Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ORIENTAL MINDORO

Pangalan__________________________________________ Petsa_______________________
Baitang/ Pangkat_________________________________ Iskor_______________________

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEM

First Quarter – Week 1

Lesson/Topic:_______________________________________________________________________
MELC:______________________________________________________________________________
(MELC Code)

What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. In this module, you
will understand the nature of religion by Differentiating the concept, elements,
and characteristics of belief system, world view, religion and spirituality.

This module is consisting of 1 lesson only, namely:

THE NATURE OF RELIGION

After going through this module, you are expected to:

(MELCs) Differentiate the concept, elements, and characteristics of
belief system, world view, religion and spirituality.

1. Identify and explain the key elements of religion. HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIa1.1

2. explain the difference between religiousness and spirituality, as well as
their relationships. HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIa-1.2

LESSON 1: Understanding the Nature of Religion

What does being religious and spiritual imply? Why is religion associated
with humanity's yearning for the true meaning of life and death? As we all
know, when someone prays, he or she is actively seeking a connection to divine
beings or supernatural forces that exist outside of the natural world. The
majority of global faiths have a collection of prayers that take the shape of
chants, mantras, or creeds. Whether you pray or not, you've probably seen the
powerful roles faiths play all across the world. Understanding the essence of
religion enlightens students on the common threads that unite believers in
pondering life and death, as well as why or how people seek spiritual

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inspiration. Recognizing religion's fundamental features allows us to have a
better understanding of the numerous ideas and practices that shape
humanity's spiritual needs.

What I Know

Find out how much you already know about this lesson. After
taking and checking this short test, take note of the items that you were
not able to answer correctly and look for the right answer as you go
through this lesson.

Exploring Initial Ideas and Views

Pre-test:

Directions: Fill up the correct term to identify the belief system in

the world. Write the correct term under the column answer.

Answer Statements

1 There is no real distinction between god and the universe.

2 The belief and worship of many gods.

3 The doctrine or belief in one supreme god.

4 Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god.

5 God cannot be known.

What’s In

In the context of religion, list down 10 things that you believe in by

completing the following statements. What have you observed in your own
belief system?

1. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________.

2. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________.

3. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________.

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4. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

5. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

6. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

7. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

8. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

9. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________.

10. I believe in/that ___________________________________________________.

What’s New

1. Religion is the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred

belief system.
2. Spirituality reflects one’s integrative view of life while affecting
the human soul.
3. Religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules
used to worship a god or a group of gods (Merriam-Webster
Dictionary 2014)

What is It

UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEWS.

Every individual sees and interprets the world quite differently

from one another. For a certain individual, social environment and
upbringing are critical in the development of a religious life. Belief in god
or gods is found in almost all religions. There could be more unknown
than known religions in the world since recorded history covers only
several thousand years of human existence.

Theism, often used as a synonym to monotheism, is defined as “a belief

in the existence of one god viewed as the creative source of the human
race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world”
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary 2014). Monotheistic religions claim that
there is only one God who could have designed and created the universe

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or may have directed all events that led to the creation of everything. On
the other hand, polytheistic religions recognize many principal gods
among whom no one is supreme. Modern-day examples of monotheistic
religion include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Monism asserts that
there is no genuine distinction between God and the universe. It contends
that God is dwelling in the universe as part of it. While atheists deny the
existence of God, agnostics deny the possibility for man to acquire
knowledge of the existance of God. Monism is a form of monism which
originated from the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION

Religion may be defined as "organized system of beliefs,

ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods" The Latin
word religio refers to "something done with overanxious or scrupulous
attention to detail" Religion may be universal in all stages of human
history, but it does not follow that all individuals are religious or even
religious to some degree (Parrinder 1971).

Table 1.1 below summarizes the various definitions forwarded be several

social scientists on the nature of religion.

Name of Social View on Religion

Scientist
Edward Burnett Taylor The belief in spiritual beings
(1832-1917)
James George Frazer A propitiation or conciliation of powers
(1854-1941) superior to man which are believed to
control and direct the course of nature and
of human life.
Bronislaw Kasper A body of self-contained acts being
Malinowski (1884-1942) themselves the fulfillment of their purpose;
an affair of all, in which everyone takes an
active and equivalent part.
David Emile Durkheim A unified system of beliefs and practices
(1858-1917) relative to sacred things.
Source: Joy Hendry, Other People’s Worlds: An Introduction to Cultural
and Social Anthropology, pp. 116-199.

ORIGINS OF RELIGION

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Since the nineteenth century, numerous theories have been
postulated to explain the origin of religion. Archaeologists believe that they
have discovered elements of religious belief practised by Homo sapiens
almost 60,000 years ago. While they believe in the presence of
supernatural entities, they also try to communicate with them (Ember &
Ember 1996) Theories include that early humans are weak and ignorant
of the different forces of nature, they had to invent religion to explain their
existence. Others contend that religion was conceived by the few to stifle
the ideals of the masses.

In the study of religion, there are basic concepts that need to be

understood such as theology, philosophy of religion, and spirituality.
While religion refers to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices
concerning a supernatural power, theology involves the systematic study
of the existence and purpose of the divine. Theology is a study, not a
formulation of religious beliefs. Philosophy of religion deals primarily with
issues concerning religion, which includes analysis on the existence of a
divine being or on sacred texts.

Spirituality is something an individual can have without being

implicated in the ambivalent complexity of human societies and
institutions. It involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life
as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. One can
be spiritual without being religious one can be religious without being
spiritual.

What’s More

Answer the following questions in your answer sheet:

1. How does your conception of a divine or supreme being compare with

the supernatural beings found in other religious beliefs?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.
2. Do you agree with specific theory of religion? Defend your answer.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.
3. Do you consider yourself religious, or spiritual? Explain.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.

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What I have Learned

Answer the following questions. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

1. How does religion help explain man's existence and role in the world?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
2. How did religion originate? Cite key theories to support your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
3. What are the common characteristics of religions?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
4. Do you agree that the universe is designed and created by a single
divine being or God? Explain your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
5. How can an individual lead a spiritual life? Cite some examples.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.

What I can do

Write a two-page essay on the topic “Religion: What Does It Mean to Me?”
guided by the following questions: Write your essay on your answer sheet.

A. What different values have your religion instilled in you?

B. What various guiding principles which may have been influenced by
your religion do you adhere to in your life?

Assessment

Match Column A with Column B. Write the letter of the correct

answer on the blank provided.

Column A

1. a belief in the existence of one God viewed as A. theology

creative source of the human race and the world
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2. relating or affecting the human spirit or soul that is B. agnosticism
one’s personal integrative view on.
3. the belief that there is only one God who could have C. polytheism
designed and created the universe.
4. the belief in many principal gods among whom no one D. theism
is supreme.
5. the belief that there is no genuine distinction between E. worldview
God and the universe.
6. Denial of the existence of God F. monism
7. the belief that God's existence is unknown and G. monotheism
8. unknowable.
9. an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules
Used to worship a god or a group of gods. H. aestheism
10. a collection of beliefs about life and the universe
held by people I. religion
11. the systematic study of the existence and
nature of the divine J. spirituality

Additional Activities

Answer the following questions. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

1. Does a person need to be religious in order to have spirituality in

his/her life? Explain your answer.

2. . Is the belief in God necessary in a religion? Is it possible to have a

religion even without the belief in God? Explain your answer.

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Key to Correction

Pre-test Post-test

1. D
2. J
1. Monism
3. G
2. Polytheism
4. C
3. Monotheism 5. F
4. Antheism 6. H
5. Agnosticism 7. B
8. I
9. E
10. A

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Reference and Feedback note (one page)

Books:

Ong, Jerome A., and Jose, Mary Dorothy dL. Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc., 2016.

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Department of Education
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ORIENTAL MINDORO

Prepared by:
JAY M. HERNANDEZ

Edited by:
JURGEN CAROLINO

Reviewed by:

OSCAR C. LINGA, DD, PhD

Education Prpgram Supervisor in EsP

For questions, comments or suggestions, you may write or call to:

Department of Education Division of Oriental Mindoro

Sta. Isabel, Calapan City 5200

Telephone No. (043) 288-7810

Email Address: orminlrms@deped.gov.ph

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