LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WEEK 6

Subject: Introduction to World Religion and Belief System

LEARNING CONTENT: Islam
Reference(s): Quebral, Villamor S., Ed.D, Pathways of Devotion, An Introduction to World Great Religions, Lorimar Publishing, 2018

LEARNING TARGET
1. Read the opening lines of the Qur’an preferably from English Version
2. Retell the life and times of Prophet Muhammad
3. Explain the core teaching of Islam- there is only one God and Mu-hammad is His final
and greatest messenger
LEARNING CONCEPT
I. Islam at a Glance
 The Arabic word ‘Islam’ means peace, submission and obedience.
 The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God as
revealed to his Prophet, Muhammad.
 A Muslim is defined by Islamic scholars as one who believes in God and strives for the
complete transformation of his life according to God’s revealed guidance and the
teachings of His Prophet.
 The message which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, according to them, is Islam in
its comprehensive, complete and final form.
II. The Qu’ran
 The Qu’ran is believed as the last revealed word of God.
 It is primary source of every Muslim’s faith and practice.
 It deals with all subjects which concerns human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship,
transactions, laws, etc.
 It provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct,
and an equitable economic system.
III. Sura Al-Fatiha- ‘The Opening
 Sura Al-Fatiha is the first chapter of the Qu’ran, the sacred book of Islam.
 Its verses are a prayer for God’s guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God
(Allah in Arabic)

IV. The Life of Muhammad

 Muhammad is the founder and chief prophet of Islam and the source of the Qu’ran
 Muhammad, whose name means ‘highly praised”, was born in Mecca in 570 C.E.
 His father died shortly before his birth, and he lost his mother at the age of six.
Muhammad was then raised primarily by his uncle.
 As a young man, Muhammad worked as a camel driver between Syria and Arabia.
 Muhammad came into contact with people of many nationalities and faiths, including
Jews, Christians and pagans.
 At the age 25, Muhammad was employed by Khadija, a wealthy Meccan widow 15 years his
senior. The two were married.
V. Divine Revelation
 In his late 30’s, Muhammad took to regularly visiting a cave in Mount Hira, on the
outskirts of Mecca, to seek solitude and contemplation.
 In 610, at the age of 40, Muhammad returned from one such visit telling his wife he had
either gone mad or become a prophet, for he had been visited by an angel.
 This initially startled Khadija, became his first convert.
 After receiving Khadija’s support, and additional angelic visits, Muhammad became
confident he had indeed been chosen as the messenger of Allah.
 Muhammad message to his countrymen was to convert from pagan polytheism,
immorality and materialism, repent from evil and worship Allah, the only true God.
 He was not an angel, he did not know the mind of God, and he did not work miracles. He
simply preached what he has received.
 In the first three years of his ministry, Muhammad only gained 40 followers.
 As his teachings threatened the Meccan way of life, both moral and economic, he and his
followers experienced heavy persecution.
 Members of the small movement were stoned, covered in dirt as they prayed, beaten
with sticks, thrown into prison and refused service by merchants.
VI. The Hejira
 Persecution continued to increase until Muhammad received some welcome news: He had
gained followers in the city of Yathrib, 280 miles north of Mecca.
 The City was in need of a strong leader, and a delegation from Yathrib proposed that
Muhammad take the job.
 In return, they pledged to worship Allah only, obey Muhammad and defend him and his
followers to death.
 Muhammad made plans to escape to Yathrib.
 The leaders in Mecca heard of the planned escape, and attempted to prevent it.
 Muhammad and his close friend Abu Bakr managed to make a narrow escape north out of
the city, evading a Meccan search party and arriving safely in Yathrib.
 This event is celebrated by Muslims as the Hejira.
 The year in which it occurred, 622, is the date at which the Muslim calendar begins.
 Yathrib was named Medina al-Nabi, “City of the Prophet”, and is now known simply as
Medina, “the City”.

VII. Muhammad in Medina

 Muhammad proved himself as an able politician and statesman as well as prophet.
 Exercising superb statescraft, he welded the five heterogenous and conflicting tribes of
the city, three of which were Jewish, into an orderly confederation.
 His reputation spread and people began to flock from every part of Arabia to see the
man who had wrought this miracle.

VIII. Battle for Mecca

 In 624, the Muslims won their first battle against the Meccans.
 However, a subsequent battle was not victorious, and Muhammad himself was wounded.
 In 627, the Meccans attacked Medina, and Medina came out on top.
 In 630, Muhammad and his forces marched to Mecca and defeated it.
 The Prophet re-dedicated the Kaaba temple to Allah, witnessed the conversion to Islam
of nearly the entire Meccan population, then returned to Medina.
 Muhammad died in 632, having conquered nearly all Arabia for Islam.

IX. Kaaba
 The Kaaba also referred as Al Kaaba Al Musharrafah, is a building at the center of
Islam’s most sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, al-Hejaz, Saudi Arabia.
 It is the most sacred site in Islam.
X. The Five Pillars of Islamic Faith
 They are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and
responsible life according to Islam.
1. Shahadah: Sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of Faith.
“Nothing deserves worship except God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Messenger of
God.’
2. Salat: Performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times a day.
3. Zakat: Paying (or giving) of alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy.
4. Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
“Ramadan is the Muslim Holy month marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset.
For 30 days, the followers of Islam pray and refrain from smoking and bad behavior”
5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
“The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the most holy city of the
Muslims, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least
one in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable
of undertaking the journey.”
XI. Concept of Worship
 Islam does not teach or accept mere ritualism.
 It emphasizes intention and action.
 To worship God is to know Him and love Him; act upon His law in every aspect of life; to
enjoin goodness and forbid wrongdoings and oppression; to practice charity and justice and
to serve God by serving mankind.
XII. Different Islamic Sects
1. Sunni Muslims
 Include 84%-90% of all Muslims
 Sunni means “tradition” and Sunnis regard themselves as those who emphasize
following the traditions of Muhammad and of the first two generations of the
community of Muslims that followed Muhammad.
2. Shi’ite Muslims
 Comprise 10%-16% of all Muslims.
 Shi’ites are the “party of Ali” who believed that Muhammad’s son-in-law was his
designated successor.
 Muslim community should be headed by a designated descendant of Muhammad.
3. Sufis or Islamic Mystics
 Sufis go beyond external requirements of Islamic religion to seek a personal
experience of God through forms of meditation and spiritual growth.
4. Baha’is and Ahmadiyyas
 These are 19th century offshoots of Shi’ite and Sunni respectively.  Sunni means
“tradition” and Sunnis regard themselves as those who emphasize
following the traditions of Muhammad and of the first two generations of the
community of Muslims that followed Muhammad.
2. Shi’ite Muslims
 Comprise 10%-16% of all Muslims.
 Shi’ites are the “party of Ali” who believed that Muhammad’s son-in-law was his
designated successor.
 Muslim community should be headed by a designated descendant of Muhammad.
3. Sufis or Islamic Mystics
 Sufis go beyond external requirements of Islamic religion to seek a personal
experience of God through forms of meditation and spiritual growth.
4. Baha’is and Ahmadiyyas
 These are 19th century offshoots of Shi’ite and Sunni respectively.
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WEEK 7
Subject: Introduction to World Religion and Belief System
LEARNING CONTENT: Comparative Analysis (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)
Reference(s):Quebral, Villamor S., Ed.D, Pathways of Devotion, An Introduction to World Great
Religions, Lorimar Publishing, 2018
LEARNING TARGET
1. Identify the uniqueness and similarities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
2. Provide evidence that Judaism, Christianity and Islam share common roots from Patriarch Abraham
3. Justify that Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as monotheistic religions, have largely influenced the
world today
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Direction: Compare and contrast Judaism, Christianity and Islam by completing the information in the
table below.

RELIGION/BELIEF JUDAISM CHRISTIANITY ISLAM

Origin of the
Universe and
Mankind
Morality
Purpose of Life
Destiny
Views on Women

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WEEK 8

Subject: Introduction to World Religion and Belief System
LEARNING CONTENT: Hinduism
Reference(s):Quebral, Villamor S., Ed.D, Pathways of Devotion, An Introduction to World Great
Religions, Lorimar Publishing, 2018
LEARNING TARGET
1. Recite the creation story in Rig Veda
2. Identify the names of the major Hindu deities as well as their corresponding functions or powers
3.Explain the core teaching of Hinduism as the attainment of liberation in the identification ofAtman and
Brahman through the Four Yogas
4. Simulate a particular yoga and write a reflection paper or insights on Hinduism
LEARNING CONCEPT
I. Hinduism at a Glance
 Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world.
 It is closely associated with other Indian religions such as Jainism, Buddhism and
Sikhism.
 Hinduismhas no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of
teachings.
 Religious scholars often refer to Hinduism as a way of life or a family of religions rather than a single
religion.
II. Hindu Scriptures
1. The Vedas
  These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for Hindus.
  They got their present form between 1200-200 B.C.E.
  They were introduced to India by the Aryans- the early settlers of India.
  Hindus believe that texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on the next
generations by word of mouth
  Vedic texts are sometimes called shruti, which means hearing.
  For hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years, the texts were passed on orally.

A. Contents of the Vedas

 The Vedas are made up of four compositions, and each Veda in turn has four parts which are
arranged chronologically.
i. Samhitas- the most ancient parts of the Vedas, consisting of hymns or praise to God.
a. Rig Veda Samhita- consists of 1028 hymns praising the ancient gods,
b. Yajur-Veda Samhita- used as a handbook by priests performing the Vedic
scriptures.
c. Sama-Veda Samhita- consist of hymns and tunes for singing at the sacrifices.
d. Athava-Veda Samhita- preserves many traditions which predate the Aryan
influence and consists of spells, charms and magical formulae.

ii. Brahmanas- rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties.
iii. Aranyakas- contain worship and meditation.
iv. Upanishad- consists of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism.
 2. The Upanishads
 The Upanishads were so-called because they were taught to those who sat down beside their
teachers. (upa= near; ni= down; shad= sit)
 These texts developed from the Vedic tradition, but largely reshaped Hinduism by providing
believers with philosophical knowledge.
 The major Upanishads were largely composed between 800 and 200 B.C.E.
 They are partly prose and partly verse.
 The early Upanishads are concerned with understanding the sacrificial rites.
 Central to Upanishads is the concept of Brahman- the sacred power which informs reality.

3. The Bhagavad-Gita and Mahabharata

 The Bhavagad-Gita takes the form of a dialogue between Arjuna (the warrior prince) and
Krishna, his charioteer.
 Arjuna was about to join his brothers in a war between two branches of the royal family which
would involve killing of his friends and family.
 This made Arjuna quite reluctant to join the war and he planned to withdraw from the battle.
 Krishna reminded him that he must fulfill his duty in accordance with his class, arguing that
death does not destroy the sould.
 Bhavagad-Gita or Song of the Lord is part of the sixth book of Mahabharata.
 Mahabharata is the world’s longest poem.
 Mahabharata is an account of the house of Bharata.
 It is one of the most popular Hindu texts and known as “smitri” which means the remembered
tradition.

3. The Ramayana
 Ramayana is one of India’s best known tales.
 It tells the story of Prince Rama who was sent into exile into forest with his wife, Sita, and his
brother Lakshamana.
 Sita was abducted by the demon Ravana but ultimately rescued by Prince Rama with the help
of the monkey god, Hanuman.
 The symbolism of the story has been widely interpreted but basically it is the story of good
overcoming evil.
 Many Hindus believe that Ramayana is a story about dharma or duty.

III. The Story of Creation based on Hindu Tradition

 There is no single Hindu creation story.
 One of the most sublime accounts of creation occurs in the Rig Veda 10:129.
 It ponders on the mystery of origins and offers more questions than answer.
“Who really knows, and who can swear,
How creation came, when or where!
Even gods came after creation’s day,
Who really knows who can truly say;
When and how did creation start?
Did He do it? Or Did He not?
Only He up there, knows maybe;
Or perhaps not even He.”
(Rig Veda 10:129)

 However, there is a common creation story known among the Hindus. Cosmogonists
termed it as the Cosmic Egg Theory of creation.
The Creation Story in the Upanishads
“The Chandongya Upanishad 3:19:1-4 relates how the world which was then non-
existent became existent and then became an egg. After a year the egg broke open and
silver part and gold part emerged. The silver part became the earth and the golden part
became the sky. The various parts of the egg became the features of the heavens and the earth. The sun,
which in this myth is equated with Brahmin, was born from the egg along with all beings who arose.”

IV. Major Hindu Deities

 Hinduism is considered polytheistic because of its concept God.
 The one Supreme God manifests Himself in different beings (human, animal and nonmaterial) which
are also gods themselves.
 In fact on records, Hinduism has a total of 33 million gods,
 Among these gods, there are only four considered by Hindus as major gods,
1. Brahman
 He is Hinduism’s concept of Supreme God.
 It is a Sanskrit word which refers to a transcendent power beyond the
universe.
  Some Hindus regard a particular deity as manifestations of Brahman and they
are the ones whom they offer and became their object of worship.
2. Brahma
 He is the first god in the Hindi Triumvirate called trimurti or triune God.
 The Trimurti consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation,
upkeep, and destruction of the world.
 Brahma’s job was creation of the world and all creatures.
 Brahma is the least worshipped god in Hinduism today.
 There are only two temples in the whole India devoted to Him.

3. Vishnu
 Vishnu is the second god in the Hindi Triumvirate or trimuti.
 He is the preserver and the protector of the universe.
 His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of
good and evil.
 According to Hindi belief, he has been incarnated nine times and that he will
be incarnated one last time close to the end of this world.

4. Shiva
 Shiva is the third god in the Hindu triumvirate.
 Shiva’s role is to destroy the universe in order to re-create it.
 Hindu’s believe that his powers of destruction and re-creation are used even
now to destroy the illusion and imperfections of this world paving the way for
beneficial change.
5. Lakshmi
 Lakshmi is the consort of the god Vishnu.
 She is one of the most popular goddesses of Hindu mythology and is known
as the goddess of wealth and purity.
 She is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on
a lotus flower.
V. Key Concepts of Hinduism
1. Concept of Atman
 It means “eternal self”.
 It is often referred to as “spirit” or “soul” and indicates the true self or essence which
underlies man’s existence.
 The concept of atman includes the idea of the self as a spiritual rather than material being and thus
there is a strong dimension of Hinduism which emphasizes detachment from material world and promotes
practices such as asceticism.
2. Concept of Dharma
 It means “duty”, “virtue”, “morality”, even “religion”.
 It refers to the power which upholds the universe or society.
 It is the power that maintains society, makes the grass grow, the sun to shine, and makes people moral
or gives human the opportunity to act virtuously.
 It is universal but is also particular and operates within particular circumstances.
3. Concept of Varna
 This idea gave birth to the Hindi class system or caste system. The four classes are:
 Brahmans or Brahmins- the intellectuals and the priestly class who perform
religious rituals.
 Kshatriya- the class of nobles or warriors who traditionally had power.
 Vaishyas- the ordinary commoners and merchants who trade and produce
commodities, tend the farms and earn a living.
 Shudras- the workers who traditionally served the higher classes, including
laborers, artists, musicians, and clerks.
4. Concept of Karma
 It means “action”.
 It refers to the law that every action has an equal reaction either immediately or at some point in
the future.
 Good or virtual actions will have good reactions or responses while bad actions will bring
negative effects.
 Karma operates not only in this lifetime but across lifetimes- the results of an action might only
be experienced after the present life in a new life.
5. Concept of Samsara
 It is the process of rebirth or reincarnation.
 It is a continuous cycle in which the soul is reborn over and over again according to the law of
karma.
 At death, many Hindus believe that the soul is carried by a subtle body which can be a human or
non-human form (animal or divine being).
6. Concept of Moksha
 It is the ultimate goal of Hindu believers.
 This is the goal of liberation or freedom from cycle of action and reaction and from rebirth.
 The attainment of moksha for a Hindu is for the atman to be completely detached from the
material world and identify itself with the Supreme Spirit.
 This state of liberation can be attained by going through the process of four Yogas.
 Yoga means the realization in direct experience of the pre-existing union between the individual
consciousness and the universal consciousness.
 Jnana Yoga- it is the path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection and
contemplation. It involves deep exploration of the nature of our being by
systematically exploring and setting aside false identities.
 Bhakti Yoga- it is the path of devotion, emotion, love, compassion and service to
God and others. All actions are done in the context of remembering the Divine.
 Karma Yoga- it is the path of action, service to others, mindfulness and
remembering the levels of our being while fulfilling our actions or karma in the
world.
 Raja Yoga- it is the comprehensive method that emphasizes meditation while
encompassing the whole of Yoga. It directly deals with the encountering and
transcending thoughts of mind.
7. Doctrine of Parusharta
 It is a doctrine that life has different goals according to a person’s stage of life and
position.
 These goals became codified in the goals of a person or human goals which are called parushartas.
 According to the Laws of Manu, the three goals of life are expressed as follows:
 Virtuous living or dharma
 Profit or worldly success
 Pleasure, especially sexual pleasure but within the bound of marriage.