Introduction To World Religions and Belief Systems
Introduction To World Religions and Belief Systems
Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.
Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every
effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective
copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.
Management Team:
Schools Division Superintendent : Romeo M. Alip, PhD, CESO V
Asst. Schools Division Superintendent : Roland M. Fronda, EdD, CESE
Chief Education Supervisor, CID : Milagros M. Peñaflor, PhD
Education Program Supervisor, LRMDS : Edgar E. Garcia, MITE
Education Program Supervisor, ADM : Romeo M. Layug
Education Program Supervisor, HUMSS : Romeo M. Layug
District Supervisor, Abucay : Ruel D. Lingad, EdD
Division Lead Book Designer : Donna T. Santos-Villanueva
District LRMDS Coordinator, Abucay : Charito D. Corpus
School LRMDS Coordinator : Jerome C. Matic
School Principal : Soledad V. Llarina
District Lead Layout Artist, HUMSS : Jaycee G. Salandanan
District Lead Illustrator, HUMSS : Jeremy M. Flores
District Lead Evaluator, HUMSS : Mary Leyza B. Deldoc - Pinzon
Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education – Schools Division of Bataan
Office Address: Provincial Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan
Telefax: (047) 237-2102
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Introduction to World
Religions and Belief
Systems
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Origin of World Religions
Introductory Message
both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body
of the module:
As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners
Every religion has its own history and foundation. It is indeed important to look
at the historical background of some key world religions in order to see their beauty and
uniqueness, and also the richness of their culture and tradition. In this way, respect
will be more genuine and relevant as you will be more aware of their context and
perspective.
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.
module.
module.
2
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
What’s New
activity or a situation.
competency.
learned concepts.
3
This contains answers to all activities in the
this module.
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
4
What I Need to Know
5
What I Know
Direction: Identify what is being asked and choose your answer inside the box.
Write answers in your notebook.
Mt. Ararat Huang He River Yang Tze River Mt. Sinai Red Sea
6
Lesson
1 Historical Background
What’s In
Direction: List down in your notebook ten (10) things, memories, or experiences
that remind you of your childhood.
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________
10. ________________________________________________
7
Notes to the Teacher
This lesson will give the learners the idea on how they
will understand the historical background of religion.
What’s New
The things that remind you of your childhood could either be good or bad.
But either ways, all of those things are already part of your life. Definitely, you
cannot anymore get rid of those memories. You may cry, laugh, or even cringe
whenever you remember those things. This reality proves how powerful the
human mind is. Good memories definitely are for keeps; and bad ones are
something that you do not anymore want to remember. Even so, it is always good
to reminisce the past in order to move forward in life.
The present generation would always say “move on” and “don’t look back.”
But this lesson will teach you that there are a lot of valuable things in the past
that you can learn from. Dr. Jose P. Rizal said, “ang hindi lumingon sa
pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” In this sense, moving on
could also mean to look back and learn the lessons of the past.
8
What is It
Have you ever wondered how religions sprouted? Have you ever been
curious as to how your religion began? You may already have a little knowledge
about it, but let this lesson help you dig deeper about the historical background
of some religions in the world.
Source: https://p1.pxfuel.com/preview/603/206/355/bison-
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Sagada cave-of-altamira-prehistoric-art-upper-palaeolithic-royalty-free-
_Hanging_Coffins.jpg thumbnail.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/M
ichelangelo%27s_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned_edit.jpg
9
This timeline, as cited from Ong and Jose (2016), shows significant dates
in the history of the establishment of several world religions.
500BCE
10
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A
%2F%2Fwww.pikist.com%2Ffree-photo-
https://live.staticflickr.com/
2910/14777010681_204056
959d_b.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
/commons/0/0e/Itsukushima_Gate.jpg
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&u
rl=https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fcommons.wik
imedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3APor
The timeline of these religions coincides with the existence and presence
either of the founder of the religion or from whose inspiration the religion was
adhered to. As for the Patriarch Abraham, he played a major role in the
establishments of the three monotheistic religions: namely, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam; also known as the Abrahamic religions (Ong and Jose
2016).
11
has been the foundation of Indian religions that proceeded to the birth of many
other religions.
On the other hand, Chinese civilization is also one of the world’s oldest
dating back almost 4,000 years ago. They adopted Confucius’s teachings, ideals,
and ethics in developing meritocracy as a basis for government officials. More
so, Lao Tzu who may have existed around 6th Century BCE is believed to be the
author of Dao De Jing (The Book of the Way) which centers on the concept of the
Dao as a way or path signifying appropriateness of one’s behavior to lead other
people. (Ong and Jose 2016)
What’s More
Direction: Fill out the blank rows with the significant persons or events
according to their appropriate era. Write your answers in your
notebook.
12
c. 40-90 CE
c. 100 CE
c. 500-580 BCE
c. 570-632 CE
2. What is the most essential thing that played a big role in the Indian
civilization?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
13
4. What is the major role of Shintoism in the lives of the Japanese as an
organized local belief?
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
14
What I Can Do
3. Who are the significant persons or leaders of your religion? What are their
roles and responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
15
Assessment
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers in your
notebook.
1. Who is the Patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
A. Abraham C. Noah
B. Moses D. Peter
2. What is India’s major religion?
A. Buddhism C. Islam
B. Hinduism D. Sikhism
3. It is a loosely organized local belief in Japan which is somewhat an
ardent religious form of Japanese patriotism.
A. Buddhism C. Daoism
B. Confucianism D. Shintoism
4. The Chinese sage who is believed to be the author of Dao De Jing (The
Book of the Way).
A. Bruce Lee C. Lao Tzu
B. Confucius D. Mencius
5. What kind of religious view does Hinduism uphold?
A. Atheistic C. Monistic
B. Monotheistic D. Polytheistic
6. In what era does the Christian New Testament written?
A. c. 32 CE C. c. 100 CE
B. c. 40-90 CE D. c. 570-632 CE
7. What is the significant event that happened in c. 32 CE?
A. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
B. The New Testament was written.
C. Shintoism began.
D. Birth of Islam.
8. Whose teachings, ideals, and ethics in developing meritocracy as a basis
for government officials did China adopt?
A. Bruce Lee C. Lao Tzu
B. Confucius D. Mencius
9. What era does Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) believed to exist?
A. c. 563-83 BCE C. c. 300 BCE
B. c. 483 BCE D. c. 200BCE
10. In what country did Jainism and Sikhism originate?
A. China C. Israel
B. India D. Japan
16
Additional Activities
Direction: Write an essay in your notebook about Dr. Jose Rizal’s famous line
“Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa
paroroonan” using the following guide questions:
14
15
Assessment:
1. A
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. B
What’s More:
1. Time of Abraham, the patriarch of Israel
2. Time of Moses, the Hebrew leader of the Exodus
What I Know:
3. Hindus compiled their holy texts, the Vedas 1.Mt. Zion/ Mt. Moriah
2.Ganges River
4. Time of the Buddha, founder of Buddhism
3.Shintoism
5. Time of Confucius, founder of Confucianism 4.Mt. Tabor
5.Abraham
6. The Hindu Book, Bhagavad Gita, was written 6.Muhammad
7.Siddhartha Gautama
7. Time of Jesus, the Christ and the founder of Christianity 8.China
9.India/ Nepal
8. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ 10. Saudi Arabia
11. Mt.Ararat
9. The New Testament was written by the followers of Jesus 12. Mt. Sinai
13.Mt. Zion/ Mt. Moriah
10. Beginnings of Shintoism (no known founder) 14-15. Huang He and Yang Tze
Rivers
11. Time of Lao Tze, founder of Daoism
12. Time of Muhammed, who recorded the Qur’an as the basis of Islam
Answer Key
Lesson
Geographical Contexts of
2 Religions
What’s In
Direction: List down in your notebook 5 religious groups in your town or place.
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
4. _____________________________
5. _____________________________
16
Notes to the Teacher
This lesson will give the learners the idea on how they
will understand the geographical context of religion.
What’s New
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/f6/ab/daf6ab2533f38a0412421c3af2cfaddb.jpg
By looking at the Map of Faith above, you will see that the Philippines is a
may have known that we are Christianized by the Spaniards who came from the
West. But even before they came here, Muslims are already situated in the many
parts of the country, particularly in Mindanao. You may wonder how the Islamic
faith came here first even before Christianity. But by looking at our neighboring
countries, most of them are Muslims. Because of trade and migration, many of
our Filipino ancestors also embraced their faith and belief systems. This
situation that influenced greatly each other. This reality is also true and the
17
same with the origin of most of the world’s religions. Their geography and
What do you think is the reason why geographical location plays a big role
What is It
Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam were born in the
region of West Asia comprising
the fertile coasts of the
Mediterranean Sea in the west,
and the arid deserts of Arabia in
the east. The topography of West
Asia is mountainous that plays a
significant role in many religious
beliefs as these landforms
provide and ideal settings where
gods live or where gods and
mortals meet (Ong and Jose
2016).
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Midde_east_map_big.jpg
18
HOLY MOUNTAINS LOCATION SIGNIFICANCE
Mount Ararat
Traditional place of
Eastern Part of Turkey Noah’s Ark as narrated
in the Book of Genesis
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/07/17/08/12/ar
arat-5413417_960_720.jpg
Mount Sinai
The peak where Moses
Sinai Peninsula in received the Ten
Egypt Commandments
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thu
mb/e/e6/Mount_Moses.jpg/1024px-Mount_Moses.jpg
https://c1.wallpaperflare.com/preview/582
/190/457/mesa-mt-zion-utah.jpg
Mount Tabor
Site of the
Israel Transfiguration of Jesus
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons
/a/a8/Paricutin.jpg
Mount Zion or the Temple Mount is one of the most revered sites of the
Jews, Christians, and Muslims, where present structures like the Dome of the
Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Chain were built. Jewish believers
also regard this as their holiest shrine where Isaac was believed to be sacrificed
by his father Abraham. (Ong and Jose 2016)
19
The Indian Subcontinent
The subcontinent of South Asia is the
region where a civilization emerged more than
4,000 years ago in the Indus River that
developed a unique and exceptional culture
even before the era of Christianity. Because of
the scorching heat of India, it is noteworthy
that they revere the sun and fire. Moreover, the
water also plays a significant role in their lives
as seen in their reverence of the god of water
and celestial oceans. The Ganga (Ganges) is the
holiest river for the Hindus where many
pilgrimage sites and cities were built that
includes Rishikesh, Haridwang, Prayag, and
Varanasi, which is also considered as an
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Indian_subcontine
nt_CIA.png important Buddhist religious site where
Siddhartha Gautama was believed to give his first sermon. (Ong and Jose 2016)
Ganges River
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Ganges_River_bank_in_Varanasi.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Ganges_River_at_Rishikesh.jpg
20
China’s cultural and political systems
dominated the eastern end of Asia, given their
wide and vast location, practically influencing
outskirts, including Japan and Korea. The
supremacy of China could be explained by the
role of its environment and geography that
includes alluvial plains, extensive fertile
valleys, and pleasant climate. Huang He and
Yang Tze rivers are the two great bodies of
water in China that supported the Chinese
people, making China the center of culture.
With the political and cultural developments,
https://cdn18.picryl.com/photo/2019/11/15/east-asia-48d19d-1600.jpg
The impact of the Chinese civilization also reached Korea who are also
influenced by Confucianism and Daoism, as well as Japan’s Shintoism.
What’s More
Location Religions
21
4. City of David- ______________________, ___________________________
22
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What I Can Do
23
Rubrics for Essay
5 The question was answered very clearly and definitively.
4 The question was answered clearly and definitively
3 The question was treated quite clearly and definitively.
2 The question was poorly answered
1 The question was not answered well.
24
Assessment
A. Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers in
your notebook.
1. What is this mountain that is known as the traditional place of Noah’s
Ark as narrated in the Book of Genesis?
A. Mt. Ararat C. Mount of Olives
B. Mt. Sinai D. Mt. Zion
2. What is the holiest river for the Hindus where many pilgrimage sites and
cities were built?
A. Ganges River C. Jordan River
B. Huang He River D. Yang Tze River
3. This mountain is one of the most revered sites of the Jews, Christians,
and Muslims, where present structures like the Dome of the Rock, Al-
Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Chain were built.
A. Mt. Ararat C. Mount of Olives
B. Mt. Sinai D. Mt. Zion
4. Aside from the Huang He river, what is the great body of water in China
that supported the Chinese people, making China the center of culture?
A. Ganges River C. Jordan River
B. Huang He River D. Yang Tze River
25
B. Direction: Answer the question in your notebook briefly.
What do you think is the reason why geographical location plays a big
role in the expansion, development, and progress of a particular religion?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
25
Additional Activities
1. If you will be given the chance to go to a holy place or site of your religion,
where would it be?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did you choose this particular place for you to visit?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Visualize and describe the place you want to visit and make your own plans
according to the things you want to do once you are already there.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
14
27
Assessment What’s more
1. India- Buddhism,
Hinduism
1. A 2. China- Confucius,
2. A Daosim
3. D 3. Israel- Christianity
4. D 4. Jerusalem- Judaism,
5. B Christianity, Islam
5. Turkey- Judaism
Rubrics attached for the 6. Egypt- Judaism,
essay. Christianity
7. China- Confucianism,
Daoism
8. India- Buddhism,
Hinduism
9. Israel- Islam
10. India- Hinduism
Answer Key
References
Ellwood, Robert S., and Gregory D. Alles. 2007. The Encyclopedia of World
Religions: Revised Edition. New York: DWJ Books LLC.
John Paul II, Pope. 1994. Catechism of the Catholic Church: Definitive Edition
Based on the Latin "Editio Typica". Makati: Word and Life Publications.
Ong, Jerome A., and Mary Dorothy dL. Jose. 2016. Introduction to World
Religions and Belief Systems: Textbook. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.
28
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call: