of

P artnership

Introduction to World
Religions and Belief
Systems
Second Semester – Module 2: The Dynamics
of Geography, Culture, and Religion

Name of Learner:
Grade & Section:
0
Name of School:
 Development Team of the Module

Writer: Lyndon Rey A. Engaño

Editors: Noeme S. Santillan, Rowena J. Cortez, Lois B. Hupa

Evaluators: Precious Ann A. Breva, Dorisa S. Cunting

Illustrator: May Faith M. Ricablanca

Layout Artist: Lyndon Rey A. Engaño

Management Team:
Majarani M. Jacinto, EdD, CESO VI OIC, Schools Division Superintendent

Visminda Q. Valde, EdD

OIC, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Raymond M Salvador, EdD, CESE

OIC, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Juliet A. Magallanes, EdD CID Chief

Florencio R. Caballero, DTE EPS – LRMDS

Alma L. Carbonilla, EdD EPS – Araling Panlipunan

2
 Target
You will analyze the interconnectedness of geography, culture and religion.
Specifically, this module will help you to:
 Distinguish the relationship of the given concepts above
 Appreciate the interplay of these concepts all throughout human history
and;
 Observe the continuous influences brought by these concepts in every facet
of our life.

Review
To prove your understanding of the past lesson, you should be ready
to accomplish this task.
Directions: Arrange the juggled letters at the end of each sentences and
place the correct word on the answer sheet.

1. It is a set of beliefs used to understand the world. Rowldwive

2. It is a belief that the world is inhabited by spirit beings

who govern earthly activities. Mistipris

3. One of the basic characteristics of religion. fulnis cat

4. This is a belief of many gods or deities. misthepoly

5. It is a belief that an infinite personal God exists. misthe

 Lesson
The2 Interplay of Religion and Geography

Discover
Religion and Geography

How did religion develop? Religion flourishes in space and time not in
a vacuum. Geography is the fertile ground for religion to flourish. Geography
is the study of earth and its people. Its features are things like continents,
seas, rivers and mountains. The relationship between religion and
geography can be termed as Religious Geography by which geographical
ideas are influenced by religion such as early map-making, and biblical
geography that developed in the 16th century to identify places from the Bible.
(Kong, 1990). Spreading the faith has been shaped by geographical context. For
example, for the Jews the land of Canaan, is the land promised to them by
their God Yahweh through Abraham. In the book of Genesis God said to
Abraham, “Go from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s
house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). This passage is
central to their belief. They have to defend the land at all cost because it was
given to them by Yahweh, their God.

Do you know that major religions of the world have their origins in
Asia? Asia is the largest and most populous continent and the birthplace of
many religions including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism,
Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.
Some of them spread in other grounds like Europe hence they were branded
as Western religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Those that
remained in Asia are called the –Eastern Religions which are Hinduism,
Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism to name a few. There is a significant
disparity between Western and Eastern religions in terms of belief systems,
worldview and philosophy about life. The mindset of the West is different
from the mindset of the East. It is possible that the difference in mindset is
brought by geographical influence.

Let us look at the specific characteristics between the western

(occidental) and eastern (oriental) paradigm as discussed by Christine
Carmela R. Ramos in her book, “Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person.” 2016. In gist the disparity of mindset can be summarized
as follows;
 Western (Occidental) Eastern (Oriental)

 Religion and Philosophy are  Religion is

different disciplines philosophy and
 Mindset is linear which philosophy is
means there is a beginning religion
and end.  Mindset is circular. The
 Speculate and theorize, end conjoins the
no application to life is beginning in a cyclic
necessary manner
 Acceptance of the
validity of intuition
and mysticism

Western minds were influenced mainly by the Greek culture spreading

through the Roman Empire which was termed Hellenism or the influenced of
Greek culture among the Romans. Then the Roman Empire extended all
over Europe which was termed as the western hemisphere of the globe.

Sacred Places

Religious experiences and the belief in

religious meanings transformed physical
spaces into sacred places. (Serapio, 2016) The
Hindus consider the Ganges River as sacred,
the Jews consider Mt. Sinai as holy. Temples,
churches and mosques are some of the sacred
places for Buddhists, Christians and Muslims
respectively. There are plenty of geographical
places that are considered holy or sacred
because of religion. The interplay of geography
and religion not only highlights the role of
religion in affecting landscape changes and in
assigning sacred meanings to specific places,
Figure 1. Ricablanca, May Faith
but also acknowledges how religious ideology Regina Rica, 2020
and practices at specific spaces are guided and
transformed by their location (Kong, 1990). The above picture is the Regina
Rica (Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia) located in a
thirteen and half (13.5) hectares along Marilaque or Marcos Highway at Sitio
Aguho, Sampaloc Tanay, Rizal. It used to be a mountainous, serene, and
peaceful location very close to nature overlooking Laguna Lake. Now it is
transformed into a pilgrimage site especially for Catholic Christian believers.
This is a concrete example of how religion changes the landscape of a
geographic location and context. Filipinos are very religious people and their
dependence to God can be traced to the numerous sacred images and places
around the country. Regina Rica in Tanay, Rizal is just one of them.
 Analyze
Activity 1. Step out! This place is holy
Objective: Determine the different sacred places from various religious beliefs.
Directions: Reflect on the religious beliefs of sacred places in the pictures and
then answer the following questions below. Write your answers in
your answer sheet.

Figure 2. Ricablanca, May Faith

Religious Places, 2020
 Kamay ni Buddha under a Sacred mountain, Moses in
Hesus, Lucban, Bodhi tree Saudi, Arabia Mt. Sinai
Quezon (Buddhists) (Muslims) (Judaism)
(Christians) Co.pinterest
Asianews.it Alamy.com Dunyanews.tv .com

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Describe the religious beliefs of each pictures.

2. In terms of geographical location, find out what are their

commonalities or similarities.

3. What are your realizations upon doing the task?

Enrichment Activity
Activity 1. Oh My God! Where Art Thou?
Directions: Go to a place which you considered as holy or sacred. It
could be a church, temple, mosque, or synagogue or any
place. Write your experience with the guide questions
below in your answer sheet.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Write a brief reflection with the title: “My Experience with God in a
Sacred Place”.

.
Activity 2. Picture Analysis

Objectives: Compare and contrast the cultural and religious influences to

our society.
Directions:
1. Analyze the picture and answer the following questions.
2. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answer.

SAATCHIART.COM

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. What did you feel upon seeing the pictures?
2. Does it mean that there are only negative effects of culture and
religion? Elaborate your answer?
3. Based from your own experience, think of the positive effects of
culture and religion.
Remember
 Geography is the study of earth and its people. Its features are
things like continents, seas, rivers and mountains

 Religious Geography by which geographical ideas are

influenced by religion such as early map-making, and biblical
geography that developed in the 16 th century to identify places
from the Bible.

 Western religions – are religions that flourish in the Western

hemisphere of the globe or sometimes called the Occidental
religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

 Eastern Religions are religions from the Eastern hemisphere

which are also called the Oriental religions that include
Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism to name a few.

 Sacred places - is a place that is thought of as sacred (or holy)

to a particular religion. Every one of the world's major religions
has sacred sites.

 Paradigm – is a worldview, belief or a model of thought.

 Hellenism - is the term used to describe the influence of Greek

culture on the entire Roman Empires. The Hellenistic period
covers the period of Mediterranean history between the death
of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the
Roman Empire.
 Evaluation
Directions: Choose the letter that corresponds to your answer and
write it in the answer sheet.

1. Various religions developed in time and spaces all over the world
carrying with them their religious traditions and practices. One of
those practices are particular places where the believers enable to
communicate to a divine entity. How do they call these places?
A. Holy Altar
B. Holy War
C. Sacred Images
D. Sacred Places

2. Its concern is land and people. Its features are things like
continents, seas, rivers and mountains. It is the fertile ground for
the proliferation of religion. It refers to what term?
A. Culture
B. Geography
C. Landscape
D. Religion

3. Whose belief is this: “Religion is philosophy and philosophy is

religion.
A. Eastern belief
B. Northern belief
C. Southern belief
D. Western belief

4. Each particular religion has particular places where they go and

pray to their God. What particular religion which considers temples
as their places of worship.
A. Christianity
B. Hinduism
C. Islam
D. Judaism

5. There is a special relationship between religion and geography.

Religion needs the other in order to develop. What is the term
appropriate for this kind of relationship?
A. Cultural anthropology
B. Cultural geography
C. Religious anthropology
D. Religious geography
6. Your friends encouraged you to join a pilgrimage in Antipolo’s our
Lady of Good Voyage church during Holy Week. What will you
say?
A. No because I pray alone in my room.
B. Yes, I will join because of my friends.
C. I am not a religious person so I don’t need to go.
D. Yes, I will join because it strengthens my faith when
I go to a holy or sacred place.

7. Asia is the birthplace of the major religions in the world. The

Philippines is situated in Asia and it was Christianized by the
Spaniards. What kind of religious influence did we embrace?
A. African Religions
B. Asian Religions
C. Eastern religions
D. Western religions

8. There are places of worship that are considered sacred by religious

traditions. What place of worship is considered sacred by
Muslims?
A. Churches
B. Mosques
C. Synagogues
D. Temples

9. The site where any Muslims all over the world go for a pilgrimage
once in their lifetime.
A. In Iran
B. Mecca in Saudi Arabia
C. Middle East
D. The Kaaba

10. Every Holy Week Catholic Christians commemorate the crucifixion

of Christ. The crucifixion was made possible through the fourteen
Stations of the Cross or even individuals literally reenact the
event by themselves being crucified. What place mentioned in the
bible where Jesus was crucified?
A. Calvary
B. Golgotha
C. Mt. Sinai
D. Mt. Tabor

11. It is referred to as “ordinary way of life” in its broadest sense by Raymond

Williams. What is it?
A. Society
B. Culture
C. Politics
D. Science
12. Perhaps you may encounter people who considered their own culture as
superior than others. Some of us laugh when a person we talk to has a
Visayan accent. What do you call this kind of attitude?
A. Monotheism
B. Cultural Relativism
C. Ethnocentrism
D. Polytheism

13. Culture is dynamic. This means that culture .

A. is genetically structured in man’s biological component.
B. can be accumulated throughout the lifetime of a person.
C. is diverse, and we adjust to other culture.
D. is never stagnant and keep on changing due to new social
experiences of people.

14. Which statement reflects the relationship between religion, culture and
geography?
A. Religion influenced culture and geography.
B. Culture influenced religion and geography.
C. Geography influenced culture and religion.
D. Geography influenced religion and geography.

15. One of the statements reflects the beliefs of the Filipinos before
Christianity was introduced?
A. Nabati
B. Nabalis
C. Nausog
D. Nabasug
 Additional Activity
SUSMARYOSEP
Directions: Below are pictures of “Kamay ni Jesus” and “Regina Rica” as
discussed in Lesson 1. They are located in Lucban, Quezon and
Tanay, Rizal respectively. In essay type, answer the following
questions below: Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. How geography, culture and religion interplay in these examples?

Particularly concerning geographical location, the traditions or
rituals being practiced or associated with it.

Figure 3. Ricablanca, May Faith Figure 4. Ricablanca, May Faith

Religious Place, 2020 Regina Rica, 2020
Answer Key

14
References:
Books:

McKinney, Laurence O. (1994). Nuerotheology: Virtual Religion in the 21st Century

retrieved from https://www. Amazon.com>Nuerotheology-Virtual-2

Ramos, Christine Carmela R. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person.Rex Bookstore.2016

Cornejo, Nigel L., et al. Fundamentals of World Religions. MaxCor Publishing

House, Inc., 2019

Serapio, Maria Perpetua Arcilla. Introduction to World Religions for Senior High
School. Mindshapers Co., Inc. 2016

Vega, Violeta A. et al. Social Dimensions of Education. Lorimar Publishing Inc.,

2009

Ramos, Christine Carmela, PhD. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person. Rex Bookstore.2016

Articles:

Odchigue, R. (2010). Bibo Ergo Sum: Theo-Social Reflections of the Taguibo

Watershed Advocacy. Hapag 7.No.1, 79-

Online Sources

Newberg, Andrew (2010). Principles of Neuroethology retrieved from

www.npr.org>2010/12/15>nuerotheology-where-religi...

Kong, Lily (1990). Geography and Religion: Trends and Prospects

retrieved from
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2239/

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, (2007). Ecumenism

retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/ecumenism

Calderon, J. Foundations of Education. Retrieved from

https://www.books.google.com>books>about?Foundations_of
_Education

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannca, (2007). Second Vatican

Council ROMAN CATHOLIC HISTORY [1962–1965]
retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-
Vatican-Council
 Region IX: Zamboanga Peninsula Hymn – Our Eden Land
Here the trees and flowers bloom
Here the breezes gently Blow,
Here the birds sing Merrily,
The liberty forever Stays,
Here the Badjaos roam the seas
Here the Samals live in peace
Here the Tausogs thrive so free
With the Yakans in unity
Gallant men And Ladies fair
Linger with love and care
Golden beams of sunrise and sunset
Are visions you’ll never forget
Oh! That’s Region IX
Hardworking people Abound,
Every valleys and Dale
Zamboangueños, Tagalogs, Bicolanos,
Cebuanos, Ilocanos, Subanons, Boholanos,
Ilongos,
All of them are proud and true
Region IX our Eden Land
Region IX
Our..
Eden...
Land...

The Footprints Prayer Trees by Joyce Kilmer

One night I had a dream. I dreamed I think that I shall never see
that I was walking along the beach A poem lovely as a tree.
with the LORD.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
In the beach, there were two (2) sets Against the earth’s sweet flowing
of footprints – one belong to me and breast;
the other to the LORD.
A tree that looks at God all day,
Then, later, after a long walk, I And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
noticed only one set of footprints.
A tree that may in Summer wear
“And I ask the LORD. Why? Why?
A nest of robins in her hair;
Why did you leave me when I am sad
and helpless?”
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
And the LORD replied “My son, My Who intimately lives with rain.
son, I have never left you. There was
only one (1) set of footprints in the Poems are made by fools like me,
sand, because it was then that I But only God can make a tree.
CARRIED YOU!