Department of Education

Bureau of Learning Delivery Teaching and

Learning Division
LEARNING MODULE FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
LEARNERS
Grade Levels: Grade 11
Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Semester: First Semester part 1
, Belief System, World View Religion, and Spirituality

K-12 Senior High School curriculum offers distinct tracks and strands to the
learners that surely would develop their promptness in mind, acquisition of suitable 21 st century
competencies in the level of knowledge and skills to pursue better lives for themselves, their
families, and their community. Thus, one of its learning areas is the Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems.
Religion is always been part and a powerful dimension of human experience. According to
Viktor Frankl, being human always points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than
oneself – be it a meaning to fulfil, or another human being to encounter. It is in the nature of
human beings to be religious, to go beyond oneself in the service of something or someone
usually perceived as greater than oneself and as a source of meaning and well-being.

This module will discuss the origins of great religions, their fundamental teachings, the
influence they bring, and the relevance of these religions in modern times. It will introduce you to
the various concepts related to religion, expound on the origin of religions, and evaluate the many
roles being played by religion in people’s everyday lives.

Belief in god or gods is found in almost religion. There is a good reason to presuppose that
religion had existed during prehistoric times and that there seems to be universality in religion in
the modern period. Human life may have may have produced hundreds of religions and belief
systems.

RELIGION

ATHEISTIC AGNOSTIC MONISTIC MONOTHEISTIC POLYTHEISTIC

The human race and the world who transcends yet is imminent in the world. Theism is often
used as a synonym to monotheism. Monotheistic religions claim that there is only one god who
could have designed and created the universe or may have directed all events that led to the
creation of everything. Examples of this include Judaism, Christianity and Islam. On the other
hand, Polytheistic religions recognize many principal gods wherein no one is supreme. These
include the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Monism asserts that is no genuine
distinctions between god and the universe, two implications arise from this belief. Firstly, it
contends that god is dwelling in the universe as part of it. Secondly, the universe does not exist at
all as a reality but only a manifestation of the phenomenon of god. Lastly, atheists do not believe
in the existence of any god while agnostics deny the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of
god.
Religion is defined as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to
worship a god or a group of god. It came from a Latin word religio which means to something done
with overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail. It refers to an expression of proper piety, which
is, binding to God. It was then used to designate formal belief systems and tenets.
While religion refers to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning a supernatural
power, the term theology involves the systematic study of the existence and nature of the divine.
Theology is a particular branch of study concerning the nature purpose of god that may
undertaken using lens of a certain group, such as feminist or liberal theology. In short, theology is
a systematic formulation of religious beliefs.
For thousands of years, people have been searching and yearning to understand the
mystery of life and universe. There may come a point when they experience dryness and
meaningless life. This is where spirituality comes in, being defined as relating or affecting the
human spirit or soul as opposed to a material or physical things. Spirituality can be manifested in
quite a number of ways like a person may believe in the presence of an overwhelming power
greater than oneself or perhaps a person can be fully mindful of one’s purpose in life. Spirituality is
something an individual can have without being implicated in the ambivalent complexity of human
societies and institutions.

Task. Write an essay on the topic “Religion: What does it mean to me? Make sure to
include in your essay the different values your religion may have instilled in you and
the various guiding principles that you adhere in your life while mindful of your
religion.
RUBRIC FOR ESSAY
POINTS
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS
EARNED
Content The content was well thought of;
guide questions were thoroughly 7
answered
Organization The paper was well-written with
7
ideas easily conveyed to readers
Analysis Analysis was clear and concise
6
based on the data presented
Total: 20
References:
TEXTBOOK
Ong, Jerome A. and Jose, Mary Dorothy dl. Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems (Senior High School Textbook) Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex Meralco
Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600, Vibal Group 2016
Manaloto, Christian B and Rapadas, Maria Teresita R. Pilgrimage to Sacred Spaces:An
Introductin to World Religions 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, The Phoenix Publishing House Inc.
2016
JUDAISM
(Abrahamic religion)
Page 1 of 16
 Judaism, the religious beliefs and practices of the people of Israel, traces its heritage to the
divine covenant made between Adonai and their ancestor Abraham, whose family of origin
migrated from Mesopotamia nearly four thousand years ago and ended up settling in the Middle
East region called Canaan – what is now the territory of the states of the Israel and Palestine. In
this covenant, Adonai promised Abraham in Genesis 12 several things: a great name, numerous
descendants, and a land of their own. The divine covenant was passed on to Abraham’s younger
son Yitzchak/Isaac and later on to Isaac’s younger son Ya’akov/Jacob, who was be renamed
Israel. With this two wives and two concubines, Jacob/Israel begot twelve sons- foreshadowing
the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Sacred Texts
“The Torah Moshe [Moses] commanded us as an inheritance for the community of Ya’akov
[Jacob/Israel]” (Deuteronomy 33:4, CJB). The Hebrew word Torah means “instruction.” Broadly
understood, Torahis the “instruction” or teaching of Adonai contained in the entire collection of
Hebrew Scriptures called the Tanakh, as well as in the orally transmitted interpretations laid down
later in the Talmud. More narrowly, it refers to what is also known as the Pentateuch.

Jewish Principles of Faith

1. God exists.
2. God is one and unique.
3. God is incorporeal.
4. God is eternal.
5. Prayer is to be directed to god alone and to no other.
6. The words of the prophets are true.
7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The Written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah.
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12. The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.
These statements of belief were eventually as credo of every article beginning with “I believe”
and then later versified, set to music, and included in prayer books (Jurji 1946). Though
controversial when first formulated and evoked much criticism or even disregarded for many
centuries, these principles are generally accepted nowadays by the Jewish community.

The Ten Commandments

The “Ten Commandments” are set of absolute laws given by God to Moses at the biblical
Mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite. Most scholars consider this period as the
official beginning of Judaism as an organized and structured belief system. These laws are twice
mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, particularly, in Exodus and in Deuteronomy.
Worship and Observances
The Jewish community utilizes the lunar calendar with twelve months, each beginning at
the new moon of 29 or 30 days. Every festival and Sabbath commences and terminates at dusk
(or sunset) rather than midnight in adherence to the biblical pattern. Jewish calendar is followed in
observance of festivities, holidays, and community and family celebrations (Brasswell 1994).
Jewish holidays are special days observed to commemorate key events in Jewish history and

Page 2 of 16
other events that depict the special connections with the world, such as creation, revelation, and
redemption.

Sabbath
The most important day in Jewish calendar is Sabbath (or Shabbat) which commemorates
God’s completion of creation of the universe and his rest after the six day toil (Parrinder 1971).
This is the fourth law within the “Ten Commandments.” It begins a few minutes before sunset on
Friday and runs until an hour after sunset on Saturday or almost 25 hours to be precise. At Friday
sundown, Sabbath candles are lighted and kiddush(sanctification) is recited over wine or grape
juice. Children are then blessed by their parents. Jews must abstain from work and must study the
Torah. Some work prohibitions include lighting fires, using money and writing. The Sabbath ends
through the symbolic ritual ofhavdalah (“division”) done by dousing wine on candles and smelling
sweet spices.

The days of Awe

Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar. The first ten
days of the Tishriare called the “Days of Awe”(YamimNoraim) wherein the first two days
compromise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the tenth day of the Day of Atonement (Yom
Kippur). Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the ten-day period of the penitence leading to the Yom
Kippur and is distinguished from other days of by blowing a ram’s horn trumpet (shofar) in the
synagogue and eating apples dipped in honey which is symbolic for a sweet new year. Using the
shofar, a total number of notes are sounded each day. All Jews must undergo self-reflection and
make amends for all the sins they have committed. Rosh Hashanah is also a day of judgement
wherein God assesses one’s deeds and decides what lies ahead of him or her the following year.
These deeds are recorded in the “Book of Life” and sealed on Yom Kippur. Work is not permitted
during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Yom Kippuris the most sacred and solemn day in the
Jewish calendar that brings the period of repentance to its conclusion.

Pilgrimage Festivals
During the olden days, theTorah,commanded the ancient Israelites to go to Jerusalem on
three pilgrimage festivals and participate in the worship at the temple. Also called the
ShaloshRegalim, these are Pesach (Passover), Shavout (Weeks or Pentecost), and
Sukkot(Tabernacles). These festivals spiritualize human life and merge nature and history in a
divine pattern (Jurji 1946).

Synagogues
Synagogues are Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship that
contain separate rooms design for specific activities, such as praying and studying. In Orthodox
Judaism, men and women sit separately at the synagogues; in Reform Judaism, they sit
altogether in temples. Similar to a Christian church, synagogues have seats facing an elevated
platform with one or two lecterns or cahir. The central feature at the flatform (bimah or tebah) and
the holiest spot inside a synagogue is the ark where the Torah scrollsare kept.

The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recorded in the first five
books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch. Judaism has three notable founding figures or
patriarchs, namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs are the physical and
spiritual forebears of the Jewish People. Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham

Page 3 of 16
that he is the creator and ruler of the universe and that h loves his creatures and demands
righteousness from them.
The Jewish people have been called the “people of the Book” in reference to the
Hebrew Bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that is divided into three principal sections, namely, the Torah,
Nevi’im, abd Ketuvim. Jewish beliefs and doctrines are manifested in the” Articles of Faith”, in the
“Ten Commandments”, and in the 613 mitzvot or law.

Task : Do you know that the Jewish bible is included in the Christian bible? Read
silently Exodus 20:2-17. After, reflect on the following question.
2 
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 
“You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the
earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I,
the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations
of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone
guiltless who misuses his name.
8 
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,
neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any
foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the
sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God
is giving you.
13 
“You shall not murder.
14 
“You shall not commit adultery.
15 
“You shall not steal.
16 
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his
male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

1. After reading, close your eyes and imagine a human community where everyone faithfully
follows every single commandment.
2. Write 2 paragraph of what you saw in your imagination.
Christianity
(Abrahamic religion)

Christianity is considered the most popular region in the world with the most number of
adherents among all religions. Starting around the 1 st century C.E., it developed out of Judaism
during the reign of the Roman Empire in West Asia. It centers on the life, teachings, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the Messiah or Savior of humanity. The most common symbol
of Christianity is the cross, for Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humanity
from their sins and to restore people’s relationship with God the Father. Christians also believe in
the Holy Trinity, which means God has three aspects- Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is
Page 4 of 16
believed that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem humanity from their sins
for them to avoid th eternal flames of hell.

Christianity is a religion that is very familiar to Filipinos because the Philippines have
become predominantly Catholic since the Spaniards occupied the country for 16 th to the 19th
centuries, with the spread of Catholicism as one of their enduring legacies to the Filipino people. It
is considered the world’s largest religion, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who is
considered the Son of God and the Messiah or Savior. Here are some of the basic facts about
Christianity:

Symbols
The symbols shown above are the most common symbols associated with Christianity. The
cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over sins when He died on the cross for
humanity’s redemption and salvation. Christ died on the cross and the cross serves as a reminder
of the sacrifices made by God in order for humanity to live. In Roman Catholic churches, the
crucifix is a regular feature, with the image of Christ nailed on the cross. This aims to emphasize
Christ’s sufferings for humanity. Meanwhile, Protestant churches often feature only the cross
without the image of the body of Christ, to emphasize Christ’s resurrection and not His sufferings.
Meanwhile, the fish symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it was used by persecuted Christians
as a secret sign when meeting other Christians. Because Christians were threatened by the
Romans during the time, they had to make secret code to avoid persecution

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 CE. It was founded by Jesus, considered to
be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an offshoot of Judaism, Christianity has
survived and even surpassed Judaism and other religions in terms of number of adherents. Today
Christianity is divided into three major sects- Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox Church, and
Protestantism. These major Christian sects are further subdivided by Christian denominations that
differ in certain beliefs and practices but are united in worshipping Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The Pope serves as the head of the Catholic Church, the inheritor of Peter. He has his
headquarters in the Vatican, an independent state in Rome. He is responsible for the general
supervision of the church. He is the head of the Catholic Church and the head of Vatican. He also
has the authority to appoint administrative and religious officials in Vatican.
Next to the Pope are the cardinals, who are also appointed by the Pope. The cardinals
represent the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in different parts of the world. They serve as
advisers to the Pope and elect a new pope as the need arises, thus they have the power to
choose the successor of the outgoing pope. The body comprising the cardinals is called the
College of Cardinals.
The Bishops also form part of the hierarchy. Bishops are teachers of the doctrine, priest of sacred
worship, and ministers of church government. They provide pastoral supervision for a diocese and
serves as representatives of the Church. The Pope himself is a bishop. A bishop ordained to his
station, just like priests.

DIETY/GOD
Christians believe in one God, therefore Christianity is a monotheistic religion. God is seen
as the creator and maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be omnipotent (all-powerful),

Page 5 of 16
omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present), and omnibenevolent (all-good).god is also
sacred, moral, unchangeable, compassionate, graceful and timeless.

HOLY TRINITY
Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that God is composed of three persons:
God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine of the Holy Trinity was
affirmed at the council of Nicea in 25 C.E. where it was agreed upon that the Son has the same
substance with the Father, therefore they are both eternal. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was
Christianity’s way to end the controversy generated by Arianism, a teaching by Arius which
claimed that Jesus Christ was not actually a God.

SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Bible considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection of songs, stories,
poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. It is composed of two books, the Old Testament and
the New Testament. The Old Testament is considered the original Hebrew Bible, written between
1200 and 165 B.C.E. the New Testament was written by Christians around 100 C.E.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books which are
arranged in three parts: the first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are considered “The Law”
or “Torah” which may refer to guidance pr instruction; they are called as such because they serve
as guidelines on how people should live their everyday lives, as well as other legal necessities.
Later these books were called the “Pentateauch” which were attributed to Moses. Meanwhile, the
second part of the Old Testament is called “The Prophets” which is divided into two parts, the
former prophets and the latter prophets, the book of former prophets is considered historical while
book of the latter prophets contain saying and stories of prophets. The third part is called “The
Writings”, which include Psalms (songs, prayers, and worship liturgies), Proverbs (wise sayings),
Job (a drama that explores the nature of suffering), and the five scrolls (Megiloth) which were
grouped together for their associations with a particular religious festival.
The New Testament
The New Testament is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E. and is
composed of two sections: The Gospels which tells the story of Jesus (Mark, Matthew, Luke and
John); and The Letters (or Epistles) written by various Christian leaders to serve as guide to the
early Christian communities. They were written to tell the life and teaching of Jesus. The Acts of
Apostles and Luke tell how Christianity developed from a small group of Jewish believers to
becoming one of the world’s major religions. Revelation is the last book of the New Testament,
traditionally attributed to the apostle John, which is considered an epistle and an apocalypse.

Seven Sacraments
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which are considered signs of inner kindness
given by God for Christians to live a genuine human life. The seven sacraments include Baptism,
Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick.

Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes comprise what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in Matthew
5-7. The Beatitudes refer to the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the “Sermon on the
Mount”. Here are the Eight Beatitudes mentioned in Matthew 5-7.

Apostles Creed

Page 6 of 16
 The Apostles Creed is believed to have developed in the 100 or 200 C.E. and was
influenced later by the Nicene Creed. A letter written by the Council of Milan in 390 C.E. is the
earliest historical evidence of the existence of the Apostles Creed. It is not written by the apostles
themselves but it serves as a summary of their basic teachings.

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Christians have certain religious observances in which they commemorate particular events
in the history of Christianity. Some of the most important Christian observances are Advent, Lent,
and the Pentecost.

According to Christianity, since human beings are created in the likeness and image of
God, they are intrinsically good; but they are also given free will so they are considered prone to
sin and in need of grace. The goal of every individual is to have eternal life of the soul after death.
For those who have become good Christians, the reward is eternal life in heaven; for those who
lived a life full of sins, the punishment is eternal damnation in hell. Death means the physical body
is separated from the soul, and the soul goes either heaven or hell, depending on how one lived
his life on earth. Heaven is a paradise with no more sadness and pain, while hell is a place where
sinners were thrown by devils into flames.

Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is the most important message imparted by Christianity?
2. How does the Jewish view of Christ differ from that of Christians?

Page 7 of 16