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INTRODUCTION TO

WORLD RELIGION AND

BELIEF SYSTEM
1st Quarter: Module 3

Rogelio DG. Burce

Mary Ann C. Doctor
Module Writer

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Content Standard:
The learner demonstrates understanding of effects of Religions: positive
and negative.
Performance Standard:
The learner gathers print or web-based articles, photos, editorial, etc.
showing the positive or negative effects of religion.
Most Essential Learning (Week 3):
Analyze the influences of religion to culture and society.
Learning Competencies:
 Distinguish the positive and negative effects of religion to culture and
society.
 Appreciate the positive and avoid the negative effects of religion in
society.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module the students will be able to;
Distinguish the positive and negative effects of religion to culture and
society.
Value the contributions of religion to culture and society.
Appreciate the role of religion to culture and society.

EXPECTATIONS

 This module is intended to you learners of Grade 12 Humanities and

Social Science Strand classes specifically in your course subject
Introduction to World Religion and Belief System.
 The lesson included in your module teaches you to analyze the
influences of religion to culture and society.
 It also helps you to accept the positive and avoid the negative effects of
religion in culture. In this module there are activities that will guide you
to better understand your lesson.

Are you ready and excited? Let’s start…

Q1-WEEK 3 WORLD RELIGION 2

 PRE-TEST

Multiple Choice: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of your correct answer
on the space provided.
1. A kind of thinking that one’s belief is superior to all others.
a. sexism b. triumphatism c. anti-semitism d. caste system
2. A legal, institutional, personal or linguistic discrimination based solely on gender
a. sexism b. triumphatism c. anti-semitism d. caste system
3. Another persecutions connected with religion against the Jews which being accused
of the cause of the death of Christ on the cross.
a. sexism b. triumphatism c. anti-semitism d. caste system
4. It was exclusively seen as the major flaws in Hinduism religion for this is a kind of
system which almost equivalent with slavery and racism.
a. sexism b. triumphatism c. anti-semitism d. caste system
5. This usually happened when too much commitment has been given at the expense
of personal and community’s safety and use of common sense.
a. fanaticism b. racism c. extremism d. occultism
6. The most dangerous organization usually associated with paranormal activities.
a. fanaticism b. racism c. extremism d. occultism
7. A belief that one’s race is superior more than all others.
a. fanaticism b. racism c. extremism d. occultism
8. An extreme commitment to religion based on tradition which leads to violence.
a. fanaticism b. racism c. extremism d. occultism
9. They may look and act like religion but they are not. Religions have followers but
cults have victims.
a. fanaticism b. racism c. cultism d. occultism
10. The following are negative effects of religion except _______.
a. false religion b. perverted religion c. bad religion d. wrong religion

LOOKING BACK

Locate to connect!

How do you them? Arrange the scramble letters of a country or region then identify
the particular religion and culture associated with them.

Country Religion Culture

SEAT LEDMID
RICAMAE
INACH

Q1-WEEK 3 WORLD RELIGION 3

 INTRODUCTION OF THE LESSON
Seeing both sides of the issue!
It is oftentimes said, that in every issue or topic there is always two sides to see
and realized. While most people love religion, there are those who hated it too much.
There are those who defended it at all cost while others would not even want to
mention it. Let’s explore the two sides of religions. Appreciate its real reason of
existence while avoiding some of its abuses.

What is it?

Lesson: The Two Sides of the Same Religious Coin

I. The Positive Effects of Religion
All new challenges and arguments given by modern atheist about the possibility
of society’s progress even without the belief in God’s existence and establishment of
religion are just foolish statement based on unreliable data. Let’s see why it was so.
1. Democracy and capitalism
The U.S Constitutions was written under the belief in the existence of God led
by genuine believers who belong to Protestant denominations. Thus, primarily
included in the American ideals is the strong allegiance of its founding fathers to the
Almighty God – Creator of Heavens and earth.
2. Human rights and freedom
The civil rights movement was sparkle by a black American pastor Martin
Luther King Jr. Even the freedom of India was highly attributed to a religious Indian
leader Mahatma Gandhi.
3. Morality and family values
Every religion emphasized virtues stated in their sacred writings. Religion is the
strong foundation of morality which gives order and stability. The Golden Rule is one
of the most recognized moral systems both in ancient and modern society.
4. Health and medicine
A Persian physician and a Muslim known in Europe as Avicenna, wrote ‘The
Canon of Medicine’ with descriptions of many diseases and conditions including
rabies, cancer and paralysis. It was used for hundreds of years in medical schools
throughout the Islamic Empire and Europe.
5. Culture and arts
Religions preserves cultural heritage of every civilizations such as Hindu and
Buddhist temples, Christianity’s festivals and celebrations, Islamic clothes, Confucian
archives, Judaism literatures and Taoist dances.

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6. Science and technology
Most of the great scientists are strong believers who didn’t only believe but argued
for God’s existence. Michael Faraday discoverer of electromagnetic induction and
founder of electromagnetic field theory was a puritan. Together with Isaac Newton,
Blaise Pascal and G.F. Leibnitz they founded the strong ground for Science and
Technology.
7. Charity and social services
All major religions have their own versions of charity and social work. In Islam it
is called ‘zakat,’ in Jewish ‘tzedaka,’ and in Hinduism ‘bhakti.’ Christianity was known
to be the founder of orphanages and other social service work.
Others: According to 100 years of Nobel Prizes between 1001 and 2000 65.4%
of Nobel Prize Laureates identify Christianity in its various forms as their religious
preferences (423 prizes), 21% Jewish and others are agnostics or non-religious.
II. The Negative effects of religion
Religion in its original intention is good but on the process of its long and
complicated existence it was turned to be bad, perverted and falsified by the people
who had foolish motives obviously manifested into their actions.
I. Bad Religion – This is a kind of mistakes existing inside the religious organization
somehow being tolerated as part of their system and/or unintentional committed by
them.
a. Sexism
A legal, institutional, personal or linguistic discrimination based solely on gender
(almost always the female gender).
early stage –at early stage it was centered on the discrimination against women. of
this kind of attitude 1960’s the first use by Caroline Bird (1968) usually came from the
male dominant society. It is purely gender based and authority centered issue.
latter stage - Religion is the most vocal and strong opponent of the new issues in
sexism in LGBT issue.
b. Anti-semitism
Another persecutions connected with religion against the Jews which being
accused of the cause of the death of Christ on the cross.
c. Caste system
It was exclusively seen as the major flaws in Hinduism religion for this is a kind
of system which almost equivalent with slavery and racism.

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d. Politicizing
When religious institutions make deals with rulers to support their reigns in
return for the ruler’s support of the religion. Another way is when religion or its
leaders holds secular power for itself and become distorted in the process.
e. Triumphalism
A kind of thinking that one’s belief is superior to all others.
II. Perverted religion- A kind of condition of religion with distortion.
a. Racism
Although it was usually political and economic but there are more religions
committed this kind of actions especially in a more heterogeneous community such as
in Africa and America. A belief that one’s race is superior more than all others.
b. Extremism
It is also known as religious fundamentalism. Though it is more evident among
Islamic group but every religions has this kind of tendencies which oftentimes leads to
violence and crime.
c. Fanaticism
This usually happened when too much commitment has been given at the
expense of personal and community’s safety and use of common sense.
III. False religion- A kind of condition of religion with deception.
a. Occultism
The most dangerous organization usually associated with paranormal activities.
b. Cultism
They may look and act like religion but they are not. Religions have followers but
cults have victims.
What’s More?

Activity 1- Open letter for Peace and Unity

Make an open letter for peace and unity for all religions in the world. It must
contain the necessary parts such as brief introduction, the body and conclusion. The
letter must be intended to be posted or read in public if
possible through social media. Rubrics Points
Content (complete 5
parts of the Letter
and point out the
issues)
Presentation 5
(grammar, punct
uations, etc.)

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 Moving On!

Activity 1: Balancing the Negatives

Choose at least two negative effects of religion and make a necessary actions
or steps to avoid, or minimize if not to eradicate it in present society.

The Negatives: Steps or Actions to take: ex. dialogue

Ex. extremism (violence)

EFFECTS OF RELIGION

1. ____________ 1. ________________

__________________

2. _________ 2. _______________

_______________
1.

11.

RELIGION

Guide Questions:
1. Why you choose the two negatives effects?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What makes it difficult in making a necessary steps or actions?
___________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the most significant lesson you’ve learned in this activity?

__________________________________________________________________________

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Activity 3: Filipinos are religious!

Choose and list two of the positive effects of religion and apply it in the life of
Filipinos who are known to be one of the most religious people in Asia.

Positive Effects of Religion Filipino Examples

1.

2.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What I CAN Do?

A. Identify the positive effects which being mentioned in the following

statement or situation.

_____ 1. A certain portion of religious offerings should be allotted to help others.

_____ 2. The God-given knowledge was used by Christians to improve our
transportations and communication.
_____ 3. Peace and order are possible if people have fear of God.
_____ 4. Taoism was known for its great posture and steps in dancing.
_____ 5. Both free-market and entrepreneurship have Biblical basis.
_____ 6. Islam religion has great role in modern medicine
_____ 7. Most of human rights advocates are religious people.
_____ 8. Mother Theresa was known in her work helping the poor in India.
_____ 9.The work of Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most valued paintings in the
world.
_____ 10. Confucianism was known for its active concerned for the family values.

B. Write B if it refers to BAD P, if to PERVERTED and F, if to FALSE religion.

11._____Women is not allowed to teach men especially in the church. .
12._____There is religious groups who tolerate the existence of private army.

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13._____ A group claiming supernatural power and gathering secretly in some cave.
14._____ For many years Mormonism taught that dark skin was the mark of Cain who
killed his brother and was cursed by God.
15._____ Undeniably, all major religions had some records of violence such as
Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

ENRICHMENT

Congratulations! You’re almost done in attaining a well-oriented status in

matters of religion. Kindly, answer the following questions.

1. Why there are those people who never associate themselves with any religion?

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. Why there are people who used religion to deceived people and get money from
them?

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. Give your personal understanding in this verse from the Bible, “Religion that is pure
and undefiled before God, the father, is this, ‘to visit orphans and widows in their
afflictions and to keep one unstained from the world.’ James 1:27

4. Analyze the effects of religion based on the following points. Explain your answer
based on the current event which you think affected our faith.

A. Human rights/LGBTQ plus rights

B. Culture

C. Political affiliation

Referrences:

Mga Sanggunian:
King, Jenny, “World’s Religions,” Worldlink Books. Phillipines.2002
Corduan, Winfried. “Guide to World Religions,” Intervarsity Press.USA.2006
Mcdermott, Gerald R. “World Religion- An indispensible Introduction, Thomas Nelson.USA.2011
Gaer, Joseph. “What the Great Religions Believe,”A Signet Book.USA1963
Fernando, Ajith.”Sharing the Truth in Love,”Discovery House.Philippines.2001
Gellman, Marc; Hartman Thomas, “Religion for Dummies,” Wiley Publishing, USA. 2002
Goldwag, Arthur. “Isms and Ologies,” Madison Park Press. USA.2007
Decker, Ed and Carlson, Ron. “Fast Facts on False Teachings,” CGM. Philippines.1994

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