ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

Tagudin Campus

MODULE
OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE
SUBJECT TITLE
World Religions and Belief Systems

SUBJECT OVERVIEW
The course explores the main tenets and practices of major world religions: Judaism,
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism,
Taoism and Shintoism. It aims to help learners understand the historical contexts of nine
religions, appreciate their uniqueness and similarities and promote mutual understanding
among believers of different faiths. They are expected to demonstrate understanding and
appreciation of one’s faith and that of others.
As you explore your learning, this work is divided in four (4) major module equivalent to (4)
quarters in a school year, to assist and guide you in this philosophical journey. Quarter 1 Module,
Quarter 2 Module, Quarter 3 Module, and Quarter 4 Module.
So “Ambulate luminei fidie”.

COURSE STUDY GUIDE

This module was made and prepared for you, my precious learners, to work on your own. To
have the best in working with this module, you are reminded to follow these simple yet effective
guidelines:

1. Manage your time well. A course study schedule is prepared for you to help you study
the modules in the course. The productive use of your time and energy will help you a lot
in finishing the scheduled activities.
2. Focus your attention. The key element for better understanding is having the focus or
concentrate on the things to be done.
3. Give your best. Always remember that actions speaks louder than voice. A success will
be attained in everything you do by giving extra effort in the things you are doing.
4. Submit on time. Work diligently. Do not procastinate. Remember, time is gold. Work
immediately on the task at hand in order for you to follow scheduled time for submission.
5. Be patient. Motivate yourself. Patience will make you successful and always be humble
in every step you take.
6. Answer confidently. Study hard, surf the internet and cite the references
7. Work independently. You can do it! Your future lies in your own hands ad your own
decisions. So, practice working independently Trust yourself and God.
8. Contact me. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to ask me through my email
pjbanang@gmail.com or the group chat created for the class.

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE COURSE STUDY SCHEDULE

To keep you on track for the best use of your module, the study guide is hereby given for you to
follow:

Week Topic Learning Activities Special Instructions

Week 1 (Day 1-4) Lesson 1 Read, internalize and familiarize Memorize the important
Relationship the different terms and words terms and words that will
between that give meaning about help us to have a better
Religion and philosophy. understanding about
Philosophy philosophy.
Understanding
World Religion in
the Lesson 2 Read, Answer or Perform the Search about the great
Contemporary The portrait of given activities in the given Philosophers and chose
Period a Philosopher module. one as your model and
state some factor why did
you chose that
philosopher as your
model.

Read, Answer or Perform the

given activities in the given
module.
Read, Answer or Perform the
given activities in the given
module.
Week 14 to 15 Read, Answer or Perform the
given activities in the given
module.

COURSE EVALUATION

To pass the course, you must:

1. Submit all course requirements to include the following:

a. Activity sheets given in the modules
a. Written Activity
b. Performance task activity
c. Assignment Outputs
b. Evaluation activities

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

Quarter 1 Learning Module

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE
Lesson 1. Relationship of Religion and Philosophy

At the end of this lesson, you should have:

1. Understand their religious faith
2. Recognize their own identity as a Christian
3. Determine the different religious organization

Activity; Answers the graphic organizer.

Name all the religions/belief systems that you know.

Do you have a religion or belief?

What do you know about it? What do you want to know?

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

Introduction:

Religion is a fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a group of
people. These set of beliefs concern the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, and involve
devotional and ritual observances. They also often contain a moral code governing the conduct of
human affairs.

Ever since the world began, man has demonstrated a natural inclination towards faith and
worship of anything he considered superior/difficult to understand. His religion consisted of trying to
appease and get favors from the Supreme Being he feared. This resulted in performing rituals (some
of them barbaric) and keeping traditions or laws to earn goodness and/or everlasting life.

Christianity has always stressed a personal relationship with God as the touchstone of
religion. When God created Adam and Eve, He walked with them in the Garden of Eden, in the cool
of the day, and enjoyed their fellowship. Religion was, and still is, a close, personal, and satisfying
relationship with the creator God.

1.1 Relationship of Philosophy and Religion

Philosophy is all about reason while theology if all about faith. It means reason is used to
understand faith. Philosophy is considered as a big umbrella that is interconnected with each other.
We cannot talk of faith without talking about philosophy. The truth is, faith should be understood in
the framework of reason. As an individual gifted with reason, the very core of the human person is to
think and wills. Thinking and willing is an activity not only of the mind but our emotion that somehow
makes us more capable of discernment and accepting who we are. Christian philosophy would teach
us the reality that faith and reason must compliment together. Wisdom should be pursued in truth
and the light of revelation. Certainly, God revealed himself in nature and in history.

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

1.2 Types of Religious Organizations

Religious organizations establish themselves as an institution, practitioners, and structures in
a variety of unique experiences. Each religious groups have their own way of practicing their faith
and belief according to their own religious doctrine. The following are:

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE
What is Sect?
. Sect is a small and relatively new group. Most of the well-known Christian denominations
in the United States today began as sects. For example, the Methodists and Baptists protested
against their parent Anglican Church in England, just as Henry VIII protested against the Catholic
Church by forming the Anglican Church. From “protest” comes the term Protestant. Example of
sec is Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Christian denomination
Is a distinct religious body within Christianity, identified by traits such as a name,
organization and doctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative terms to describe
themselves, such as church, convention, communion, assembly, house, union, network, or
sometimes fellowship.

1.3 World views and Belief System

A very simple definition of a “worldview” is given by Matt Slick. According to him a
worldview is a set of beliefs used to understand the world. Everyone has a set of
principles by which to judge right and wrong and which guides them in everyday living. You
stop at a red light and go at a green. ( Cornejo, et al, 2019).
Google has a simple definition, it says, ”Belief systems are the stories we tell ourselves
to define our personal sense of ‘reality’ (the way things actually exist). Every human
being has a belief system that he/she utilizes and it is through this mechanism that
we individually “make sense” of the world around us.” It could be a set of beliefs or a
philosophy of life. Belief system shapes your worldview about the world, your existence,
and relationships with your fellowmen. In other words, “ a worldview whether religious or
nonreligious, is a personal insight about reality and meaning, often termed a “life

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE
understanding” which I may call a product of belief systems. Most often worldviews are
shaped by religions. Inside the box are worldviews about man’s perspective of God.
(Serapio,2016).

Naturalism (e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism). It denies the existence of God. The
material universe is all that exist.
Pantheism ( e.g. Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism; much New Age Consciousness. They believe
that only the spiritual dimension exists. All else is illusion. Man is spiritual and eternal.
Theism (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam). They believe that an infinite, personal God exists.
God created the real world. People are created in the image of God.
Spiritism. The world is inhabited by spirit beings who govern earthly activities. Man is created
by gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Material things are real but they have spirits
associated with them.
Polytheism: This is the belief in many gods or deities. The culture of
Ancient Greeks and Romans depict this kind of beliefs.

The elements of religions written by Maria Perpetua Arcilla-Serapio lay-down

.
these basic characteristics at least for the major religions. They are;

1. Belief in supernatural powers: the power which is beyond human powers.

The human sufferings enable human being to seek God’s help for their problems.
2. Belief in the holy or sacred: This is the heart of every religion. Every religion
has sacred books or texts. For example, Scriptures and the Bible are sacred for
the Jews and so with the Christians, Qur’an for Muslims, and Tripitaka for
Buddhists and Vedas for Hindus. But something sacred is not just books but also
places, symbols, animals, rocks and many more. Hindus for example believes that
cows are sacred because of their beliefs in reincarnation.
3. Systems of rituals: these are the different ways each religions expresses their faith.
Catholic Christians have the seven sacraments which include ceremonies and rituals. For
example, Baptism. A child must be baptized at an early age in the church with the
presence of parents, God parents, priest as celebrator and the community that supports
the child. The most important symbol of baptism is –water. It symbolizes cleansing from
sin. The child also has to wear white dressto symbolize purity.
4. Sinful acts : usually a violation of the laws established by God which each
members has to follow. For example the Ten Commandments for Judaism and
Christians and the Five Pillars of Islam which when violated the believer commits
a grievous sin.

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

5. The Method of salvation: the belief in the afterlife or the idea of heaven
and hell. If you are a good believer you will go to heaven but if not, you will go to
hell. Islam went further by believing that if one’s life is sacrificed against the
enemies of Islam, their soul go straight to heaven.
6.Mode of worship: each religions has different expressions of worship which
include praying, kneeling, dancing, singing to name a few.
7.Liturgy and Ideology: Liturgy is described as public worship. It is a gathering of
believers with ceremonies such as wedding ceremonies, worship services or bible
studies.
8. Place of worship: Each religion has holy places which they believe
God is present such as churches, temples, mosques and other sacred
places.

The elements or characteristics of religions mentioned above are necessary for a

particular religion to perpetuate their worldviews and belief systems.

SUBJECT TITLE:
World Religion and Belief System
Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
Tagudin Campus
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
MODULE

Name:_______________________ Strands _________ Score: ____

ACTIVITIES NO. 1
Song Analysis
Objective: Analyze the nature of God presented in the Song.
Directions:
1. Listen or read the song “Who Am I.”
2. Prepare a separate paper for your answer.
3. Answer the questions below?
Who Am I ( I am Yours) Casting Crowns

Who am I that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my heart?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
From my ever wondering heart?
Not because of who am I
But because of what you’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done, but because
of who you are
Still you hear me when I’m calling
Lord you catch me when I’m falling
And you told me who am I
I am yours.
Who am I, that the eyes that seen my sin
Will look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I the voice that calm the sea
Will call out to the rain
And calm the storm in me?

I am a flower quickly fading Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?

Here today and gone tomorrow I am yours
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

Activity 2: As a Christian, how can you describe the image of God? Do it in a form of a colourful
drawing. Make use of a short bond paper. Provide an explanation at the back portion.
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE

SUBJECT
SUBJECT TITLE:TITLE:
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
World Religion and Belief System Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Tagudin Campus

MODULE
RUBRIC
CRITERIA EXEMPLARY (5 GOOD (4 pts.) FAIR (3 pts.) POOR (2 TOTAL
pts.) pts.)
Purpose/Introduction The writer’s The writing The central The purpose
purpose or has a clear purpose or or argument
argument is readily purpose or argument is is generally
apparent to the argument, but not unclear.
reader. may consistently
sometimes clear
stray off from throughout
the subject. the paper.
Content Complete Information Information Central
presentation of provides supports a purpose is
relevant and reasonable central not clearly
correct information support for a purpose of identified.
that clearly central the topic at Insufficient
supports a central purpose of the times. Reader supporting
purpose or topic. Reader gains few details and
argument and in- gains some insights. caused
depth analysis of a insights. confusion to
chosen particular the readers.
topic. Reader
gains important
insights.
Organization, sentence The ideas are The ideas are The writing is The writing is
structure/ word choice arranged logically arranged to arranged not logically
to support the support the logically, organized.
purpose. The flow purpose. It is although Frequently,
of ideas is usually clearly occasionally ideas fail to
smoothly linked linked to each ideas fail to make sense
each other. other. There is make sense together,
Sentence some variety together. The There are
formations are in sentence reader is errors in the
correctly structure. fairly clear sentence
structured. The what the write structure and
reader can follow intends. distracts the
the line of readers.
reasoning.
Mood/impact to the The writer is The writing is The writing is The writing
readers compelling and generally dull and has little
hooks the interestengaging, but unengaging/ personality. It
of the readers andhas some Some parts quickly loses
sustains it all dry/dull are interest
throughout. moments. Still interesting, among the
keeps the but not readers.
reader’s maintained
attention.
GRAND TOTAL

SUBJECT
SUBJECT TITLE:TITLE:
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
World Religion and Belief System Instructor: Jonathan L. Banang